The document discusses the Master of Distance Education program at the University of Maryland University College (UMUC), highlighting its growth and current offerings, including over 177,000 online enrollments and 100 degree programs. It details the program's origins, core competencies, curriculum, course delivery methods, and support for students and faculty. The document also outlines future plans for international collaboration, technology adoption, and community engagement.

1. The Master of Distance Education
Dr. Stella Porto
Information and Technology Systems Department
Graduate School of Management & Technology
University of Maryland University College

2. Master of Distance Education:
partnership

5. Online enrollment >
177,000
> 100 degree programs fully online
Head count > 86,000 2nd largest state
institution in the US
Enrollment > 272,000

6. Context and landscape
Oldenburg

7. Context and landscape
Oldenburg

8. Context and landscape
Oldenburg

9. The Master of Distance Education:
Past
• The creation of the program
 Natural fit for UMUC: practical leadership in DE translated into
theoretical leadership
 Historical accident: Two experts with a common project funded by
AT&T grant - “The Virtual Seminar”
 Seminar delivered online for professional development in DE

10. The Master of Distance Education:
Past
• Advantages of this historical ‘accident’…
 Quick ‘time to market’
 Trust among partners
 Test bed with a network of experts
 International dimension
 Quality beyond regular graduate programs
 Visiting experts
 Research
 Faculty development

11. The Master of Distance Education:
Present

12. The Master of Distance Education:
Present - Mission
Corporate
Training &
Learning
Faculty Media &
Support technology
Distance
Education
Instruction
Higher
Design &
Education
Support
Leaders &
Managers

13. The Master of Distance Education:
Focus
• Core competencies
 Managing the distance education system in a variety of settings
 Planning, budgeting, development, delivery, and support of distance education
and distance training programs
• Target Audience
 Potential managers of the distance education enterprise in:
 Educational organizations
 Corporate / Business
 Government & Military
 Non-profit and associations
• Entirely online for part-time working adults
• International
• Collaborative

14. The Master of Distance Education
Present - Curriculum
Core
DE Foundations: systems view, technology, online teaching
& learning, costing and student support
Technology Teaching & Training Policy & Management
Leadership Instructional Design Leadership
Instructional Design Library & Copyright DE Systems
Multimedia Assessment Library & Copyright
Globalization & Multimedia Assessment
Development Distance Training DE Business
Advanced Technologies Virtual K-12 Globalization &
Internet Technologies Development
Capstone : E-portfolio & Research Project

15. Course development
• UMUC • Oldenburg
 DE Technologies  Foundations
 Training at a distance  Costing and Budgeting
 DE in K-12  Learner support
 Library and copyright  Multimedia in DE
 Instructional design  Assessment
 Leadership  Globalization and development
 DE systems
 Business in DE

16. Course development
• UMUC • Oldenburg
 DE Technologies  Foundations
 Training at a distance  Costing and Budgeting
 DE in K-12  Learner support
 Library and copyright  Multimedia in DE
 Instructional design  Assessment
 Leadership  Globalization and development
 DE systems
 Business in DE
Each partner is responsible for the
development of its share of courses, and
owns the decisions of staffing the course
every time it offered

17. Course delivery

18. Course delivery
Asynchronous mode (synchronous activities
are infrequent and usually not mandatory)
Proprietary platform
Everything done online, including
assessment

19. Course delivery
UMUC is the responsible partner for all of
course delivery functions:
- IT infrastructure & support
- Operational teaching & learning support
(other than faculty staffing)
- Digital library & copyright support

20. Library Services
• Databases
• E-journal + e-books
• Books and interlibrary
loan
• Tutorials for research
skills
• Librarian support: email,
chat, phone, in-class
(online)
• E-reserves
• Effective Writing Center

21. Student support

22. Student support: services
• Enrollment management / Registrar
 Admissions
 Financial aid
 Registration
 Advising
 Graduation
• Portal with self-services
• Academic specialist within the department
• Program director
• Library
• Office of disabilities

23. Student support
UMUC is the responsible partner for all*
of student support functions:
- Graduate advising
- Admissions, registering, financial aid…
- Applying for graduation, diplomas &
certificates…
- Self services through portal

24. Faculty support

25. Faculty support: services
• Recruitment
• Training: getting certified to teach online
• Professional development: continuous workshops in a variety of
themes
• Library support: resources and librarians
• Events: program-based and institution-based
• Administrative support
• Technical support
• Instructional support

26. Faculty support
UMUC is the responsible partner for all*
of faculty support functions:
- Faculty services
- Faculty training
- Faculty assessment

27. Research
Edited by OL.
The 13 volumes
already developed
will be soon
available in e-book
format.
Books are adopted
as part of several
courses.
Several edited with
contributions with
many experts in
DE.

28. International faculty & visiting experts

29. The Synergy of both partners
• Technological infrastructure
• Organizational support Communication
• Leadership support Diversity
• Support and training Recognition & Value in DE
infrastructure Quality
Autonomy
Faculty development
• Research
• Historical involvement in
DE
• Network of experts

30. Other environments:
Community information

31. Other environments:
Community knowledge

32. Other environments:
Community building

33. Other environments:
Faculty Sharing

34. Final remarks:
Latest and future
• Extension of the collaboration
 Dual degrees
 Oldenburg PhD option
 Partnering with international programs in smaller scale
• Potential greater internationalization of the student body
• Adoption of emerging technologies
• Greater interest in the partnership at the leadership level
• Community building efforts
• Student and graduate involvement
• Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the program 2009-2010

35. Thank you…
Contact:
sporto@umuc.edu