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Formation Stages for the new Distance Learning Institute

The following steps are tentatively suggested for forming the University of California Distance Learning University. This material needs to be expanded.

• Experimental Stage

  As just mentioned, this important experiment involves the creation and evaluation of a group of courses. The aim is both to test the concept before detail work on many more courses, and to establish an experimental basis for further development.

  • Decision to proceed with the Experiment

  • Establishment of University-wide Planning Council

  • Solicitation of course proposals

  • Choice of a full scale production system

  • Award of proposals

  • Development of Experimental Courses (perhaps 20)

  • Summative evaluation of Experimental Courses

  • Initial Marketing of experimental courses

• Decision to continue or to stop

  This important decision should be made by an outside group, not involved in the experiment itself.

• Creation of the New Distance Learning University

  If the experiment is successful, we can proceed to the formation of the new university.

  • Secure financing for development

    This is an important issue. New institutions often fail at this point.

  • Choice of a name for the new institution. The Interactive University?

  • Announcement of Distance Learning University

  • Establishment of Council for the new University

  • Appointment of initial officials

  • Establishment of one or more Curriculum Development Centers

  • Start development of approximately 10 to 20 courses each year

  • Formative and summative evaluation of each course

  • Market products as they are developed

• Continuing Activity

  • A continuous summative evaluation process should be conducted for all the courses developed.

  • New courses should be developed, but as a slower rate than in the creation stage

  • Review entire operation every five years

This is clearly an incomplete list, and would need to be expanded for a full project in this direction. It is at least illustrates the process.