Stella C. Porto University of Maryland University College

Focus Faculty grassroots web 2.0 activity… How should institutions react in terms of support and ownership issues?

Overview Context: UMUC Web 2.0 uses Tradeoffs and challenges: institutional vs. faculty perspective

Context: UMUC

Web 2.0 uses

Tradeoffs and challenges: institutional vs. faculty perspective

Context and landscape U of Maryland U College

Context and landscape U of Maryland U College = UMUC

Context and landscape UMUC State institution Only 7% of support from the state Tuition driven >> distinct culture

Context and landscape some quantitative data Head count > 86,000 Enrollment > 272,000 Online enrollment > 177,000

Context and landscape UMUC quick facts 2nd largest state institution in the US Growth stateside of 74% over last 10 years Expect growth of 51% over the next 10 years > 100 degree programs fully online

Context and landscape faculty support > 2,500 faculty: Initial training for online learning Continuous support

> 2,500 faculty:

Initial training for online learning

Continuous support

Context and landscape student/faculty/staff global support interface

Context and landscape: proprietary platform - WebTycho

Personal context within this landscape: Master of Distance Education Administrator Faculty Student

Master of Distance Education

Administrator

Faculty

Student

Meanwhile… Web 2.0 term coined by Tim O’Reilly as an evolution of the web (coined then 1.0)

Web 2.0 explosion of apps and services: social/sharing & media rich

Web 2.0 current tools changed (ex: 2.0 friendly browser)

Web 2.0 use in online learning class blog - Foundations of IT

Web 2.0 use in online learning class blog - doctoral dissertation cohort

Web 2.0 use in online learning class blog - capstone MDE class

Web 2.0 use in online learning e-portfolio (blog)

Web 2.0 use in online learning e-portfolio app

Web 2.0 use in online learning community building - blog

Web 2.0 use in online learning community building/resources - wiki

Web 2.0 use in online learning community building - groups - faculty

Web 2.0 use in online learning community building - groups - students

Tradeoffs and challenges scalability How do we provide training and support to faculty and students in the use of such tools? And there is the learning curve, technophobia, etc…

Tradeoffs and challenges cost efficiency What tools should the institution support? How extensively?

Tradeoffs and challenges ownership How much ownership is at risk under the institutional umbrella? How do we differentiate support from ownership?

Tradeoffs and challenges innovation Web 2.0 tools are all about beta versions… How can institutions keep up, should they keep up? If you build it will they come?

Tradeoffs and challenges support We want institutions to support… How much, how far? Awareness of limitations of the underlying business models

Tradeoffs and challenges interoperability/compatibility How should these tools connect with existing platforms? Enclosure? Decentralized tools?

Tradeoffs and challenges sustainability and robustness Should institutions offer such tools to whom, for how long? Who is accountable?

Tradeoffs and challenges quality control How do institutions guarantee quality? How much control should they have? What kind of policies and guidelines should be put in place?

Final remarks Complex process of decision-making Grass roots movement that cannot be contained Need for a vision and greater flexibility What is in fact the future of LMS’s? More and more encapsulated functions? Customized configuration of personal tools? Strategic plan and balance

Complex process of decision-making

Grass roots movement that cannot be contained

Need for a vision and greater flexibility

What is in fact the future of LMS’s?

More and more encapsulated functions?

Customized configuration of personal tools?

Strategic plan and balance

Thank you… Contact: [email_address] US-China Forum in Distance Education June 29 - July 2nd http://www.umuc.edu/uschina/