'07-'08 DE Annual Report / FYI & Announcements
"Being an on-line student saved me a lot of time because I did not have to fight traffic to rush to evening classes immediately following work. I also saved money on gas by not having to drive back and forth to campus on a daily basis." - Bianca Farias, Health Studies
Distance Education Organizational Chart (pdf)
Fall 2008 Snapshot Report (pdf)
Instructional Design Services (pdf)
2007-2008 Distance Education Degrees
Noel-Levitz Student Satisfaction Survey Results
New DE Staff
Excellence in Distance Education Award Winner
This Year in Lifelong Learning...
2007-2008 Distance Education Degrees
Graduate
Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science
Master of Library Science 
Master of Science in Speech/Language Pathology
Master of Science in Nursing - Nursing Education
Executive Master of Business Administration
Master of Science in Family Studies
Master of Arts in Teaching
Master of Science in Food Systems Administration
Master of Science in Education of the Deaf
Master of Science in Kinesiology
Master of Science in Health Studies
COTA to Master of Occupational Therapy
Undergraduate
Bachelor of Science in Health Studies Completion (Upper level courses only; transfer students)
Bachelor of General Studies Completion (Depending on concentration area and previous coursework)
RN-BS Online Program for Registered Nurses (Denton and Dallas)
DE Certificates
Post Professional Graduate Certificates Physical Therapy
Advanced Geriatric Physical Therapy
Advanced Pediatric Therapy
Advanced Studies in Upper Extremity Rehabilitation
Advanced Pediatric Therapy
Advanced Studies in Upper Extremity Rehabilitation
Courses Towards Certification in Family and Consumer Sciences
Family and Consumer Science Alliance
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Noel-Levitz Student Satisfaction Survey Results
During the spring 2008 semester, the Office of Institutional Effectiveness sponsored the Noel-Levitz, Student Satisfaction Survey for TWU’s distance learners. A total of 2,748 DE-Only students were surveyed; 755 participated.
Noel-Levitz is a student survey that gauges students’ expectations and satisfaction levels pertaining to the areas of Student Services, Enrollment Services, Instructional Services, Institutional Perceptions and Academic Services.
Compared to the national satisfaction rate, the results of the TWU distance learner survey showed high satisfaction in areas of online library resources, billing and payment procedures and tuition value. TWU distance learners reported lower satisfaction in the convenience of registering for online courses, receiving timely feedback from instructors and having sufficient offerings within their programs of study.
The 2008 survey results showed “improvement” from the 2005 results in bookstore services. Also, the ranking of “better” was given to the areas of use of appropriate instructional materials, clear syllabus, instructor/student interaction, clear assessments, excellent instruction and timely information on financial aid.
No change was found in the results of good reputation and clear program requirements.
To receive a copy of the survey results, please contact the Office of Institutional Effectiveness at 940.898.3039 or the Office of Lifelong Learning at 940.898.3409.
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New DE Staff
Jake McBee
The Office of Lifelong Learning welcomed Mr. Jake McBee in October of 2007 as Instructional Design Specialist for the College of Arts and Sciences. Before coming to TWU, Jake worked at Texas A&M University as a computer software trainer. He is also the owner of Boneyard Studio, a ceramics studio located in Denton, TX. Jake is no stranger to TWU as he worked here from 1993 to 2001 as a graphic artist, support specialist and instructional coordinator. He earned a BFA in Photography and Ceramics from TWU in 1993. He also served in the United States Army from 1983 to 2002. Jake can be reached at 940.395.0582 and jmcbee@twu.edu.
Valerie Shapko
In August of 2008, Ms. Valerie Shapko joined the Lifelong Learning team as the new senior instructional design specialist for the Institute of Health Sciences in Houston. For the past 10 years, she served as an instructional designer for institutions such as Sun Health, University of Phoenix and ECS. Valerie holds an Associate of Applied Science Degree in web site administration from The Art Institute of Phoenix, a Bachelor of Arts in computer science and communications from Brooklyn College, as well as a Master of Business Administration and Global Management degree from the University of Phoenix. She also has four years of teaching experience both in the classroom and online. Valerie works with all faculty members on the Houston campus who teach online courses, assisting them with course design and online pedagogy. She can be reached at 713.794.2042 or vshapko@twu.edu.
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Excellence in Distance Education Award Winner
Dr. Mary Frances Baxter, Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy at TWU’s Houston Center, was awarded the Distinction in Distance Education at the 2008 Honors Convocation Ceremony on April 24 at the Denton Campus.
Dr. Baxter came to TWU in spring of 1991 to work for the School of Occupational Therapy. She worked her way up from an Instructor to Assistant Professor and then to Associate Professor. According to her award nominators and supporters, during her time at TWU, Dr. Baxter has integrated technology in the classroom in numerous ways. She started the Center for Assistive Technology in the School of Occupational Therapy at the Houston Center. Through this center, Dr. Baxter evaluated local students and clients with disabilities, recommending technology to increase independence and participation in daily activities. She is currently one of the coordinators and instructors in a multidisciplinary online certificate program in Advanced Pediatric Practice for occupational therapists and physical therapists. This robust certificate program has attracted students from all across the nation.
One of her award supporters said about her: "She generously mentored me through my first experience of developing and implementing an online course. She provided an immeasurable amount of support on logistics of course management and effective means of communicating with students in cyberspace. Dr. Baxter’s willingness to share her wealth of knowledge, with her colleagues, in the area of successful on-line instruction has resulted in TWU School of Occupational Therapy having a national reputation for quality e-learning graduate instruction." Congratulations to Dr. Mary Frances Baxter.
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This Year in Lifelong Learning...
The Lifelong Learning Instructional Design Team assisted approximately 223 faculty members during the 2007-2008 academic year. This assistance included formal and informal distance education course reviews, full and partial redesigns of online courses, TaskStream presentations, faculty development presentations and individual or shared consultations for other assistance. The TWU Instructional Design Team is glad to help anyone who teaches or assists with a DE course. To speak to an instructional designer for your college, please click here to see a list of our instructional designers and their contact information.
Robin Bartoletti, Instructional Design Specialist for the College of Nursing, became a Master Reviewer for Quality Matters™ (QM) this summer. QM is an online-course, peer- review system. This permanent certification will allow her to lead review teams, helping them produce correct, thorough and consistent reviews of online courses. To become a Master Reviewer, applicants must complete at least two QM course reviews and attend a one-week, online workshop and mandatory audio conference. Robin has completed three, external, formal reviews for other universities and has conducted many, informal, online course reviews.
Alli Peterson, Senior Instructional Design Specialist for Denton and Dallas, served as the Staff Council President for the 2007 - 2008 Academic year. Under her leadership, the Council updated their constitution and bylaws. They also worked with the Office of Human Resource to offer two staff development days each year.
page last updated 12/15/2008 13:53