UK Celebrates National Distance Learning Week
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 3, 2021) — National Distance Learning Week (NDLW) returns to the University of Kentucky the week of Nov. 8-12. Throughout the week, UK Online will host a series of sessions that include online teaching and learning tips, virtual sessions from student support centers and much more.
The yearly, weeklong event showcases UK’s support of online student success and faculty engagement in distance learning courses and programs. This year’s new student offerings include a GRE preparation seminar and Dreams Made Possible Virtual Open House, an undergraduate event scheduled in conjunction with NDLW. Faculty and staff offerings include a panel on dynamic learning activities online sponsored by the Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT) and a showcase of the new Canvas integration of Microsoft Teams sponsored by Information Technology Services (ITS).
Beginning in the 1960s, UK faculty began traveling to extended campus locations to teach in remote locations and, as new innovations developed, added videotape and videoconferencing options for programs through the years. In 2001, UK adopted an online learning management system, and today many distance learning programs and courses have moved to online delivery, although videoconferencing remains an option in some programs.
“It’s an exciting time for online learning in higher education,” said Kathi Kern, associate provost of teaching, learning and academic innovation. “Remote instruction temporarily swelled the ranks of faculty teaching online. But now, as we envision a post-pandemic future, we can take stock of where we are, what we have learned and think creatively about the affordances of well designed, engaging online learning, both for our current students and for adult learners who might find UK a great fit for their professional goals.”
Registration is live now for all sessions, which will be available on Zoom, at go.uky.edu/NDLW. Recorded sessions will be accessible through the registration page after the events.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.