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Putting courses online

Current WebCT faculty

Non-WebCT faculty

Why distance learning?

Distance learning is, quite simply, learning that takes place independent of time and/or place. With distance learning you can cater to students facing various roadblocks such as:

  • Employment scheduling;
  • Child care issues;
  • Transportation costs;
  • Difficulties getting to campus.

In Fall 2007, Del Mar College faculty used the Web-based classroom to offer over 160 course sections totally online. Hundred of other course sections used WebCT to provide access to course materials 24/7 and regardless of location.

The Web-based classroom can also make your job easier. You get 24/7 access to all resources within your Web-based course including the course grade book, syllabi, and all other materials placed online. If you choose to use online testing, tests may be automatically scored and entered into your grade book. And it is a simple process to create calculated columns for calculating multiple scores such as mid-term and end-of-term grading.

Delivery methods

There are three primary delivery methods that can be used with online delivery:

  • Web-facilitated: Web facilitated courses will have up to 30% of course content posted online. There is no reduction in the number of campus-based class days.
  • Blended: sometimes called hybrid, these courses will have from 31-80% of course content posted online. The number of campus-based class days is reduced.
  • Online: Over 80% of course content is posted online, and usually 100%. Typically there are no campus-based class days scheduled. Campus-based orientations and testing may be used.

Getting started

When the decision is made to begin placing course materials online, the first thing to do is contact E-Learning Services. A meeting will be arranged with an instructional designer to discuss methods and strategies to achieve your goals. A plan of action will be created that includes a faculty development training schedule and followup meetings with the instructional designer if desired.

Faculty training

WebCT Tools Workshop

All faculty must complete the WebCT Tools Workshop series prior to getting access to an online classroom. These workshops step you through the processes of creating and managing online course content. Workshops are highly interactive and take about 2 hours each to complete. The Introduction to WebCT is held face-to-face. All other workshops are available either face-to-face or online and include:

The Virtual Classroom: Teaching Online

A second workshop is also required of instructors teaching online courses and strongly recommended for all others. The Virtual Classroom: Teaching Online is an online facilitated workshop that places instructors into an online course as students. Participants learning about the unique pedagogy of the online classroom by

  • Interacting with others in the discussion boards;
  • Reading about online classroom issues;
  • Submitting assignments;
  • Taking quizzes;
  • Trying various learning technologies.

The Virtual Classroom is four weeks in length. Because this is a facilitated workshop, those not logging in regularly and completing workshop activities will be dropped from the course, just as in a regular credit-based course.

Contact the Teaching and Learning Center for the upcoming sessions.

Course development

For those developing online courses there is a technical course review that is done prior to the initial release of the course. The technical review is done collaboratively with the instructor and the PT-ID team. The review process uses the Peer Course Review Form to examine all areas of the course to ensure adherence to appropriate online instructional design principles as well as commonly accepted best practices for online courses.

Ready to begin?

Contact E-Learning Services to set up an interview and find out how the online classroom can assist in your pursuit of student success.