From 0 to 60: The Case Study of a School of Education’s Successful “Online Start-Up”

Book Chapter | BY: Borasi, R., Fredericksen, E., & Miller, D.

(Abstract) This chapter reports findings from the case study of a school of education that had not previously engaged in online education and within two years was able to offer a total of 61 online courses (ranging from hybrid to fully online) as part of its existing programs, with high student and faculty satisfaction as well as limited upfront investments.  With the goal of informing academic leaders planning similar online initiatives, the chapter examines how this start-up was realized, with a focus on how the school secured quality online instructors, other key resources and infrastructures, student and faculty buy-in, consistent policies and expectations about online courses, as well as how decisions were made about the specific courses to be offered online.  This study was informed by entrepreneurship as a theoretical lens to study innovations.