What should I consider when revising my courses?

1. Explore how you can help to create a sense of community for distance learners – examples

• Welcome email sent to students

• Introduction assignment – virtually meet another person in the class

• Virtual office hours

• Chat rooms or threaded discussions

• Group projects

2. Set deadlines for assignments and exams - Determine consequences for late assignments

3. Set expectations for students regarding all types of feedback.  Students need to know this up-front.  Examples:

• Email and phone calls – returned within 24 hours/48 hours

• Assignments – returned within 3 days or 1 week

• Exams – returned or feedback posted in D2L within 3 days or 1 week.

• Spring Break – when students MAY NOT be able to reach you

4. Administrative drop period – first full week of classes

• Faculty build in a process by which the student must contact you within first week or he/she will be administratively dropped (use the same form as for on-campus admin drop)

What type of support is available for revising my courses?

1. Distance Learning Center

• Best practices for teaching in a distance format

• Updated template for both print and online courses (D2L)

• Course development rubric

• Faculty course development handbook

• Process to editing, review and obtain departmental approval of courses

• Stipends for course development; Resources for professional development

• Assistance with research agendas – both student and faculty

• Travel funding for conferences – when possible

• Workshops held in partnership with the Center for Teaching and Learning with Technology

• Examination support

• Assessment and evaluation support

• Develop opportunities for faculty to share expertise in working with distance learners

• Connections with other UW-System campuses involved in Distance Learning

2. Library Staff

• Update of databases and other resources available to faculty

• E-Reserves

• Library support for the Distance learner

• Other

3. Center for Teaching and Learning with Technology

• One-on-one discussion your objectives in teaching and how technology may support/enhance those objectives

• Workshops to explore the value that technology such as Desire2Learn (D2L) and others can add to the teaching and learning experiences

• Demonstrations

• Other

How can I best manage my distance education workload?

• Best practices

• Professional development workshops

• Faculty information sharing

• Discussions and tips for success

Let me know what we can do to better support you.
Contact information: Peter Nordgren, Associate Dean, Distance Learning and Continuing Education, 715-394-8475; Erlanson 105 (afternoons)