Date Started: Jun 13, 2009
Status:Pending

Project Description

The College of Arts and Sciences and the Teaching, Learning and Technology Center (TLTC) are collaborating to offer on-line undergraduate and graduate courses to create more flexible course options for traditional and non-traditional students. The mission of this initiative is to re-invent currently offered courses to allow for their delivery on-line instead of in the traditional classroom. Developing these courses for on-line delivery allows our students the experience of taking on-line courses and assists non-traditional students in completing their degree requirements without the constraints of when and where the course is taking place.

This program has been widely successful over the last five years and each course that has been presented to the EPC as a permanent offering has been approved. We have accomplished our goals by adopting the Quality Matters Rubric, a nationally recognized organization of educators who have put together a comprehensive list of qualities for a good on-line course.  Together with the Arts & Sciences Dean's Office and the A&S EPC, the TLTC has collaborated on creating academically rigorous on-line courses with positive experiences and outcomes for both the students and the faculty. 

A&S On-line Course Development History

The Arts and Sciences On-line Course Initiative began in 2002-2003 with the development and implementation of six core courses (ENGL 2101, HIST 1201, MATH 1101, PSMA 6010, PSMA 7511) to meet the changing needs of the student body. Since then, over 25 courses have been either offered or are in development from traditional face to face course to completely on-line courses. In 2004-2005, the Educational Policy Committee in conjunction with the College of Arts and Sciences adopted the Quality Matters Rubric (created through a FIPSE grant awarded to the University of Maryland). Eight key standards of effective on-line education were pulled from the rubric and with the Teaching, Learning, and Technology Center, a template was created to ensure that the courses met EPC standards as well as those set forth in the research based rubric. Three instructional designers were trained as "Peer Reviewers" in the Quality Matters Program to support the initiative and in the Fall of 2007, Seton Hall became a Quality Matters Institution, committing itself to quality on-line education. The program, now in its sixth year, continues to grow with much success.

The Course Template

The course development template which is built from the Quality Matters rubric and serves as the foundation for on-line course development project aids faculty in creating their on-line course. The template consists of many resources including minimum technology requirements, the University's statement on students with disabilities, and helpful reminders for faculty to include specific and needed information. Template materials are updated every semester to provide faculty and students with the most up to date information and best practices.

To develop an on-line course using the template, please contact Renee M. Cicchino, Senior Instructional Designer, at cicchire@shu.edu.

Upcoming Information and Announcements

The call for proposals for the 09-10 academic year will take place in February 2009.

During the call for proposals in February 2009, the On-line Course Development Initiative will be extended to the Stillman School of Business in addition to the College of Arts and Sciences.

Related Projects & Initiatives:

2007-2008 Online Course Development
Five courses were selected to receive the 2008-2009  A&S on-line course development grants.

2008-2009 Online Course Development Grant Awardees
Five courses were selected to receive the 2008-2009  A&S on-line course development grants.

A&S On-line Course Development Call for Proposals
The A&S On-line Course Development “Call for Proposal” outlines the basic requirements for submitting a grant proposal.