Distance Learning Case Study Discussion

Based on the case study in the reading, in a blog post, explain how you would recommend Lawrence Technological University measure the effectiveness of their online learning programs?  

One way that I think a school like LTU can measure the effectiveness of its online learning programs is by measuring the graduation and employment percentage of graduates within a set amount of time. There needs to be some benchmark to compare this to so I would also measure the same things for more traditional schooling options as well as comparing the information to other schools. Surveys can also be used to gauge how the student's educational experience was. I would also like to survey businesses that have hired in graduates from both a long-distance and traditional education and see how their satisfaction with each of the groups are. Internships are a particularly good candidate for measuring the last part about employer satisfaction.

Back up your recommendations.

The reasons I would measure these things is because I believe they give an overall picture of whether or not the program is functioning effectively. Graduation rates are always important to measure and can help expose any flaws in the system. Employment rates are equally, if not more important because it measures whether the education the school is providing is satisfying industry requirements. Surveying employers can also get an idea on this. Student surveys on the other hand are a narrower scope which can again help to find problems to improve upon, or highlight something the school is doing particularly well.

Who are their audiences and what can a good and bad relationship with each do to LTU?  

 LTU has a large potential audience. Of course there is the students and candidate students which the university relies upon for its existence. However the school must also keep in mind the public, employers and even the government. This is because each will have some sort of requirement or expectation from the school. Employers expect graduates to be properly educated in their respective field and capable of doing a job well done. Though the university is private it still has to adhere to certain regulations to receive public subsides like tax exemption and student loans/grants. A poor relationship with any of these could mean a school loses credibility, funding, students, etc. which could spell disaster.   

What types of communications does LTU use?  In your personal experience, are the communications effective?  Why or why not?

I can't say I know what all the types of communications LTU uses but they seem to have created visibility across at least the state of Michigan. I learned about the school while attending community college and found they had an academic alliance program going with that school. There has been some confusion with some programs however and one school saying one thing and the other something else. This is clear problem in communication that should be rectified. Overall though I'd say the school has pretty effective communication.