James Beebe
November 5, 2001

The WCET Conference is among the best conferences I have ever attended.  I take from the conference a better idea of where higher education may be headed, the strengths and weaknesses of technology, specific knowledge about new development, and a long list of contacts.
 
I am convinced that Gonzaga University should be a member of WCET and should begin planning to have at least two individuals attend the next conference in Colorado in 2002.

If Gonzaga were a member, individuals could subscribe to the WCET listserver, have access to other members, and have access to the research and other materials (including software) being developed by WCET.

Background

The Western Cooperative for Educational Telecommunications (WCET) is a membership-supported organization open to providers and users of educational telecommunications. Members represent the higher education community, non-profit organizations, and corporations. Over 45 states and six countries are represented among the 250+ members. The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) established WCET in 1989 as:

A central clearinghouse for information and expertise;

A leader in facilitating multi-state projects in telecommunicated education;

An advocate for effective policies in the use of educational technologies; and

An evaluator and researcher on quality uses of educational telecommunications.

The Conference

General information about the conference can be found at http://www.wiche.edu/telecom/events/conference/2001/ .  It is my understanding that they will be positing copies of presentations, links to web sites, and PowerPoint presentations at either this or another web site in the near future.

A few of the topics discussed in either general sessions or breakout sessions I attended.

New models for higher education instruction based on "objects" with the design of courses done by teams and implementation by instructors.  Profound implications for higher education of the decision by MIT to make available to the world "course ware" without charge.

Implications for the work of MERLOT.

Notion of the "value added reseller."

Some of the books that are currently being talked about in higher education and their implications for both eLearning and traditional education, such as The Cathedral and the Bazaar by Eric S. Raymond, When Things Start to Think by Neil Gershenfeld, and The Innovator's Dilemma by Paul T. Hill

Standards for distance education already issued by different major organizations.

Implications of the increased attention to quality for distance education for the entire higher education world.

Suggestions that there may be a major role for synchronous distance education delivered to groups of students.

Issues of providing student services and building communities for online students.

Regulation and policies concerning distance education and other forms of eLearning including changes in Federal law and new approaches to accreditation.

Implications of eLearning for equity and social justice.

Models for faculty support and lessons about what works and does not work.  Online resources for faculty.

Role of course software like Blackboard.  Open and community source software that can deliver more than Blackboard and WebCT at much lower costs.

Technology that is already available based on standards like H.323 that will allow IP based video over the Internet.