Calling All Former LeCroyers 

 

The LeCroy Center is looking for former employees, faculty, content experts, telecourse coordinators, advisory committee members, writers, actors, directors, producers, camera operators, and anyone who had a hand in developing a LeCroy Center production-- it's time to celebrate.

The LeCroy Center (LCET) is celebrating forty years in distance learning this year and we want to reunite the whole gang. Everything from telecourses, teleconferences, satellite programs, and online courses have been, and continue to be developed through the R. Jan LeCroy Center for Educational Telecommunications. 

The LeCroy Center Staff Photo, Circa 1982

In 1972, the DCCCD produced and broadcast the first television course, American Government, featuring Jim Hankerson, who was teaching government at El Centro College.  It all started with a simple conversation in the early 1970s, between Bill J. Priest, who was the chancellor for the DCCCD, and R. Jan LeCroy,  the vice-chancellor of academic affairs.  According to LeCroy, the conversation went something like this:   

Bill Priest was, and still is, an innovator, but he was one of the greatest innovators in community college history, and I never will forget the day he called me in his office and said, 'What do you think about going into instructional television?' And I said, "Well that sounds good to me.' And he said, 'OK, go to it.' 

That simple conversation lead to the first telecourse, American Government 201, broadcast on KERA-TV Channel 13 in the Fall of 1972.  Jim Hankerson, an El Centro College government faculty, taught the first television course and was the on-air instructor.  Enrollment expectations were low  for the TV course with estimations of about twenty students but, 399 signed up for the course. 

Many more instructors and staff around the district have been instrumental in helping the LeCroy Center become the powerhouse educational production facility it is today.  If you had any part in that-- we want to know.  We would like to honor you as we celebrate forty years in distance learning.

• What program you worked on? 
• When you worked with the LCET? 
• What you did at the LCET?
• Please send us your name and contact information.

Contact us at:  AAuzenne@dcccd.edu

Stamp-of-Approval for New Biology Online Course   

The results are in, and students in the new Biology for Non-Science Majors online course, have a lot to say. The course was produced by the LeCroy Center for DCCCD faculty to use in their online and face-to-face classes.  Jennifer Bagget, Richland College Biology faculty, and course content specialist, shares these comments from her students-- part of a course pilot this Spring 2012. 

"I consider this class the best I've ever [taken]! Very interactive, informative, and useful. It is well designed, with plenty of tutorials within the lesson itself... Thank you from all the students for such great work over this course!"

"I think the course is laid out very well and the labs give me a very tangible experience of a particular lesson which really ties each unit up for me. Honestly, I can't think of much I would change."

"I thought everything was presented very well, particularly the videos with the lessons.   They helped a lot with several of the concepts that are a little difficult to grasp."

"... The online materials coupled with the text and lab is a fabulous combination and works well."

Biology 1408 is available to faculty who want to use the course in it's complete online format, for those who want to use the labs only, or for in class use of the videos or exercises.  All faculty, including adjuncts,  are encouraged to use it so they can spend more time teaching rather than developing and updating materials.  This course is used with the choice of two McGraw Hill textbooks.   

Take a look at the course lessons and sample labs and see how easy it is to begin using BIOL 1408 today...  

For information on using the new online BIOL1408 contact the FAST Team: cbwells@dcccd.edu.   

DCCCD Online Enrollments Mirror National Survey Results  

Online enrollment at community colleges continued to rise in 2011, according to a new study by the Instructional Technology Council (ITC) an affiliate of the American Association of Community Colleges. ITC survey participants (136 community colleges, including Dallas TeleCollege Online (DTC)/DCCCD) reported an 8.2% increase in distance education enrollments from fall 2010 to fall 2011.

Here are a few key points made by the ITC survey:

• Growth in the use of blended/hybrid and web-assisted, web-enhanced, web-facilitated classes continues.  
• The gap between distance learning and face-to-face student completion rates has significantly narrowed.  
• Virtual student services and technology support services remain a priority on most campuses.

• COSC 1301 - Introduction to Computing
• GOVT 2301 - American Government
• HIST 1301 - History of the United States:U.S. History since 1877
• HIST 1302 - History of the United States: U.S. History to 1877
• ENGL 1302 - English Composition II

New Online Training Starts this Summer 2012  

eCampus Tips for Teaching 

 Increase your teaching presence and personal touch by interacting with students beyond assignments and announcements.

NUTN Prepares for 2012 Conference to Celebrate 30 Years "Learning-Technology-Innovation"