Laramie County Community College (LCCC) is implementing a collaborative model for online education to enhance distance learning offerings, supported by a $200,000 initiative. The project involves a standardized course design process where subject matter experts (SMEs) work with instructional designers to develop complete online programs. An online division is being established to autonomously manage and expand these offerings further.

1. The Collaborative
Model for Online
Innovation
Center for Learning Technologies
Laramie County Committee College
Cheyenne, Wyoming
307-778-4359 LBALSIGER@LCCC.WY.EDU

2. LCCC

3. OUR TEAM
 Les Balsiger J.D. – Director, Center for Learning Technologies
Dr. Tim Kochery – Senior Instructional Designer
Tammarra Holmes – Technology Guru

4. Primary Strategy in the LCCC Strategic Plan – Goal
One
Develop an LCCC Online enterprise with sufficient
autonomy to purposefully grow offerings and
enrollment in distance education using cutting-edge
course design and innovative instruction.
*This was based on what is called the “Enterprise Model” in the literature

5. In early 2013 LCCC announced
$200,000 would be available for
“innovative approaches to help the
college better meet its mission?

6. In December 2013, The Center for
Learning Technologies applied for and
received $17,300 for what we called
“The Collaborative Model for Online
Innovation”

7. We proposed a 3 year plan to put entire
programs (not courses) online using
standardized course design and HTML Coding.
Faculty would serve as Subject Matter Experts
and the Instructional Design Team would
design and build the courses within D2L. This
was approved.

8. The Process – Our Team developed a
model course process to design and
build the courses. The process starts
with identifying a subject matter expert
(SME) then assigning an Instructional
Designer and Technical Support Staff

9. Process –We have an initial meeting with the
SME to sign a contract (we pay the SME’s) . The
project manager, Instructional designer and
SME are present. The process is gone over
carefully with the SME.

10. Process – Next the SME gets the syllabus and
other supporting documents along with the
text book to the ID. We allow 2 weeks for this.
The ID and SME may meet a couple of times
and e-mail each other. Then a sandbox is
created in D2L with the SME in it as an
instructor and the process of course design
starts following our course outline.

11. Over the next 4+ weeks the SME and ID work
on developing the class within D2L this requires
a lot of collaboration between the ID and SME.
Once this process is complete the class will be
turned over to Technical Support to work on the
HTML 5 coding and multi-media. A DEV shell is
created where the master course will reside.

12. Tech Support works with the SME to build the
multi-media and then finally code the class.
Once Tech support is done the project
manager will conduct the peer/dean review
and complete the process.

13. After the process the students in these
courses will be surveyed as to course
navigation etc. The SME, and ID will meet
once the course has run to see if there are any
needed modifications. Tech Support will be
involved as well.

14. Demonstration of the course

15. Lessons Learned

16. Next Phase: In September 2014 we were
approved for our next round (2nd year) of our
project. We asked for and received $54,845 to
put the balance of the Criminal Justice Degree
, Two Education Degrees and the Human
Services Degree online. We have just met with
the SME’s and started the process.

17. What’s Next ?
The LCCC strategic plan has called to create a
online division that will have autonomy to put
more programs online and run an effective
unit with not only instructional design and
technology but student support staff etc.

18. Questions?
Center for Learning Technologies
Laramie County Community College