SCAD makes history in distance education

By: Melissa Wheeler

Published: Friday, April 6, 2007 in The Chronicle

Link: http://www.thecampuschronicle.com/features/articles/070406f.cfm

The Savannah College of Art and Design e-Learning program was awarded the Outstanding Distance Education Program accolade from the Instructional Technology Council for its comprehensive student services, high-quality coursework and significant Web presence.

“SCAD is the first art and design college to be selected as the Outstanding Distance Program award recipient since the ITC awards for quality distance education began in 1991,” said Darrell Naylor-Johnson, vice president for SCAD e-Learning.

ITC reviewed e-learning programs nationwide for leadership and replicable innovation in several areas: quality instruction, efficient course development, effective retention strategies, and outstanding student services and professional development opportunities for faculty.

As part of the review, ITC members assessed SCAD e-Learning’s sample courses, online orientation for new students, training courses for new online teachers, the Web site, the Cyber Bees community site on The Hive and the e-Learning channel in MySCAD. The panel of judges, which included ITC board members, past award winners and ITC members, announced the award at the annual ITC e-Learning conference, held in Albuquerque, N.M., in February.

“This award is a testament to the collaboration between e-learning staff members and faculty to produce high-quality courses and provide excellent personalized services for all our e-learners,” said Lisa Ciardulli, director of e-Learning services.

The conference is known for demonstrating the latest innovations in e-learning and for providing e-learning practitioners with examples of who is doing what, what technologies they are using, what works and what does not.

The ITC recognition confirms the SCAD e-Learning program is a leader in distance learning.

SCAD offers degree and certificate programs as well as individual courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels through SCAD e-Learning. The high-quality learning experience and student services offered online by the college are comparable, in quality and scope, to on-campus offerings. The program attracts students from across the United States and abroad. All courses are taught by SCAD faculty and are offered for academic credit under the authority and accreditation of SCAD.

“SCAD is known as a leader of art and technology integration, so it is natural that the college is quickly gaining recognition for exceptional use of technologies to educate and inspire students from around the world,” Naylor-Johnson said.

Past accolades awarded to SCAD e-Learning include the following:

• The ITC Outstanding Online Course was awarded to Digital Craft I at the 2005 ITC Awards for Excellence in Distance Education.

• The National Academic Advising Association awarded a 2006 Advising Technology Innovation Awards Certificate of Merit for the online student orientation.

• The U.S. Distance Learning Association presented the silver award for Best Practices in Distance Learning Programming to the online historic preservation degree program.



For more information about SCAD e-Learning, visit www.scadelearning.org.



Wheeler is media relations manager at SCAD.