What is Distance Education?

Distance Education is defined by the instructor or period of instruction being physically separated from the learner in time and/or location. Concord University uses the following methods of distance education delivery:

Web Presentations

Web presentations is a web-based system that allows the delivery of video and slide show presentations, either live or on-demand.

Videoconferencing

Videoconferencing is a technology that allows two or more sites to transmit voice, video, and data concurrently. This technology is currently used by Concord to provide course to distant students that would otherwise be too far from campus to take classes. Videoconferencing is also used by a variety of individuals at Concord to conduct business meetings, budget meetings, and other conferencing with distant sites. The Center for Academic Technologies currently uses the H.323 and H.320 standards for transmission and have available three types of CODECs for faculty/student use: Vtel, Tandberg, and Polycomm.

Understand the definitions, concepts and its uses.

Web-based Courses via Blackboard

Concord University utilizes the Blackboard CE 8 Learning System (formerly known as WebCT) as its main resource for hosting online courses. Blackboard is a self-contained set of course management tools used to develop asynchronous, interactive course components for online course delivery. Using this technology, instructors can easily place their syllabi, lecture notes, announcements and other resources online as well as use Blackboard instruments such as live chat, whiteboard, email, disscussion boards, and online assessments. Blackboard can be accessed by both instructor and student from any computer with internet connectivity. At present, Concord University facilitates many courses that use Blackboard as a supplement to face-to-face courses. There are approximately 25 courses (per semester) that are entirely online with no face-to-face meeting requirements.   For a list of courses using Blackboard as an exclusively online course component, visit the course schedule and look for the section description "1AS", "2AS", or "3AS" in the section numbers. If you are a Concord University faculty member and wish to start using Blackboard, contact Jennifer Humphries (email) or at 384-6265.

Satellite

Satellite Network Communication and Broadcasting Services.

Where can I find more information on Distance Education?

Visit the Distance Education Clearing House

What classes does Concord University offer at a distance?

Distance Education Class List