Distance Learning Network Course Development and Instruction Agreement This document describes the terms for developing and offering CECS Distance Learning Network (DLN) courses. These terms have been approved by the CECS Administrative Council and Executive Committee, and apply to all Distance Learning Network instructors (tenured, non-tenured and lecturers). The information includes development and instructional incentives, in-service activities, technical and administrative support, expectations of instructors and terms of use. This document presumes that the DLN course instructor is familiar with University of Michigan copyright policy and that he/she agrees to abide by the terms as indicated. Course Development Incentives A minimum three-semester commitment on the part of the instructor is requested per online course offering. Once developed, Distance Learning Network courses will be offered simultaneously with the face to face course section. Face to face class sessions will be recorded (audio/video) and posted to the learning management system, Canvas, for access by students enrolled in the DLN section of the course. Instructors are required to use Canvas for distance learning course instruction. Course material presentations are to be developed using Microsoft PowerPoint and must adhere to the guidelines provided during the training workshops with regard to font size, background color, etc. Course Development Stipend - This applies only to CECS appointed instructors. COB appointed instructors will receive compensation from COB The instructor will receive a one-time stipend of $3500.00 for online course development. The instructor is personally responsible for proper development of DLN course materials. Stipends will be paid after the instructor has provided a sample of MS PowerPoint materials to the DLN program manager for review. Course development is paid only one time per course. Instructional Incentives - This applies only to CECS appointed instructors. COB appointed instructors will receive compensation from COB Distance learning instructors will receive an additional stipend of $40.00 per credit hour, per distance learning student if the total number of students enrolled in both the face to face (in-class) and distance learning (online) course exceeds 24 students (a combined total of 25 or more students). This amount will be paid only for distance learning students. The final number of students will be determined after the conclusion of the Add/Drop period. The instructor will then receive the stipend in his/her regular paycheck during the semester of offering. Examination Procedures In accordance with the UM-Dearborn CECS Academic Code of Conduct, all course examinations are to be proctored. Students enrolled in Distance Learning Network courses may take examinations 1) with the live section of the course if space permits, 2) at a scheduled time in the Extended Learning and Outreach office with an examination proctor or 3) with an external proctor per established guidelines. DLN students must begin examinations within 24 hours of the on-campus section students. This compensates for the 24-hour video posting time and allows students the flexibility that distance learning provides. DLN students that cannot meet this requirement must receive written (e-mail) permission from the course instructor to take the exam at a later time. - 1
Instructors are asked to provide a PROOFREAD copy of the examination (an electronic version is preferred) at least 2 days prior to the first day the test can be administered. Completed examinations will be collected in the EPD office and hand carried to the instructors office or department mailbox daily. Note: Please carefully review the examination for errors prior to submitting it to the DLN office. Submitting multiple versions of the exam causes replication of effort and potential error as well as confusion for external proctors. Expectations of Distance Learning Network Course Instructors Since face-to-face and distance learning versions of each course cover identical material, share the same semester of offering and are facilitated by the same instructor, courses are expected to satisfy the same learning goals. Instructors teaching distance learning courses are expected to attend informational workshops offered by CECS prior to the first semester of distance learning instruction (please see Instructional Support Activities below). Instructors are responsible for proper development of course materials for distance learning instruction prior to the start of the term utilizing MS PowerPoint and Canvas, the campus learning management system. Development of MS PowerPoint slides is necessary to enable indexing of video recordings.(see Instructional Support Activities below) Instructors are responsible for proper development of the course web-site on Canvas prior to the start of the term. This includes, but is not limited to posting of a welcome announcement and the course syllabus. (See Instructional Support Activities below). Instructors are responsible for familiarizing themselves with all of the functionality of Canvas, the learning management system used for CECS Distance Learning Network course delivery. (See Instructional Support Activities below). Instructors are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the recording equipment in the CECS distance learning classrooms prior to the start of the term, so that they are prepared to record the face-to-face versions of their courses on the scheduled first day of class. Please contact the Distance Learning Office, in Extended Learning and Outreach (ELO) to schedule a time to review and practice with the equipment. Please note that this time CANNOT BE SCHEDULED during the first week of the semester. Please make time to review the equipment and practice several weeks before the start of the term. (please see Instructional Support Activities below) Instructors are responsible for reviewing video materials when they are posted to Canvas for content accuracy. DLN video production staff will strive to post all versions of course video within 24 hours of the live course lecture. However, equipment failures or incorrect use of the equipment can significantly delay posting of course video. Email is now the formal method of communication between students, instructors and staff at the University of Michigan Dearborn. As such, instructors teaching distance learning courses are required to possess and maintain a functional UM-Dearborn email account. Please see an ECS staff member if you need to establish an email account. Regular interactions between the distance learning student and the instructor will occur through email correspondence and via instructor online office hours (email, chat, telephone). Online office hours will be posted on the Canvas course web site. - 2
Distance Learning Network instructors are required to respond to distance learning student inquiries within a 48 hour time period. This includes email (Canvas and UMD) and telephone inquiries. Response time is crucial for student success. Instructors are asked to adhere to all procedures regarding examinations as indicated above and, when appropriate, to allow flexibility for students that cannot meet the 24 hour time line. Instructors must notify Engineering Computer Services (ECS) about distance learning course software requirements no later than six weeks prior to the start of the term to ensure software availability. Requests made later than six weeks prior to the start of the term cannot be guaranteed for the start of classes. Instructors are asked to announce to the campus class that the course is being recorded for distance learning distribution. Students that remain in the class after the announcement consent to the recording of both image and voice for distance learning distribution. Instructional Support Activities Instructors that have not participated in the Distance Learning Network program are asked to attend a DLN course development workshop. These meetings will be scheduled mid semester for those teaching in upcoming semesters. Instructors that attend this workshop have a much more positive experience with distance learning instruction, as do the students in the class, than those instructors that do not attend. Distance Learning Network instructors will be able to share course design and instructional strategies at regular meetings designed to support instructor informational exchanges. Ongoing technical support for DLN courses will be provided as necessary to ensure the quality of course delivery. Video production staff will not edit course content. Ongoing administrative support for DLN courses will be provided by the distance learning staff within Extended Learning and Outreach. Such support includes arrangements for the proctoring of course examinations and assistance with other campus support services. All admission and academic matters are handled within the academic unit. Additional Distance Learning Network Course Support Activities DLN students will have access to an online pre-course assessment to help to determine their readiness for the distance learning environment. The assessment is designed to highlight some of the attributes of a successful distance learner and will help the student assess his/her potential success in a distance learning environment. DLN students will have full access to university and college computing resources. Students will be advised about minimum software requirements that will be used per course (as determined by the course instructor). Download links to any required software programs will be posted on the CECS Distance Learning Network (DLN) site. To help to ensure academic integrity, the college s Code of Academic Conduct will be posted to the DLN web site. All distance learning students will be required to indicate their acceptance of the terms of the Code. Student violations of the Code will be addressed by CECS through the procedures designed to deal with such matters. DLN students must have a high speed internet connection and an internet browser (Chrome or Firefox are preferred) and have adequate computer usage skills in order to participate in CECS Distance Learning Network courses. System requirements are available on the DLN web site. Use of Course Recordings and Distance Learning Network Course Materials Face to face course film footage and course materials will be used for CECS DLN instructional purposes only. Use of course recordings or Distance Learning Network course materials for any purposes external to University of Michigan-Dearborn College of Engineering and Computer Science - 3
distance learning delivery is strictly prohibited. Consistent with conflict of interest and commitment principles, UMD instructors should not use (or permit others to use) their works in ways that compete with the University s courses, or its educational programs or activities, unless prior written permission is obtained from the appropriate dean, unit director, or executive officer, or their designee(s). The University shall be permitted to use DLN instructional materials and resources (such as syllabi, assignments and tests) for administrative purposes, including satisfying accreditation agency requests. Please visit the University of Michigan copyright website at http://www.copyright.umich.edu for additional information regarding ownership of materials created while teaching online courses. - 4
University of Michigan-Dearborn College of Engineering & Computer Science Distance Learning Network Course Development and Instruction Agreement Please do not sign this page until you have read the above information. Please provide the following information, and return it to the program manager (2010 PEC). Development and per student stipends cannot be paid until this acknowledgement is submitted. I confirm that I have read and understand the above information including course release, development and instructional incentives, instructor support activities, technical and administrative support, expectations of instructors, and terms of use. Name (printed) Employee ID# Signature Date - 5