What Is eLearning?

eLearning is our online learning management system. eLearning is the name we have given our instance of GeorgiaView, Desire2Learn, version 9.4.1. We are hosted by Information Technology Services with the Board of Regents.

eLearning enables instructors to create and manage web-based learning activities and course materials. Some of the easy-to-use eLearning course tools include a bulletin board, chat room, whiteboard, e-mail, student presentation area, grade book, quizzing tools, interactive calendar, and tools for incorporating and linking content. eLearning is very easy to use. The interface provided by eLearning is primarily point-and-click and can be learned by anyone capable of using a web browser such as Firefox, Chrome or Internet Explorer. There is no software to distribute. No experience with HTML or other technical knowledge is required. The real strength of eLearning, aside from its ease of use, lies in the set of student and administrative tools it offers. The following list presents a brief description of some of these tools. 

What are the Advantages of eLearning?

  • You don’t have to know how to create a webpage for your class.
  • Teach courses your way at your own technological comfort level.
    Create, maintain, and add course materials interactively through the Web.
  • Assess student performance at any time during the course.
  • Quickly update and change course content.
  • Restrict access to specified materials until a certain level of learning is achieved or a
    date is reached.
  • Have students participate at any time.
  • Preformatted look and feel- eLearning comes with a default look; the instructor does not need to worry about adding graphics, icons, or buttons unless he or she would like.  The navigational tools are correctly linked, and update automatically as content is added.
  • Security passwords are required.  Course materials are only available to students in the class, rather than the entire internet population compared such as an unsecured webpage.

How can GSC Faculty use eLearning?

  • GSC faculty can use eLearning tools for posting information online and also as a way to facilitate communication between and among their students.
  • Post a syllabus
  • Post class announcements via the electronic bulletin board
  • Extend classroom discussions via the electronic bulletin board
  • Create links to sites on the web
  • Assign individual or group assignments to students which instructors or students can make available for others to view.
  • Post events/due dates on the online calendar
  • Use private e-mail within the eLearning course
  • Facilitate class discussions using the chat room
  • Use online quizzes for tests and review (even place images to review in the quiz module)
  • Provide course materials that include text, images, video, and audio
  • Evaluate students with quizzes and assignments
  • Facilitate learning using searchable indexes, glossaries, and image databases
  • Integrate web resources into your courses
  • Create opportunities for students to be knowledge builders
  • Encourage student interaction by using hyperlinks to websites, student web pages, and a note-taking tool
  • Communicate with students via discussions, e-mail, real-time chat sessions, and an interactive whiteboard
  • Manage grades
  • Supply student feedback via an online grade book, self tests, and progress tracking
  • Obtain data that allows you to analyze the effectiveness of your course
     

Practical Benefits of Using eLearning

  • Access class material 24/7 via the Internet
  • Archive bulletin board messages and/or chat room discussions for future reference
  • Use course material again; make simple updates to dates or changes in content (student information, including discussions can be deleted while course content remains intact).

Pedagogical Benefits

  • Electronic bulletin boards and chat rooms allow every student to have a chance to speak and create collaborative learning environments
  • Image databases and audio files create additional content for class discussions and assignments
  • Bring virtual visitors to a chat room so your class can have a "live" discussion/lecture with a scholar on the other side of the globe
  • “Assignments” create yet another type of collaborative learning experience where students view each other's work
  • Instructors can customize their eLearning courses by choosing only tools relevant to their course, students, and delivery methods.

Faculty Support
eLearning training sessions, one-on-one coaching, telephone assistance, and e-mail help are available to all course designers and instructors. Please contact your eLearning liason for more information. Support is also available from the 24/7 support center.

Instructor enrollment for the upcoming semester typically happens after mid-point of the current semester. An exception is made for fall semester as it is enrolled in May to allow for departing faculty to have the summer to develop courses. Updates to instructor enrollment are processed once a month until classes begin. Because of changes made throughout the planning phase, sometimes instructors are replaced by another instructor for a given class. When this happens, the new instructor is added to the course, but the existing instructor is not removed. Please contact Haley Carter or John Williams to process this type of request. Student enrollment is not processed until one (1) business day before classes begin.

Student Support
Students use their same username and password for eLearning as they do for Banner Web and email.  Students can receive eLearning support online by visiting our eLearning site and clicking on the 24/7 Online Support Center link.  This online support resource is updated frequently, and provides a database of common issues faced by Vista users and instructors.  Additional support can be found under the "Request Support" tab, where you can chat online  with a live person, get the telephone number or submit a support ticket.  This 24/7 online support center is your first tier of support concerning eLearning for yourself or your students.  In order for your students to have a pleasant experience using eLearning, please make sure you stress to them the importance of using the 24/7 support center and configuring their home computers to work properly with eLearning.  Configuration info can be found on the 24/7 support site.  Student may also ask the Student Helpdesk personnel located in the ACTT Centers or Libraries.