Teaching Online FAQ
How long does it take to create a course?
A fully developed two or three credit-hour online course designed with the assistance of the UTD eLearning instructional designers takes two full semesters to develop. Instructors will spend most of their time during the first semester on developing materials. (See estimated development time breakdown below.) Courses may be scheduled or developed in one of three course development cycles. These cycles typically kick off a few weeks after the first day of classes each semester.
| Activity | Number of materials | Estimated Time for each | Total time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syllabus | 1 | 4 hours | 4 hours |
| Development of learning objectives | 30 | 10 min | 5 hours |
| Textbook selection | 1 | 1 hour | 1 hour |
| 20-minute lecture | 18 | 4 hours | 72 hours |
| 20-minute preproduced video | 3 | 1 hour | 3 hours |
| Assignment | 3 | 4 hours | 12 hours |
| Test | 2 | 4 hours | 8 hours |
| Self quiz | 10 | 30 min | 5 hours |
| Development of discussion board questions | 10 | 5 min | 1 hour |
| Review materials | 68 | – | 13 hours |
| Upload materials | 68 | – | 5 hours |
| Total | 128.5 hours | ||
How much technology will I have to learn to develop a course?
For courses that are developed with the assistance of instructional designers, the UTD eLearning Team will take care of the technology. All you have to do is to provide the content and assessments.
Where do I go for assistance developing my online content?
If you need assistance, please contact elearning@utdallas.edu.
How do I record a lecture?
Faculty developing online content can record lecture videos many ways. Lecture videos can be recorded using the UTD eLearning production studio located in the Jindal School of Management. Faculty can also record the lectures on their own. It is strongly recommended that the recordings be done in a quiet location with no background noise (i.e. phones ringing, dogs barking, etc.). UTD has a site license for the screen video capture software Camtasia, which is very useful in recording, editing, and producing lecture content. (View list of resources available for faculty use.) Please contact elearning@utdallas.edu if you have any questions, need assistance, or would like more information.
Do I need a teaching assistant?
For lecture recordings at the eLearning studio, the eLearning Team has Student Workers available who are trained on all technical aspects of recording, editing and reviewing your lectures. With the Student Worker focusing on the equipment operation and monitoring of the recording process, you will be free to concentrate on the delivery of content. When the course gets offered, we strongly recommend having your own TA assisting you in teaching the online course.
How do I schedule time for live recording in the studio?
Contact elearning@utdallas.edu. It is recommended that you give as much advance notice as possible because the studio is scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Is there a way to conduct a virtual class?
You can conduct a virtual class session via web conferencing. UTD provided two free webconferencing tools to all faculty – Microsoft Teams and Blackboard Collaborate. Please check the Resources for Instructors page or email elearning@utdallas.edu for more information. By connecting a microphone to the computer, your students can hear you speak while simultaneously viewing what you share on the virtual whiteboard or what is on your computer desktop (i.e. PowerPoint, web pages and computer programs). Students may ask questions and interact with each other as well.
How do I conduct a proctored exam?
You will have to determine a testing window and make reservation with the UTD Testing Center using online exam reservation form. For paper exam, you will submit your exam electronically as an MS Word or PDF file. Please see the Faculty Resources and Guidelines on the Testing Center home page. Remote students will take the exams at a pre-approved testing facility (coordinated with the UTD Testing Center). Hard copies of the exams will be returned to you for grading. (View distance learning exam proctoring information for student.) There is also a virtual proctoring option available for online courses to use. Please see the Honorlock page for more information.