Learn About Your Community | Origin: OP106
This is a general discussion forum for the following learning topic:
Developing New Programs: Research and Selection --> Learn About Your Community
Post what you've learned about this topic and how you intend to apply it. Feel free to post questions and comments too.
Es importante saber qué beneficios creen los estudiantes y por qué desconocen su institución como recurso formativo.
Learning about your community is important when considering if a new program should be added. There is a lot of work that needs to be done gather and interpreting information before deciding if it makes sense to add the program.
There are a great many challenges when fact finding and researching. They key I gather is take information from every facet and when it doubt do more research. Furthermore, teaming up creating focus groups helps consider every aspect of the program creation process.
What data to use and how to use it to get a better idea on what opportunities and needs are there in the community
I will be giving these lists of questions to enrollment and advising to ask about my current programs in addition to when I am looking to expand with new programs.
I have learned that my research needs to be expanded. I have planned and implemented programs before I did the proper analysis.
Our lack of a time limit on program completion can hinder tracking drop-outs. We also don't have the best data on retention rates. These are pieces of information that would be valuable to have.
Exhaustive research is needed before introducing a new program. Everyone within the community is involved.
The community you are in is crucial for adding to new programs you need to know their need so your can met their them by adding to new program.
I like the idea of using focus groups with employers in the community. Maybe using Webex or Zoom to make it more convenient.
When accessing data there are differnt areas to capture this information to mane the research successful
In looking to expand our course offerings beyond our current industry, there is a lot to consider and avenues I hadn't considered. This module gave me some good ideas on who to reach out to in order to do some due diligence.
Gathering community data is important in the planning stage. However, when offering online courses, the options are more far reaching than just a community. It would be beneficial to explore entire industries in the various disciplines in order to gather intel and establish a network of future employers.
There is a lot of research that must be done to show the justification for a new program. After reading this section I was reminded of how many departments we have and must consider when adding a new program. Getting the suggested list of questions to ask these departments was very helpful.
Data collection or intelligence gathering is an essential part of decision making about new academic programs. Equally important is the analysis/interpretation of the data that may provide trends, projections, and gaps. However, cross-referencing data sets may sometimes reveal unexpected results.
Developing new programs is not as easy as just selecting one. You have to be able to show data the need for a new program and the benefits it bring to your overall program.
Do reasurch before adding a new program.
Accurate and good ressearch along with knowledge and understanding your present, past and potential student bases, companies that hire and do not hire your graduates is imprtant when consiering a new program.
Forming a commitee is an undertaking which requires you to have good networking skills. Also, you need your stakeholders to be representative of the community, and this itself is no easy task. The community in which our organization is located is very diverse. This tells me that we are going to have to determine who is best able to represent these individuals.
