Guidelines for Web-enhanced, Hybrid and Online classes at GSC

 

Definitions

Web-enhanced: any course which uses online components via WebCT Vista , shared class files and faculty websites, or any other appropriate technology, but which still meets for the standard number of minutes in the classroom.

 

Hybrid: Any course which combines the use of online components with classroom instruction, but in which the face-to-face instructional time is less than the standard for a class of that many credit hours.

 

Online: An online course is one in which all instruction is delivered online, and in which the class does not meet as a group, with the possible exception of an orientation meeting and/or the course exams. The online format delivers the course materials and allows communication and interaction online between faculty and students.

 

Course Schedule

Web-Enhanced courses require no previous approval, and have no special designation in the course schedule for the semester or Banner. Offering a web-enhanced class is entirely at the discretion of the instructor. Hybrid and Online courses do have special notes in the course schedule and Banner explaining the format. A hybrid or online course must be approved by the Center for Teaching, Learning and Leadership and by the Division Chair in order to be offered in any given semester.

 

Hybrid and Online Course Approval

  1. Anyone wishing to design or teach a hybrid or online course should first have experience with enhancing a course. This allows the designer/teacher to gain experience in using the various tools to create course elements, and to experiment with them with a group of students.
  2. The Center for Teaching, Learning and Leadership will review hybrid and/or online course design for effective use of technology and online pedagogy. The Center for Teaching, Learning and Leadership will use the Rubric for Online Instruction to evaluate proposed courses. This rubric may be found at the following link: http://www.gc.peachnet.edu/it/webctlogin/subsite/Quality_Assurance_Hybrid.htm From this page you may also link to the Instructional Design Checklist which will provide you with examples of components that may be used to meet the different criteria and with a Self-Assessment Form to use for evaluating how well you have met the criteria.
  3. Final approval will come from the Division Chair to assure that the content of the course meets the curricular goals of the department or division.
  4. Once a course has been approved, it will be added to the schedule.

 

Requesting a Vista Course Section

All users of Vista (web-enhanced, hybrid, and online) must complete the “Course Request” form located on the WebCT webpage each semester.

  

Technical Support and Training for faculty

1.      GSC will provide training and technical support for the WebCT Vista platform, as well as workshops on other third party software and the use of shared files. Faculty are not required to use WebCT Vista, but they must be aware that technical support in the development and implementation of courses using other technologies will not be available.   

2.      Faculty participating in the hybrid course development program will be provided with the necessary training on an individual and/or group level to facilitate their projects.

3.      Faculty wishing to teach a hybrid course that has already been developed must first use the materials in an enhanced class and will be provided with opportunities for Vista training.

4.      The opportunities for technological training workshops and workshops on online pedagogy will be publicized each semester through the CTLL.

5.      The CTLL will publicize opportunities for faculty development in online teaching offered off-campus and will maintain a library of resources about online teaching.

 

Faculty Compensation

1.      There is no stipend for teaching a web-enhanced, online, or hybrid course.

2.      Faculty who participate in creating a hybrid course as part of the hybrid development program are compensated. Compensation is $1000 per course to be divided among the members of the development team. The hybrid course development program is coordinated by the CTLL, but the courses to be developed are selected in consultation with Academic Delivery. Faculty interested in participating in this program should speak with their Division Chair.   

 

Examination Schedule

The final examination schedule for hybrid and online classes is coordinated through the CTLL.