Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium (CTDLC): Visioning Our Future

The CTDLC is now observing its 10th anniversary. During that time we have accomplished many goals and observed many changes both in the educational environment in Connecticut and in the technology we use daily.

In 1997, few if any courses were offered on line. In 2007, there were 32,000 collegiate enrollments in online classes in CT.
In 1997, there were few, if any online courses for CT’s high school students. In 2007, the CTDLC is managing an Adult Virtual High School and creating a Virtual High School.
In 1997, there were no online student services. In 2007, 16 of CT’s public, private, two- and four year institutions collaborate to offer tutoring on a single online platform with 17 other institutions
In 1997, our members were higher educational institutions in CT. In 2007, we work with institutions in 12 states; K-12 schools; non-profit and state agencies.
In 1997 our two servers were hosted by another company. In 2007 we run a state of the art data center hosting 4 Learning Management Systems for 25 institutions and 60,000 users, as well as our ePortfolio, eTutoring, and Virtual High School platforms.

Our Process: We have selected a process called Appreciative Inquiry (AI) as particularly appropriate to our work in this era of rapidly changing technology. AI is based on two assumptions: First, “Every organization has something that works right – things that give it life when it is most alive, effective, successful, and connected in healthy ways to its stakeholders and communities”^[1]. That is the “Appreciative” part. And second, the best way to discover what works right is by asking in a systematic way as many people as possible about their experiences with CTDLC – this is the Inquiry part. You can find more information about AI at http://appreciativeinquiry.case.edu/

Core Design Group
On October 12, 24 volunteers from CTDLC’s staff and stakeholders, met with our consultant, Brenda Kaulback, to shape the interview questions that will provide the data for our planning. We hope to interview approximately 100-125 of CTDLC’s staff, partners, members, boards, clients from all of our areas – eTutoring, ePortfolio, Distance Learning, LMS hosting, Adult Virtual High School, Instructional Design, Help Desk, and other areas of consulting.

Summit – May 2, 2008
We are inviting all of the people we work with in all of our roles to attend the all day Summit scheduled for May 2, 2008. This will be a meeting where we will work together with the data from the interviews to decide on our Strategic Themes and create the “Provocative Propositions” which will ask us to stretch and find “our best self.” Please save the date and watch for more information about time and place.

[1] Cooperrider, David L; Whitney, Diana; and Stavros, Jacqueline M., Appreciative Inquiry Handbook: The First in a Series of AI Workbooks for Leaders of Change, Lakeshore Communications, 2003, Pages XVII – XIX