Procedures and Standards for Distance

Learning and Web Enhanced Courses Using a

Course Management Platform, eCollege (TCU Online)

March 1, 2004

 

The purpose of this set of procedures and standards is to maintain the high quality of instruction at TCU by outlining the procedure for requesting a TCU Online course, training requirements, and overall standards for web content.

 

Involvement in distance education is an activity consistent with the overall mission and purpose of TCU. TCU will have a plan to secure and/or make available the technology appropriate to support the programs offered.  TCU makes a financial and administrative commitment to maintain distance education programs and to support the faculty and learner services needed to ensure an effective learning environment.

 

The only course management system that is supported by TCU is eCollege (called TCU Online at TCU). TCU Online is supported by the eLearning Initiatives staff within the Center for Teaching Excellence

 

Definitions

Definition of Fully Distance Course Using Internet (eCourse): A fully distance course that is offered over the Internet using asynchronous and/or synchronous pedagogies. This internet-based course uses a course management platform (i.e., eCollege) as the means of transmitting information to and from the student. In this type of class, there is no face-to-face meeting between instructor and students.

 

Definition of Web-Enhanced (eCompanion): A "Web-enhanced course" (eCompanion) is a traditional face-to-face class that uses a course management platform (i.e., eCollege) to accompany the class. The eCompanion can function in a variety of ways, depending on the goals of the course and the desire of the professor to enrich his or her course.  Assigned activities will vary, depending on the faculty member and the discipline.

 

Definition of eSPOT: eSPOT is an electronic version of the traditional SPOT evaluation that includes a section that measures the students’ comfort and experience with technology, and a section that measures the mechanics of course delivery (i.e., was the system frequently down, was the system easy to use, etc). 

 

Standards for a TCU Online eCourse

1.      All eCourses will use at least three methods of evaluating student learning.

2.      eCompanions must meet for at least 2/3rd of assigned classroom time in the traditional classroom.

3.      All eCourses and eCompanions must be accessible as defined by Section 508 of the United States Access Board. This will help ensure that access to web-based courses is not restrictive in its access. All content on eCourses and eCompanions need to meet the standards set forth in Section 508. These standards are available online at

http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/1194.22.htm

4.      All distance learning faculty will have their eCourses assessed using the eCollege Assessment Tool.  Results will be shared with Department Chair or Program Director on an annual basis. Those teaching eCompanions are encouraged to do the same.

5.      All eCourses will use eSPOT and will use results to make modifications to the course. The coordination of eSPOT will be done by the Office of Institutional Research (as is SPOT).

6.      There is no cost to the student for taking an eCompanion course, but a fee will be assessed (based on number of credit hours) for each student taking an eCourse.

 

Training Standards for Faculty Using TCU Online

1.      The faculty member must complete the following workshops. This can also be done via individual consultations. A certificate will be provided as evidence all training has been completed.

a.       Demonstration of eCollege

b.      Building Your Course

c.       Effective Teaching with Course Tools

d.      Online Gradebook

e.       Tips and Tricks for Course Design

2.      It is recommended that the Faculty Member also complete the eFaculty Certification Course offered through eCollege.

 

Approval of an eCompanion course using a Course Management Platform (eCollege):

  1. Faculty Member completes the appropriate training in eCollege with CTE staff
  2. Faculty Member requests a course shell for each section of an eCompanion from CTE.
  3. The Department Chair notifies the Associate Registrar modify the attribute assigned to ECOL.

 

Approval of an eCourse using a Course Management Platform (eCollege)

 

  1. Faculty Member completes appropriate training in eCollege with CTE staff.
  2. Faculty Member submits a proposal to the Department Chair or Program Director providing a clear and concise written statement of intended learning outcomes, instructional strategies, and methods used in the delivery of distance education for the new eCourse.
  3. Faculty Member uses TCU Online to teach the course first as an eCompanion course for at least one semester prior to teaching the eCourse.  Appropriate assessment is reviewed before eCompanion course can become a distance learning (eCourse) course.
  4. After course has been developed in eCollege and taught as an eCompanion course, the Faculty Member uses the eCollege Assessment Tool and/or SPOT/eSPOT to evaluate the eCollege course shell and forwards the results to the Department Chair or Program Director.
  5. Department Chair or Program Director reviews the eCollege Assessment results (and/or other assessment documents) and makes recommendations to the faculty member for changes.
  6. Upon approval by the Department Chair or Program Director, the Department Chair or Program Director notifies the Associate Registrar to appropriately label the eCourse in the course schedule (NOTE: all eCourses must have the attribute assigned as ECOL and must have a section number of 4**).

 

Note:

The MLA Advisory Committee will be the approving party of all new MLA course requests.  The Faculty Member will work with the Program Director and Associate Provost for Academic Affairs to assess the course. The approved MLA course may be delivered as an eCourse after approval by Program Director.