QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE

Online/Hybrid Course Development

DEFINITIONS
Online Courses

Meeting Type:  ONL
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

COURSE COMPLETION DEADLINES

Please note:

• Registration for courses scheduled as online, hybrid or correspondence will not occur until the review/approval process has been completed.
    

• Courses may be added after priority registration has begun if the review/approval process has been completed. 
   

• Does not apply to courses being revised.

COURSE DESIGN PROCESS

• Complete/submit Course Proposal Form and Syllabus.

• Sign/submit Online/Hybrid Course Development Agreement (provided upon receipt of Proposal and Syllabus) 

• Faculty Peer Assistant (FPA), or mentor, is assigned for peer review

•  All online and hybrid courses and correspondence course online components must be developed and taught in Desire2Learn (D2L).  Course shells are provided for every course, however, students have access to those shells.  If you wish to request a shell to which students do not have access during course development, you may make this request at:  http://www.mtsu.edu/d2lsupport/faculty/index.shtml

• Schedule Desire2Learn (D2L) Training – FITC (904-8189) or review schedule and register for D2L workshops at http://www.mtsu.edu/cgi-bin/users/webprod/HDWOrder/ pgm/WS_Signup.cgi

• Develop Course

• Conduct course self-evaluation, request FPA review, make changes to course  (if necessary), FPA reviews revised areas and re-ranks those areas as needed;

• Peer Review Form submitted to Distance Learning Faculty Services Office

• Department Chair reviews course (and Peer Review) for final approval

• Development fee is paid to course designer

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS

It is recommended that online/hybrid course designers create content in 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”.

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 will avoid any problems associated with creation and readability of documents in various versions of Microsoft Word.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MOVING DEVELOPMENT MATERIAL INTO ACTIVE SHELL

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 and check things out.

RESOURCES

ADA

• ADA Compliance - http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/websites2.htm

• ADA Home Page - http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm

COPYRIGHT POLICIES

• The TEACH Toolkit – an Online Resource for Understanding Copyright and Distance Learning (legislation enacted in November 2002) - http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/scc/ legislative/teachkit/

• TBR Copyright Policy - http://www.tbr.state.tn.us/general%5Fcounsel/ip/ Copyright%20in%20DE.htm

COURSE CONTENT MODULES

• MERLOT Content Library - http://www.merlot.org/merlot/index.htm

ELECTRONIC CAMPUS (SREB)

• Principles of Good Practice - http://www.ecinitiatives.org/publications/principles.asp

MTSU and RODP

• Academic Calendar- http://www.mtsu.edu/calendar_academic.shtml

• Adaptive Technology Center - Disabled Student Services - http://www.mtsu.edu/%7Edssemail/adatech.htm

• BAS Computer Lab Reservations - http://www.businesslab.mtsu.edu/Lab/

• Best Practices - Online Pedagogy - http://www.rodp.org/faculty/pedagogy.htm

• Computer and Network Acceptable Use Policy - http://www.mtsu.edu/policy.shtml

• D2L Support - http://www.mtsu.edu/d2lsupport/faculty/index.shtml

• Distance Learning Meeting Request Form - http://www.mtsu.edu/learn/faculty/meetingform_cedl.shtml

• ITD - http://www.mtsu.edu/%7Eitd/fac_staff/

• ITD Resources Policy - http://www.mtsu.edu/%7Eitd/policies/itres_policy.html

• James E. Walker Library – Distance Librarian Instructor Resources - http://library.mtsu.edu/distance/instructorresources.php  Embedded Librarian - http://library.mtsu.edu/distance/embedded.php

• Self-study for Teaching Online - Survey -http://www.rodp.org/faculty/fac_eval.htm

• Scheduling – On-campus Meetings - http://www.mtsu.edu/learn/faculty/ meetingform_cedl.shtml

• Technical Support - http://www.mtsu.edu/%7Eitdsupp/helpdesk/

• Training – D2L - http://www.mtsu.edu/cgi-bin/users/webprod/HDWOrder/ pgm/WS_Signup.cgi