Why does JMU offer online courses?
There are many situations that lead a department to offer a course in an online format:
- Many students prefer an online format during the summer months
- Many graduate, continuing education and professional education students are unable to attend classes on campus
- Students need a temporary accommodation
- Students need additional time to finish a course
- REVISE THIS: Not enough faculty qualified to teach a subject and available to teach on campus. F
Effective Online Learning Requires Knowledge and Skills
Online learning is a modern discipline grounded in years of academic research starting as far back as the 1960's. It was a natural outgrowth of earlier forms of remote learning, some dating back 300 years (1).
Effective teaching in both synchronous and asynchronous online learning environments requires a sufficient understanding of how those environments are similar to and vastly different from the traditional in-person classroom. It requires careful skill development and practice.
As is true for on-campus courses, the department is responsible for ensuring course quality. Our goal is to support the Academic Unit Head (AUH) as they determine which courses are appropriate for the online format and support their faculty who teach one or more online courses.
(1) The Evolution of Distance Learning, Tulane University, School of Professional Advancement)
Questions to Consider
The following questions are helpful when determining whether your department should offer a course in an online format:
- Is course content approrpriate for online instruction (REVISE example -- is it a lab that requires special equipment that wouldn't be available to students at home? theater and dance -- performance based class?)
- What problem will be solved by offering the course online?
- In what way will offering the course in an online format benefit the students?
- Are we able to maintain quality if the course if offered online?
- Have we used all available resources to help develop quality online courses?
- Are the instructors adequately prepared to teach online? ADD LINK to appropriate Library web page, etc.
Policies & Procedures
Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI)
Explains a requirement from the Federal Department of Education that online courses include regular and substantive interaction.
Teaching Considerations and Commitments
This brief resource document addresses two important areas to keep in mind as departments consider offering courses in online and hybrid formats.
POSSIBLE: Onboarding Faculty for Online Teaching -- CONFIRM STATUS OF ADJUNCT/PT FACULTY ONBOARDING COURSE IN CANVAS -- link to a contact for enrollment; looks active; who monitors?
This is also addressed in the common questions -- except we have no answers.
Common Questions
What is the optimal class size for an online course and why?
Is there a recommended minimum number of weeks that an online course should be?
What resources are available for faculty to develop their skills in online learning?
How can I help ensure that my faculty are skilled in teaching online?
Are there resources for onboarding adjunct faculty who will teach online?
