Spotlight Archive

The award is named in honor of Richard Jonsen, the WICHE Executive Director who nurtured the idea of a technology cooperative and founded WCET in 1989. Exuding the principles espoused in the award, Dr. Thor has served the higher education community for over forty years with a pioneering and visionary spirit that has supported success for many students, many of whom might not have had a pathway without the opportunities Dr. Thor set in place. Read more about this well deserved honor.

To recognize the importance of accessibility as we kick off the fall semester, WCET will feature several Frontiers blogs and webcasts on accessibility issues and best practices across the institution.  We invite you to join in the learning by registering for our remaining webcast: Accessibility for Edtech Across the Campus: Turning a Negative into a Positive - September 29, 2015

Or view the archives from:
Video Captioning: Features, Costs, Good Practices, and How Captioning Benefits All Students - September 10, 2015
Promoting a Culture of Accessibility for Online Students - September 24, 2015

If you missed the WCET Annual Meeting November 11-13 or if you just want to relive or share the learning & laughter, view the recordings of the general sessions or check out the photos on Flickr. See: Robbie Melton's IoT antics during the opening keynote, the Reflecting and Looking Forward session which included two special acknowledgements, edtech leaders share their advice during the Leading Innovation in Higher Education general session panel, the WOW award luncheon, and the closing IoT panel. Our sincere thanks to Mediasite and Sonic Foundry for recording the sessions.​

Did you know that for WCET members, preconference sessions at the upcoming 27th Annual Meeting are no additional charge?  Not a member (yet!), these fantastic sessions can be added to your registration for only $75.  Held from 10am – Noon on Wednesday, Nov. 11th, you won’t want to miss:

• Adaptive Learning as an Applied Innovation: How to Get Started
• Strategic Innovation: Working Through the Strategy and Skeptics

​Already registered? Log back in to add these invigorating sessions. Haven’t registered? Do so quickly, as we’re nearing a sell-out!

The old educational technology categories of LMS, SIS, and portal are being challenged by Learning Relationship Managers. As retention and completion are superseding access as priorities in U.S. higher education, these products may be well-positioned to help institutions take a leap forward in reaching those goals in the same way that customer relationship management tools have transformed the business world. Join this Oct. 22 webcast to learn more from the representatives of two LRM providers: Fidelis, Inc. and Motivis and two pioneering institutions: American Public University System and Capella University. Register Today.  

The learning continues this fall with webcasts to help you address edtech needs on campus.  Gather your colleagues and perhaps a cup of warm apple cider to investigate the following topics:

• Teaching Competencies for 21st Century Learners. Join this Oct. 6 WCET Hangout, and follow along on twitter with #21CFaculty, to answer the questions, “is there a digital divide between Millennial students and today’s traditional teaching faculty? And what do we do about it?”
• Out with the Old In With the New. The old educational technology categories of LMS, SIS, and portal are being challenged by Learning Relationship Managers. Join this Oct. 22 webcast to  learn more from the representatives of two LRM providers and two pioneering institutions.

Photo Credit: Doug Jones 

To recognize the importance of accessibility as we kick off the fall semester, WCET will feature several Frontiers blogs and webcasts on accessibility issues and best practices across the institution.  We invite you to join in the learning by registering for our webcasts:

Video Captioning: Features, Costs, Good Practices, and How Captioning Benefits All Students - September 10, 2015
Promoting a Culture of Accessibility for Online Students - September 24, 2015
Accessibility for Edtech Across the Campus: Turning a Negative into a Positive - September 29, 2015

With over 50 concurrent sessions and over 100 speakers, the 27th WCET Annual Meeting is "chalk" full of great learning.  

Highlights include:

• Preconference session on Strategic Innovation: Working Through the Strategy & the Skeptics 
• A workshop on applying the work of the National Distance Education and Technological Advancement (DETA) Research Center.
• A new "Edtech Meet-up".
• Plenary sessions on the Internet of Things.

We look forward to seeing YOU in the Mile High City for warm day, cool evenings and hot learning!

Photo Credit: Trevor Munson 

This year's WOW award recipients have all implemented solutions in areas shown to have impact on student success.

• Boise State University: Virtual Reality Nursing Simulation with Custom Haptic System for Patient Safety.
• The NROC Project: EdReady, A College Math Readiness System.
• University of Central Florida: Directo Connect to UCF Pathway.
• University of Maryland University College: Open Educational Resources Initiatives.

Read more about these exceptional programs in the press release and catch them at the WCET Annual Meeting Nov. 11-13, 2015 in Denver.

On June 10-11, 2015, WCET will hold the Leadership Summit, "Adaptive Learning in Higher Ed: Improving Outcomes Dynamically" in Santa Fe, New Mexico where institutional leaders and corporate innovators will convene to explore the challenges, benefits, and tools related to adaptive learning in higher education. Learn more and register today! Photo Credit: Jim Nix

To recognize the importance of accessibility as we kick off the fall semester, WCET will feature several Frontiers blogs and webcasts on accessibility issues and best practices across the institution.  We invite you to join in the learning by registering for our remaining webcast:

Accessibility for Edtech Across the Campus: Turning a Negative into a Positive - September 29, 2015

Or view the archives from:

Video Captioning: Features, Costs, Good Practices, and How Captioning Benefits All Students - September 10, 2015
Promoting a Culture of Accessibility for Online Students - September 24, 2015

With over 50 concurrent sessions and over 100 speakers, the 27th WCET Annual Meeting is an outstanding lineup of forward thinking innovators, practitioners, and thought leaders in higher education technology. In typical WCET fashion, nearly every session includes multiple perspectives on topics such as:

- The Internet of Things.
- Adaptive Learning.
- Federal Policy & the Impact on Students, Institutions, States, & Accreditors.
- Managing CBE -- From Starting an Initiative to Developing a Transcript.

Photo Credit: Wally Gobetz

Registration for the 27th WCET Annual Meeting is now open.  The annual meeting brings together innovative thinkers and pragmatic solutions to create a dynamic program and 3 days jam-packed with learning.  We've sold out in recent years, so register early to ensure your seat and save some funds. See YOU in the Mile High City!

Photo Credit: Andy Smith

In a majority vote by the membership, WCET has amended the bylaws which govern your cooperative. The new bylaws include streamlined and clarified language regarding the operation of your cooperative. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the new bylaws.

Photo Credit: GotCredit

View the 27th WCET Annual Meeting preliminary program. The program and registration are live. Stay tuned for additional sessions, workshops, and speakers.

Photo Credit: Michael Levine-Clarke

WCET members have the opportunity to serve on the 15-person Steering Committee, an advisory group elected to 3-year terms by the designated "official representative" of each member instituiton or organization.  Nominations are open to WCET members only until July 29th, 2015. For more information contact Sherri Artz Gilbert.

Some new federal regulations may be coming your way and we need to make our voice heard. We need your help in addressing concerns in four areas: ensuring equity for financial aid, student identity, accessibility, and state authorization of distance education. Visit WCET Frontiers to learn more and share your ideas with us today!

Photo credit: Stephen Melkisethian

View the recording of WCET's Cali Morrison in a Google Hangout with Jaime Casap, Education Evangelist at Google and Mariana Lebron, Assistant Professor of Management at Towson University.  The trio discussed diversity issues and where the leaks may be in the higher ed pipeline.

Photo Credit: U.S. Department of Education

Are you charged with managing the state authorization of distance education at your institution? Do you need help navigating the chaotic world of state regulations, federal updates, and the seemingly endless paperwork involved? Are you relatively new to authorization and compliance issues? If so, the July 23-24 WCET State Authorization Compliance Workshop may be the answer! Photo Credit: Mclcbooks

Submit your proposal for the WCET Annual Meeting. Sessions are recognized for the diversity of perspectives, the bold approaches addressed, and the engaging, conversational format among speakers and the audience. WCET presenters include higher education professionals who are leading change and innovation at their organizations. Submit today!