ED 214 ONLINE Syllabus - Developing an Online Class

Instructor:  Cindy Morrin
3 hour lecture, 3 units
Section 5226
Online
Online time will be used for online discussions, uploading assignments, quizzes, and course component development.

You are welcome to make an appointment with me to cover topics we learn in class.  I will also try and schedule group appointments during the course.

Office Hours:  Spring 2009

Topics/Themes

ED 214 introduces successful design and teaching strategies for those teaching or interested in developing an online course. Participants will experience components of an online course from both student and teacher perspectives. Participants will learn to use technologies to support online instruction and will develop key course components.

Major themes include:

• pedagogy
• class management
• online communication
• learning activities
• assessment
• Blackboard

Prerequisites

• NONE, but it is assumed that participants will have computer skills (word processing, e-mail, PowerPoint, Web browsing).

Objectives

At the end of this course, each student will be able to:

• Describe the major differences between face-to-face and online learning.
• Identify and evaluate resources for online learning.
• Identify and evaluate relevant publications and online resources.
• Use online learning course management systems (Blackboard) and tools.
• Design a syllabus, topic outline and other components of an online course applying the principles of good practice.
• Compare means of communication and share principles of good practice.
  

Logging into the Course and Updating your Personal Information

• Go to http://bb.gcccd.edu

• Click on “User Login” (Bookmark this site by adding it to your favorite sites).

• Your Blackboard username is your first name and last name in lowercase with no spaces and a dot in between your first and last name (For example, Joe Smith would have a Blackboard ID of joe.smith).

• Your password is your birth date in 6 digits (For example, if Joe Smith were born on January 1, 1986, his password would be 010186).

• You must wait 24 hours after you register for you class before you can log into Blackboard o to http://bb.gcccd.edu

• Here is a tutorial  on how to login to Blackboard:  Tutorial on how to login into Blackboard

1. Make sure your email is correct.  Click on Course Tools located below the Course Menu under Tools.   Click on Personal Information and then Edit Personal Information.  Enter the e-mail address that you want us to use for this course (one that you check often). Make sure it is correct!  Adjust your name to what you prefer to be called and put in any other information you want me to have (phone number, etc.).  Giving me your correct email is very important!  This is how we will communicate in class.  This is something you can actually do for students if you need to do this.  Make sure students fix their emails through WebAdvisor as well.

Grading

The best way to access your grades is by clicking the "My Grades" on the course menu in Blackboard.  See the course schedule for assignments and due dates.

(Note that this is not a typical scale)

A	87-100%, awarded for work that exceeds expectations and/or shows exceptional effort, skill, or creativity
B	75-86%, awarded for work that exceeds expectations
C	60-74%, awarded for work that meets expectations
D	50-59%, awarded for work that is below expectation

• Assignments (six)  = 150 points

• Discussion Boards (graded forums = 9) = 90 points

• Orientation Quiz (exam) = 10 points

• Final Exam Survey (anonymous survey)

• Total Possible Points = 250 points

Due Dates, Make-ups, and Incompletes

Assignments turned in after the due date lose 25% per week.  Assignments will NOT be accepted after the Blackboard cutoff date.

Quizzes will not be available after the due date -- there are no make-ups for quizzes.  An incomplete grade is given only when there is an emergency near the end of the semester.

Textbooks (optional-not required)

Teaching Online - A Practical Guide
Susan Ko & Steve Rossen
ISBN:  0-618-29848-7
Amazon
I like this one but it needs updating.  The new edition is scheduled for 2010.  If you can find a used copy or borrow one from a friend, it is worth skimming it's contents (good case studies).

Engaging the Online Learner
Rita-Marie Conrad & J. Ana Donaldson
ISBN: 0787966673
Amazon

Assessing the Online Learner
Rena M. Palloff and Keith Pratt
ISBN:  978-0470-28386-8
Amazon

Materials

Participants working on campus may need a USB Flash Memory Drive. Label it with your name and e-mail address.

Participants must have reliable access to Internet and software for word processing and web development (FrontPage or Dreamweaver).   You do not have to develop webpages in this class but you may want to at some point in your online teaching career.  Faculty can get Microsoft Word and Sharepoint for home use from Southland Technlogy for only $30. You can also find computers in faculty workrooms and the mall area in the new Science and Technology building.

Attendance & Participation

Students may be dropped for lack of progress in accordance with Cuyamaca College policy. Any student missing the first quiz or two project deadlines may be dropped from the course by the instructor, but it is always the student's responsibility to drop any course not attended.  Failure to drop an unattended course will result in a grade of "F" on your transcript.

Discussion Boards (Dbs)

The Discussion Board (Db) is where most of the learning and sharing will take place.  It is important that you communicate with each other in the Dbs.  Read, share, and discuss ideas in the Db.  Make sure you respond to other students (at least two) in each Dbs.  I'm looking for thoughtful and thorough responses in the weekly Dbs.  Although you are not graded on grammar, make sure you check your writing.  There is a spell check feature in the Db.

Course Communication

Post general questions to the Blackboard online discussion.  You may also send email to cindy.morrin@gcccd.edu, call me at 619-660-4438, or stop by and see me at my office. 

Students with disabilities who may need accommodations in this class should notify me and contact Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) early in the semester so that reasonable accommodations may be implemented as soon as possible. See www.cuyamaca.net/eops/dsps.asp for contact information.

Important Dates

This course adheres to the policies outlined in the Cuyamaca College catalogue. For further information, see Academic Policies stated in the catalog.

HOME COMPUTER SECURITY is very important.  Please make sure you have an anti-virus program that you regularly update.  I use MacAfee VirusScan.  I also strongly recommend that you use a spyware checker such as Ad-Aware or Spybot Search and Destroy.  These are free and will check for nasty spyware & adware.