Online Education in Support of Career Development - Needs, Challenges and Opportunities for Higher Education
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The document discusses opportunities and challenges for online higher education. It notes that online education is growing and can help learners access education flexibly. However, learners and employers expect high-quality, engaging, career-relevant learning. Online programs need strong branding, mobile access, personalized learning, and community support. The document also provides strategies for institutions to develop online education, such as aligning with their mission, starting small, and incentivizing faculty involvement.
Online Education in Support of Career Development - Needs, Challenges and Opportunities for Higher Education
- 1. Dr. Andy DiPaolo Executive Director, SCPD Sr. Associate Dean, School of Engineering Stanford University Online Education in Support of Career Development Needs, Challenges and Opportunities for Higher Education
- 3. Bangalore: Silicon Valley of India
- 4. And what is it like to get there…
- 5. An online education opportunity?
- 6. Online Education Continues to Evolve… Successfully established with mixed elements of hype and reality and rapidly becoming mainstream. It is growing, here to stay and becoming a larger part of an institution’s portfolio. Many providers ranging from traditional universities to collaborations to start-ups. Learners select online providers based on quality, cost, brand, pedagogy and especially those most able to aid in employability and career growth.
- 7. The Challenge What Do Lifelong Learners and Employers Want, Need and Expect of Online Higher Education Providers?
- 8. The Online Learner Challenge Assume responsibility for increasing personal market value. Busy yet anxious to learn. Access to learning anytime and anywhere. Learners want a mobile, on-the-go, 24/7 connection to education .
- 9. The Online Learner Challenge Convenience and flexibility with a range of course and delivery options and multiple avenues for learning. Wide range of online degree, certification and career-building programs with flexibility around when programs start and end. Push is for short, focused modules and “learning experiences” versus courses.
- 10. Well-designed, engaging, relevant and continuously updated programs which facilitate the transfer of learning to direct application. Rapid mastery of knowledge and skills – practice oriented education – is the desire. Want mix of formal and informal education. Emphasis on active, challenging scenario-based learning using real, vivid and familiar examples. Think games, simulations and shared virtual environments. The Online Learner Challenge
- 11. Self-directed, demand-driven learning with control of the sequence and pace of learning. Impatient with inefficient methods. Want to multi-task while learning. Choice of synchronous, asynchronous and blended learning options with small class sizes. The Online Learner Challenge
- 12. Personal learning paths based on assessment of knowledge gaps, learning styles & preferences. Think TIVO. Shift from “just-in-case” to “just-in-time” to “just-for-me” education. Expert facilitation along with provisions for e-advising, e-coaching and e-mentoring. The Online Learner Challenge
- 13. Participation in a learning community using social networking tools for peer-to-peer learning and relationship building. Shift from "connectivity to collectivity” – Web 2.0 – and interest in Web 3.0 virtual worlds. Chance to learn, refine and apply online collaboration skills and knowledge management tools in group learning situations. Interest in international interactions. The Online Learner Challenge
- 14. The Online Learner Challenge Access to providers with a recognized brand and reputation. Will consider content integrated from a mix of higher education, professional associations, publishers, govt agencies and companies – but want formal “certification” from a university. Preview of courses, rating of content and assignments, and review of evaluations before registering.
- 15. Development of digital career portfolio to include faculty reviews and archiving functions. Personal support services with a focus on “student as customer.” Elimination of delays and inefficient procedures regarded as essential. Competitive and variable pricing. The Online Learner Challenge
- 16. Timely, prompt, detailed and meaningful forms of assessment and feedback. Delivery to mobile devices which are smarter, faster, cheaper and usable anywhere. Ongoing educational renewal over an entire career with commitment from their institution to support learning for a lifetime. The Online Learner Challenge
- 17. Venture Capital Prospectus Online Higher Education Company Higher Education… Is one of the most fertile new markets for investors in many years. Presents the opportunity for very large scale activities. Has many disgruntled current users.
- 18. Venture Capital Prospectus Online Higher Education Company Generates a large amount of revenue and its market is increasing and becoming global. Poorly run, low in productivity, high in cost, and relatively low technology utilization. Existing management is sleepy after years of monopoly and field is ripe for takeover, remaking and profits.
- 19. Online Education Entrepreneurs Versus Traditional Institutions Larger investments, more resources. Nimble, flexible, responsive and speedy to market with a deep understanding of students and their needs. Apply commercial grade marketing, sales, customer service, course design and production skills.
- 20. Online Education Entrepreneurs Versus Traditional Institutions Ability to easily capitalize on instructional technology. Freedom from academic politics and bureaucracy with strict instructor evaluation measures. Regard education as a commodity.
- 21. Online Education: How Does Stanford Do It?
- 22. Very strong history of connections to industry. Stanford University Located in Silicon Valley and recognized as offering high quality research and education programs. Schools: Engineering, Medicine, Law, Business, Humanities, Earth Science and Education . Research: over 4500 projects at $1.1B
- 23. Stanford University and Industry “ Stanford University fosters a climate where collaboration with industry thrives, generating both break through discoveries and the science and technology that can support continuous innovation.” “ With a long history of very productive relationships with corporations of all sizes, from startups to mature, successful enterprises, Stanford provides firms with education, research partnerships, consulting, and connections to world class faculty and students.” - Stanford Corporate Relations
- 24. Stanford Center for Professional Development SCPD collaborates with Stanford faculty and industry experts to develop and deliver graduate and non-credit programs online, on campus and at work to meet the lifelong education needs of professionals and managers.
- 25. Stanford Center for Professional Development Degrees, Certificates, Individual Courses … to meet your education and schedule requirements Stanford University Curriculum and Research Delivers lifelong education to increase productivity, support career growth and strengthen corporate competitiveness. Professional Programs Graduate Programs
- 26. SCPD Students 420 SCPD member companies
- 27. The Problem “ What our engineers and managers are saying is that the demands of their jobs are such that they can’t get away from work. Since they are working 60 hours a week any education they get has to be at their convenience and available online . ” - Manager of Engineering Education - Amp Inc.
- 28. Provide busy, mobile professionals and managers access to career-long education where and when needed. Stanford Online
- 29. Stanford Online Delivers asynchronous graduate education and professional programs to industry students in 40 countries. First university to offer online graduate degree in engineering and science. Current online portfolio: 52 masters degree concentrations, 40 graduate certificates, 65 professional ed courses and thousands of hours of free programs.
- 30. Stanford Online Courses updated annually to insure coverage of latest research and application. Rapid production process. Uses community tools. Used strategically in support of Stanford’s departments, centers and research initiatives. Highly valued by distance and campus students.
- 31. Open and free access to complete courses in electrical engineering and computer science for use, reuse, adaptation and redistribution by educators, students, and self-learners. SEE.Stanford.edu Stanford Engineering Everywhere
- 32. Choices and Challenges “ Impressive advances in technology over the past few years provide hope that technological solutions, intelligently applied, can allow greater access, higher quality and lower cost per learner. To achieve massive improvements through technologies will require learning from past mistakes and careful analysis of how to innovate broadly and durably.” - Sir John Daniel Former Vice Chancellor, UK Open University
- 33. Converting Lessons Learned into Institutional Strategies Ten Recommendations for Online Higher Education
- 34. Strategies 1. Online education program needs to be consistent with institution’s mission, values, strengths and areas of distinction. It should build from tradition in new ways. 2. Begin with a clear, worthy strategic plan – in alignment with the institution’s plan – keeping it close to core faculty and stakeholders. Best to use traditional academic structures and systems to promote change and accelerate development.
- 35. Strategies 3. Position online education initiative as a way to extend and enhance existing programs. Develop a unique niche to meet a local, national or global market need. Consider forging alliances and working with outside partners, but protect the brand. 4. Aim for the “sweet spot” – intersection of audience needs and wants, institutional strengths, faculty interests and what people will pay for.
- 36. Strategies 5. Think course-to-certificate-to-degree progression. Online versions of existing courses are easier to create than new ones. Continuing and professional education is a good place to start. 6. Recruit and train faculty by offering incentives and rewards supportive of innovation. Address concerns regarding ownership of intellectual property, increased student demands and impact on workload.
- 37. Strategies 7. Develop a financial model covering costs and investments with revenue distributed to participating departments and faculty. Point out non-revenue values of online education outreach. 8. Start small: pilot with existing students, alumni and focus groups. Experiment, adapt, improve and incorporate best practices. Grow carefully in order to scale and sustain. Publicize only when ready and showcase success stories.
- 38. Strategies 9. Don’t do it all locally. Work with faculty to develop online courses using their own materials blended with others that are free or purchased. 10. Identify every possible service interaction so that online students and faculty have a productive, positive and rewarding experience. Be fast, flexible and attentive.
- 39. Choices and Challenges Remember: it is not about technology – it is about innovation to improve learning! Question everything like an entrepreneur. Think daringly, execute steadily. Capitalize on the unexpected and have the courage to stop doing. Appoint faculty and staff with vision, passion and a willingness to take risks.
- 40. Choices and Challenges “ The scarce resource today is not bandwidth, but people who can create and innovate in the knowledge age.” - How Academic Leadership Works
- 41. [email protected] scpd.stanford.edu Questions and Conversations
- 42. Dr. Andy DiPaolo Executive Director, SCPD Sr. Associate Dean, School of Engineering Stanford University Online Education in Support of Career Development Needs, Challenges and Opportunities for Higher Education
Editor's Notes
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