Navigating the Confusing Array of Digital Learning Definitions

Cheryl Dowd

Senior Director, State Authorization Network & WCET Policy Innovations

cdowd@wiche.edu

@dowdcm

Cheryl joined WCET in August of 2015 as the director of the State Authorization Network. She currently serves as the senior director, policy innovations. She directs the overall activities of WCET’s State Authorization Network (SAN), including coordination of staff addressing interstate policy and compliance, along with other ancillary compliance issues. As senior director, Cheryl also serves the overall WCET membership in addressing emerging and special regulatory issues related to digital learning in postsecondary education. She brings extensive experience in education and compliance to the WCET team and is a contributing author for State Authorization of Colleges and Universities, a guidebook for understanding the legal basis for State and Federal compliance for activities of postsecondary institutions.

Cheryl holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Richmond, a master’s degree in criminal justice from Bowling Green State University, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from James Madison University. She is the mother of four kids, all of whom have been instrumental in helping her develop new interests in theatre, hockey, and figure skating. Outside of work, Cheryl enjoys spending time with her family and is an avid fan of movies and TV shows written by Aaron Sorkin.

Nicole Johnson

Executive Director, Canadian Digital Learning Research Association

Nicole Johnson is the executive director of the Canadian Digital Learning Research Association, where she leads annual, longitudinal research studies exploring pan-Canadian trends related to digital learning at post-secondary institutions. She also has an independent research and consulting practice and works on research teams at Royal Roads University (Victoria, BC) and Bay View Analytics (Oakland, CA). Her primary research interests include tracking macro-level trends in digital learning at the post-secondary level, defining and operationalizing key terms associated with digital learning, investigating faculty experiences with technology, exploring the future of higher education, and better understanding how adults learn informally in digital contexts.

Jeff Seaman

Director, Bay View Analytics

Jeff Seaman is director of Bay View Analytics, which conducts regional, national, and international research projects, including survey design, sampling methodology, data integrity, statistical analyses, and reporting. Jeff also serves as the director of analytics for the Canadian Digital Learning Research Association. He has worked in education information technology for over 20 years and has taught, served as a consultant and on numerous advisory boards including Apple, IBM, and Microsoft.

Shannon Riggs

WCET Steering Committee Chair, WCET Executive Council, Executive Director of Academic Programs and Learning Innovation, Oregon State University Ecampus

shannon.riggs@oregonstate.edu

@ShannonRiggsLinkedIn Profile

Shannon Riggs serves as executive director of academic programs and learning innovation for Oregon State University Ecampus. In this role, she supports Oregon State’s land grant mission by providing leadership and direction for academic programs and learning innovation throughout the division. Active nationally in the field of online education, Shannon regularly presents at conferences and has written for publication about online course development, faculty development, leadership, and innovation. She is currently serving a three-year elected position for the Quality Matters Academic Advisory Council and is the chair of the WCET Steering Committee.