Friday, September 18th, 2009

Three years after creating the first Lawrence Tech degree program delivered completely online, LTU Online continues to expand its offerings, although the emphasis has now expanded to hybrid programs.

LTU Online, which is now part of the eLearning Services Group, was created in 2006 by then-Provost Lewis Walker to develop online classes and degree programs. In 2007, the Higher Learning Committee of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools approved three fully online degree programs.

This fall over 650 students are taking online courses at Lawrence Tech, up 37 percent from last year. The University now has over 50 online courses and more are in the pipeline. See www.ltu.edu/ltuonline for a complete listing of programs and course offerings.

According to Al McCord, executive director of eLearning Services, the emphasis is shifting to include “massively hybrid” degree and certificate programs where some of the instruction is delivered in a conventional classroom or in other face-to-face learning situations.

For instance, the master’s degree programs in architecture and interior design  start with a traditional “on ground” studio and end with a face-to-face critique, with the rest of the instruction and coursework delivered electronically.

In a proposed new master’s degree program in industrial engineering, some classes will be taught at U.S. Army facilities, some will be taught in Lawrence Tech classrooms, and some will be taught online.

“We’re here to support faculty who want to develop online and hybrid courses that enhance opportunities and learning experience for Lawrence Tech students,” McCord said.

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