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This overview explores eCore, the "Electronic Core Curriculum" initiative by the University System of Georgia designed to provide accessible online education. It delves into sustainability and scalability strategies, highlighting enrollment trends and the role of the Georgia Center for Continuing Education. The paper discusses a unique business model where the University System maintains intellectual property while the Georgia Center manages course development and delivery. Challenges such as low enrollment and instructor recruitment are addressed, along with solutions for ongoing growth and quality improvement in online learning. ###
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Surviving Success: Scaling Up eCore Brad CahoonUniversity of GeorgiaCenter for Continuing Education
Overview • What is eCore? • Strategies for sustainability and scalability • Problems and solutions
What is eCore? • “Electronic core curriculum” • An initiative of the University System of Georgia • Offered by a consortium of USG schools
eCore Affiliates • Columbus State University • Georgia Southwestern State University • Georgia Highlands College • Southern Polytechnic State University • University of West Georgia • Valdosta State University
Role of the Georgia Center • Web Instructional Development (WebID): since 1999, production and maintenance of online courses • eCore Administrative Services: since 2003, program management, including instructor recruitment, course scheduling, and evaluation
Business Model • University System owns intellectual property • Georgia Center hires and pays instructors • Students enroll through affiliate schools • Georgia Center invoices schools based on mid-point census
Implications of the Business Model • Net revenue per section is limited by enrollment caps • Growth comes from the addition of sections and affiliate schools • The program must sustain its own costs
Scalability and Sustainability Goals • The quality of instruction and services will improve as enrollment increases. • The program will net revenue above the costs of its own operation and growth.
Instructional Design Strategies • VPAA committee identified courses • Faculty teams developed curricula • USG designers applied pedagogical best practices • Georgia Center Web developers used a standard template
Usability Strategies • W3C compliant HTML/CSS • Device independence and accessibility • Support for low bandwidths • QA reviews
Course Management Strategies • Courses created and delivered with WebCT (first CE, then Vista) • Sections created from master copies • Centralized management of course revisions
Fall 2000 Limiting Factors • Few courses available • Low enrollment Solutions • Continued course development • Commitment to long term support
Fall 2002 Limiting Factors • Acquisition and management of enrollment data Solutions • New administrative database • New method for uploading affiliate data to the Georgia Center
Fall 2005 Limiting Factors • Instructor recruitment Solutions • Addition of new affiliate schools
Discussion eCore: http://www.gactr.uga.edu/ecore/ WebID: http://www.gactr.uga.edu/idl/webid/ brad.cahoon@gactr.uga.edu