Internet or Web-Based Course Policy

McNeese State University

Web-based Course Policy----revised July 25, 2005

This policy is to be included in the F/S Handbook in the Academic Practices and Procedures Section.

 

Faculty wishing to deliver course instruction using the Internet must adhere to the most recent Web-based Course Policy. Check the McNeese web page for the most recent policy. The Coordinator of Distance Learning will provide materials and training relevant to Internet or web-based courses and may be reached at bbadmin@mcneese.edu

1. Any faculty member using the Internet for course delivery must have participated in appropriate training for such delivery methods. At a minimum, the faculty member must demonstrate competency in appropriate technical methods and an understanding of pedagogy as related to web-based instruction. It is suggested that accepted models of web-based instruction be viewed prior to course development. The Coordinator of Distance Learning will provide information on training and available models and resources for Internet instruction.
2. The instructor of any new courses after fall 2005 will be required to successfully complete the online course, Introduction to Online Course Design. After the Request to offer Internet Courses form has been approved, the instructor will be enrolled in the training course. Within the context of the training, the faculty member will completely develop the proposed course prior to the semester being offered.
3. The completed course will be reviewed by the E-Learning Advisory Team for approval or with recommendations for improvement . Any course which does not receive the E-Learning Advisory Team approval may not be taught online.
4. All courses will be subject to review by the E-Learning Advisory Team for approval or with recommendations for improvement on a continuing basis. The online training course is available and is recommended for instructors who may need to make updates in course design.
5. All web-based courses must have course content and methods for measuring learning outcomes approved by the appropriate curriculum coordinator, department head, and dean. A justification for offering a course via the Internet must be included in the request for approval.
6. The following Standard Components for Web-based Courses (independent of course content) must be included in the course.
1. A course syllabus that is adapted to reflect online learning and that references academic integrity
2. Breadth and scope of the course that is comparable to the course as it would be delivered in traditional format
3. A detailed description of how to submit assignments
4. A technical help page--when students have technical problems with the course, they should be directed to appropriate resources for assistance
5. A student resources page--a page containing hyperlink(s) to university resources designed for students who are seeking help or support. An example would be a web page that contains hyperlinks to the Library, etc.
6. Instructor Contact Information: Students must be provided reasonable opportunity for private contact and communication with the course instructor. Contact information should include campus office hours, telephone number, email address, fax number (if available), and mailing address.
7. Each web-based course must provide for the interaction among the students, with the content, and between faculty and students. An online discussion forum would be an example of this. Online discussion sessions should be frequent and should require interaction from all students for successful completion of the course.
8. Each web-based course should provide the students with a calendar for assignment completion to help pace the student through the course. Due to the nature of web-based courses, students need a guide and calendar for completion of assignments.
9. All web-based courses should use the current Learning Management System (i.e. Blackboard) or a delivery system approved by the System Administrator and reviewed by the E-Learning Advisory Team. All web-based courses will be password protected and each student enrolled in the course shall be given a user name and password to the course. All grades are to be kept confidential; students must be informed of the method for posting grades.
10. Faculty teaching web-based courses should enroll the department head, dean, and vice president for academic affairs in the courses to allow access.
11. All web-based courses are now required to allow students to participate in a web-based Student Evaluation of Instruction and Assessment. The students are given a URL, user name and password to complete the SEI. This web evaluation takes the place of the Scantron SEI and is automatically submitted to the database. It is the instructor’s responsibility to encourage students to participate and some reference should be included in the syllabus. The SEIs contain items specific to the web based environment that will be made available to the Advisory Team. No Scantron SEIs are available for web-based courses, so the online SEIs must be used.
12. Each course must include the following statement: Students in online courses will be asked to post written work and to engage in written dialogue with other class members. The student should be aware that although confidentiality within the course environment is encouraged, it is possible that users in and outside the course may have access to course content. Students have the obligation to comply with the McNeese Academic Integrity Policy, available at http://www.mcneese.edu/integrity/
7. Internet or Web-based Course Exams :
1. Students in online courses may take exams on the McNeese campus or online via Blackboard’s assessment tools. In all cases, information about time and place for exams must be clearly communicated to the student. Exam dates must be announced in the course syllabus and/or calendar. Face-to-face exams on campus must be proctored.
2. If exams are administered using Blackboard assessment tools, the instructor must understand the security issues involved in remote testing and must take steps to secure the exams. The Coordinator of Distance Learning can help with this, providing information and training for testing tools such as SecureExam software.
3. Assessment in online courses should take a variety of forms. Products, files, quality and depth of online discussion contributions, group projects, diagrams, drawings, essays, reports—all these are worthwhile and worthy of evaluation. The instructor should be open to changing teaching, learning, and evaluation techniques in the online environment.

 

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