Online learning is booming, with 5.8 million U.S. students enrolled in at least some online courses, according to a 2015 study conducted by the Babson Survey Research Group. National Louis University is no exception. “The College of Professional Studies and Advancement (CPSA) is very mature in its understanding of, and offering of, online courses,” said Bettyjo H. Bouchey, Ed.D., associate dean of academic operations and faculty development with CPSA at National Louis University, “At the same time, we have emphasized the practice of online teaching and have made great strides in online instruction over the last year.” She went on to explain that CPSA has “significant online offerings,” with 13 programs fully online and more moving online this fall and then in winter of 2018. So which is better — traditional face-to-face classes or online classes? Bouchey says both: “In the sector of higher education, we would all say that quality is the same.” But it’s only when done right, she clarified. If colleges or universities are thoughtless in how they add online options, things can go awry for both the students and faculty. At National Louis, courses are being developed along ONLINE? IT’S VIRTUALLY THE SAME Students are benefitting from (and loving) online classes By Nicholas A. Love
the standards of Quality Matters™, a nonprofit quality assurance organization for online learning. NLU online courses now generally follow a standardized schedule for submitting online assignments that provides students with predictability and structure to plan ahead. CPSA has also implemented professional development that supports teaching practice and management for online instructors. Reporting similar quality between online and face-to-face classes is not the same thing as saying online courses have no unique advantages. Online classes have the same advantage that streaming services have over cable TV: flexibility. “For students,” Bouchey said, “online courses offer them the opportunity to choose when they interact with their courses and complete their work.” At NLU, there’s always room to innovate. So you can expect more in the future from faculty and online classes at the University. “In the fall we hope to rollout electronic communities of practice around our 10 Principles of Online Teaching where faculty can submit examples, reflect on current and new practices and collaborate to leverage all of our great expertise en masse,” said Bouchey.
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National Louis University VIEW | FALL 2017
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