1 Instructional Technology Services and Distance Education (ITSDE) OL- 700 TEACHING ONLINE Instructors: Ben McFadyen abmcfady@ncat.edu (336) 285-4488 Nanette DeBerry nmdeberr@ncat.edu (336) 285-2482 Office Location: 1020 East Wendover Avenue - Suite 206 Communications: Office Hours: 1. FAQs Discussion Board 2. Course Messages 3. NCA&T Email 4. Phone Walk-in or by appointment in Suite 206 Office is open: Monday Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Online by appointment in Collaborate or Google Hangout or Skype. Course Management and Communication The course syllabus, course information, and major assignments will be posted on Blackboard. You are responsible for regularly checking Announcements, updates to the Syllabus, and updates for Assignments, and other information posted in Blackboard. Check the posted date or revision date for the course calendar to ensure that you are reading the latest version. *Synchronous online sessions, when assigned, will be conducted on Blackboard Collaborate. Course Summary By studying best practices in online teaching, and using the Quality Matters Online Course Development Standards, this course is designed to introduce faculty to best practices and practical suggestions for teaching online. This course also provides a research- based invitational syllabus template for planning an online course, which was developed especially for NCA&T. Participants will study and apply each step of the course planning and design process based on practices for effective online instruction, feedback, and assessment. Course Objectives 1. Demonstrate application of relevant pedagogy and effective design of an online course. 2. Apply Quality Matters standards to the design and evaluation of an online course. 3. Analyze and discuss faculty and student expectations, support, essentials for success, and effective course design with colleagues. 4. Design multiple methods and plans for communicating and providing feedback to students. 5. Describe and apply best practices for teaching students online as evidenced by successful completion of online course design. 6. Develop a comprehensive online course syllabus and course schedule for an actual course to be taught in a subsequent semester. Quality Matters This course incorporates Quality Matters Higher Education rubric standards for online and blended courses.
2 ASSIGNMENTS All activities and assignments are arranged and scheduled to be due as indicated on the course schedule. All assignments are open and available for you to complete at your own pace, but pay careful attention to the due dates! ONE POINT per day will be deducted for any assignment that is submitted after the deadline. GRADING The weighted grade distribution for Modules is as follows: Module 1: Getting Started and Preparing for Online 10% Module 2: Best Practices 25% Module 3: Quality Matters 20% Module 4: Syllabus and Course Schedule 25% Module 5: Academic Honor Online 5% Module 6: Instructor Presence 5% Module 7: Managing Your Time Online 10% Total 100% GRADING SCHEMA à A minimum grade of 90% is required to earn the Certificate of Completion for this course. As you progress through the course, you may view your current grades under My Grades. REMEMBER: The goal for this course is mastery, not memory. You may repeat or resubmit any assignment in order to improve your score. If for any reason you find that you cannot retake or quiz or re-submit an assignment, please let your instructor know!
3 RESOURCES Articles and supplemental materials will be posted in the course. Articles and materials are posted in each unit. You are encouraged to research or investigate online teaching topics on your own and share these with the class. TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS System Requirements (required - must be installed on your computer - all are free) The latest version of Java, to enable various web applications, available from: http://www.java.com/en The latest version of QuickTime to view videos, available from: http://www.apple.com/quicktime The latest version of Adobe Reader to read PDF documents, available from: http://get.adobe.com/reader/ Hardware (required) A Windows PC, manufactured 2004 or later, with XP, Vista, or later OR a Mac, manufactured 2008 or later, with OS X 9 or later Minimum 2 GB of memory (RAM), 4GB or more recommended Web camera A USB headset with microphone OR built-in microphone and camera Web Browser (required - free and available online) Firefox 15 or later Software/Applications (optional - all free and available online, except for Microsoft Office) Audacity audio recording application, available from: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ A Google Account, including Gmail, Google Hangout, Google Drive, and Youtube Minimum Technical Skills To succeed in this course, it is strongly recommended that you have (or learn) these skills: Using Blackboard; using email with attachments, creating, storing, organizing, and submitting files commonly used in word processing program formats, copying, pasting, and editing in word processing programs, downloading and installing software onto your computer, using spreadsheet programs, logging into various Internet applications, linking to or embedding YouTube videos, using VoiceThread, using Screencasting application, using an audio editing application, such as Audacity, using simple video editing applications. To improve your current application skills or to learn new applications, you can sign up for workshops at aggies.gosignmeup.com.
4 TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT Aggie Tech Support (ATS) ATS is responsible for desktop computing support and related software programs for the university. Support is provided in the academic labs, residential labs and administrative offices. Located in Bluford Library, Room 24 (lower level). Phone: (336) 334-7195. Blackboard Support (available 24 hours/day) Phone Support: 866-520- 6877 Email: ncathelpdesk@perceptis.com Live Chat: https://liveperson.edusupportcenter.com/sims/helpcenter/livechat.seam?inst_name=north_carolina Submit a support ticket: http://bbcrm.edusupportcenter.com/ics/support/ticketnewwizard.asp?style=classic NCATConnect - Blackboard on your iphone or Android Phone Download NCATConnect to access NCAT resources on your ios and Android devices. The app includes the Blackboard Mobile Learn Module, so you can access your courses from your phone. NCATConnect includes access to maps, directory, courses, library, Blackboard, news, events, athletics, videos, emergency, and the alumni website. Look up on Google Play or iphone Apps. COURSE COMMUNICATION AND POLICIES Instructor Responsibilities As your instructors, we will provide feedback on your work in a timely manner (within 2-3 days of due date). We will respond to messages or posts within 2 business days - however we expect you to post general class questions in the Q&A discussion board. We will occasionally participate in discussion groups, although these are largely participant- lead discussions. We will initiate and moderate Collaborate sessions, though we expect you to participate fully in the sessions. You are expected to write as you would in any professional correspondence. Email communication should be courteous and respectful in manner and tone. Do not send emails that are curt or demanding. Do not expect an immediate response via course messages (normally, a response will be sent within two business days). If your question is sent at the last minute it may not be possible to send you a response before an assignment is due.
5 Participation and Attendance Remember, you are a student in this course. As a student, you are expected to attend face- to- face meetings (or attend virtually via Blackboard Collaborate); participate in class activities and assignments in a timely manner. If you cannot attend the sessions, you are expected to watch the recordings and contact your instructors should you have any questions or concerns. Good quality contribution to class discussion is defined as thoughtful, appropriately frequent, and considerate input. Contribution includes, of course, verbal articulation of your ideas. Evidence of good listening, though, is equally important, and will be clear in your responses to others. Note that this course is a sanctioned arena for exploration; you should not be afraid to express your anxieties or enthusiasms, and share your likes and dislikes. Many perspectives, including some seemingly irreverent ones, are at times appropriate, within the boundaries of basic respect and relevance. à At the same time, we are your instructors and appreciate any comments and suggestions you may have regarding this course. Dropping the Course You must first contact your Department Chair/Head and Gwen Godard before dropping this course. Once you have contacted Ms. Godard and your Department Chair/Head, please contact your instructors to let us know that you are dropping.