#TBT
"The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future." - Theodore Roosevelt
History of eLearning at UAA
eLearning defined at UAA...
eLearning courses are 0% to 50% location-based. Students see this division in UAOnline in two different divisions:
- "eLearning courses only - No location based delivery"
- "Blended courses only - up to 50% location based"
Growth of eLearning...
- In the UAA 2018 Performance Report, it is noted that while there has been some decline in total student credit hours overall, there has been growth when looking at eLearning credit hours alone. From 2017 to 2018, we saw a 7% growth in online credit hours taken.
- In 2003, a web page was created in efforts to combine distance related information from all of the main University of Alaska campuses. This page still exists today and is known as the "Distance Gateway" site. You can find helpful information to get started as well as a list of all online programs/certificates offered through UAA, UAF, and UAS.
eLearning in 2006
In the UAA 2006 Performance Report, there is a lot of talk about the growth of distance education over the last few years. From 2003 to 2005, online course sections increased nearly 60%. At this time, there are already a few programs offered fully online, including the Master of Public Health and the Master of Education in Early Childhood Special Education.
eLearning in 2013
Distance Education Services becomes eLearning: Distance Student Services as the office moves out from I.T. Services and underneath Academic Innovations & eLearning (AI&e). With the focus of AI&e being innovative technologies and supporting online faculty, eLearning is able to start focusing on building our student support services.
eLearning in 2018
Today, the eLearning office supports over 400 online courses and 5,000 students each semester. Since 2013, we've been busy adding to our services that we offer for online students. We run a Blackboard Orientation, send semester newsletters, offer remote online testing services, and offer presentations on campus to increase awareness of online education.
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Looking back with Keith, eLearning Manager
Q: How long have you been working with eLearning at UAA?
A: 11+ years
Q: Why did you start working with online?
A: I started working for UAA with the intent of completing my Bachelor's degree and moving on. At the time, online education was completely new to myself. However, I quickly became invested in online education at UAA and now my primary focus is ensuring that we have extensive support services for our online students.
Q: What's a big change you would like to note in your time at UAA in online education?
A: Some of the biggest changes I've seen include introducing online test proctoring services, which allows students the flexibility to take their proctored exams without having to go into physical testing center.
The development of regular eLearning communications to students throughout their semesters to help keep them focused on their academic success.
Over the past few years, UAA has taken initiative in getting more courses offered through online education, which falls inline with the demands of students who need the added flexibility that online courses can offer them.
Q: What's an interesting fact about early online classes that people might not know today?
A: During my time here at the University, I have seen the structure for online courses transition from televised courses broadcast on local service channels, audio conferencing where students needed to dial into class using their phones, to it's current standard format(s) of asynchronous Blackboard courses and synchronous Blackboard Collaborate courses.