WashingtonOnline: Sending education through your Internet connection

How did WashingtonOnline get started?

In 1997, an ad hoc group of community and technical college distance learning coordinators and other administrators proposed a plan to develop an AA degree that could be shared online by all 34 of the state's community and technical colleges. Their plan was funded by the presidents of the 34 colleges in August of that year. The first goals of the consortium were to develop 20 completely online courses that could constitute a complete AA transferable degree and to develop a hosting system that would allow colleges to share enrollments.

Why do you feel there's a need for this kind of collaboration?

The idea behind WAOL VC was that there was no need for each college to develop all the online courses and all the online services that their students might need. In addition, colleges cannot run an online version of a course unless enough students enroll. At a single college, that might mean that online courses get cancelled if not enough students enroll. Because WAOL VC allows colleges to share enrollments, we can fill each section with students from multiple campuses, and students across the state have more access to online courses.

What are some of the program's main components?

WAOL VC has paid colleges to develop 66 courses that colleges can share. In addition to shared courses, colleges now use WAOL VC to host courses the colleges are teaching for their own students only. All WAOL VC courses are hosted on Blackboard course management system.

In addition to shared courses, WAOL VC also provides all colleges in the system with free online training for faculty--online training is required for any instructor who teaches on WAOL VC--a searchable catalog of online courses offered by any of our 34 colleges, student orientation materials, and a library database.

What kind of reaction have you gotten from students?

WAOL VC did a survey last Fall with help from one of our vendors, Collegis. The results from the students were very positive. Ninety-one percent of the students said they would take another class from WAOL VC. Ninety-two percent said WAOL VC met their learning needs. Individual comments from students tell us that many students--primarily because of their work schedules--would not be able to work on a college degree without online courses.

What kinds of classes and programs do you plan on offering in the future?

We continue to work on technical/professional courses and programs. In particular, we hope to support nursing programs. WAOL VC will also be supporting computer-based training for Washington emergency responders as part of Homeland Security training.

What do you like best about WashingtonOnline?

I love hearing from students that they would not be able to take college classes without WAOL VC. I also love our instructional model, which asks that courses be highly interactive. I think this model not only promotes good learning opportunities, but also takes advantage of Internet technology in the best possible way.