Issues and Best Practices in Designing Distance Education Courses Naugatuck Valley Community College

Issues and Best Practices in Designing Distance Education Courses

NaugatuckValleyCommunity College


Roles in Online Learning

Presented by

SysAdmin Virginia Beetz

WebCT Admin Eileen Medinger

Course Designer Barbara Caserta

Naugatuck Valley Community College





• At NVCC– System Administrator– WebCT Administrator– Course Designer– Student

Once everyone understands their roles, online learning begins.


Role of Technology


Role of Technology

• In a Classroom– Student, Teacher, Content– Desks, Chalkboard, Overhead Projector

• In an Online Classroom– Student, Teacher, Content– Technology, Software, Communication

Source: “Practical Tips for Teaching Online Groups”, Hanna, Dudka, Runlee


Role of Technology

• Always present in online learning– Needs attention constantly

• Upgrades• Backups• 24x7x365

– Becomes the “classroom, desks, and chalkboard”


Role of System Administrator

• Invest in a SysAdmin– Responsibilities include

• Server setup• Network connections and Internet access• Security issues

• Include your SysAdmin in all aspects of course development


Role of System Administrator

• Additional SysAdmin duties– Student Helpdesk, troubleshooting– Import student lists, course lists– Course Backups– Firewall access– Loading e-packs

• Get friendly with your SysAdmin


Role of WebCT Administrator

C



• Coordinator for online learning

• The “Trainer”– Trains the course designers (faculty)

• To use software (WebCT)• To use communication tools• To monitor the course



• The “Media” expert– Instructional designer

• Guides in design of course• Ensures consistency in course quality, style

– Graphic designer• Creates visuals and graphics• Designs web-based materials



• The “learner liaison”– Serves as a point of contact for the learner– Organizes structure for NVCC’s online

learning “website”– Student Helpdesk



• The “Coach”– Develops policies for marketing and

registration– Builds the catalog of online courses– Supports the course designer and student– Evaluates online experiences– Develops strategies to improve online

experiences


NVCC’s Online Learning

Begins here . . .

http://www.nv3.commnet.edu/mmedia/DL/index.htm


Role of Course Designer


What Makes a Good Distance Learning Course?

"I believe that the motion picture is destined to revolutionize our

educational system and that in a few years it will supplant largely, if not

entirely, the use of textbooks."

Quotes by Thomas Alva Edison

“Education isn't play -- and it can't be made to look like play. It is hard, hard work.”


Darned if I know . . .

. . . but, from my experience, I do know:– State clearly, at the beginning of the

course, what is expected of the student• How This Course Works• Course Calendar (Time-Tracker)• Approximate weekly time commitment• Frequent Online Testing

– Allows the instructor to track progress on a topic-by-topic level.


What Makes a Good Distance Learning Course? (cont’d)

• State clearly what the faculty member is expected to provide– 24-48 hour turnaround on answering messages– Tracking students’ progress online– Providing face-to-face assistance

• Build relationships online– student-to-student– student-to-faculty


What doesn’t work . . .

• Live Chats with Instructor• “... it was hard to have a chat room scheduled

for a specific date (and time). We all take the class because making the commitment to a specific time is not in our schedules.”

– Solution:• Break the class into groups of 3 or 4. Assign

each group a project. Have a threaded Discussion Forum and an (optional) Chat Room available for each group.


“Real Students do Attend Virtual Classrooms”

• Course Tools (Offline CD)– “This is the second on-line math

course I have taken.

I like the fact that you can use the software offline for this course. The last one required you to be online for all work except homework.”


Increase “Class Participation”

• Required Threaded Discussion Forum– Homework questions are posted by the

instructor– Answers are posted by the students

• Communicate student-to-student– Additional required postings by students to

verify their classmates’ results


What I’ve Learned as a Distance Learning Course Developer

• Begin planning the course two semesters before the course is offered.– Two semesters before:

• Select delivery method, text and/or software • Carefully preview publisher’s materials

– One semester before: • Develop the actual course and its content


Into the Classroom

This way toMs. Caserta’sCollege Algebra . . .

Requires username and password

http://www.nvcc.commnet.edu:8900/webct/homearea/homearea.exe


Speaking from Experience

• Roles to play– System Administrator

• Handles the technology

– WebCT Administrator• Coordinates online course development

– Course Designer• “teaches” the course

– Student• Enjoys the experience!

Documents

Issues and Best Practices in Designing Distance Education Courses Naugatuck Valley Community College