Distance Education at Florida Community College at Jacksonville.

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18

Administrative Organization; Associate Degrees; Community Colleges; Computer Assisted Instruction; Course Organization; Distance Education; Educational Technology; Educational Television; Electronic Mail; Program Descriptions; Program Design; School Policy; Telecourses; Two Year Colleges

Initiated in 1980 with two telecourses on educational access television, the distance education (DE) program at Florida Community College at Jacksonville (FCCJ) currently includes over 35 credit and continuing education telecourses, 160 teleconferences downlinked annually, community forums on public television, and award winning educational television series. All the requirements for an associate in arts degree can be fulfilled via telecourses, except for a 3 credit hour speech and a 1 credit hour laboratory class, while the number of college credit students taking telecourses has increased from 3,976 in 1989-90 to 6,012 in 1994-95. The college also offers computer-based courses, mailing students electronic bulletin board software allowing them to access course materials, participate in discussions, and post assignments. DE at the college is a collaborative effort by the assistant instructional dean, answering to the president of FCCJ's Open Campus; the telecourse office; and the television production unit, handling all technical aspects of telecourse production and delivery. Faculty, who teach telecourses as part of their regular workload, are responsible for the academic and instructional integrity of courses. The same examinations and grading procedures are used for DE and on-site courses, while students can choose to take exams on campus or at four testing locations administered by the telecourse office. Finally, FCCJ has participated in cutting-edge DE projects, such as a 1991-93 Department of Defense initiative to deliver military occupational training via video courses. (BCY)

1996

ED397892