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- 1. Going global in higher education: The importance of innovation, connection, and reflection in the networked learning environment Alexis Smith Macklin, PhD Purdue University, Fort Wayne macklina@pfw.edu
- 2. A BOLD MOVE: Purdue University buys Kaplan University for $1
- 3. Innovation • Interactive Classroom • Competency-based ExcelTrackTM • Open College at Purdue Global
- 4. Connection • Learning Management System (LMS) • Personal Learning Environments (PLEs) • Communities of Practice (CoP)
- 5. Reflection • Emotional intelligence (self-awareness) • Honesty and integrity • Assessment and analysis
Editor's Notes
- This topic is of particular interest to me because my University recently made a big, bold move. This past spring Purdue University purchased the for-profit online Kaplan University. As you can imagine this purchase was met with both excitement and resignation. In particular, many of the faculty on the physical campuses were not happy with this decision because they feel the quality of online education doesn’t meet the quality of education provided by them in the classroom. In particular, they question the rigor of the content and the competence of the faculty teaching online. Unfortunately, their concerns have merit as the for-profit sector in higher education has a reputation for predatory practices, high default rates and low-value products. The president of Purdue University, Mitch Daniels – a former governor of Indiana and highly successful business man, is downplaying the negative press and promoting the deal as a way to reach a new, contemporary student population who has competing priorities, including full time jobs and family obligations. In addition – the move is intended to make Purdue a major player in online learning in higher education. President Daniels believes the distinctiveness of Purdue’s brand, combined with the robust platform of Kaplan, creates a foundation for success.
- One of the most important goals of Purdue Global is to graduate students faster and cheaper to get them into the job market with less debt. Many students in the US have more than $30K in student loans to pay back; some are leaving school to make money to get ahead of their looming bills, while others graduate taking jobs that don’t pay enough to pay down the debt fast enough. Potential students are questioning the value of a four year degree . . . And, as a result, there is a downward trend in enrollment in colleges and universities across the United States. Purdue Global offers three ways to reach this non-traditional student: First is the interactive classroom – where students can learn 100% online from anywhere in the world. They can also visit one of the regional locations to take advantage of local, onsite support and services. Second is ExcelTrack™ where the self-motivated students with college credits and/or career experience, can leverage knowledge and skills they already have – getting credit for work and life experiences so they can spend time on the subjects they need; and Third is Open College which provides access to free and low-cost open, online resources that can translates work or life experience into credit; this individualized approach to education integrates technology and personalized support through prior learning assessments, MOOCS, and online credit-bearing courses.
- As part of branding this new virtual campus, Purdue Global is personalizing online education and building a community of learners by: Using an interactive learning management system for Live seminars and collaborative learning One on one mentoring and support and No-cost tutoring – specifically math and science The University also takes advantage of social media platforms – like Facebook and blogs keep students involved outside of the classroom; and encourages the use of tools like LinkedIn to help with career services and job placement. And it builds knowledge communities, and communities of practice – using tools like Figshare, ResearchGate - promoting open access; open data content for scholarship and learning so that students and faculty have access to current, world class resources, in addition to traditional library resources. Accessibility in this online learning environment is about connecting people and information in a virtual world.
- So what creates a successful global community in a networked learning environment? First the ability to foster tolerance and respect for diversity of thought and experiences. We are bordering on a uncivil society with our online personas when we engage in cyberbullying, and attacking people for differing opinions. Unfortunately, these practices are extending to our professional communications, including exchanges in the online classroom. Creating opportunities to develop self-awareness is essential to establishing a safe learning space. In an effort to promote diversity and inclusivity, Purdue Global is working on a zero tolerance policy for bullying and incivility in the virtual classroom so all feel welcomed and a sense of belonging. Second, we need to help students transfer face-to-face norms for honesty and integrity to the online environment by building personal relationships with them and setting expectations. Studies show that when students know their professor and the other students in the class - they are less likely to disappoint them by behaving unethically. Part of integrity in online learning is showing up and doing the work. The virtual classroom isn’t for everyone. For some, it takes even more discipline than participating in traditional learning experiences. Purdue Global offers a three-week introductory period for its undergraduate programs so that students can test their commitment level before investing. And third, we need objective and consistent ways to gather data on learning outcomes and hold our students and ourselves accountable for reaching them. One way Purdue Global is doing this is through reflective practices and action research to improve instruction and faculty development. Another is using analytics to help identify at risk students and doing proactive outreach to help at point of need to help prevent failure and improve drop out rates. The importance of these three universal values should not be underestimated in creating a global learning network. They are essential for success. In closing, I want to say that we are truly embarking on a journey where the world is our classroom, and customizable learning experiences are increasingly attracting and retaining life-long learners.