Distance Learning

Program History

Beginnings

Northwest Arkansas Community College formally began our Distance Learning program in 1995. The Center for Instructional Technology at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville (UAF) provided the College with a Compressed Interactive Video (CIV) unit for in-state videoconferencing. In October of 1996, The College and the University signed an agreement providing for the use of the equipment and a facilitator/coordinator to oversee the site. The two schools also agreed to begin working together to provide Distance Learning opportunities to UAF and NWACC students.

Compressed Interactive Video

In Spring of 1997 NWACC offered the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville a pilot class in Prealgebra. The class was a developmental math course for students struggling with Beginning and Intermediate Algebra. The class was offered to UAF, where students struggling with MATH 0003 (A combined Beginnning and Intermediate Algebra course) did not have a course that serves as a precursor to that class. The class had 11 students, 5 on the NWACC campus and 6 on the UAFcampus. This initial offering was followed up by more developmental math courses to the University of Arkansas and a regular evening development math course to Springdale, at the Jones Center for Families. These offerings ended due to low enrollement.

NWACC has since developed relationships with the Arkansas Consortium to Teach Agriculture for the delivery of introductory courses in Agricultural and Human Environmental Sciences disciplines. The College has generally offered one to two courses per semester as part of this program.

NWACC has also utlized CIV to provide concurrent credit "Step Ahead" courses to local school districts. This began with offerings to Lincoln High School in College Algebra and Western Civilization in the fall of 1999. In 2005, the state of Arkansas offered a major grant for videoconference equipment to the state's K-12 districts, creating the opportunity for greater exchange of courses and greater access to college and other courses on high school campuses. NWACC is expanding Step Ahead offerings in conjunction with this development, in partnership with local districts. At various times,, NWACC has provided courses to the following school districts: Lincoln, Pea Ridge, Gentry, Prairie Grove, and Siloam Springs. Courses in History, Math, English, Spanish, and Western Civilization havel be offered.

NWACC also participates in the University of Arkansas Human Resources Development cohort program. The initial cohort at NWACC began studies in the fall of 2004 and completed their program in the spring of 2006.

The College has also received occasional professional development and community courses via the CIV system.

CIV Equipment

NWACC originally was provided with a VTEL Media Max CIV unit, and a one camera, two monitor system. In 1998 the College expanded this system to a VTEL LC 3200, with 4 monitors (two 32" and two 53") and two cameras.

The unit was originally located in Room 104 of the Business, Industry and Workforce Development Institute Building (BII), 2600 Hudson, Rogers Arkansas, holding a maximum of about 15 people, plus a facilitator, comfortably, when set up for a videoconference. In early January 1998, the unit was moved to Room 1223 at the Central Educational Center (now Burns Hall) in Bentonville at One College Drive. This room was larger and offers Internet access and an observation room for the Distance Learning Coordinator or facilitators. The room was configured temporarily for Distance Learning although regular classes still used it.

The current CIV lab is on the 2nd floor of Burns Hall, in room 2414. This room is configured full-time for interactive video and currently uses a Tandberg MXP-6000 unit. NWACC uses a system of ceiling microphones, mixed with a table mic and wireless mic for the instructor.

Self-Directed Study

In fall 1998, NWACC offered a World Literature course as a "Self-Directed Study" course. This course utilized a large handout packet, and a supporting web page to enable students to complete assignments. Students also met with instructors 3 times during the semester. So the course function similarly to independent study courses, with the notable exception of regular communications via e-mail, and the supporting website.

WebCT was used to support these courses, starting in 2000.

A small number of Self-Directed Study courses are still offered..

Telecourses

In 1998, NWACC began offering telecourses in conjunction with the Arkansas Educational Television Network (AETN), and the Arkansas Telecommunications/Telecourse Consortium. Courses in Psychology, Sociology, and History were offered between 1998 and 2005, NWACC also offered Wellness Concepts, via a local partnership with Jones Television, during 2004.

As of Spring 2005, NWACC no longer offers telecourses.

World Wide Web-Based Courses

In Spring 2000, NWACC began offering online, WWW-Based courses, in conjunction with ACCESS Arkansas, a consortium of Arkansas Association of Two-Year Colleges schools. ACCESS Arkansas initially provided hosting and training, but now primarily serves as an online clearinghouse/web page for promoting online courses offered by AATYC member schools.

Most of NWACC's online courses use WebCT to facilitate the web sites, course materials, and the vast majority of the class communications.

Online Degrees

NWACC was given approval to offer an online Associate of Arts by NCA and the Arkansas Board of Higher Education in 2004. The online Associate of Arts is the same degree as the regular A.A., with the smae requirements. The difference is that not all of the courses available for the A.A. are available online, yet.

Distance Learning Committee

In the fall of 1996, the college established a Distance Education Committee to advise on and support distance education activities. The present members can be found on the Committee page. The mission of the committee is to provide oversight and recommendations for Distance Learning at NWACC.

For questions/comments on this content, please contact the Distance Learning Department.

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