ACC Distance Learning Course Design and Delivery
FACULTY TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT INFORMATION
DL Course Technology and Design Considerations
When designing your DL course, one of the primary ways you will interact and communicate with students is via the various technology tools you choose to implement in the course. Since the technology and tools used by a DL instructor plays such an important role in the overall success of a DL course, we have provided technology support information to assist ACC DL instructors in using technology in their courses.
When choosing what technology to use to deliver your course, there are a wide variety of items to consider. Careful thought and attention to these topics before beginning the design of your course will help ensure that the course content will meet the learning objectives for the course.
1. Think pedagogy first, technology second.
It is recommended that one of the first considerations for a DL instructor is how does the technology used in the class support the courses learning objectives and overall course design (pedagogy) rather than having technology for technology's sake. There needs to be a connection between the technology used to deliver the course content and attain specific course objectives. Think in terms of defining exactly what it is you want your students to do first, then set about choosing a technology that will support the activity.
2. Analyze your course to determine your needs.
What learning outcomes do you want students to achieve? Break your course down into three parts: content presentation, assignments and activities, and tests and evaluation.
- Content presentation.
- Assignments and activities.
- Tests, assessments and evaluations.
Content presentation is similar to a lecture. If you write a narrative that captures what you say in class and include drawings, graphs, and pictures, you will have delivered the same content which you teach in a face to face class just as effectively. What else do you do in a face to face course? Demonstrations? How will reproduce the demonstrations at a distance? Some examples are using a streaming media clip (i.e. YouTube, etc.) to demonstrate or represent a particular concept.
What assignments or activities do students need to carry out? Nearly all of these can be done at a distance. For example, team-based discussions could be carried out in a computer conferencing environment, newsgroups, listservs or with an online, Blackboard-based live chat tool (i.e. Wimba Voice Direct).
Lastly, there are tests and other forms of evaluation, such as projects, products, and reports. Testing at a distance often involves the use of proctored exams. Will your exams be proctored or non-proctored? Assignments can be submitted via mail, e-mail, Blackboard's digital drop box, fax, and in other document files, provided both you and the students have the application to open them.
3. Consider all your technology options.
It is important for DL instructors to consider the various technology options for their courses. How will Blackboard be used with other course components. For example, how will audio, video and media be used and what, if any, additional technology and training will be required? Will secure computer based testing be used and if so, has software been obtained and has a training session been scheduled? Will chat sessions, discussion forums, external web sites, voice boards, voice email, podcasting, narrated web sites, streaming video, YouTube or Google video clips be used, just to name a few. A significant part of the DL course design and development process is to determine how to use technology in such a way to promote interactivity, communication and to support the course's learning objectives.
4. Technology Access.
In order for students to successfully complete a DL course, there are some minimum technology requirements and technology proficiencies they must have. A DL instructor needs to make sure that students are aware of these requirements and that they know where they can access the minimum technology necessary to successfully complete the course. For example, do the students have access to a computer? All relevant technology requirements (i.e. operating systems, H/W, S/W, minimum connectivity requirements) and access information needs to be posted on a DL course's online syllabus.
DL Faculty Support for Technology and Blackboard
Technology is the primary way an instructor interacts with and delivers content as well as assesses students in a DL course. Blackboard is the primary technology tool that distance learning instructors use in a DL course. Some of the primary ways Blackboard is used are as a:
- fully integrated, complete course management system with announcements, course syllabus, exercises, activities, assignments, assessments, exams, portal for interacting and communicating with students, discussion forums, gradebook, audio announcements, podcasts, live audio chats, narrated web tours, virtual web tours, course documents, narrated screen captures, graphics, embedded audio, video and other media, aggregating course content, etc.
- tool or feature which an instructor can use to make specific course components of Blackboard available to students such as secure online testing, reference point for the course syllabus, course discussion forum, etc.
- portal for accessing other online information or web resources
One of the main technology tools which DL instructors use to deliver their course content is Blackboard.
Blackboard Support
Having an effective working knowledge of Blackboard's course management software is one of the most important things for a DL instructor to master. Blackboard resources such as training materials, demonstrations, quick start guides, additional Blackboard support information, and online self-paced tutorials are available at: http://irt.austincc.edu/blackboard.
A Blackboard quick start guide is available at
http://irt.austincc.edu/blackboard/downloads/BbQuickstart.pdf.
Because technology plays such an important role in a DL course, both instructors and students need to ensure that they have the appropriate level of technology skills. In addition, technical support, technical resource information, and technology training opportunities need to be made available online.
DL Training Opportunities
Keeping current with technology, trends in online learning, Blackboard, and various training opportunities are important components in maintaining a high quality, effective DL course.
Training opportunities are available through ACC Workshops, seminars, online reference materials and PDF quick start guides. In addition, there are Instructional Development Specialists available at each ACC campus to provide training, and assistance to ACC faculty.
It is important for the DL instructor to assess whether or not additional training is needed in order to effectively design, develop, deliver and evaluate a DL course. Some of the areas which need to be considered for additional training are:
ACC Workshops
ACC workshops are an effective way for DL instructors to obtain the technical training they need to successfully deliver a DL course. Check the various face to face and online professional development workshops on various technology applications such as Respondus (Blackboard Advanced Testing Options for PCM Courses), Wimba and Blackboard.
For a list of available face to face and online workshops, visit the ACC professional development workshop database at: https://www3.austincc.edu/it/workshops/www/login.php
Download Adobe Reader to view and print PDF files.
