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Introduction

For more than a decade, I've spent a good deal of time thinking about, researching, and writing about how to ensure high academic standards in a quality distance education program.

I developed my first online course, a first-year composition class, in Fall 1997, and since then I've taught several different online courses. Over the years, I've taught dozens and dozens of sections of these courses; in fact, by the time I left my previous place of employ, I was teaching three fully online and two hybrid sections each semester.

In addition, as Coordinator for the Eastern Campus Teaching + Learning Center, I work with faculty constantly to improve their technological skills.

I've never stopped thinking about what makes a high quality DE course and, to me, it really comes down to one factor: quality distance education courses result from quality professional development for faculty.

Here at Suffolk, two recent events offer terrific potential for improving DE professional development: the Faculty Association renegotiated the Distance Education Committee (DEC) to be restructured in membership and focus, and a DE Faculty Peer Mentor Program was initiated.

As an elected Eastern Campus representative of DEC and as a DE faculty peer mentor, I've created a resource collection on this website to share information and ideas about developing and teaching DE courses. I'm also including materials and resources for the NYSUT Community College Distance Education Committee and the NYSUT Committee on Educational Technology, both of which are statewide committees that I chair.

I welcome all and any feedback you care to share. Please contact me or share your thoughts in the blog on this site. Enjoy!