August 18, 2005

School News

Growth of online courses fueled by student and employer demand

Enrollments in online courses taken through Wisconsin's technical colleges have increased for the fifth consecutive year.

For the fiscal year ending June 30, total enrollments for online learners increased by nearly 30 percent, reaching 3,885 full-time students equivalents.

"Students are really in the driver's seat and are guiding that trend, many of whom wouldn't be able to experience the wealth of resources available within the Wisconsin Technical College System without the plethora of more flexible options our districts are providing them," said Brent Nelson, executive director of eTech College of Wisconsin, the technical colleges' distance learning consortium.

"Students are simply demanding more online courses," he said.

Recent student surveys show that 81 percent of students currently enrolled in online courses enrolled in the course specifically because it was offered online. The benefits to student are many, particularly in allowing the flexibility to scheduled around students' already busy lives.

"We have students for whom online courses have made a significant difference in their lives," he continued. "Most of our students are working full time and have family commitments. Online courses allow them to earn a degree, advance their careers or learn skills for a career change."

A key element to success in meeting evolving students needs is the fact that many instructors at Wisconsin's technical colleges are embracing online learning, but they caution that online courses are not for all students or all subject matters - teaching welding online is one example.

Online instructors emphasize that online courses work best for those students who are self-disciplined, focused and have good computer skills. They note that online courses provide them with some of the same benefits that traditional classroom students reap and more: additional scheduling flexibility, ability to prevent some lower-enrollment courses from being dropped and the ability to reach new students who might not otherwise attend a Wisconsin technical college.

"We shouldn't think of distance-education as 'learning in isolation' anymore," Nelson said. "Technology has allowed us to go well beyond simple access issues and to truly build learning communities. Participation, interaction, quality and timely feedback are integral to most learning experiences and we are certainly able to provide that now in our distance-learning communities."

Economic development is certainly an additional catalyst for the growth trends.

"Employers today want people who are willing to learn new skills over the course of their careers - lifelong-leaners," said Dan Clancy, president of the Wisconsin Technical College System. "Not only are technical colleges uniquely positioned to provide the types of hands-on training that employers want, but we are then rewarded in that 96 percent of these graduates remain in the state.

"The mission of the Wisconsin Technical System from its inception has been in 'reaching out' that no one gets left behind. eTech College has been a way for us to better reach learners who might otherwise not reap the benefits we can offer and to help meet growing demand - a way for us to look at the wealth of resources already existing within the Wisconsin Technical College System and deploy them in ways that better serve students and provide efficiencies for our campuses."

 

eTech Colleges of Wisconsin

eTech College is a collaborative effort of all 16 technical colleges in Wisconsin. An executive board comprised of presidents and others from the colleges oversees the eTech College program and works closely with standing communities to develop standards for the curriculum, instructional design, faculty/staff preparation, student support and other factors critical to consistent delivery of quality educational experiences to students through online courses.

To learn more about eTech College, visit the website at www.etechcollege.org.

Wisconsin's Technical Colleges offer more than 300 programs to individuals who receive two-year associate degrees, one- and two-year technical diplomas and short-term technical diplomas. Wisconsin's business and industry turn to the technical colleges for customized training and technical assistance. One out of every nine adults in the state uses the 16 technical colleges for career preparation and continuing education each year.

The WTCS website is located at www.witechcolleges.org.

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Prescott School District to share in $200,000 grant

Sixteen projects throughout Wisconsin are sharing $2.4 million in funding under the federal Enhancing Education through Technology program, supporting schools as they improve the use of computers and other educational technology to raise student achievement.

These competitive grants will impact 198 school districts throughout the state. State superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster commended district consortiums for writing competitive grant applications to run special projects.

"Every public school uses computers and other educational technology to support classroom instruction," Burmaster said. "Targeting funding to help educators master the use of educational technology in curriculum and daily lessons will help us support student learning and close the achievement gap."

CESA 11, which includes the Prescott School District, was awarded $200,000.

Federal Ed Tech grants are targeted to districts with student poverty rates that are among the highest in each state. In Wisconsin, a poverty rate of 10 percent or more was the primary criteria for eligibility. Additionally, there are other criteria used that relate to improving student achievement.

In Wisconsin, applications for Ed Tech grants must direct 60 percent of Ed Tech funds to professional development to improve classroom teaching through the use of technology. Assessments of teachers' use of educational technology in the classroom shows that providing research-based professional development is critical to supporting improved student achievement.

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