Conference Track Descriptions

Faculty Training and Professional Development
The field of distance education changes on a continual basis. Distance education professionals, from the beginner to the seasoned instructor, must undergo training to get started and, subsequently, to stay abreast of the latest developments in the field. Furthermore, distance education technologies provide a means for the delivery of professional development opportunities. Proposals related to faculty, staff, and train-the-trainer instruction and support are invited. Proposals related to the use of distance technologies to deliver professional development programs are also sought. Presenters from all levels of education, business and industry, and government agencies are encouraged to submit proposals that involve recurring as well as one-of-a-kind training. Suggested topics include training programs, training delivery methodologies, continuing education, training incentives, resources for training, and needs assessments.

Instructional Design and Course Development
Developing instructional materials and courses for the distance education environment is a complex and time-consuming process. Regardless of whether these materials and courses are developed by the instructor or a team of distance education professionals, effective instructional design and course development are crucial for quality learning experiences to occur. Proposals are invited that address a variety of issues involved with design and development processes.

Management, Administration, and Student Support
Distance education administrators are faced with a variety of challenges from fulfilling increased opportunities with requisite resource requirements to meeting the individual needs of each student within this rapidly changing setting. Proposals on a variety of managerial and administrative practices and concerns are invited from all levels of education and corporate training including planning for distance learning, decision points, resource allocation, and innovative practices that support distance education students, faculty, programs, and institutions. Suggested topics include strategic planning, evaluation and assessment, budgeting, marketing, and other policy issues.

Research
As the field of distance education continues to expand, extensive amounts of research have been conducted on its many facets. The research track seeks submissions of original research related to theoretical, methodological, empirical, or application-oriented aspects of distance learning and the use of technology to enhance learning. Topics may include, but are not limited to effectiveness of distance learning with respect to retention, time-to-degree, graduation rates, etc; evaluation tools and systems to assess the quality of distance courses; effectiveness of different forms of interactivity; student outcomes in individual courses; student outcomes in complete programs; tools and methodologies for studying a particular aspect of distance learning; hybrid courses; student perceptions and attitudes; and characteristics of effective distance learners and teachers.

Teaching and Learning – Online
Using appropriate instructional methodologies in the online distance education environment is a complex and time-consuming process. Proposals describing innovative teaching and design processes for the online environments are encouraged, as are teaching and design strategies that can be adapted to a wide variety of disciplines. Suggested topics include innovations in the following areas: course development and instructional design, expanding learning opportunities, learning styles and strategies, active and collaborative learning, successful course/student management techniques, and engaging and retaining students.

Teaching and Learning – Video Conferencing
Strategies for developing and delivering videoconference and televised distance education are unique in many ways but do have a few similarities to online learning. These proposals have the same goals as Teaching and Learning Online described above, yet will have characteristics distinctive to the videoconference and televised environment. Suggested topics include innovations in the following areas: virtual field trips, collaborative projects, state wide projects, national events, dual credit courses, shared courses in the K-12 environment, students as presenters, presentations tips, effective ITV implementation, success stories, and expanding ITV utilization.

Technology Used Everyday
Many distance learning practitioners are recognized for “gee whiz” technology. But, most distance learning involves the technology of commonplace programs used in every school and workplace. How common technology is used, and with what new features, is often more valuable than the newest emerging technology. Proposals relating to the practical use of common technology such as voicemail, word-processing, spreadsheets, presentation programs (such as PowerPoint and SMART technology), operating systems, backroom Learning/Content Management System (LMS/CMS) functions and network are encouraged.

Hands - On Sessions
A limited number of 105-minute hands-on sessions will be available in the seven program tracks described above. Proposals for these sessions may be submitted using the same process as for Breakout Sessions. Participants should learn some type of new skill or process in the session that they can apply in their courses, program, profession, and/or business. Computers and Internet access will be provided. Suggested sessions include course management software tutorials (i.e. WebCT, Blackboard), Web page design, multimedia (i.e. Impatica), IP communication tools (i.e. Elluminate, Centra). If it is necessary to download software for the session, there must be a trial version available for download or available licenses. You must indicate availability and terms for software in the proposal.