Who, What, Where, When and How?

Hello and Welcome to my blog!

In this blog I will be exploring the uses of distance learning in higher education, K-12, business and government, identifying issues in these learning communities and sharing with you how to find important distance learning resources.

In searching the internet I found dozens of world wide distance learning associations dedicated to promoting development, training and application of distance education in K-12, college and university, military, government and business. Please see my side bar with several of these websites. As a science teacher interested in human health and environmental issues, my focus will be on how to help organizations integrate distance learning into their programs.

In a few months I will be relocating to New Hampshire and I am in the process of employment hunting. New Hampshire has a community college system with a dozen campuses located across the state and a distance education department which currently offers (203) 100% online classes. I am hoping to find work as an adjunct instructor, and/or within the distance learning department.

What types of issues is the state of New Hampshire dealing with? Well, let's talk about the positive side first. Enrollment at community colleges has been on the increase, Community Colleges Report Increased Enrollment. (CCSNH news).

See also The Community College Enrollment Boom.

Initiatives maintained by the Governor, John Lynch, over the past 2 years include:

Project Running Start, run by New Hampshire's Community Technical College System, opens the door to college for many students. It allows high school students to take college-level classes right at their own local schools. They can earn credits that are transferable to colleges across the nation. That is why this budget provides the funding necessary to double the number of students enrolled in Project Running Start.

The community technical college system plays a critical role in the training of NH workforce and in expanding opportunities for citizens. NH's budget invests in strengthening the community technical colleges and in keeping them affordable with an additional $10 million budgeted over the biennium.

To keep our public colleges and universities vibrant, we must also make sure they have up-to-date facilities. That is why the capital budget keeps the promise we made to the University System and provides $39.5 million to continue to upgrade its academic buildings. And it provides $17 million in general funds, and $32 million overall, to the community technical college system, including money to build a health education technology center in Nashua; to build a health education center in Concord; and to renovate the Pease campus.

So the state budget and the demand for community college education places New Hampshire in a favorable position to continue to develop its distance learning community. I'm hoping to become part of it.

Please check back tomorrow when I'll be talking about academic and governance issues.

Thanks! Diane