New on WCET Frontiers
Practice
Giving Visuals a Voice – the Impact of Audio Descriptions in Digital Learning
Published by: WCET | 3/28/2025
Ensuring accessibility in digital learning is a priority for WCET, and audio descriptions are a crucial component in making video content inclusive for all learners. But what exactly are audio descriptions, and how can they improve the learning experience? Let’s dive into the fundamentals of audio descriptions and how they enhance accessibility in higher education. […]
Practice
Digital Learning Challenges and Opportunities in Higher Education in 2025
Published by: WCET | 3/6/2025
Hello WCET Community! As the WCET Steering Committee Chair, I am honored to work with our members to help guide the content, themes, and activities that inform WCET’s work throughout 2025. Collectively, the Steering Committee selected two key topics to focus on this year: Over the next several months, the Steering Committee work groups will […]
Practice
Humanizing Ed-Tech Through the Human Advantage Framework™
Published by: WCET | 2/20/2025
Here at WCET, our focus is on educational technology and digital learning. While many of us enjoy learning about the latest and greatest tech tools, we know technology alone is not at the heart of our work. The most advanced digital learning tool holds little value if our students are unable to use it effectively […]
Practice
Revisiting the Cost and Price of Distance Education
Published by: WCET | 1/23/2025
Distance education has come a long way since WCET conducted a survey to better understand the relationship between the cost and price of distance education in 2016. The results of this survey were published in the 2017 study Distance Education Price and Cost Report. That survey found that although 75% of respondents indicated that distance […]
Practice
NC-SARA, SARA, and SAN: The Power of Collaboration
Published by: WCET | 1/14/2025
The National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) and the State Authorization Network (SAN) are two national, nonprofit organizations established to improve the quality, accessibility, and reach of postsecondary education opportunities for learners across the nation. The two organizations achieve this by providing leadership, guidance, and support as we work closely with states, higher […]
Policy
December Federal Rulemaking Activity – New Final Regulations & Withdrawn Provisions
Published by: WCET | 1/7/2025
T’was the final weeks of December when most of higher education was not stirring – except for the U.S. Department of Education (Department). The Department was preparing gifts announcements finalizing the regulatory issues from the Winter 2024 rulemaking. In late December, the Department released two important announcements: These announcements separate the Winter 2024 issue areas […]
Practice
Cinematic Leadership: Russ Poulin’s Oscar-Worthy Career
Published by: WCET | 1/6/2025
In the world of digital learning policy and practice, few names resonate as profoundly as Russ Poulin’s. Reflecting on a career spanning over three decades, it’s evident that Russ has been a pioneering force and fostered a community of passionate educators and advocates committed to the evolution of online learning. From his early efforts in […]
Policy
What Might Happen to the Department’s Pending Regulations and Guidance?
Published by: WCET | 11/14/2024
The direction for regulations and guidance for digital and distance education shifted greatly with the recent election. As you may recall, the U.S. Department of Education (the Department) was planning to release sweeping regulatory changes on distance education, accreditation, state authorization reciprocity, and mandatory fees for books and materials. They also planned changes to guidance […]
Policy
Meeting the Looming Web Accessibility Regulations: The Time to Start Was Yesterday
Published by: WCET | 11/7/2024
A recent NWHeat webinar highlighted that public institutions must mobilize immediately (if not sooner) to meet the coming U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) accessibility guidelines. Released in April 2024, the new regulation requires “state and local governments to make their websites and mobile applications accessible for people with disabilities.” These rules encompass all public colleges and universities. […]
Practice
Empowering Students and Educators: Crafting a Zero-Cost, Culturally Inclusive Textbook for Hawai‘i’s Future
Published by: WCET | 10/17/2024
Welcome to the third part of our series highlighting the work of the 2024 WOW Award winners! Check out the first and second parts of our series. Today’s guest authors join us from the University of Hawai’i System to tell us all about the Anatomy and Physiology OER Project. Thank you for all of the […]