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Federal Government DLA
Illinois DLA
Ohio DLA
Maryland DLA
Nebraska DLA
Iowa DLA
New Mexico DLA
Colorado DLA
Texas DLA

Following are the winners of the 2015 Federal Government Distance Learning Association (FGDLA) Annual Awards. The winners are broken into four categories as follows:

Five-Star Organizational Award

The Five-Star Organizational Award recognizes organizations for excellence in providing enterprise-wide distance learning solutions for the Federal Government. The 2015 winners are:
• The Center for Development of Security Excellence, Defense Security Service, U.S. Department of
Defense
• The Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation
• The Joint Knowledge Online, U.S. Department of Defense
• The Center for Leadership Development, U.S. Office of Personnel Management
• The Office of Entrepreneurial Education, U.S. Small Business Administration
• The Office of Mental Health Services, Informatics Section, Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• The NATO Communication and Information Systems Services Agency
• The Justice Television Network, Office of Legal Education, U.S. Dept. of Justice

Innovation Award
The Innovation Award recognizes an organization that demonstrates leadership in the development of emerging distance learning technologies providing enterprise-wide solutions for the Federal Government. The 2015 award recipient is:
• The Defense Education and Training Network, Air University, U.S. Air Force

Pioneer Award
The Pioneer Award recognizes an individual for demonstrating initiative and leadership in the development and implementation of distance learning in the Federal Government. The 2015 award recipients are:
• Nan Lu, Visual Information Specialist, Naval Postgraduate Dental School, U.S. Navy
• Jean-Paul Massart, Chief, Education and Training Service Line Directorate Applications
Services, NATO Communications and Information Agency

Hall of Fame Award
The Hall of Fame Award recognizes individuals for significant career accomplishments in promoting and developing distance learning in the Federal Government. The 2015 recipient is:
• James McGettigan, Information Technology Division, Northeast Regional Office, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Federal Government Distance Learning Association (FGDLA) Recognized as a Top 100 Learning Organization
The Elearning! magazine recognized the Federal Government Distance Learning Association (FGDLA) as a 2015 top 100 learning organization and a top 40 learning organization in the public sector (http://www.2elearning.com/images/The_Learning_100_Named.pdf). Please click this link to read the article on Elearning Magazine's Top 100 learning organizations: http://www.2elearning.com/top-stories/item/56112-the-learning-100-named.

 

Illinois Distance Learning Association co-hosted Fall Tech Conference
The Illinois Distance Learning Association (ILDLA) co-hosted a Fall Tech Conference with the Association of Illinois Real Estate Educators (AIREE.org). The theme was Interactivity in the Classroom. For information please check www.airee.org, and for information on joining ILDLA, please go to www.ildla.org.

 

Celebrating National Distance Learning Week
During National Distance Learning Week (NDLW), in-person grant readiness workshops were offered in four different regions in the State of Ohio. Nearly 100 people took advantage of these free events to discuss grant preparation with grant writers. It was a fantastic opportunity for networking and information sharing for organizations seeking grant money. Participants also learned about other available resources, including the states bridging services and course sharing.

The workshops were free of charge, thanks to the collaboration of the following organizations: Polycom, Shawnee State University, Public Media Connect (CET), Northwest Ohio Computer Association (NWOCA), and the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center.

Plans Underway for the 2016 conference
Preparations are ramping up for the annual Ohio Educational Technology Conference, which will be held February 9 through 11, 2016 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. An OhioDLA committee has been working directly with the conference team to plan event-specific distance learning sessions for the approximately 4,000 expected attendees.

 

Maryland Distance Learning Association News
Visitors from Uzbekistan
A delegation of educators from Uzbekistan visited Howard Community College to learn more about distance learning in higher education and about the work being done through Maryland Distance Learning Association (MDLA). They were interested in open-source Learning Management Systems and how online programs could be used to train English language teachers in Uzbekistan. There’s a great need to raise the English language proficiency of these teachers.

The MDLA board members served as hosts, sharing tips, suggestions, and resources that these visitors could implement. At the meeting's conclusion, the Uzbekistan educators gave MDLA three plates with scenes of famous locations in Uzbekistan and a promotional DVD about the country. It was a fascinating afternoon getting to know educators from Uzbekistan and participants hope that a future collaboration will be possible!

Wired Webinars
The MDLA conducted two webinars in the fall: "Open Educational Resources" with Nicole Finkbeiner, Associate Director of Institutional Relations for Rice University's OpenStax College, and "Assessing Online Learning" with Dr. Kathryn Doherty, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Assessment at Notre Dame of Maryland University.
January's webinar will focus on early college access, exploring the partnership between kindergarten through 12th grade systems and higher education institutions to offer blended and online options for early college students. For webinar archives and more information, see http://www.marylanddla.org/index.php/events/wired-webinars.

Fall Event
More than 130 educators from across Maryland gathered for a half-day event, "Walking Off the Beaten Path: Innovation Approaches to Teaching and Learning." Select presentation materials from the event are available at http://www.marylanddla.org/index.php/events/fall-event.

Spring Conference
Save the Date! MDLA's spring conference will be held on March 10, 2016 at the Conference Center at the Maritime Institute in Linthicum Heights, MD. The conference theme is "Engaging Students in Digital Learning Environments: Design, Assessment, and Mobility." Dr. Vanessa Dennen, Associate Professor of Instructional Systems at Florida State University, will present the keynote address. For more information, visit http://www.marylanddla.org/index.php/events/spring-conference.

 

Nebraska Distance Learning Association News
Julie Evans and Matthew L. Blomstedt to Keynote Nebraska NDLA 2016 Conference
Nebraska Distance Learning Association (NDLA) is pleased to announce that Julie Evans, Project Tomorrow’s CEO, and Dr. Matthew L. Blomstedt, Nebraska’s Commissioner of Education, will be the keynote speakers for the 15th annual conference - Blended Pathways for Learning - scheduled on February 24-26, 2016, in Omaha, Nebraska.

Julie Evans has been CEO of Project Tomorrow (www.tomorrow.org), one of the nation’s leading education nonprofit organizations, since 1999. She developed the Speak Up National Research Project in 2003, and has served as the chief researcher on this project and other digital learning national research projects. Dr. Blomstedt is a native Nebraskan whose career has focused on local, regional, and statewide education issues. Dr. Blomstedt’s experience includes education finance and organization, assessment and accountability, professional development, and the development of systems to enhance blended and distance learning opportunities across the state.

We hope that all Nebraskan learning professionals will join us, and we welcome our neighboring states to travel to Omaha for this engaging conference. Stay tuned to our website at www.ndla.org

Event Updates
Virtual Field Trip (VFT) Workshop - The second annual free Virtual Field Trip (VFT) Workshop was provided by Nebraska’s Educational Service Unit (ESU) Distance Learning Coordinators—in partnership with the Nebraska Distance Learning Association (NDLA)—on October 28, 2015, to share how content provider organizations might: a) have the necessary technology to deliver a video conferencing program, b) work with the ESUs and other organizations to help promote their programs, and c) use this as a revenue source at the state and national levels. Participants represented 11 non-profit organizations, including zoos, museums, historical societies, and foundations. They learned the value of a VFT enrichment program, how to create a VFT lesson plan and the technology necessary to launch such a plan, how to market the programs, and possible funding options.

Twitter Challenge
To celebrate Nebraska Distance Learning Week, November 9-13, NDLA conducted a Twitter challenge. We tweeted out resources, comments, and questions to engage participants. Using the conference theme as a guide, we set-up “paths” for each day of the week: Leveraging Social Media; Data Collection: Use of Survey Tools for Adaptive Learning; Blended Learning 101; and Integrating Industry in the Classroom. We were pleased with the responses and conversations that occurred throughout the week. To learn more about the event guidelines, follow this link http://goo.gl/WFKYYj

Higher Education Meet and Greet 
The NDLA hosted a Higher Education Meet and Greet event with area higher education professional on November 16 at Creighton University. Attendees had the opportunity to learn from board members how NDLA can support their institutions. The conversations will likely result in proposals submitted for the upcoming conference and greater post-secondary engagement with the association. We are already planning additional events like this to build NDLA’s higher education membership. For any questions or additional information, contact us at nebraskadla@gmail.com.

 

Times are a-changing for the Iowa Distance Learning Association
Face-to-face Meetings
In the past, the Iowa Distance Learning Association (IDLA) worked with another local association in information and communications technology to conduct an annual conference. Recently we have developed a system of two smaller symposia held each fall and spring. The symposia include a keynote address and three to four other presenters intermittent with lunch and multiple networking sessions. This format gives attendees time to gain new understandings and then converse with peers about best practices. Thus far, we have had rave reviews about the format from attendees. We purposely keep the fee very small. The fee covers IDLA membership (including USDLA membership fees), as well as location rental and refreshment/catering costs. After early bird registration concludes, the maximum cost that could be incurred for the symposia is $100 per attendee.

Ye ol’ Bank Account
Our Board members were used to mailing receipts and receiving paper checks to reimburse for IDLA purchases or invoices. Today, we have updated our bank account to something much more efficient. The upgrade gives us added benefits from the bank. With a business checking account, the bank provides a few debit cards for board members approved to make purchases for the board functions or for planning the symposia. This has saved board members and the treasurer time and effort in completing their responsibilities. In addition, many stores today provide the opportunity to send digital receipts. These are also forwarded to the treasurer and snail mail is no longer a burdensome step. Finally, we have succumbed to the land of Paypal invoices for all membership transactions. This gives several board members access to the paper trails should any questions arise. By using this technology, accepting credit card payments at the symposia registration desk is also as easy as a Paypal card reader ($15) and a smartphone.

Archives
Once upon a time, we played the game known as pass-the-paper-box from president to president. During the past two to three years, we have scanned many of the necessary documents and are storing them on a shared Google Drive. We have several different folders for the different board members, allowing us different levels of access. One folder is just for the Presidents, another for officers, and the last for all board members. Having much of our documentation available to the entire board allows us to share responsibility and documentation. This gives us the flexibility necessary to run the organization efficiently.

Records and Benefits Access
Although the records and access stage is still very much in the planning phase, we have digitized our membership records via Google sheets. In the near future we plan on introducing a WordPress add-in that will allow membership login. Hopefully, members will receive added benefits by being able to access additional resources. We don’t know where this will lead us, but we are very excited for the possibilities!

Welcome NewMexicoDLA!

We are excited to announce that the NewMexicoDLA (Distance Learning Association) is now an official state chapter of the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA). We believe it is the first organization in New Mexico that focuses on distance and online learning in higher education. The NewMexicoDLA hosted its first conference What’s New in New Mexico in Higher Education with Distance, Online, and Blended Learning? in May 2015. The free one-day conference was held 100 percent online. Colleagues from around the state led general sessions about what is new at their institutions of higher education in the areas of distance, online, and blended learning.

Presenters included representatives from the Dona Ana Community College, the Santa Fe Community College, the Central New Mexico Community College, New Mexico State University, and the University of New Mexico. The NewMexicoDLA first membership meeting was held during the conference to update members on the goals and progress of the chapter and to recruit new members. The chapter meets monthly and is currently working on several initiatives including setting up and offering student scholarships, the creation of a bi-yearly newsletter, and the organization of a second conference. For more information on the NewMexicoDLA go to www.newmexicodla.org.

Colorado Distance Learning Association Elects New 2015-2016 Officers and Board Members!
On August 21, 2015 polling closed for the Colorado Distance Learning Association (ColoDLA) Board Elections. The organization elected Dr. Neil Schaal as Vice President (President Elect) and David Kaye as the new Secretary. Amy Linville, Roger Campbell, and Rod Biasca were elected to the three open Board seats.

As the CIO of a rural county school district, Dr. Schaal ran 15 distance learning Polycom locations that allowed students and staff the ability to work with NASA and aquariums as examples. He is now working with EagleNet and Affiniti, giving schools the ability to bring highspeed connections throughout Colorado.  “I am looking forward to building a great relationship with everyone and doing the best for the organization,” Dr. Schaal said.

David (Dave) Kaye started his ventures in distance learning in 1993 with an internship at the Massachusetts Corporation for Educational Communications (MCET). “I knew then, distance learning was empowering and an incredible way to extend resources to remote students,” Mr. Kaye said.

“Attending the Colorado Distance Learning Association’s conference in April 2015 and meeting with its members and leaders encouraged stronger involvement. I look forward to advancing the organization’s initiatives and working with the membership and board as ColoDLA Secretary” he added.

 

Call for Proposals for the Texas Distance Learning Association 2016 Conference
The Call for Proposals is now open for the Texas Distance Learning Association (TxDLA) 2016 Conference. This year’s theme is “Pushing Distance Education to Unimaginable Limits,” and the conference will take place, March 28 through 31 at the Grand Hyatt in San Antonio, TX.

Every hero has a defining moment. In the field of distance education, we interact with heroes every day. We aspire to do noble acts of heroism in distance education to meet the needs of the modern lifelong learner. Increasing demand to support these needs falls to experienced professionals performing feats of bravery, problem-solving, and even superheroism. Playing off of this theme, the 19th Annual 2016 TxDLA Conference will present a variety of topics and activities that support those courageous superheroes, pushing distance education to unimaginable limits.

Conference sessions will focus on trends in educational technology, innovative and best practices, research, accessibility, cybersecurity and data analysis, faculty and student support, administration and policy, and more. Come and discover the heroes beyond traditional learning. It will be an unforgettable experience that you can’t afford to miss!

Types of Proposals Needed
The pre-conference workshops will be held beginning at 1:00 PM on Monday, March 28, and will run for an hour and 50 minutes. These workshops are offered as a vehicle to get the conference started, set the stage for the conference theme, and discuss relevant issues. Workshop presenters will have an opportunity to go in-depth into a topic or skill and each session will include time for questions, discussions, and practice.

Concurrent sessions provide an opportunity for speakers to give interactive presentations in one or more of the conference tracks. Attendees will be seated in a classroom or theater-style setting and will expect the 50-minute sessions to provide practical advice and the sharing of experiences.

Poster sessions allow presenters to prepare a standing, table-top poster that describes a project, process, research, or other activity to a come-and-go audience. Presenting a poster session provides an opportunity to meet and network with a majority of conference attendees. Tables will be provided. Presenters must bring all other components of their display. All posters will be presented simultaneously during one specific hour-long time slot.

Academic Papers allow for a lecture-style presentation of original quantitative or qualitative research and scholarly writings for audience review and formative critique. Selected papers will be allowed 15 minutes for presentation plus ten minutes for audience questions and comments.

For more information, please visit http://conference16.txdla.org/.