JSU Distance Learning - Process for Instructors

We encourage instructors to complete the following steps when preparing to teach a course through distance learning technology. Additional procedures may be required by the instructor's individual college. For information not listed here, go to Help for Instructors of Distance Learning Courses.

Consult with your department head for permission to offer the course through one of the current distance education formats (Online Courses, Videoconferencing, Video-Based Courses).
If you choose Videoconferencing, consult with the Office of Distance Education regarding course and location scheduling considerations.
To ensure your students can obtain the maximum benefits to be derived from the selected format, you are encouraged to attend a Blackboard training workshop and/or consult with our Instructional Design Specialist for assistance with distance learning course design and/or using Blackboard. (Most workshops are announced through email or scheduled for specific groups. Any scheduled workshop will be listed at Faculty Training Opportunities.)
Once you have consulted with the appropriate Distance Education personnel and the course has been approved by your department, college and appropriate curriculum committee, your department is responsible for entering the course on the master schedule. Be sure to use appropriate section numbers, abbreviations and codes for the specific distance learning format and/or location(s).
Your department should notify the Director of the Office of Distance Education that the course has been approved and that it has been entered on the Master Schedule. If your course is associated with any special programs, such as STEP, please include that information as well.
Go to one of the following and complete the steps outlined there:
Online Courses, Videoconferencing, Video-Based Courses

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Additional Steps for Teaching Online Courses

After completing the steps above, read the information at SREB (Electronic Campus) and decide if you want to list your course with the Electronic Campus of the Southern Regional Education Board. Complete forms on that page as appropriate, then proceed to Step 2 below.
Review the information on the following pages: Blackboard Course Availability, Blackboard Course Access, Blackboard User Names & Passwords, Blackboard System Requirements, Help for Instructors, FAQ's for Instructors.
Your course should be ready for student use on the first day of classes as noted on the Academic Calendar. Note that all distance learning courses follow the official Academic Calendar.
Monitor your official roster and the list of students in your Blackboard course to ensure you know who is in your course, especially during the drop/add period at the beginning of the semester.
Instructors are the primary point of contact for students regarding course information and assistance, as well as other information related to their university experience.
Maintain good communication throughout the semester with every student. If you have had no correspondence or evidence of course activity from a student in a reasonable amount of time, you should contact the student to determine why and offer appropriate assistance or instructions.
If your course is in Blackboard: At the end of the semester, please review the Blackboard Semester End Procedures and follow the instructions carefully.

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Additional Steps for Teaching Videoconferencing Courses

Once you have completing the steps above, proceed to Step 2 below.
Notify our Videoconferencing and Telecourse Specialist of any special needs you have for your course.
Note that all Distance Learning courses follow the official Academic Calendar.
Any materials that need to be available to students at remote sites should be delivered to the Videoconferencing and Telecourse Specialist no later than one week prior to the first day of classes as noted in the Academic Calendar.
Distance Education personnel will need a brief period of time at the beginning of your first class meeting in order to recruit cooperating students for each site. The cooperating students will be trained by Distance Education personnel before and after the first three class meetings (unless more or less is appropriate).
By the first day of class, inform our Videoconferencing and Telecourse Specialist of your class meeting schedule, primarily where it results in any or all sites not meeting over the videoconferencing system. Provide updates throughout the semester if that schedule changes.
Monitor your official roster to ensure you know who is in your course, especially during the drop/add period at the beginning of the semester.
Instructors are the primary point of contact for students regarding course information and assistance, as well as other information related to their university experience.
Maintain good communication throughout the semester with every student. If you have had no correspondence or evidence of course activity from a student in a reasonable amount of time, you should contact the student to determine why and offer appropriate assistance or instructions.
Consider using Blackboard to supplement your Videoconferencing course. Our Instructional Design Specialist and Faculty Training Opportunities are excellent resources for determining the appropriate use of Blackboard as a supplement. A few related resources are available on the following pages: Blackboard Course Availability, Blackboard Course Access, Blackboard User Names & Passwords, Blackboard System Requirements, Help for Instructors, FAQ's for Instructors.

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Additional Steps for Teaching Video-Based Courses

After completing the steps above, proceed to Step 2 below.
Notify our Videoconferencing and Telecourse Specialist of any special needs you have for your course.
Note that all Distance Learning courses follow the official Academic Calendar.
Provide the appropriate set of video tapes or DVD's to your students.
Monitor your official roster to ensure you know who is in your course, especially during the drop/add period at the beginning of the semester.
Instructors are the primary point of contact for students regarding course information and assistance, as well as other information related to their university experience.
Maintain good communication throughout the semester with every student. If you have had no correspondence or evidence of course activity from a student in a reasonable amount of time, you should contact the student to determine why and offer appropriate assistance or instructions.
Consider using Blackboard to supplement your Video-Based Course. Our Instructional Design Specialist and Faculty Training Opportunities are excellent resources for determining the appropriate use of Blackboard as a supplement. A few related resources are available on the following pages: Blackboard Course Availability, Blackboard Course Access, Blackboard User Names & Passwords, Blackboard System Requirements, Help for Instructors, FAQ's for Instructors.

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