Case Study on University of Florida Latin Ph.D. Program
Adapted from C. Cavanaugh(2002)
Online Education Success Factors
Program Component
UF policy on online
education
Current
-UF provost initiative to
fund undergraduate
courses that have some
online aspects.
-Department of
Continuing Ed offers some
professional programs.
UF standards applied to
academic program
Resources committed to
the program
-Meet requirements.
Technology infrastructure
Using UF Vista programs,
paying own Elluminate
license.
-None in place.
Program standards for
online instructors to
follow
Communication of policy
to students
Student services such as
advising, registering, etc.
Faculty support for online
course design?
Technical Support
-Minimal from UF,
program depends on fees
Website provides
information
UF provides admission
services, but department
does all advising.
-Online faculty can take
free training at UF
technology office, but it is
voluntary and not specific
to their degree offerings.
UF help desk is a resource
for students for Vista.
Potential
-Other departments at UF
are developing their own
online degrees and
certificates. With
institutional support and
collaboration these
programs could grow and
help set policy for a
consistent online learning
policy across UF.
-Could improve with UF
support and/or other
funding.
-UF moving to Sakai, work
out better agreement for
using Elluminate.
-Needs to be put in place.
-Need to encourage
faculty to attend elearning professional
development courses.
-Consider requesting for
special training.
Success Factors Online Teaching
Program Component
Content covered
Current
-Thorough and based on
UF and Classics Dept.
academic requirements.
Relevant skills/knowledge -Content of program is
more knowledge oriented
and not geared to teach
skills
Feedback to students
Consistent design of
courses
-Not sure
-Does not seem to be a
standard.
Interactive activities
-Not a priority.
High level cognitive skills
-Not a priority, courses
designed as
seminar/lecture style.
Potential
-Could consider adding
some pedagogy and online
teaching courses to
options for students in
program.
-Consider adding some
pedagogy and
instructional design
courses for students to
enhance their job skills.
-This could be established
through a program
evaluation and faculty
training.
-Need for online faculty
training.
-Need for online faculty
training.
Success Factors Online Programs
Program Component
Peer review of student
work
Current
-None
Student portfolios to
showcase work
-None
Variety of assessments to
see student ability
Secure online testing
Student course
evaluation(not same as
traditional form)
Evaluation of program by
faculty and students
-Primarily essay
assignments.
-Use of standard UF
traditional course/faculty
evals.
-Informal meetings and
feedback.
Potential
-Need to implement
certain activities in
courses to use peer review
techniques.
-Need faculty training to
add this type of activity in
courses.
-Need to create unique
online evaluation for Latin
courses offered.
-Need to formalize the
process more to track.