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A Q & A with Mr. Jeffrey Walker, discussing his work on the use
of Kiosks in supporting Distance Education!

5 Marzo, 2.007 - We recently had the opportunity to spend some time with Mr. Jeffrey Walker to discuss his works on the use of Kiosks in supporting Distance Education. His insights and diligence in developing this case study offers a 'unique viewpoint to a very real concern.'

EKN: "Tell us a little about your firm?" Jeffrey: "I established AlkerJ & Associates Educational Consulting in 2001. Our major focus is in developing new ideas that can be used as a basis to encourage and advance the education of minorities, particularly people of color. AlkerJ & Associates provides educational services and educational business development plans and proposals in addition to conference planning for businesses, business organizations and community groups that support the participation and advancement of minorities in changing job markets that have been impacted by the new technologies." EKN: "We share your concern regarding how to use Kiosks to provide opportunities for people to access information regarding Distance Education program. Please tell our Viewers what motivated you to complete your study?" Jeffrey: "The genesis for my idea began in 2001 with a proposal, "Academic & Admission Booth for Travelers," that was submitted in 2002 to a not-for-profit higher education institution. The proposal was based on my experience in a Distance Education institution and reflected my concern on both extending, improving and increasing enrollments in these institutions." "In addition, my idea for Academic & Admission Booth For Travelers was also prompted by the changes in airline security, a response to the 9/11 tragedies. New security measures in airports had resulted in increasing wait-time for travelers. My idea was that during the wait down-time Academic & Admission Booths could provide information not only on enrollment but also admission to Distance Education Institutions." "Airports provide, literally, a captured market of potential consumers for Distance Education entities. Specifically, thousands to millions of potential students seeking higher education can be reached by Kiosks. As compared to traditional ways of advertising, print, radio, television, Kiosks offer the advantage not only of providing information on Distance Education but also and most important on immediate enrollment." "Initially, my idea was that students interested in taking courses for their Bachelor's, Graduate's, or Certificates would be active partners in registering by walking up to a "Academic & Admission Booth for Travelers, and meeting with "representatives/advisors in Airports. Since all distance education entitities have academic advisors, the traveler booths would not require new hiring, just a change of work location." "It became increasingly clear that Distance Education Institutions were facing new competition from the brick and mortars. As they began to jump on the distance education band-wagon, I began to expand my idea. Recognizing that for non-profit distance education institutions to be extremely competitive against the giants in this industry, which have millions of dollars in advertising available in their budget each year, my initial idea of just Academic & Admission Booths for Travelers would not be enough." "The answer was technology in the form of Kiosks, which are easily available and the cost relatively inexpensive. Particularly, kiosks are virtually ubiquitous in all areas of American life, with few, if any, people intimated by their use." "Of course, those in the Kiosk Industry would have no difficulty supporting my idea! What was important, however, was the need to develop research reports that would provide documentation to support my ideas: that in addition to Academic & Admission Booths for Travelers, "Kiosk Technology" in Distance Education" would be the answer to expanding enrollment." "At the same time, my research reports were developed to provide the giants in Distance On-Line Education a way to reduce the many potential challengers, particularly, the brick and mortar institutions from encroaching on their current market share in the industry of higher education enrollment." EKN: "Could you please provide some oversight on the University of Texas Program and the Center of Black Business History, Entrepreneurship and Technology?" Jeffrey: "The Center of Black Business History, Entrepreneurship and Technology (CBBH) at the University of Texas in Austin is the only center in any college, university or think tank with a specific research focus on the impact of American business on African Americans. Also, while government reports provide information on the employment status of African Americans and other minorities, few remedies have been provided that address the low job-status position of many, reflected in their income and wealth-holding. Most are in low-level jobs, some in middle-management positions and few in upper management positions in American business. Advancement requires higher education." "My research question for CBBH was: what kind of information could be generated that would create interest in addressing issues that would allow for advancement through higher education, for a traditionally ignored population, primarily minorities and people of color, since IT entities have ignored these concerns, other than suggesting that everyone have computers in response to the digital divide. Obviously, this is a beginning. On the other hand, the Distance Education industry, which relies on technology, has focused primarily on the use of internet technology in teaching." "The CBBH in providing research support, however, allowed me to combine my experience in distance education as a background in developing my idea on how technology, specifically, the use of kiosks, being used as a conduit to increasing enrollment in distance education institutions, particularly in expanding enrollment among the minority population. Many, who for economic reasons, primarily, were not able to take the traditional path to college after high school. Particularly, this is why placement of distance-education kiosks in various retail venues, Wal-Mart, Target, etc., expands enrollment out-reach beyond travel venues." "Overall, research support from the CBBH was important in the documentation development for my research construct, that educational advancement must be inclusive and give consideration to both societal and economic conditions that impact on educational opportunities for minorities, not only African Americans, but also Latinos, Native Americans, Middle-Easterners and Asians-for not all ethnicities of the latter two groups have found economic success in America." EKN: "Please explain what your goals were when you began the project?" Jeffrey: "The goal was to develop and implement a strategy that would prove successful in increasing student enrollment for a target group of travelers to the Baltimore-Washington, DC, and metropolitan areas. The goal was to place Kiosks and Traveler-Booths For Distance Education Enrollment at the BWI Thurgood Marshall International Airport, Reagan National Airport, Dulles Airport, Penn Station and the Union Station, and quite possibly, even Greyhound bus terminals. The Washington, D.C, Metropolitan area, especially, is unique in regards to any other major city in United States. As the nation's capital, the city attracts both tourist and business travelers, as well as international visitors for several reasons not only to view historical sites and conduct business, but also international travelers seeking opportunities to increase their contacts with American institutions." "Specifically, establishing admission and course enrollment kiosks and traveler booths in terminal concession areas at airports, and train stations and in large-scale retail venues can greatly expand the promotional and advertising reach now being made in the Distance Education Industry in its efforts to attract a larger pool of target, market group of potential distance education online students. With an ever-changing labor market, increasingly demanding employees with college degrees, for minorities, especially African Americans, Asians, and Latinos, distance education institutions can provide opportunities for these groups beyond that in traditional brick and mortar institutions." "My initial goal was to increase a distance education provider in allowing me the opportunity to show through demonstration how placement of Kiosks and Traveler-Booths For Distance Education Enrollment at the BWI Thurgood Marshall International Airport, Reagan National Airport, Dulles Airport, Penn Station and the Union Station, can prove successful in increasing enrollment. Also, this success would provide a model that could be used by other distance education entities, which would have an advantage over brick and mortar institutions. Most have more rejected student applications than accepted ones." "Traditional brick and mortar institutions have been limited in response to meeting the needs of this market, particularly low-income minorities, potential students with average GPAs and/or low standardized admission test scores.While whites in America are the majority, almost half of for-profit students are minorities; and, their numbers are increasing."         EKN: "OK, we have a pretty clear picture of why you did the work. What are other Universities doing to meet this need and makes your approach unique?" Jeffrey: "My idea for placing Kiosk and Traveler Booths for Distance Education Enrollment at Airports, Train Stations and Retail Venues is a first, a seminal idea that has never been undertaken before by any higher education institutions, either distance education or brick and mortar. My idea is unique because it's the first of its kind." "No higher education institution in the world, either non- for-profit or for-profit has ever implemented this idea. They have all followed each other with the traditional ways of marketing courses by trying to out spend each other by building more brick and mortal building all over the country, or by placing radio, television and/or print ads, and also on numerous websites. These have proven to be somewhat successful for the amount of money they are spending to enroll new and a current student base. But this form of enrollment is being duplicated all over the country and also the world, by all the institutions listed in my report. The institutions in my reports have lacked originality and also the development of any new initiatives in increasing enrollments." "I say knock down these previous paradigm of advertising for higher education enrollment and be a pioneer in trying new. That's how this global market of industrial nations have moved forward over developing nations in advancing their economy, not by thinking inside the box or worrying about potential failures, but by trying something new and saying "What if this works? We can be the first ever institution of higher education, to try this new way of increasing our enrollment by using Kiosk Technology for Distance Education and also offering in some cases a Traveler Enrollment Booth, a technology that can be used by the current brick and mortal enrollment." "In the Distance Education On-Line Industry, the use of touch screen interactive kiosks would provide a convenient and direct link to website of an on-line university. Specifically, Kiosks can be used to reach potential Distance Education On-Line applicants for both school admission and course enrollments." "Airports, especially, provide a prime site for the location of Distance Education On-Line Kiosks and information and information booths, as well as other travel venues, train and bus stations and retail stores." "Competition in the distance education industry is increasing and cutting into the profits on the industry leaders. In 2004, five distance education providers made the Business Week OnLine Hot Growth Scoreboard. As of 2006, however, based on Two-Year Total Return," Corinthian Colleges at -51.3 and Career Education at -42.4 were designated as "Losers," by Business Week in their assessments of Hot Growth companies in 2006. Yet, the distance-education competition increases. In 2005, eCollege.com (ECLG), founded in 1991, which was not ranked in the 2005 Hot Growth companies, ranked 56th in 2006." EKN: "While your focus is on University usage now, do you see a cross over application to business use of this medium either through Sponsorship or direct involvement?" Jeffrey: "Your assessment is on-point. I agree that businesses must begin recruiting their Leaders of the Future long before they enter the workforce. Yet, immediacy is also critical. Today, more and more businesses are beginning to recruit for advanced positions in their companies and employees in the lower ranks who have demonstrated potential but lack the requisite education. Indeed, these large companies, including not only the retail merchants, can provide enrollment and admission kiosks in their venues. Certainly, this would be the most attractive inducement, providing opportunities for educational advancement to employees who wish to advance the positions in their respective companies, an option that brick and mortar institutions do not have for the working adult interested in higher education." "Today, kiosks are revolutionizing access to consumer product information as well consumer product purchasing, either through touch screen kiosks or through internet kiosks. In the Distance Education On-Line Industry, the use of touch screen interactive kiosks would provide a convenient and direct link to the website of an on-line university." "Yes. I do have many other new ideas for application to business use of this medium either through Sponsorship or direct involvement but this new information would be telling and I am saving it for report four. But EKN will be one of the first to get this ground-breaking news and the only thing I am saying is the "Best Is Yet To Come!" " The research reports by Jeffrey E. Walker, AlkerJ & Associates Educational Consulting, are available in four PDF files as follows: Kiosk Technology and Distance Education Enrollment - Overview   Kiosk Technology and Distance Education Enrollment - Report 1   Kiosk Technology and Distance Education Enrollment - Report 2   Kiosk Technology and Distance Education Enrollment - Report 3

  

Euro Kiosks Network es una filial que pertenece en su totalidad a