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Strategy I: Create a single, system-wide suite of online teaching and learning tools that provides all Washington students with easy access to “anywhere, anytime” learning.
We cannot realize the full value of teaching and learning technologies with today’s patchwork of programs. A single, consistent, system-wide set of teaching and learning tools and resources is the first and most essential step toward the seamless, student-centric and customized education system we need.

Action 1: eLearning. Assemble a system-wide suite of online teaching and learning tools, support services, and a central 24/7 help desk through WashingtonOnline to accommodate online, hybrid, and web-enhanced classes in all colleges.

Action 2: Free Textbooks. Wherever possible, eliminate published textbooks in favor of free, open, online materials.

Open textbooks are complete texts written by academics that can be used online for free, and printed for a small cost. Open textbooks are already used at University of Puget Sound, Caltech, and in many other colleges and universities. Textbooks cost students close to $1,000 a year. Textbook prices are rising faster than inflation, as publishers constantly release new versions, and “bundle” books with supplemental materials such as DVDs that students don’t want or need.

Action 3: Library Resources. Create a rich, easily accessible online library system that includes both global and local learning resources, and tutorials on how to use them. Instead of having colleges buy individual licenses (online subscriptions), buy statewide licenses for online journals and library reference services. Provide a common, robust integrated library operating system through which students can find and check out books and other library resources from libraries across the state and the world. This library system will support seamless sharing of book collections, document delivery and information literacy instruction across the community and technical colleges and with the university system.

Action 4: ePortfolio. Provide a statewide platform that allows students to create lifetime online portfolios of their academic work, from first essays to PhD theses and professional work products. Students digital portfolios will show what they know and what they’ve built, and can be used as an online resume to help them get a job.

Action 5: Online Tutoring. Collaborate with other higher education institutions to support the Northwest eTutoring Consortium, a statewide system for online tutoring. (This project is now being piloted in math, economics, statistics and writing by twelve community and technical colleges and Washington State University.)

Action 6: Technology Proficiency. Create an assessment that measures students’ proficiency in using online technology, and easy-to-use tutorials and personal support to bring those unfamiliar with the online environment up to speed.

Action 7: Access. Investigate the feasibility of providing laptops to students who cannot afford them. Support Washington broadband initiatives to bring high-speed Internet access to every Washington student’s home.

Action 8: Universal Design. Ensure that all online, hybrid and enhanced courses and college web sites are fully accessible to students with disabilities. Provide faculty and staff professional development on universal design best practices.