Drexel University Online

Drexel University Online (also called Drexel Online and incorporated as Drexel e-Learning, Inc.) is the online distance education arm of Drexel University, a private, non-profit university based in Philadelphia, PA. Drexel Online specializes in highly interactive undergraduate and graduate online degree programs for working professionals and employees of corporate partners. Drexel Online has won the United States Distance Learning Association 21st Century Award for best practices in distance learning. Also, in 2009, Drexel Online was selected as the National Chair for National Distance Learning Week for the third consecutive year.
Drexel University is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, and its programs are accredited by their respective top professional accreditation bodies. Many have been ranked among the top programs in the country by U.S. News & World Report.
History
In 1993 Drexel University was awarded a grant by the Sloan Foundation to investigate asynchronous distance learning, including the development of appropriate course material, identifying the most effective teaching methods and testing various platforms for delivery.
In 1995 Drexel chose Lotus Notes as its first online learning platform. The following year, Drexel offered an online M.S. degree in Information Systems. With continued support from the Sloan Foundation, Drexel offered its second fully online degree in 1997, the M.S. in Library and Information Sciences.
In 2001, Drexel University created Drexel e-Learning, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary. Drexel University Online assists qualified student candidates in applying to Drexel's online certificate, undergraduate and graduate degree programs and provides 24/7 technical support to Drexel's online students and faculty members. Since 2001, over 20,000 online asynchronous courses have been taught at Drexel University.
Academics
In the 2009-10 academic year, Drexel University Online offered 722 credit-granting online courses and 85 degree-granting distance education programs. These programs are spread throughout 10 colleges:

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Learning environment
Drexel's online courses are designed and taught in an asynchronous environment; meaning that the student doesn't have to be online at any particular time or moment of the day. Rather, the online instructor assigns weekly readings, projects and discussion forums, that can be completed at a time most convenient to the learner. From time-to-time, the online instructor will assign students to small work groups, and may convene a "live classroom" with guest lectures and outside experts.
Courses with Drexel Online employ some or all of the following tools for student/instructor interaction: email, blogs, wikis, discussion boards, audio discussion boards, private group discussion boards, audio podcasts, video podcasts, and multimedia lectures (video, audio, powerpoint). Third party software and external sites also used include; Wimba Live Classroom, turnitin, Waypoint, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, and Twitter.

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