BEST PRACTICES

CTDLC ROLE IN HELPING
INSTITUTIONS MEET THEM

1. Institutional Context and Commitment

1a. Program is consistent with institution's role and mission

• Funding of programs takes into account institutions role and mission

1b. Does distributed program represent a significant change to the institution.

Internal to institution

1c. Budget and policy reflect a commitment to the program

Internal to institution

1d. Assures adequacy of technical and staffing support

• CTDLC supplies technical and staffing support to both students and faculty.

1e. Internal organizational structure

Internal to institution

1f. Articulation and transfer

• CTDLC helps with transfer and articulation agreements especially in helping create and fund articulated programs.

1g. Strives to assure a consistent technological framework

• CTDLC offers consistent technological framework

1h. Provides technical support

• CTDLC provides 7 day/wk technical support

1i. Selection of technologies is based on appropriateness for students and curriculum

• CTDLC provides 2 (soon 3) technological solutions for online programs

1j. Institution understand legal and regulatory requirements

Internal to institution

2. Curriculum and Instruction

2a. Program has collegiate level learning outcomes, is coherent, and includes general education requirements

• CTDLC funded programs must meet this criteria
• CTDLC provides technical assistance in creating a learning assessment plans (required for all funded programs)

2b. Academically qualified persons participate fully in curriculum and program oversight

Internal to institution

2c. Institutions provides a coherent plan for the student at complete the program

Internal to institution

2d. Provides effective oversight of consortial partners

Internal to institution

2e. Importance of interaction is reflected in design of program and in technical facilities and services provided

• CTDLC's technology creates ease of interaction among students and between students and faculty
• CTDLC's faculty training emphasizes importance of interaction.  Our technical and training staff work with faculty to create assignments, projects, etc that enhance quality learning through interaction.
• CTDLC's evaluation measures student satisfaction with several types of interaction

§    3. Faculty Support

3a. Institution has considered workload, compensation, ownership issues.

Internal to institution

• CTDLC provides models to institutions to help them make these decisions.

3b. Provides ongoing technical, design, and production support for faculty

• Provided by CTDLC

3c. Provides training in technology and pedagogy to those responsible for program development.

• CTDLC provides an online teacher-training course which deals with both pedagogical and technical issues.
• CTDLC provides workshops and conferences with keep faculty up to date with pedagogical and technological changes

• Ongoing evaluation by CTDLC help faculty continue to improve their courses both pedagogically and technically

3d. Provides training in technology and pedagogy to those who work directly with students.

• CTDLC provides an online teacher-training course which deals with both pedagogical and technical issues.
• CTDLC provides workshops and conferences with keep faculty up to date with pedagogical and technological changes

• Ongoing evaluation by CTDLC help faculty continue to improve their courses both pedagogically and technically.

4. Student Support

4a. Commitment to continuation of program to allow those who start to finish

Internal to institution

• Criteria of program funding committe

4b. Prior to admitting student, institution ensures student is:

• academically qualified,
  
• has required access to technology,
  
• has technical competency
  
• understands costs and payment
  
• understands curriculum design, time frame, and learning objectives
  
• is informed of available library and learning services
  
• is informed of student support services
  
• is informed about how to interact with faculty and students
  
• understands independent learning expectations
• informs student about estimated time for program completion

• CTDLC sample course for students
• CTDLC sample course for students

• CTDLC sample course for students
• CTDLC sample course for students

Internal to institution (CTDLC provides technical assistance)

4c. Appropriate services must be available for students of electronically offered programs:

• Accurate and timely information about the institution
• Pre-registration advising
• Application for admission
• Placement testing
• Enrollment/registration in programs and courses
• Financial Aid

• Secure payment arrangements
• Academic advising

• Timely intervention regarding student progress
• Tutoring
• Career counseling and placement
• Academic progress information
• Library resources
• Training in information literacy
• Bookstore services
• Ongoing technical support
• Referrals for students with disabilities and/or personal counseling
• Access to grievance procedures

Internal to institution
Internal to institution
Internal to institution
Internal to institution
Internal to institution (CTDLC technical assistance)

• Members are part of DOE demonstration project.  Info on CTDLC web site with appropriate links
• CTDLC can provide
• CTDLC working with institutions to create advising that crosses institutional boundaries
  
  Internal to institution
• CTDLC working with institutions to create a collaborative tutoring solution for its members
  Internal to institution
• CT State Library
  Internal to institution
  Internal to institution
• CTDLC provides 7 days a week
  Internal to institution

Internal to institution

4d. Create a sense of community

Internal to institution (CTDLC provides technical support)

5. Evaluation and Assessment

5a. Documented assessment of student achievement is conducted in each course and at completion of program comparing student performance to learning outcomes

• See CTDLC learning assessment plan

5b. Examinations are secure; institution otherwise seeks to assure the integrity of student work

• Encourage faculty to use assessment methods that ensure integrity
• Provide institutions with method of securing exam proctors outside geographic boundaries of institution

5c. Documented procedures assure that security of personal information is protected

Internal to institution

5d. Overall program effectiveness is evaluated (many ways)

• See CTDLC learning assessment plan

5e. Institution conducts program of continual self-evaluation

Internal to institution

5f. Institutional evaluation of electronically offered programs takes place in context of the regular evaluation of all academic programs

Internal to institution