Updated Courseware in Context (CWiC) Framework Launches with New Guide to Courseware Adoption and Refined Accessibility Attributes and Quality Indicators

BOSTON, MA (Sep 19, 2018) – An update to the Courseware in Context (CWiC) Framework was released today. The CWiC Framework is an open, field-owned suite of resources designed to help postsecondary decision makers make informed selections of digital courseware products, and support effective adoption and implementation of these solutions. It was developed and initially released in 2016 through a collaboration between the Online Learning Consortium (“OLC”) and Tyton Partners, and with contributions from SRI International.

Since 2016, the CWiC Framework has been piloted and implemented at several leading post-secondary institutions and accessed by thousands of administrators, teaching and learning professionals and instructional designers.

“The CWiC Framework is a robust tool to help institutions evaluate courseware offerings and ensure they are implemented in an effective manner,” said Jennifer Mathes, Chief Strategy Officer at the Online Learning Consortium. “The 2018 version of the Framework makes important improvements based on the feedback gathered by the CWiC Executive Committee from institutions and vendors over the last year.”

The 2018 updates to the Framework and CWiC resources include:

• Updates to the Product Taxonomy, reflecting the ongoing evolution of the market’s needs and industry standards with respect to accessibility
• Release of case studies profiling pilot implementations of the CWiC Framework at Southern New Hampshire University and the University of North Carolina Charlotte
• Expansion of the CWiC Framework functionality on the LearnPlatform to support vendor self-reported data
• Introduction of the Guide to Courseware Adoption, intended to support institutional leaders seeking to establish an iterative, continuous improvement approach to achieving scale and sustainability in courseware adoption
• Revision of the Course and Program-Level Quality Indicators designed to assess practices and policies that impact the conditions for effective courseware implementation
• Introduction of the CWiC Guide to Total Cost of Ownership, outlining the cost drivers associated with courseware

In addition to these important improvements to the Framework, today marks the transition of management of the Framework from Tyton Partners to the Online Learning Consortium.

“We have been honored to support the field in the development of the CWiC Framework over the last three years and are excited to continue to support this open and field-owned resource as OLC takes over project management responsibilities,” said Gates Bryant, Partner at Tyton Partners.

The CWiC Framework is governed by an Executive Committee of courseware and digital learning experts from higher education institutions. The CWiC Framework Executive Committee members for the 2018-2019 term launching this month are:

• Kelvin Bentley, Ph.D., Assistant VP for Digital Learning Innovation, University of West Florida
• Niki Bray, Instructional Designer, University of Memphis
• Terry Di Paolo, Executive Dean of Online Instructional Services, Dallas County Community College District
• Bonnie Grohe, Director of Faculty Development & Online Education, Fayetteville State University
• Angela Gunder, Director of Instructional Design and Curriculum Development, The University of Arizona
• Romy Hughes, Assistant Provost, Koehler Center for Innovation, Instruction, and Engagement
• Mark McBride, Library Senior Strategist, SUNY System
• Joseph Moreau, Vice Chancellor of Technology, Foothill de Anza Community College District
• Tracey Osborne, Associate Vice President of Academic Resources, Southern New Hampshire University
• Ruth Tarantine, University Dean of Nursing, Colorado Technical University

You can learn more about the CWiC Framework through this brief video. Information on the CWiC Framework and how it can be used at an institution will also be presented at OLC Accelerate, in Orlando, November 14-16, among other conferences this fall.

The updated CWiC Framework reflects the continued evolution of the digital courseware market, and is shaped by feedback provided from its community of users. The CWiC Framework can be accessed at no charge through the CWiC Framework Website or through the Interactive CWiC Framework on the LearnPlatform. Join the growing community around the framework at Coursewareincontext.org or on Twitter using the hashtag #CWinContext.

Online Learning Consortium

The Online Learning Consortium (OLC) is a collaborative community of higher education leaders and innovators, dedicated to advancing quality digital teaching and learning experiences designed to reach and engage the modern learner – anyone, anywhere, anytime. OLC inspires innovation and quality through an extensive set of resources, including, best-practice publications, quality benchmarking, leading-edge instruction, community-driven conferences, practitioner-based and empirical research and expert guidance. The growing OLC community includes faculty members, administrators, trainers, instructional designers, and other learning professionals, as well as educational institutions, professional societies and corporate enterprises. Visit http://onlinelearningconsortium.org for more information.

Tyton Partners

Tyton Partners is the leading provider of investment banking and strategy consulting services to the global knowledge sector. With offices in Boston and Stamford, CT, the firm has an experienced team of advisors who deliver a unique spectrum of services from strategy and market development decision-support to mergers and acquisitions and capital markets access that helps institutions, companies, organizations, and investors navigate the complexities of the education, media, and information markets. Tyton Partners leverages a deep foundation of transactional and advisory experience and unparalleled level of global relationships to make its clients’ aspirations a reality and catalyze innovation in the sector. For more information, visit www.tytonpartners.com or follow us @tytonpartners.