Dr. Monaghan Synchronous Session

The session with Dr. Jim Monaghan was very insightful. I wasn't aware of the level of support that we have on campus with regards to online course development in comparison to other college campuses. I have worked with a few members from their office in the past that have been very helpful. If I were having difficulty with a particular task within my course management system, they were my first resource. I would recommend contacting either Mauricio Cadavid or Edgar Chabolla. I they don't have an aswer for you they will find one.

That's what so great about this line of work. Everything is all so new and is constantly evolving at a rapid pace. Jim had mentioned himself that often times faculty here will show him something he hadn't known. He referred to them as "trailblazers" or individuals who aren't afraid to step outside of the box and try something new. I feel that if your expertise is technology, you should never get comfortable with a set way of doing things. If you find a system/program that fulfills your needs, you should always look to continue to develop on that foundation.

Another topic of discussion was how purchasing for online development would affect an institution financially during these harsh economic times. I think that those institutions that already have faculty and staff designated for this specific purpose are at a definite advantage. They already know the essencials for getting started and can predict the direction that e learning is heading. This is very beneficial, as it will save time and money when it comes time to purchase new equipment and software. I've found that the best way to find out what works for you, as far as software is concerned, is to try the applications first. Most companies offer trial or demo versions of their products nowadays. It is very difficult to find one application that does everything you need, so ask people who use the applications to determine what they would recommend. I personally used a combination of over 8 different programs to create my online training modules.

This discusssion has opened my eyes to the vast possibilities for those involved in the e learning profession. I foresee all universities eventually committing to e learning as a long term investment. With technologies like Kindle and iPad recently being introduced, who knows what kind of impact online courses will have in the near future. With online access on cell phones and other hand held devices, students will be able to enroll in classes, order and read textbooks, upload assignments, and communicate with their professors and classmates from anywhere in the world.