Quick Links
Course Development
Course Completion Deadlines
| Semester Course To Be Offered |
Due Date for Initial Peer Review
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Summer
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February 15
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Fall
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March 1
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Spring
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September 15
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Please note:
- New distance courses (online, hybrid-online and correspondence) are not added to the semester schedule until the review/approval process has been completed.
- Courses may be added to the semester schedule no later than four weeks prior to the start of the semester if the review/approval process has been completed. Exceptions must be approved by the VPAA's office.
- Does not apply to courses being revised.
Course Definitions
Online Courses
Meeting Type: ONLN
Instructional Method Code: WEB
- All class instruction takes place in an online environment
- May include optional orientations and proctored exams
- No physical class attendance requirements
- MTSU distance learning fee is assessed ($10/cr hr)
- Course must be reviewed and approved through CEDL
- Development fee of $2,500 applies
- Revision fee of $1,000 applies
Hybrid Courses
Meeting Type: HYBR
Instructional Method Code: HYB
- A significant portion (at least 80%) of instruction and activities take place online
- May include up to 9 hours of required or mandatory campus meetings
- Distance learning fee is assessed ($10/cr hr)
- Course must be approved through CEDL
- Development fee of $2,000 applies
- Revision fee of $1,000 applies
Web-Assisted Courses
Meeting Type: WAST
Instructional Method Code: WAS
Please note: This course type is not handled through Distance Education but should be listed with the Scheduling Center.
- A blend of classroom and online instruction which utilizes the web to reduce the time traditionally spent in the classroom (10 hours and up per semester spent on campus)
- Not a distance learning class – no “D” section number attached
- Distance learning fee is not assessed
- Course would not be reviewed/approved through CEDL
- Development and revision fees do not apply
Responsibilities
Course Designers
- Complete and submit for approval all course design and review documents (proposal, syllabus, Online Course Development Agreement)
- Request a D2L development shell from ITD and design content for delivery within this shell
- If external websites are used in the design of online and hybrid courses, provide detailed description of how the site will be used in conjunction with required D2L activities and assignments
- Review the Peer Review/Evaluation Form for use as a guide during course design
- Contact FITC to schedule training/consultation sessions on course design and pedagogy
- Design the course so that other instructors can teach it
- Serve as lead designer for the approved course, which includes:
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- update of the master shell each semester as necessary;
- familiarizing other instructors with the cloning and instruction of the course;
- working with department to obtain textbooks and other course materials.
- Conduct a self-evaluation (using the Peer Review/Evaluation Form) when the course is complete and work with the FPA to make necessary changes
- Build interactivity within the course content and provide students with detailed information on all assignments and course requirements
- Follow these instructional recommendations each semester:
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- Log into class at least three times per week
- Respond to student e-mails and discussion postings within 48 hours
- Grade assignments, discussions, quizzes, etc., and post the grades within two weeks of the assignment’s posted due date
Department Chairs
- Approve development of distance courses proposed by faculty within their departments by signing and submitting the completed Course Proposal Form and the Course Development Agreement.
- Examine the peer reviews conducted and the completed courses in order to approve them for delivery
- Schedule the approved courses for delivery according to Scheduling Center deadlines
- Offer and staff additional sections of online courses when possible
- Appoint new lead designers when original course designers leave MTSU
Distance Learning Faculty Services Office
- Coordinates the development and delivery of MTSU distance courses (online, hybrid and RODP)
- Maintains the Faculty Resources website
- Provides course design and instructional resources and FITC contact information
- Assigns a Faculty Peer Assistant who serves as a course design mentor
- Provides “Meet Your Mentor” information on the D2L Learning Community for review by new designers
- Facilitates the approval of and maintains on file all necessary course design and review documents and contracts
- Completes pay documents to compensate faculty for course design, revisions and peer reviews
- Tracks design, review, approval process for each new/revised course
- Works with Scheduling Center and departments to list approved distance courses on appropriate semester schedules
- Updates distance educators on current and pertinent news related to distance learning
- Surveys distance faculty annually regarding services provided and other issues/concerns
- Provides a Turnitin account and access instructions for distance course designers/educators
- Provides assistance in contacting students who do not participate in the course within the first two weeks of each semester
- Provides a self-evaluation rubric to use as a guide at the start of course design process
- Provides Podcasting audio/video equipment located in 122 Kirksey Old Main (KOM), for all distance educators
- Serves as point of contact for all distance course designers/instructors
Distance Learning Student Services
- Provides a Distance Learning Test Center to assist faculty with on-campus and off-campus test proctoring requirements
- Facilitates the evaluation of all distance course instructors in Fall and Spring Semesters
Information Technology Division
- Provides students and faculty with accounts on appropriate academic systems.
- Supports student and faculty use of an online learning environment system, electronic communications, email, and the World Wide Web.
- Operates the Faculty Instructional Technology Center which supports multimedia resource development, digital cameras and scanners, graphic and video production and editing, instructional design consultation and training on software applications.
- Supports faculty use and development of instructional technologies by providing one-on-one consultations, reassigned-time, summer fellowships and workshops.
- Staffs a 24/7 Help Desk for students and faculty (615-898-5345).
Current MTSU Online/Hybrid Courses and Programs
Since development fees are paid only for courses not previously developed for online/hybrid delivery, check the course list below to determine if the course you wish to propose has been developed.
Existing traditional/on-ground courses (approved by the University Curriculum Committee or the Graduate Council) only are eligible for online or hybrid development. Online/hybrid development is a change in delivery method, not a change in curriculum. Courses that are new to MTSU (those which have not yet been taught in the classroom or online/hybrid) must receive approval by the MTSU Curriculum Committee and/or the MTSU Graduate Council prior to development.
Approved MTSU Distance Learning Courses
Online Programs
Course Development Guidelines and Criteria
Guidelines
All MTSU online and hybrid courses must be developed in accordance with the MTSU Online/Hybrid Course Guidelines (PDF). These guidelines have been approved by the MTSU Distance Learning Committee and criteria stipulated by the Academic Outreach and Distance Learning Department.
Criteria
Online and hybrid course quality is based on criteria approved by the MTSU Distance Learning Committee and the Faculty Peer Assistant (FPA) Program and implemented in the 2005 Fall Semester.
Getting Started
Proposal Form and Syllabus
The submission of a Course Proposal Form and a Syllabus are required for each new online and hybrid course. Following approval, these documents (one per course) are submitted to the Distance Learning Faculty Services Office. An Online/Hybrid Course Development Agreement is generated based on information in the Proposal Form and sent to the course designer.
Online and Hybrid Course Development Agreement
For each new course, an Online or Hybrid Course Development Agreement must be completed, approved and on file in the Distance Learning Faculty Services Office prior to completion of course development. Development fees cannot be paid if course development is completed prior to the approval of the agreement, per the MTSU Contracts Office.
The agreement outlines course development and instruction expectations as well as the terms for compensation. The agreement is provided after receipt of the Course Proposal Form and Syllabus.
Faculty Peer Assistant (FPA) Assignment
When the Course Proposal Form is received in Distance Learning Faculty Services, a Faculty Peer Assistant (FPA) is assigned to each course developer. Your FPA serves as a mentor throughout the course development process and is charged with conducting a peer review of the new course upon completion. The course designer may use the expertise of the assigned FPA as little or as much as needed during course development, the review/evaluation process, and initial course delivery.
Course Creation
Desire2Learn (D2L) Training
All online and hybrid courses are developed in the learning environment system Desire2Learn (D2L) supported by MTSU. Course designers are required to attend D2L training which is conducted by the staff of the Faculty Instructional Technology Center (FITC) in the Telecommunications Building on campus. Workshop attendance may be scheduled online and/or one-on-one consultation may be arranged by calling 615/904-8189.
Course Shells
To begin course design, request a development shell by completing and submitting the Course Development Request Form.
Please note: A D2L shell is developed for each course at MTSU. These are active shells which students can view. Course designers are discouraged from developing course content in these shells because it is difficult to retrieve the content if the shells are deleted.
Course Development
The following resources are available as you design your new course:
Design Recommendation
It is recommended that online and hybrid course designers create content in HTML, unless the course is dependent upon the use of software such as Microsoft Word or Excel. In D2L this may be accomplished by selecting “Add Single Topic”.
The advantages of providing course content in HTML:
- Security issues;
- Avoid pop-up blockers which can pose problems for disabled students;
- Smoother navigation within the course;
- Avoid any problems associated with creation/readability of documents in various versions of Microsoft Word.
Course Review and Approval
When a course is complete and ready for review, the course designer:
- conducts a self-evaluation of the course using the Peer Review/Evaluation Form;
- completes and submits the Add A User Request Form to request that the FPA and department chair be added to the course;
- emails the self-evaluation to the FPA to begin the peer review process.
- When the peer review has been conducted, the FPA shares it with the course designer.
- This provides the course designer the opportunity to make any changes recommended by the FPA.
- The course designer requests that the FPA review any changes made to the course for possible re-rating of the section(s) affected.
- All actions taken are noted on the evaluation form.
- The form is then submitted to the Distance Learning Faculty Services Office.
- The Chair Approval Form is attached to the evaluation and both documents are sent to the respective department chair for final review and course delivery approval.
- The course is added to the Approved Distance Courses list and the Scheduling Center is notified that it may be added to the semester schedule.
Course Development Fees
When the course has been reviewed and approved by the department chair, the Course Approval and the Peer Review/Evaluation Forms are returned to the Distance Learning Faculty Services Office to be placed on file. The pay instrument is then generated to compensate the course designer according to the fee noted on the development agreement (see chart below).
Please Note – Fees are paid:
- if the course has not been previously developed;
- if the Development Agreement was approved and submitted prior to completion of course development and is on file in the Distance Learning Faculty Services Office;
- after the self and peer reviews have been conducted and the course is reviewed and approved by the department chair.
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MTSU Online Courses
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Fees
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Course development (Grad. and UG):
Course revision:
Course conversion - RODP to MTSU
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$2,500
$1,000
$1,000
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Hybrid Courses
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Fees
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Course development (Grad. and UG):
Course revision:
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$2,000
$1,000
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Design Resources
When the course has been reviewed and approved by the department chair, the Course Approval and the Peer Review/Evaluation Forms are returned to the Distance Learning Faculty Services Office to be placed on file. The pay instrument is then generated to compensate the course designer
James E. Walker Library
Distance Librarian and Instructor Resources
The library offers a variety of resources and services for off-campus and online students. Please post a link to the library website in a prominent place within your course. Students are more likely to access quality resources if they are encouraged to do so.
Embedded Librarian
Do your students write research papers? Add a librarian to your D2L course to assist students with research needs. The MTSU Distance Education Librarian has been added to over 100 courses since 2004 and has provided thousands of students with research assistance through discussion boards, email, and telephone conversations. According to surveys administered in past semesters, students overwhelmingly (>90%) prefer having a librarian available in an online course.
To add a Distance Education Librarian to a D2L course, complete the request form.
The librarian best suited to the course will be selected. Also, a discussion board should be set up within the course for library and research questions. If one is not developed, the librarian will create it.
Course Design Assistance - Library
A librarian can help you find relevant fair-use learning objects such as videos, podcasts, images, websites, articles, off-campus access to scholarly articles and e-books, subject -specific guides to resources, online library tutorials and Research Guides/online library instruction (Searchpath), soon to include quizzes.
Sample Courses
Exemplary online courses may be reviewed by logging into D2L as follows:
https://elearn.mtsu.edu/
User Name: exemplary
Password: course
Under “My Courses” are four exemplary courses (two Art and two Psychology).
Tips for Accessible Web Design (ADA)
Please consider the following tips to help make information more accessible for persons with disabilities.
For persons with hearing loss/deafness:
- Use close captioning for audio portions on websites
Resource: MAGPie
Free tool that allows developers to add captioning to streaming content
For persons with motor impairments/physical disability:
- Keep webpage design simple – “de-clutter!”
- Use logic to facilitate flow of links
- Allow adequate time for responses
- Support keyboard commands
For persons with visual impairments/blindness:
- Provide a text-only link
- Use “text tags” to describe graphics/pictures
- Use a standard navigation system
- Support keyboard commands
- Fully describe links (instead of “click here”)
- Simpler is better
Resource: Vischeck
A tool to check your webpage to determine if it is viewable by persons who are colorblind
Build a Tenacious Technology Team
- Involve persons with disabilities
- Investigate, be aware of and utilize your resources
- Identify consultants inside and outside your agency
- Train yourself and others on an ongoing basis
Check Out Your Accessibility!
Bobby
Free online service – test single pages of web content for quality accessibility and privacy issues
Page Valet
Accessibility testing based on the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
Cynthia Says
Identifies errors related to Section 508 standards and the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
Web Accessibility Checker
Evaluates web pages and produces a report of all accessibility problems for the selected guideline
Do-It
Resources and links to other websites that contain information on building accessible web pages
Design Recommendations
- The use of course content on websites external to MTSU is welcome in the development and instruction of online courses. However, a successful online course includes thoughtful alignment with original course content.
- Since other professors may be teaching your online course in the future, it is recommended that the course be designed with that thought in mind. One example: instead of linking students to your personal website for additional course content, place the content within D2L.
- MTSU online courses are to be designed for asynchronous learning, and professors cannot require synchronous student interaction or assignments where students must be online at the same time as other students or with the instructor.
Provide/Create Course Content In HTML or PDF
It is recommended that online/hybrid course designers translate course content from Word, PowerPoint, and Excel to PDF or HTML unless the course is dependent upon the use of software such as Microsoft Word or Excel. This may be done in D2L by selecting “Add Single Topic”.
“Word, PowerPoint, and Excel all send up security messages when linked to from the Content area of D2L. Content that is translated to HTML or PDF opens up inside the D2L content frame instead of trying to pop up a new window or making the student deal with a security message.” (If it is necessary to give students Word, PowerPoint, or Excel files, ITD suggests they link to these files from a drop box. Students with disabilities should not have problems accessing these files from a drop box either.)
The advantages of providing course content in html:
- Security and to avoid pop-up blockers which can be a major problem for persons with disabilities;
- Smoother navigation within the course;
- Use of HTML or PDF will avoid any problems associated with creation and readability of documents in various versions of Microsoft Word.
Moving Course Content (from One D2L Shell to Another)
1. Open the blank course that you want to copy the course content into.
2. Click the Components link on the right side of the home page
3. Choose to copy from another org unit
4. Scroll down and choose the development shell that contains the course content you want to move.
5. The screen will refresh. Choose the Select All check box.
6. Click the next buttons at the bottom of the screen until you work through the wizard. When the button displays “done” go to the home page to review.
Media Resources
When considering integrating multimedia into your online or hybrid courses, it is best to consult with the staff of the Faculty Instructional Technology Center to discuss options, i.e. podcast, vodcasts, using iTunesU, etc., and best practices for making those files easily stored and available to your students. Call 904-8189 to schedule an appointment.
Podcasting
Podcasting audio/video equipment is available in 122 Kirksey Old Main (KOM). Contact Jack Traylor at jtraylor@mtsu.edu or 904-8909 to schedule a training session.
Faculty Peer Assistant (FPA) Design Tips
Dr. Vincent Smith, Business Communication and Entrepreneurship Department
1. Review the evaluation rubric when designing the course. It is a good checklist of "things to do."
2. Build interactivity into your course--more than just opportunities; make it a requirement. Not all students, but a good number of them will only be as active as you make them.
3. Spell everything out in as few documents as possible. Dr. Smith starts with a “How Do I get Started” document. In one class he uses an additional software program, and students upload to a separate publisher web site. He provides a document with step-by-step directions on how to upload to that site, so he can always refer them back to that document and step number when clarification is needed.
4. In classes with especially heavy enrollments, be cautious to make them ADA compliant.
Dr. Thomas Brinthaupt, Psychology Department
1. Make your Course Outline file generic (with no dates). Create a separate Calendar/Schedule file (use the course Calendar) and update this each semester with current dates. This will prevent changes to the outline file every semester.
2. Consider adding narration to your chapter notes to allow students an alternate way to go through those materials.
3. Collect your own student evaluation data at the end of the semester (e.g., using the D2L survey feature).
4. For increased opportunities for student self-assessment, you might consider creating self-tests for each module (e.g., using the StudyMate* software).
*MTSU has a site license for StudyMate http://www.mtsu.edu/itdcommunications/sitelicense_comm.shtml.
Design Resource Links
ADA
Copyright Policies
Content Modules
D2L
Electronic Campus (SREB)
MTSU and RODP
Sloan Consortium
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