Certificate Of Online Learning And Teaching (COLT) At The University Of Hawaii: A Horse Of Another Color For Earning College Credits

Abstract

Current conventional wisdom may perceive that higher education is outdated and maybe even likely to collapse. Online education is often predicted to replace brick-and-mortar campuses with systems providing students access to world-class learning via smartphones and tablets. Many private and commercial ventures are embracing such concepts. However, in the race to implement large-scale models, significant key elements such as understanding that learning can be social, affective, personal, and even cultural may be missing. Thus, creative yet research-based programs at the university level are needed. While it is true that existing university structures might inhibit the implementation of radical programs, there are opportunities where such innovation can be offered. In the case of the Department of Educational Technology at the University of Hawaii, an option for a program at the certificate level not necessarily leading to a traditional degree was provided. The certificate option provided an opportunity to explore entrepreneurial models while also incorporating what we understand about learning, the brain, and newer technologies. This paper describes the circumstances and approach that led to the creation of an innovative program that still fit within current university structures.