2008 Woodie Awards
RE: "President aims ... ,"4/21
Linda Elvin | Distance Learning Center Coordinator
Issue date: 4/28/08 Section: Letters to the editor
One of the proposals in the De Anza reorganization is to move the Distance Learning Center away from Instruction and place it under the Vice President of Finance and College Services. The logic is that we would have the same reporting structure as the Technology Resources Group.
The Distance Learning Center is best served and best serves the campus by having a direct report on the instructional side of the campus. Without a point-of-contact within Instruction, the lines of communication will be broken and the Distance Learning Center will not be appropriately informed of changes, planning and other developments in instruction that directly affect what we do.
Distance learning is very much a part of instruction. Title V of the California Education Code gives Distance Learning the responsibility to review and sign off on the Distance Learning Curriculum Addendum. The Distance Learning Center assists instructors with the pedagogy of teaching online. Distance learning is not about technology, but about how best to use the technology to teach and learn. Putting the emphasis on technology is sending the wrong message. Instructors use technology in traditional classes as well as distance learning classes. In either case, technology is simply a tool used to support learning.
The 2007 nationwide survey of community college distance education programs mentioned in the La Voz article, states that 69 percent of respondents reported to an academic administrator, "… this is up 5 percent from the previous year, and up more than 20 percent from 2005." To go against this trend would be a step backward for distance learning at De Anza.
The Distance Learning Center is best served and best serves the campus by having a direct report on the instructional side of the campus. Without a point-of-contact within Instruction, the lines of communication will be broken and the Distance Learning Center will not be appropriately informed of changes, planning and other developments in instruction that directly affect what we do.
Distance learning is very much a part of instruction. Title V of the California Education Code gives Distance Learning the responsibility to review and sign off on the Distance Learning Curriculum Addendum. The Distance Learning Center assists instructors with the pedagogy of teaching online. Distance learning is not about technology, but about how best to use the technology to teach and learn. Putting the emphasis on technology is sending the wrong message. Instructors use technology in traditional classes as well as distance learning classes. In either case, technology is simply a tool used to support learning.
The 2007 nationwide survey of community college distance education programs mentioned in the La Voz article, states that 69 percent of respondents reported to an academic administrator, "… this is up 5 percent from the previous year, and up more than 20 percent from 2005." To go against this trend would be a step backward for distance learning at De Anza.
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