1. What is a distance
educator?
Master of Distance Education
Graduate School of Management & Technology
University of Maryland University College
2. What are the core roles of distance
educators?
Here is one
Administrator
Instructional possibility…
designer
• staffing
• course development
• planning
• curriculum development
• operational control
Teacher
Consultant • pedagogy IT specialist
• delivery
• advice
• media
• audit
• infrastructure
3. Core roles and distance educator jobs
match?
Not necessarily…
Needs of the market are still blurred
Professionals come with diverse
backgrounds
Professional development is not yet
standardized
The professional is not yet fully known
within many rising markets
4. Defining the Dist. Educator…
Wecan use core roles to define sample
jobs
Combinations vary immensely
Eachcore role contributes with a subset of
competencies, that together define a
specific D.Educator job
Let’s see some examples…
9. The D.E. Unit Manager
IT specialist
Adm
i
nist
DEducatorrator
Consultant
10. The IT Manager
Consultant Adm
i nistr
ator
DEducator
IT specialist
11. The IT Support Specialist
DEducator
IT specialist
Adm
i nistr
ator
Consultant
12. What are the general knowledge areas
for these groups of professionals?
IT / Network / HW & SW training
Management theory & practice
Student Support Services
Technology management
Distance Education Systems
Cost Analysis and Economics of D.E.
Course Development and Instructional Design
Multimedia / Web-based instruction
Faculty training and development
The Business of DE
13. Where can these professionals get their
necessary training?
Short courses
State University of West Georgia
Many others…
Certificate programs
Wisconsin
UMUC
BOU
University of South Africa
14. Where can these professionals get their
necessary training?
Masters degree programs
UMUC
Athabasca University (Canada)
California State University at Hayward
University of Phoenix
Capela University
Nova Southeastern
Walden
BOU (UK)
University of Southern Queensland (AUS)
George Washington University
Florida State University
15. Where can these professionals get their
necessary training?
PhD programs
Athabasca
Nova Southeastern
Walden
16. Where can one get information about
job availability for DEducators?
The Chronicle of Higher Education
E-learning Jobs
University Continuing Education Association (UCEA)
American Society for Training and Development (ASTD)
The e-Learning Guild
USDLA
Higher Ed Jobs
MDE Job Board
17. What is the “market” for distance
education professionals?
Academic DE director / DE Director
DE coordinator
Instructional Designer
Online Faculty Trainer
Development Manager
Director of Training
Assistant Dean for DE
18. So… What will be the job
of a DEducator in…
5 years?
10 years?
19. In 5 years:
The generalist…
Consultant
D.Educator
Adm
i nistr
ator
IT specialist
20. In 10 years:
The generalist…
D.Educator
Consultant Adm
i nistr
ator
IT specialist