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Capella University
Dr. Letitia Andrews
Adjunct Professor – Business and Technology
Capella University
With prior experience as a corporate trainer, Dr. Letitia Andrews brought a wealth of industry expertise to the classroom when she was first recruited to teach in the business and technology department at Capella in 2001. Her familiarity with professional development and innovative technology was an ideal fit with the school’s focus on training working adults for real-world experiences. Andrews teaches a variety of courses covering system theory, design, and mobile application development.
How did you begin working in online education? What type of classes do you teach?
I was actually recruited by a staff member of the business and technology department to teach a mobile wireless Web design course. It was the combination of a specific skill set I brought to the table, prior experience teaching adults, and my knowledge of “bleeding edge” technology. The idea of learning and earning college degrees online was compelling to me. I didn’t have time to sit in a classroom three to four hours for a certain number of days a week, but I thought teaching online was a great idea.
Can you explain the online learning platform that Capella uses? How does it facilitate student learning and interaction?
We have a very interactive platform that offers weekly activity on the learner’s part. Topics are presented based on a set of objectives for the week. A question requires a response from the learner, but they are also required to respond to the other learners during the course of the week. It’s asynchronous, so they’re not online at the same time as other learners per se, but they’re sharing thoughts with classmates during the week. Capella is big on real-world experiences and, in the courses I’ve taught, students always walk away with a portfolio of thought-provoking work. That work may take form as a theory-based paper or an actual application. It’s very much dependent on the subject area. The discussions and assignments are graded weekly. I publicize the criteria for those grades at the beginning of the course and repeat that throughout the 10 weeks of the course.
What kind of assignments do students have? How long do students have to turn in assignments?
The assignments are different based on the course. My assignments are project plans, test plans, theory questions, etc. Most projects are easily completed within the week assigned. Most of the time, the amount of effort is the learner’s option. Since the courses are created by another team rather than my creating the course content, I follow the course as it appears. I do offer suggestions and clarifications. I’m teaching topics I’m very familiar, which adds to the experience for me as well as the learner.
How do you communicate with students? Do you network and keep up with students after the semester is done?
We have three main communication vehicles – the course room discussion, course room email, and the student’s Capella email address. I do keep in touch with students, as I enjoy knowing when they’ve completed their program and graduate from Capella. I regularly watch the live broadcasts of the graduations to cheer everyone on! It’s a wonderful to be in the audience, but live simulcast is definitely a great experience as well.
How would you describe Capella’s student body?
Our student body is energized, inquisitive, experienced, and driven! It’s the best group of students. The diversity of locations and experiences is absolutely fantastic. I also think it’s because of the online environment that we’re attracting this type of student. Let’s face it, online learning isn’t for everyone. You need to be very self-motivated.
What defines a successful online student in your classes? What advice do you have for students thinking of pursuing online education?
Someone with perseverance, patience, and who can work independently will do well. I encourage anyone considering online education to talk with existing students in their network of contacts. Discuss at length the kinds of classes offered with the enrollment folks, wherever you decide to enroll. The classes aren’t cheap and you need to make sure you’re ready for the financial and personal commitment. You’ll miss events with family because you have an assignment and readings to complete. However, it’s so worth that effort!
When it comes to online education, what makes Capella one of the best online colleges?
It’s recognition that we’re adults. We certainly appreciate when someone checks on us, don’t we? However, we also look to drive our education and know how it impacts our prior experiences as well. That’s the great part of what we get from the Capella experience. I also think that we’ve listened to the industry and designed curriculum that meets the demands of today’s corporate setting. The idea that we offer an online nursing master’s and Ph.D. program or our certified IT security degree speaks highly of our ability to develop programs that meet the demands of the workforce. These are hot topics and we’re creating new experts for those fields.
