Strategies for the development and improvement of online education at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College in Superior

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to critically review and analyze research regarding online education and evaluate it in the context of how WITC in Superior can develop and improve online education. The research objectives sought to clarify the role and support of WITC to online education students and how it can be improved, identify what training is available to online education faculty and how it can be improved for course development and delivery, and understand what teaching strategies and techniques have been successful in online education at WITC. Five instructors were interviewed to provide information about these objectives. The results revealed that WITC does have a commitment to online education as identified through the college technology plan and SOAR initiative and that while WITC does provide some support and training for students and instructors, more should be done in these areas to improve online education. Instructors also provided examples of instructional best practices currently used at the college.