AI: The New Co-Founder for Small Businesses? My Take
In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, AI is emerging as a powerful tool for small businesses. A recent New York Times article, “How A.I. Can Help Start Small Businesses“, shed light on how generative AI is empowering entrepreneurs to launch and scale their ventures with unprecedented speed and efficiency. I was particularly intrigued by the stories of individuals like Steven Bright, who leveraged ChatGPT to navigate the complexities of starting his company, Skittenz. But overall, having grown up with both my parents being small business owners, the article’s core message resonated with me – AI has the potential to be a game-changer for small businesses seeking to leverage the power of this technology.
While the potential benefits are undeniable, it’s […]
Building a Strong Foundation: A University-Wide Learning Technologies Governance Framework
A well-defined governance structure is essential for the successful implementation and oversight of any university’s online learning initiatives. This blog post explores the key components of a university-wide learning technologies governance framework, drawing on the example provided (though it’s important to note that specific titles and reporting structures may vary depending on your institution).
1. The Executive Council: Setting the Strategic Direction
- The Executive Learning Technologies Council provides high-level oversight and strategic direction for the university’s learning technologies.
- This council is likely comprised of senior leaders from various departments across the institution, with a vested interest in online learning.
- Their focus would be on ensuring that the university’s learning technologies strategy aligns with the institution’s overall academic goals.
2. […]
The Data-Driven Blueprint for Successful Online Programs
Launching and sustaining a successful online program takes more than just a great idea. It requires careful planning, a solid understanding of the numbers, and a clear vision for the student experience. Three essential tools – the pro forma, enrollment cascades, and course sequence cascades – offer institutions a multi-faceted lens through which to plan, analyze, and make data-powered decisions when establishing and scaling online programs.
1. The Pro Forma: Your Financial Roadmap
Think of a pro forma as the financial blueprint for your online program. It’s a model that projects your expected multi-year revenue, expenses, and profitability. A well-crafted pro forma helps answer these critical questions:
- Feasibility: Can this program sustain itself financially? When will it break even?
- […]
Inside the World of a Chief Online Learning Officer: 3 Days of Innovation, Collaboration, and Strategic Leadership
Over the past 30+ years, online learning leadership has been growing and evolving. But what does it look like to serve a large, entrepreneurial institution as the Chief Online Learning Officer (COLO)? What does life actually look like on the ground for this role? To offer a transparent, behind-the-scenes glimpse, this post draws from three days in the life of a university’s COLO. While some elements may be specific to this institution, the overarching themes reflect the fast-paced, entrepreneurial, and strategic nature of effectively leading online learning initiatives.
Day 1: Balancing Pricing Strategy, Professional Development, and Cross-University Collaboration
The first day highlights a blend of high-level strategic thinking and hands-on problem-solving. These were/are all things worked on during one actual day […]
Building a Culture of Instructional Innovation: Opportunities and Challenges (Presentation)
In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, fostering a culture of continuous innovation – embracing new ways to enhance the learning experience – is a top priority for many institutions. However, motivating faculty to explore and implement new teaching approaches can be a significant challenge. In 2017, while at William & Mary, I presented at the Online Learning Consortium (OLC). My presentation titled “Building a Culture of Instructional Innovation: Opportunities and Challenges” aimed to ignite a conversation on how institutions can best support and inspire faculty to embrace innovation in their teaching.
Presentation Summary
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The Context of Innovation: My presentation explored the interplay between an institution’s mission focused on high-quality teaching and a broader culture embracing innovation. It highlighted […]
Steps to Improving Online Learning Video Production
High-quality video is an essential component of engaging online courses. In 2017, while at William & Mary, I teamed up with Instructional Design Specialist Josh Chung to present at the Online Learning Consortium (OLC). Our presentation, “Steps to Improving Online Learning Video Production”, offered practical strategies and insights for educational institutions seeking to enhance the quality and impact of their online learning videos.
Presentation Summary: A Roadmap to Better Online Videos
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The Challenge Online learning videos can range from basic and uninspiring to highly polished and effective. Understanding models and processes for continuous improvement is essential.
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Profiles: Basic, Better, Best We outlined three broad categories of video quality (Basic, Better, and Best). Each level reflects increasing […]
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