Exploring Digital & Global Education
Discovering
Work and Learning Strategies
for the New Millennium
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Exploring Digital & Global Education Discovering
Work and Learning Strategies |
After completing some exercises to stimulate creative thinking the student volunteers worked in small groups to address the questions about SPJC in 2010 in the areas of traditional on-campus credit courses, distance learning, and Noncredit learning.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
BACKGROUND
On March 22, 1999 fifteen students, representing five St. Petersburg Junior College campuses, engaged in an intensive discussion and formed a vision of what St. Petersburg Junior College would be like in 2010. After completing some exercises to stimulate creative thinking, the student volunteers worked in small groups to address the questions to help them vision SPJC in 2010 in three scenarios: traditional on-campus credit, distance learning, and noncredit programs and support services. The instructions were to give free rein to all the possibilities in their brainstorming without regard to constraints.
ON-CAMPUS CREDIT SCENARIO
The On-Campus Credit Scenario
Group envisions that between now and 2010 SPJC will develop its image
in Pinellas County by touting in a continuing marketing blitz the
College's low student/teacher ratio, high quality of instruction,
excellent financial aid opportunities, and wide variety of course,
certificate and degree programs. SPJC recruits in the high schools by
giving SPJC students a mini scholarship to take a credit course
entitled Volunteering/Community Service, which places them in the
schools to do the mentoring. There will be better communication
between high school teachers and counselors and the SPJC faculty and
counselors in order to encourage high schoolers to develop personal
goals and take more of the college preparatory high school
curriculum. An organized innovative marketing plan overhauls SPJC's
image in the community by use of novel marketing techniques instead
of billboards and other traditional methods.
DISTANCE LEARNING SCENARIO
The highlights of the Distance
Learning Scenario group's work included suggestions to have all
services available online: registration, leasing solar laptops with
videoconferencing capabilities, cyber textbooks, cyber library. The
Florida Community College System would have a statewide general
education curriculum; each community college would specialize in
particular distance learning AS and/or certificate programs. This
specialization system would ensure the quality of each academic
distance learning program as well as increase the ease of scheduling
and distance learning program options for students. The group
suggested that video retinal scans could verify identities of the
students participating in a chat or taking a test online. They
envisioned that laptops would be made available to students through
low cost leases and that on-campus courses not using technology would
have discounted tuition since the technology for distance courses
would add to the cost of delivering them. They stressed that high
touch would be maintained via chatrooms, synchronous
videoconferencing and, with a bit tongue in cheek, suggested that in
the best of all worlds, students would be flown from all around the
world to SPJC for a week of classes at least once during a
course.
NONCREDIT SCENARIO
The Noncredit Scenario group began the session
with a vigorous discussion of whether or not community colleges
should offer noncredit curriculum. The Con Debating side argued that
noncredit courses should be a part of Community and Vocational
Technical Schools, that community colleges and universities should
offer only college credit curriculum. In contrast, the Pro Debating
group successfully argued that continuing education and enrichment
meet community needs for employment skills and personal enrichment,
important functions of the mission of "community" colleges. Once
consensus was reached the group envisioned that SPJC's Noncredit
Courses and Programs in 2010 would have "lots of options" in course
content; in times, schedules and duration of classes. Classes would
be taught at numerous locations throughout Pinellas County.
Employment skills and upgrading of skills would be available as
"credit to go" courses for corporate clients. They also believed that
the "Just-in-Time"
courses would be popular in skill fields (that is, such areas as
veterinary technician updates and "how to" courses). Lifelong
Learning enrichment courses and continuing education programs would
be taught also at a distance via the internet in a series of 1-3 hour
modules (including "Just-in-Time" course segments). These noncredit
learning opportunities would be marketed in a way that would be "Less
Ordinary, More Extraordinary." The group suggested such ideas as (1)
advertising on shopping bags used at such stores as Kmart, Wal-Mart,
and Publix or the stores' placing SPJC fliers in their bags, (2)
placing discount coupons in the clip-out coupon section of the Sunday
newspaper, (3) airing television ads on the Learning Channel, and (4)
placing banner ads on internet providers such as America Online for
AOL members in Pinellas County area.
GROUP BREAK-OUT SESSION SUMMARY
GROUP ONE
It is the Year 2010, and St. Petersburg Junior College provides premier learning services to students earning credit toward college certificates and AA & AS degrees. Describe the factors and features of SPJC that make it successful in spite of the many options available from private schools and distance learning competitors.
CHARTS:
1. Low Student/Teacher Ratio
2. Change Image of SPJC
3. Quality of Instruction
* Cost
* Convenience
Students can take courses at their
convenience because they are scheduled in a variety of time periods
and with distance learning components.
* More Published Financial Aid
Students and the Tampa Bay Area will
have a detailed knowledge of financial aid because these
opportunities will be outlined in a variety of brochures and
Financial Aid Forums will be held in high schools and the
community.
* More Preparation in for High School Students
- SPJC and high school instructors
will work closely via articulated workshops so students will be
better prepared and move smoothly into the college arena.
- Articulation with High School Teachers and SPJC Instructors
- Goal-oriented Programs for High School Students
- Currently Enrolled SPJC Students will be Volunteering/Mentoring at Local High Schools
- Parental Involvement
- Like Fundamental Schools, high
schools will devlop Parental Involvement Activities.
* More Advertising for Non-Degree Seeking
Students
Students who come to SPJC to gain
particular areas of knowledge and skills for their careers
- Computer Classes
- Continuing Education courses: To update and upgrade the work skills of workforce professionals
* "SPJC will offer the most up-to-date technologically advanced programs available, and will be a leader in the area of Distance Learning."
NOTES:
Cost
Convenience
Quality of Instruction
Student Body
2 Year Degree to allow Greater Earnings Potential to be able to Afford 4 Year Degree
70% State Funding &endash; Need to Expand sources of Income
Involvement in High School
Legislature to Improve Requirements
Dual-Credit Classes
Student Volunteering Credit/Scholarship to Promote SPJC for High School Students
Get Parents Involved in Goal and Scholarship Planning Sessions
GROUP TWO
It is the year 2010, and St. Petersburg Junior College provides premier learning services to students earning credit toward college certificates and AS & AA degrees. Describe the factors and features of SPJC that make it successful in spite of the many options available from private schools and distance learning competitors.
CHARTS:
1. Online Process in 2010 will include the following:
- Online Registration
- Leased Solar Laptops with Video Conferencing
- List of Books, URL's
- Students can Read the Books and Syllabus via Email and Internet
- Student can pick-up material
2. Reduced Fees for Physical Students
3. Universal General Education
* Specific "Focus" Areas per School: Each community college would specialize in certain degree/certificate programs.
* 1 hr/week Per Credit Hour Video Conferencing from the Classroom: Synchronous videoconferencing would be available to students each week.
* Guest Speakers and Virtual/Satellite Tours would be available for each course.
NOTES:
General Education as State-Wide
Specific "Focus" Areas Per School
Orientation, Mid-Term, Finals
Video Conferencing from Classroom, Chat Rooms with Guest Speakers &endash; 3 Hrs/Week
Eye Scanners to ensure it's the student
SPJC Leases Video Conferencing Units and the Computer to Students
Extremely Inexpensive Fees for on Campus Students Who Take the Class not using technology.
SPJC will Bring the Students in from Around the World and Provide Travel, Room and Board at no Cost to the Student &endash; Meet with the Instructor, Shadowing
Books made Available Online for Reading
Registration On-Line
Solar Lap-Tops with Video Conferencing &endash; Computers are Shipped with List of URL's, List of Books, Syllabus
Make-Up Classes
Specialists in the Field as Guest Speakers who take the Class on a Virtual Tour &endash; Interactive Operation
Cost will be the Difference for Private Schools Offering Programs Other than that of Liberal Arts
GROUP THREE
It is the year 2010, and St. Petersburg Junior College provides premier learning services to students earning credit toward college certificates and AS & AA degrees. Describe the factors and features of SPJC that make it successful in spite of the many options available from private schools and distance learning competitors.
Some Examples of Needs Served by Noncredit Offerings:
a) A man is remodeling his home, and needs to learn how to install ceramic tiles in the bathroom floor.
b) A business owner needs to create some print and web marketing for a new product. He gets in touch with SPJC and finds the help needed in designing the layout and writing the copy so that it is compelling.
c) A person interested in art as a hobby is learning art history and technique as his time permits.
CHARTS:
1. Expanded public relations efforts so that the community is more of aware of SPJC's extensive offerings and low cost.
2. More creative marketing that goes beyond billboards and makes use of fliers, coupons, supermarket bags and other innovative media for getting our message out.
3. Considering community needs when creating and scheduling classes by offering more flexible class hours and enrollment opportunities, courses tailored to corporate needs, Noncredit distance learning classes and on-site classes.
NOTES:
Advertising:
Kmart/Wal-Mart/Publix: advertise on their bags or provide SPJC fliers to be placed in shopping bags.
Discount Tuition Coupons in Sunday newspaper coupon section.
Air ads on Television, The Learning Channel (TLC) = Health Education Center
Advertising SPJC on banners On-line (AOL)
PR/Marketing
"Less Ordinary, More Extraordinary"
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Karly Barr |
Amber Bryant |
William Connolly |
Jim Creveling |
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Theron Heitfield |
Trish Jetter |
Rick Langton |
Willie Lucas |
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Daniel Prather |
Elisa Pritchett |
Carol Richardson |
Christine Smart |
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Catherine Wood |
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The staff participants were:
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Cathy Hakes |
Yvonne Ulmer |
Sean McCormick |
Dr. Esther Oliver |
