Preparing Online, Blended, and Enhanced Courses for New Terms

The process of course preparation is important in ensuring that East Texas A&M University students have access to quality and up-to-date instructional content on the first day of the course. The below updated process includes instructions and due dates for faculty, adjunct faculty, and staff involved in the preparation and instruction of online, Blended, and enhanced courses.

The Office of Academic Technology team of experts in multimedia, instructional technology, and online course design is available to assist you with questions related to the process outlined below and with the following:

• Course design and development
• Universal accessibility for online course delivery
• Classroom instructional support and consultations
• Instructional video production
• Web conferencing training
• Instructional pilots

Definitions:

• Online courses are those with a "W" in the section field.
• Blended courses are those with a "B" in the section field.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR NEW FACULTY

Online Training for Faculty New to Online

Learning Management System (LMS) access for new faculty hires is contingent upon:

1. Completion of HR hiring paperwork.  After they have assigned your UIN and created a Campus Wide ID, these are used to create:
2. Active Directory (AD) credentials and a TAMUC e-mail address.  These are requested using an online systems request form that must be approved by your department head.  The credentials are then created by IT.  
3. Once AD credentials have been crated, faculty complete training on how to use the LMS.  This training is required of all faculty.

Full time and adjunct faculty who are teaching online or enhanced courses and using the LMS for the first time at A&M-Commerce are encouraged to complete the online training course Essentials of myLeo Online.

New full time and adjunct faculty members are to:

• Enroll in Essentials of myLeo Online training the term prior to the start of the assigned term.
• Complete the Essentials of myLeo Online Instruction training at least three weeks prior to the start of the assigned term.

The successful completion of the training is encouraged before faculty create a course shell copy to the new term. To enroll in the training, contact Academic Technology at online@tamuc.edu.



INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL FACULTY TEACHING ONLINE, BLENDED, OR ENHANCED COURSES

STEP 1: Faculty of record can process their own course copy.

IMPORTANT: Courses copies are to be complete by the deadline set by the Office of the Provost each Spring and Fall.

This means that May Mini, Summer I, Summer II, August Mini and Fall term course are due in April. Course for the Winter Mini and Spring terms are due in November.

Students are enrolled in online and enhanced courses 10-14 days prior to the start of the term. The courses appear in the myLeo Online myCourses Widget for each student; however, the students do not have access to the content until the first day of the term.

Importing Content into Your Online Course Shell

1A. Online course shells are created in a bulk process a few months in advance of the new semester.  You can import content into the blank shell once these have been created. 

• A blank course shell is created in myLeo Online for each section created in Banner.  Faculty members of record are enrolled in blank shells according to Banner assignments.
• Accuracy of information submitted is critical. Compare course numbers, terms, and section numbers to Schedule of Classes to assure all information is correct and complete.

1B. Combining two or more sections in myLeo Online is done by an Academic Technology LMS Admin upon faculty request.  E-mail online@tamuc.edu with specific course and section numbers.  Indicate if you have already put content into one of the existing blank shells.

STEP 2: Adding TA/GA/Interns

After the Course Copy has been processed, faculty may request course access for their Teaching Assistants (TA), Graduate Assistants (GA), and Interns. Department heads will approve requests in conjunction with providing confirmation that the GA/TA has completed recent FERPA training. 

 The process flow is as follows:

1. Faculty member e-mails online@tamuc.edu to request for GA access to specified course shell, including the individual’s CWID.  This initial request is sent to both online@tamuc.edu and the faculty member’s department head.
2. Department Head approves with e-mail reply to all, including confirmation of current FERPA training for the GA.  (TrainTraq transcript is preferred.) 
3. The GA is enrolled by Academic Technology within 1 business day.  (Often this occurs much sooner.)
4. Academic Technology archives a copy of the e-mail request/approval for record keeping purposes.



STEP 3: Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

All courses should be developed based on universal accessibility principles. The AT website contains information and resources on accessibility for online courses.

3A. The Student Disability Resources and Services Department contacts AT when a course needs to be reviewed to meet the universal accessibility standards. AT can work with the instructor, when requested, to make the needed modifications prior to the start of term.

3B. Students taking online or enhanced courses may have accommodations for extended time on tests. Student Disability Resources and Services provide an accommodations letter to this effect. Faculty members extend access accordingly on specific activities in myLeo Online. Consult our help resources for steps on how to do this, especially Quiz extended/special access. 

STEP 4: Update Course Content

Prior to the first day of class, faculty should review and update the course content in consideration of the following:

1. Assure faculty have access to the course
2. Identify all students are enrolled in the course
3. Include syllabus for current term
4. Update calendar dates for the term
5. Test links to external resources