Overview

Getting Started

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Resources for AdminIstrators > Getting Started

There are a number of issues administrators face when seeking to offer courses online. They must find instructors who are both experts in the relevant content areas and who are confident and positive about teaching online. They need to schedule classes with SCPS Distance Learning to assure that each course has a course shell for instructors to populate with course content. Finally, if any problems arise with managing classes or faculty, they need to know who to contact to rectify the situation. The following areas offer useful information regarding these issues. Refer to the SCPS Distance Learning policies for more information on faculty expectations and procedures for setting up online courses.

Proposal Process

New online courses or programs (after Summer 2008) must be approved by the SCPS Dean's office. All online courses and programs must be submitted through a proposal form.

Hiring Online Instructors

When hiring instructors to teach online, it is important to explore their technological experience and their perceptions concerning online teaching. When considering instructors for online classes, it is wise to review a number of qualifications:

* Do they know the technological requirements for teaching online at SCPS and do they have experience with the technologies required to connect to the systems used?

* Are they familiar with contemporary tools for communicating and distributing information and materials in online environments? For example, what is their skill level in creating Adobe PDF documents and Microsoft PowerPoint presentations?

* Have they used technologies for online teaching and learning previously and to what extent and in what capacity, i.e., did they teach using asynchronous delivery or in a blended atmosphere?

* How do they perceive online education? Is their reaction to teaching online, positive, negative, mixed or confused?

* When discussing technologies do they sound confident or anxious? After explaining the SCPS Distance Learning training program do they sound more comfortable or apprehensive?

* How do they react to the additional responsibilities required to prepare for an online course, such as attending an 8.5 hour Faculty Development Program and developing digital materials?

There is no right or wrong answer. Each question is asked simply to help evaluate the instructor’s level of knowledge, confidence and technological know-how before they are asked to teach an online course.

Scheduling an Online Course

Prior to generating course shells for instructor access and preparation, SCPS Distance Learning requires the following course information. Course information must be submitted to Vladimir Merisca at vm34@nyu.edu. Refer to the SCPS Distance Learning policies for specific information on coding your course in SIS as a distance learning course to ensure student and faculty enrollment.

* Course Title
* Course Number
* Semester
* Course Start Date
* Course End Date
* Type of course (Blended, synchronous, asynchronous, hybrid)
* Day Offered (if a synchronous or hybrid course)
* Times Offered (if a synchronous or hybrid course)
* Faculty Name
* Faculty ID
* Email
* NYU Email
* Phone Contact
* Address

It is also important that the phone number and address that faculty supply are correct. The phone number is the number that SCPS Distance Learning staff will use to contact the instructor if there are technological or course concerns.

Resources for Technical Support

If there is a need for after hours technical support, we offer two options:

1) On-site Technical aide who is accessible from 11am to 7pm, Monday through Friday. The technical aide will address faculty technical concerns and can assist with problems with the "Live Classroom" component of NYU SCPS Online - Epsilen.

Bobby Aviles
Phone: (212) 998-7193
Email: ba33@nyu.edu

2) An offsite help desk is accessible to students and faculty 24 hours per day, seven days per week to assist with problems concerning NYU SCPS Online - Epsilen.

Toll Free Number: (877) 424-6356
International Calls: (661) 367-2220
Email: scps.distancelearning.helpdesk@nyu.edu