Faculty FAQs

Developing Courses for Online Delivery

Teaching Distance Education Courses

Developing a Course for Online Delivery

I am interested in developing a course for online delivery. Where do I start?

The conversation about development begins with your Department Chair. Once you and your Chair have come to an agreement about the goals of the project, the Chair should contact our office to discuss funding the course development. Upon ExAP’s agreement to fund the course development, an Online Course Development Agreement that includes the timeline for development, compensation, and course use will be generated and approved by you and your Department Chair.

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Where can I get training to teach online?

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) provides training and support for all UNC Charlotte faculty including the faculty teaching online courses.

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Where can I go for help with course development?

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) offers training in addition to online and printed materials on the effective use of technology for teaching online. Instructional designers are available for consultation with individual faculty, small groups, and whole departments. Documentation on technology tools is located under Teaching Tools/Software on their website.

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What are some important considerations in the development planning process?

Our office subscribes to the Quality Matters Program (QM), which provides a rubric for measuring quality of a course. You can use the rubric in the planning, design, and review process for any of your courses.

Accessibility is another important factor to consider early in the design phase. Content in online courses should be designed to meet minimum ADA accommodation requirements. The Office of Disability Services can determine if your course meets these minimum standards. The Center for Teaching and Learning is also a valuable resource as well.

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Who owns the online course product?

UNC Charlotte’s Copyright Policy gives direction on works created by faculty. In general, the academic department will retain the right to use the online course in its delivery of instruction to enrolled UNC Charlotte students. The faculty member who developed the course will also retain the right to use the course package.

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Can I use copyrighted material in my online course?

Atkins librarians can help you to navigate the copyright maze.

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Is my online class considered distance education?

While teaching online is certainly a type of distance education delivery, an online class can be classified as “Main Campus” or “Distance Education Campus” in Banner which will dictate the tuition that is charged. Online courses taught as part of a distance education program are usually classified as “Distance Education Campus.” Our office can give some advice about how the different campus codes can be best implemented.

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Teaching Distance Education Courses

How will I be paid to teach a distance education course?

In Fall and Spring semesters, instructors are contracted and compensated through their academic department; however, Summer School teaching contracts and compensation is coordinated through Extended Academic Programs (ExAP) and in concert with the appropriate academic department.

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Is course registration in a distance education course different than on-campus course registration?

Registration in distance education courses may be more restrictive than for your on-campus courses. If your online course is part of one of the ExAP distance education programs, it is very likely that this course is reserved for our distance education students for a specified period of time. To avoid over-enrolling distance education courses, it is important that you refer students requesting a registration permit or authorization to the ExAP staff member whose email address is listed in the course schedule comments or at the specific distance education programs site. You are welcome to email your approval of a student’s registration in your course and our office will enter the permit or authorization provided space is available.

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What are some best practices for a successful online teaching experience?

  • Design course content requiring frequent interaction between you and your students, as well as frequent interaction among your students.
  • Build a web page and include your photo along with some of your interests. Design space for your students to add their photos and some of their interests. This helps to bridge gaps students may feel from not communicating face-to-face and helps everyone get to know each other better.
  • The online course should be updated and available to your students on the first day of the semester.
  • The course syllabus should reflect the current semester information and your expectations of the students.
  • Communicate with your students often. At the beginning of the semester, let them know how and when they can expect to hear from you.
  • Respond to students’ inquiries within 24 hours.
  • Arrange optional or required “real-time” online meetings giving students the opportunity to “meet” you in person.

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Will my distance education course be evaluated?

Courses offered as a curriculum requirement of ExAP’s distance education programs are evaluated by your students in Fall, Spring, and Summer sessions. These course evaluations are conducted by the College from which the courses originate and the evaluation results are reported to the appropriate Department Chairs. In addition, online courses developed using ExAP funds are evaluated as stipulated in the Online Course Development Agreement signed by you, your Department Chair, and the Director of Credit Programs.

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Who can help me improve my courses and my teaching methods?

Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) can provide consultation and advisement to individuals, groups, and departments regarding their teaching and learning needs. Possible topics for individual consultation include course design, teaching techniques, assessment, teaching tools, and listed workshop topics.

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Where can I find online teaching professional development opportunities?

Below are sources for distance learning webinars and conferences.

Center for Teaching and Learning

eLearning Technology Conferences

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