Teaching Online FAQ

• How long does it take to create a course?

  A fully developed 2 or 3 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 audio many ways. It is recommended that audio be recorded using the UTD eLearning production studio located in the Jindal School of Management; however, if this option is not utilized, it is strongly recommended that faculty record content 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?

  The eLearning Team has TAs available who are trained on all technical aspects of recording, editing and reviewing your lectures. With the TA focusing on the equipment operation and monitoring of audio levels, 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 webconferencing. UTD provided two free webconferencing tools to all faculty - WebEx 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 Student Success Center - 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 Testing Center Guideline for Faculty on the Testing Center home page. 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 proctored exam procedures for students.)