The Portable Z: How Virginia is Scaling the Z-Degree Across Its 23 Colleges with the Zx23 Project
Richard SebastianDirector, Teaching & Learning TechnologiesVirginia Community College [email protected]
BAD IDEAS THAT ARE
SUCCESSFUL
3
Doggles
4
iFart App
BAD IDEAS THAT ARE
UNSUCCESSFUL
6
Cop Rock
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLm5Sn1cMyQ
7
Bird-Man Wing Suits
GOOD IDEAS THAT
ARE UNSUCCESSFU
L
9
WebTV
10
Time Machine*
*Not actually invented until 2032
REALLY, REALLY
BAD IDEAS
12
Glove compartment mini-bar
13
Chelsea Soda“..about a gallon of Chelsea (twelve 10 ounce bottles per hour) would have to be ingested by a normal 70 lb. child to produce overt behavioral effects.
This volume exceeds the capacity of the stomach.
14
Lawn Darts®
GOOD IDEAS THAT
ARE SUCCESSFUL
“The Sweet Spot”
Zdegree
What’s the big
idea?
A Z-Degree is a pathway to a degree or credential that has zero textbook costs by using course materials made up of open educational resources (OER). Courses are offered at all campus locations
What is a Z-Degree?
What is the Zx23 Project?
Z-Degree x 23 Virginia community colleges
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Zx23 Project Grant $200k from Hewlett Foundation$380k match from VCCS
July 201516 collegesawarded up to $15K
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Course Creation & AdoptionOER Course Creation, Zx23 Project Planning Document
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fObL6TJvKFRrCUz70xxdyqsf2VoTWxY4No9gfKayGEw/htmlview#
https://courses.candelalearning.com/catalog/vccs
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Planning & EvaluationRequest for proposals, contracts, project planning
Vision
Why this degree program?
How is cabinet supporting the vision?
Communication Plan
With whom?How?• Project management• Broad awareness
OER Review
Full coursesExisting resourcesDifficulty to create
Enrollment Plan
CoursesCurrent sectionsTimed transitionFaculty Metrics
Support and Faculty Development Plan
FacultyProgram leadsCampus support staffInstitutional leaders
Develop program leads
Choose the right degree
Engage faculty effectively
Set enrollment goals
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Communication & CoordinationBlog posts, webinar archive, project docs
https://bit.ly/zx23_archive
http://edtech.vccs.edu
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Team & Faculty DevelopmentPathways course, faculty workshops, site visits
https://courses.candelalearning.com/pathways/
A little background
Engaged Champion Leaders
VCCS Chancellor Glenn DuBois
Adapted to Existing Ecosystems
Successful Trailblazers
Built Infrastructure & Support
Results (so far)
“It’s ALIVE!!”
Structural advantages
• Shared LMS: Blackboard Learn• Shared SIS: PeopleSoft• Centralized governance– 23 presidents report to Chancellor
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Zx23: Interim Results
6 degree programs100+ courses
427 faculty members
Small, Rural, Under-resourced, Disproportionately low income
16 institutions
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Zx23: Interim Results
16 colleges100+ courses
427 faculty members
6 degree programs
1. Business Administration
2. Business Management
3. Criminal Justice4. General
Education5. Liberal Arts6. Social Science
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Zx23: Interim Results
16 Institutions6 degree programs
427 faculty members
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fObL6TJvKFRrCUz70xxdyqsf2VoTWxY4No9gfKayGEw/htmlview#
100+ courses
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Zx23: Interim Results
16 Institutions6 degree programs
100+ courses
2015 2016 TOTAL
Faculty 136 291 427
427 faculty members
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Zx23: Projected Results
EnrollmentsFall 2015 14,541
Savings $1,454,100
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Zx23: Projected Results
Projected SP15-FA16 Savings$8,230,000
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Zx23: Projected Results
Other OER EnrollmentsEx. SIS Course Attribute
OER
*
Universe of Traditional Course Materials
Lessons learned
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Set clear goalsStrategic Goal Complete 2021
Big Hairy Audacious GoalZ-degree at 23 colleges*
Project GoalImpact 50,000 VCCS students
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Zx23 Project
Vow of chastity*Full courses, not resourcesFull degrees, not courses
Pathways courseAll openly licensed material
Create OER policy
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Reduce Friction
Case study: A little bit of friction, a lot of static
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OER Course Tab
Blackboard xpLor
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The Magic Spreadsheet
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Model openness (duh?)
Share project information publicly
Include all VCCS faculty and staff as much as possible
DiscussionDo OER/Z-Degrees align with VSU’s strategic objectives? How?If they do (and I bet they do:
• Does VSU have an OER champion?• What existing VSU ecosystems would support an
OER project?• Does VSU have any OER trailblazers• What infrastructure exists to support OER? What
additional infrastructure is needed?
Virginia is for pen
Viva la France
Peace
EdTech@VCCShttp://edtech.vccs.eduCandela VCCS cataloghttps://courses.candelalearning.com/catalog/vccs
Zx23 Course Spreadsheethttps://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fObL6TJvKFRrCUz70xxdyqsf2VoTWxY4No9gfKayGEw/htmlview#
Pathways OER Coursehttps://courses.candelalearning.com/pathways/
Zx23 webinar archivehttps://bit.ly/zx23_archive
Lumen Learninghttp://www.lumenlearning.com
OpenVAhttp://openva.orghttp://groups.google.com/group/openva
Richard SebastianDirector, Teaching & Learning Technologies
Virginia Community College [email protected]
http://edtech.vccs.edu