University of Waterloo
Distance Education Update
Aldo Caputo, Associate Director

Highlights

- experiencing significant growth in professional, course-based masters program, with many partially or fully online 
	- Masters in Math for Teachers
	- Masters in Environment & Business
- implemented an online course evaluation for DE courses as pilot for the university
- have completed first phase of internal reorganization, putting in place a structure that is better suited to online course development
- collaborating successfully with CTE, ITMS (Instructional Technology & Media Service support group), and Library
	- e.g., implementation of new Library system that better integrates e-reserves into LMS
- one of our online learning consultants has developed an educational program for the Academic Integrity Office designed for students who breach academic regulations
- redesigned the template for our online courses (that governs overall look and feel); highlights include comprehensive course schedule and course outline that will be digitally archived for each offer of the course
- we will be changing out me to "Centre for Extended Learning" in new year; "Distance" has become a bit of a misnomer since the majority of our students are on-campus (75%)

Challenges

- new accessibility legislation (Information and Communication Standards)
- implementation of Turnitin into DE courses
- dealing with new and/or specialized technology that instructors wish to integrate into courses
- LMS has been bought by Bb meaning that we will be transitioning to a new product in two years
- keeping projects on schedule given professor's competing time pressures

Goals
- creating 1-2 fully accessible online courses as proofs of concept
- looking at enhancing training for TA/sessionals teaching online; perhaps lobbying to make it mandatory
- re-examining course development processes and development models to increase effectiveness and efficiency
- continuing to collaborate with CTE on support for curriculum and course development support strategies
- research on key questions related to online learning (retention rates, instructor time investments in development & delivery, etc.)