The Portable Z: How Virginia is Scaling the Z-Degree Across Its 23 Colleges with the Zx23 Project

Richard SebastianDirector, Teaching & Learning TechnologiesVirginia Community College Systemrsebastian@vccs.edu

BAD IDEAS THAT ARE

SUCCESSFUL

3

Doggles

4

iFart App

BAD IDEAS THAT ARE

UNSUCCESSFUL

6

Cop Rock

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLm5Sn1cMyQ

7

Bird-Man Wing Suits

GOOD IDEAS THAT

ARE UNSUCCESSFU

L

9

WebTV

10

Time Machine*

*Not actually invented until 2032

REALLY, REALLY

BAD IDEAS

12

Glove compartment mini-bar

13

Chelsea Soda“..about a gallon of Chelsea (twelve 10 ounce bottles per hour) would have to be ingested by a normal 70 lb. child to produce overt behavioral effects.

This volume exceeds the capacity of the stomach.

14

Lawn Darts®

GOOD IDEAS THAT

ARE SUCCESSFUL

“The Sweet Spot”

Zdegree

What’s the big

idea?

A Z-Degree is a pathway to a degree or credential that has zero textbook costs by using course materials made up of open educational resources (OER). Courses are offered at all campus locations

What is a Z-Degree?

What is the Zx23 Project?

Z-Degree x 23 Virginia community colleges

19

Zx23 Project Grant $200k from Hewlett Foundation$380k match from VCCS

July 201516 collegesawarded up to $15K

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Course Creation & AdoptionOER Course Creation, Zx23 Project Planning Document

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fObL6TJvKFRrCUz70xxdyqsf2VoTWxY4No9gfKayGEw/htmlview#

https://courses.candelalearning.com/catalog/vccs

22

Planning & EvaluationRequest for proposals, contracts, project planning

Vision

Why this degree program?

How is cabinet supporting the vision?

Communication Plan

With whom?How?• Project management• Broad awareness

OER Review

Full coursesExisting resourcesDifficulty to create

Enrollment Plan

CoursesCurrent sectionsTimed transitionFaculty Metrics

Support and Faculty Development Plan

FacultyProgram leadsCampus support staffInstitutional leaders

Develop program leads

Choose the right degree

Engage faculty effectively

Set enrollment goals

23

Communication & CoordinationBlog posts, webinar archive, project docs

https://bit.ly/zx23_archive

http://edtech.vccs.edu

24

Team & Faculty DevelopmentPathways course, faculty workshops, site visits

https://courses.candelalearning.com/pathways/

25

Sustaining & SharingOER Course Tab, Faculty support

A little background

Engaged Champion Leaders

VCCS Chancellor Glenn DuBois

Adapted to Existing Ecosystems

Successful Trailblazers

Built Infrastructure & Support

Results (so far)

“It’s ALIVE!!”

Structural advantages

• Shared LMS: Blackboard Learn• Shared SIS: PeopleSoft• Centralized governance– 23 presidents report to Chancellor

33

Zx23: Interim Results

6 degree programs100+ courses

427 faculty members

Small, Rural, Under-resourced, Disproportionately low income

16 institutions

34

Zx23: Interim Results

16 colleges100+ courses

427 faculty members

6 degree programs

1. Business Administration

2. Business Management

3. Criminal Justice4. General

Education5. Liberal Arts6. Social Science

35

Zx23: Interim Results

16 Institutions6 degree programs

427 faculty members

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fObL6TJvKFRrCUz70xxdyqsf2VoTWxY4No9gfKayGEw/htmlview#

100+ courses

36

Zx23: Interim Results

16 Institutions6 degree programs

100+ courses

2015 2016 TOTAL

Faculty 136 291 427

427 faculty members

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Zx23: Projected Results

EnrollmentsFall 2015 14,541

Savings $1,454,100

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Zx23: Projected Results

Projected SP15-FA16 Savings$8,230,000

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Zx23: Projected Results

Other OER EnrollmentsEx. SIS Course Attribute

OER

*

Universe of Traditional Course Materials

Lessons learned

42

Set clear goalsStrategic Goal Complete 2021

Big Hairy Audacious GoalZ-degree at 23 colleges*

Project GoalImpact 50,000 VCCS students

43

Zx23 Project

Vow of chastity*Full courses, not resourcesFull degrees, not courses

Pathways courseAll openly licensed material

Create OER policy

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Reduce Friction

Case study: A little bit of friction, a lot of static

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OER Course Tab

Blackboard xpLor

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The Magic Spreadsheet

49

Model openness (duh?)

Share project information publicly

Include all VCCS faculty and staff as much as possible

DiscussionDo OER/Z-Degrees align with VSU’s strategic objectives? How?If they do (and I bet they do:

• Does VSU have an OER champion?• What existing VSU ecosystems would support an

OER project?• Does VSU have any OER trailblazers• What infrastructure exists to support OER? What

additional infrastructure is needed?

Virginia is for pen

Viva la France

Peace

EdTech@VCCShttp://edtech.vccs.eduCandela VCCS cataloghttps://courses.candelalearning.com/catalog/vccs

Zx23 Course Spreadsheethttps://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fObL6TJvKFRrCUz70xxdyqsf2VoTWxY4No9gfKayGEw/htmlview#

Pathways OER Coursehttps://courses.candelalearning.com/pathways/

Zx23 webinar archivehttps://bit.ly/zx23_archive

Lumen Learninghttp://www.lumenlearning.com

OpenVAhttp://openva.orghttp://groups.google.com/group/openva

Richard SebastianDirector, Teaching & Learning Technologies

Virginia Community College Systemrsebastian@vccs.edu

http://edtech.vccs.edu