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At a Glance
The rapid transition from face-to-face instruction to remote learning in higher ed in the spring of 2020 and in response to the COVID-19 shutdown of most college campuses around the world was unprecedented. Many educators within weeks, if not days, turned to videoconferencing platforms to continue delivering their classes remotely.
While this quick pivot allowed most institutions to complete the school year, few could argue that the instruction given was at the level it should or could have been with greater preparation and planning. Educating students virtually takes a significant investment of time and resources to create quality courses and programs. What this pivot did do is give many instructors and administrators a glimpse into the potential benefits of online instruction for both teaching and learning, as well as the pitfalls that would have to be addressed to proceed.
This special report is intended for anyone who is interested in improving online education, including faculty members and administrators tasked with improving online instruction, and the campus leaders and boards of trustees who must allocate resources and ensure remote institution fulfills its mission. From showcasing how some institutions were preparing to grow online before the pandemic hit to how schools will now continue to expand online learning in light of the pandemic and potentially for the long term, this report lays out the pros and cons of different approaches to online instruction.
Learn how to design virtual programs that will fit your institution’s budget, mission and enrollment goals.
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Topics Include
- The state of digital learning before the onset of COVID-19
- Securing accreditation for new online programs
- Different models for institutions going online: build, buy or hybrid
- Selecting and working with online program management companies (OPMs)
- Key institutional considerations before going online
- Core elements required to deliver high-quality online education
Table of Contents
Introduction: An Unprecedented Transition to Remote Learning
Part I: The State of Online Higher Education Today
New Motivation to Move Online
The Online Learning Landscape in Numbers
Accreditation and Regulation
Key Takeaways
Part II: Models for Institutions Going Online
Basic Questions
Going It Alone
Outsourcing
Case Study: Maryville University
Case Study: Concordia University Portland
Case Study: University of Illinois Springfield
Consortia and Course Sharing
The MOOC Route
Key Questions to Ask
Key Takeaways
Conclusion: Shared Goals Online
About the Authors:
Lindsay McKenzie is the technology reporter at Inside Higher Ed. Since joining the publication in August 2017, Lindsay has written extensively about the evolving online program management market and what it takes for colleges to go big online. When she isn’t writing about online learning trends, Lindsay regularly reports on the academic publishing industry and campus IT issues such as digital accessibility and data security. Originally from England, Lindsay moved to Washington, D.C., in December 2016. Before joining Inside Higher Ed, Lindsay reported on British and European science policy for Research Fortnight in London. Her work has also appeared in Science, Nature and The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Doug Lederman is editor and co-founder of Inside Higher Ed. He also writes the weekly “Transforming Teaching and Learning” column.
Lilah Burke, who contributed to this project, is a reporter at Inside Higher Ed.
Number of Pages: 68 (7.6 MB PDF)
Date Released: June 22, 2020
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ISBN: 978-1-7327300-7-6
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