Columbus State goes global with education.

Ever wondered how your college can reach more nontraditional students who don't quite have time to go to a traditional class?

Or do you wonder how to train your faculty and staff on the technology of distance learning once these programs are in place?

Columbus State Community College in Columbus, Ohio has tackled these problems head-on and made a reality of the chance to learn anytime, anywhere.

Distance learning through Columbus State Community College's Global Campus is a unique alternative to traditional on-campus courses, and is designed to meet the needs of working and non-traditional students.

A variety of technologies, including the Internet, electronic communications, computer technologies and video-based programming enables students enrolled in Global Campus courses to interact with the instructor and classmates through Internet-based communications. Intended to provide greater access and flexibility to college coursework, this method allows students from around the city and around the globe the capability of learning together unconstrained by place and time.

In addition to taking a few not-for-credit classes online, an associate of arts degree and an associate's of applied science in business management are also available online.

Columbus State's Web-based courses allow students to take classes at their convenience. Students can meet degree or certificate requirements, increase workplace skills and knowledge, or receive continuing education in many professional and technical skill areas. Students without their own computer and modem can access computer labs around the main campus, or at off-campus centers, via CougarNet, Columbus State's Internet access solution.

Global Campus' video-based courses offer access to learning via television and videotapes. Assignments are based on televised programs on PBS or cable, or through videotapes available at Columbus State's library. New technology has brought video conferencing courses to the college. With this coursework, students gather at the most convenient location for them and are connected to the instructor and other students at different sites via live television.

Learning Networks

An integral part of making the Global Campus a success at Columbus State is its involvement in the Regional Learning Network (RLN) and the Ohio Learning Network (OLN). RLN is an agreement between Columbus State, Edison, Clark State and Southern State community colleges to share curricula, thereby giving students access to other distance learning courses and degrees.

OLN is a partnership of Ohio's colleges and universities, using technology to enhance distance learning and offering distance education through the OhioLEARNS! catalogue. The largest provider of Web-based education in Ohio, Columbus State takes an active leadership role in distance learning programs across the state.

Keeping up with distance learning technology and updating the RLN and OLN takes resources. One of the great resources at Columbus State is the Teaching Learning Technology Roundtable (TLTR). Columbus State faculty members serve as co-chairmen of this roundtable and facilitate decisions on distance learning and instructional technologies that govern distance learning. These faculty try out new technologies and programs that can be integrated into the Global Campus curriculum. Currently, the TLTR members are experimenting with:

* Tegrity, which saves information to a Web page.

* Mimeo, which takes any information written on a white board, and saves it as a Web page that can be viewed as written notes.

* Voice, a program that enables the computer to type what someone is saying.

Supporting 135 Web-based, video-based and video conferencing classes, as well as training the TLTR members and keeping up with cutting edge technology, is no easy task. Columbus State could not do it without the assistance of its Teaching Learning Resource Center (TLRC). Through the center, students and faculty can experiment and be trained in methods of distance learning, teleconferencing and more.

Designed to assist faculty and staff in the use of instructional technologies that enhance classroom and workshop presentations, the TLRC offers many services to the campus. These services include a training center, distance learning coursework equipment and personnel, video conferencing, periodicals and videotapes, and a new technology center. The TLRC was created in 1998 through a grant from the Ohio Board of Regents.

A Great Resource

Whether it be for training or for referral, the TLRC is a great resource for the campus. The staff available can provide and develop non-credit modules, create CD ROMs, assist with or create PowerPoint presentations, and provide audio chat rooms and resources for teaching via video. Periodicals on classroom management, Web management and how to teach and train more effectively also are available for faculty and staff use.

Video conferencing for groups of up to 20 is available. The TLRC staff also is exploring new ways to provide video conferencing via the Web. Staff members are able to provide video editing via the Web as well as produce animation and 3D graphics.

Through the TLRC, faculty can learn how to turn a traditional course into a Web-based course. The faculty member designs a classroom program and brings the information to the TLRC. The TLRC staff then converts the classroom-based course into a Web course and trains the faculty member on how to administer the class via the Web.

The TLRC is also very active in converting the campus over to the Blackboard course management system. By doing this, the Web portal will create a Web community connecting the faculty, staff and students to all services available on campus.

Through this learning support system, students will be able to enter the college through a Web portal's customized personal page listing their classes and other pertinent information. This virtual Web community will allow faculty to post grades, manage their class roster and access student information.

Also being developed for students by the TLRC is an online orientation. Through the student assessment tutorial, students will be able to access all the requirements they need for the online class and will be able to provide feedback on the distance learning experience.

The counseling services department also will be involved in providing information and feedback online for students who are seeking academic advice.

In a new academic center under construction, the TLRC will be responsible for training faculty to use the Pit -- a 250-station computer lab. In this lab, the faculty will be able to teach with computer assistance and have the ability to talk to and control information being sent to each station in the lab.

Tying all this information together and assisting the entire campus and their computing needs will be a training coordinator of instructional technologies. In order to smooth the transition to Web-based classes for everyone, the coordinator will be available for classroom training, staff training and will serve as a faculty resource.

Through Global Campus and the Teaching Learning Resource Center, Columbus State Community College truly provides education that works.

VICKI CHRISTIAN COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT COLUMBUS STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE