University to expand current online graduate programs

The University will focus on expanding its existing graduate distance learning programs and using distance learning to enhance other programs, according to the report released last Tuesday by the Working Group on Distance Learning. Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Distance Working Group chair Michaele Whelan explained that though distance learning works extremely well in Graduate Professional Studies within the Rabb School of Continuing Studies, it is not something that would easily transfer to undergraduate education. Whelan said that the typical undergraduate lifestyle is not very conducive to online education because distance learning courses require readings and responses to be completed in specific time windows.

The Working Group on Distance Learning was convened in July 2009 by Provost Marty Krauss to discuss the University's use of online learning tools. The committee consisted of administrators from different schools within the University and was charged to inventory the success of current distance learning programs at Brandeis as well as to research possibilities for expanding such programs.

Working Group on Distance Learning committee member and Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences Elaine Wong referred the Justice to Whelan to talk about the report. Krauss also deferred questions to Whelan.

Currently, Graduate Professional Studies within the Rabb School "offers five out of its six ten-course, part-time, graduate professional master's degree programs entirely online," according to the report. Whelan said that the GPS online courses are attractive because they are capped at 20 students, which makes them very interactive. These courses use a slightly modified and enhanced LATTE platform and also use the software Elluminate, which is widely used by schools to provide real-time online interaction among teachers and students, she said.

The Working Group on Distance Learning reported that other instances of distance learning on campus include Webinars or web conferences which are offered through the alumni office, and the use of Elluminate at the Executive Education program within the Heller School for Social Policy and Management. Elluminate, in this case, is used to provide interaction with remote speakers and is supplemental to a more traditional course setting.

Apart from looking at the presence of online education at Brandeis, the Working Group on Distance Learning also surveyed other universities on their use of distance learning. Whelan said that the Rabb GPS program might consider teaming up with a marketing firm like similar programs at other universities have to bring in participants from a larger geographical radius.

Furthermore, the report says that in thinking about distance learning for the long run, the University would need to invest in increased technological infrastructure and support. The Working Group on Distance Learning said that depending on the scale of new activities, there would need to be four new full-time LTS positions as well as other part-time ones for software and course development in addition to technology support. Other investment considerations described were possible incentives for faculty, salaries of staff to support distance learning, advertisement costs and costs of improved technology. According to Whelan, distance learning "makes money, but not quickly."

For the time being, the report suggested that an Online Learning Advisory Committee be formed, which would be dedicated to the presence of distance learning on campus. The Division of the Brandeis University Summer School, also within the Rabb School, also has plans to pilot a few courses that would use some distance learning components. According to Whelan, the courses would be hybrids and would be a combination of real classroom time and online learning. This could also be a model for Justice Brandeis Semester programs at some point.

President Jehuda Reinharz's Bold Ideas Group will likely include the suggestions of the Working Group on Distance Learning in its final report, Whelan said. According to its Web site, BIG is charged with "the responsibility of developing a set of exciting and innovative initiatives that will help to raise our academic profile nationally and internationally, while simultaneously providing significant new revenue streams."

Whelan said that a few of these suggestions may include expanding marketing for existing distance learning programs within the Rabb School of Continuing Studies, as well as starting some new combination online and classroom masters programs through the other graduate schools.