Resolved that the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges adopt the position paper Curriculum Committee Review of Distance Learning Courses and Sections.
M/S/C Disposition: Chancellor's Office, Local Senates
Resolved that the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges adopt the paper titled "Distance Learning in California's Community Colleges: An Academic Senate Review of the Social, Fiscal, and Educational Issues." (See Enclosed)
M/S/U DISPOSITION: Executive Committee, local senates, Chancellor's Office, Board of Governors, CEOs, CIOs
Computer technology has permeated the fabric of American society. Computer technology affects the way people communicate, the way they learn, and the way they do business. The ability to use computer technology effectively has become a distinct advantage in school and work. As computer technology has become a crucial element in educational and vocational advancement, concerns have grown that disparities in access to such technology limit the opportunities for many.
This position paper of the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges examines practical issues in the area of technology in education and provides a sample of possible policy and contract language. It is the fourth in a recent series of related papers that have addressed academic freedom in a more general setting, instructor-student contact in distance education, and foundations of privacy and copyright in a technological world. This paper discusses details of technology implementation in both the academic and the collective bargaining setting.
Community colleges provide students with access to life skills. The ability to understand and utilize information technologies is now a vital basic skill for students. Technology is becoming an increasingly important tool to enhance instruction as well as student services. Therefore, the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges recommends that all California community colleges provide at least the following technology resources to best serve their students.
This position paper of the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges examines the increasing use of technology in education and the fundamental, academic implications of this increase for the traditional understanding of academic freedom, privacy, copyright and fair use. It is third in a series of four related papers that have already discussed academic freedom in a more general setting and instructor-student contact in distance education. The fourth paper will discuss more specific details of technology implementation in both the academic and the collective bargaining setting.
This position paper of the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges further elaborates the Academic Senate's existing positions on distance education and the effective use of technology in instruction. In particular it examines the implications of a 1998 change in the Title 5 regulations governing distance education in California community colleges, especially with regard to instructor-student contact. The paper begins with a review of good practices in technology mediated instruction and proceeds to consider and make recommendations on effective instructor-student contact.
This paper underscores that technology mediated instruction is an alternate mode of delivery, another tool in the instructor's toolbox, and should be held to the same standards as any other delivery method. This paper is not meant to suggest that traditional classroom instruction is obsolete or inferior. When appropriate, technology may assist learners in achieving their particular goals. Decisions surrounding the use of technology needs to be in the hands of the faculty.
This paper describes the current conditions under which state funded, distance learning occurs within California's community colleges. It identifies external and internal forces influencing the debate on expansion of distance learning in higher education. The paper highlights important research findings from the higher education community which are relevant to the ongoing debate and to the specific, Chancellor's Office, proposed, regulatory changes.
The Academic Senate of California Community Colleges recommends that the following guidelines be adhered to in the governance, administration, and instruction of any course offerings in which the delivery of the instruction in the content of a community college course relies on a telecommunications system or systems for the majority of the instructional time allocated to such courses and to courses similar in content but different in the means of delivering the instruction.