Innovation and collaboration: delivering distance English courses electronically

Abstract

When the Louisiana legislature shifted significant resources to the innovation of instructional technology in public universities throughout the state, the English Department at Louisiana Tech University had to decide whether or not to devote time and money to this instructional trend. The department's overall plan and its outcome ± delivering over 12 distance English courses electronically per year ± are presented in this paper. Describes how, when innovating the instruction, the department discovered that purchasing new equipment and software is not enough; a strategic plan, faculty development, and technology support are prerequisites for a successful instructional technology innovation.