Date Started: May 30, 2009
Status:In Progress

Project Description

Application due: March 14, 2008
Award Notification: April 14, 2008

The College of Arts and Sciences and the Teaching, Learning and Technology Center (TLT Center) are collaborating to offer on-line undergraduate and graduate courses to create more flexible course options for traditional and non-traditional students. Faculty who develop these courses agree to design them using Seton Hall's Learning Management System (LMS) and the Educational Policy Committee's approved rubric (Quality Matters ™). 

Grantees are awarded $4,500 to develop an on-line course. Faculty will not be required to relinquish ownership of any of their intellectual property, however course materials developed as a result of this collaboration will be owned by the University. In addition, on-line courses will remain available to all full-time and adjunct faculty who might teach these courses in future semesters.

Conditions of the grant include:

• On-line courses will be part of the standard teaching load of a faculty member in each semester.
• Faculty must complete the course during the semester before its offering. The course must pass a Quality Matters ™ review before the course is offered.  
• Faculty agree to work with their assigned Instructional Designer to develop the on-line course. 
• Faculty agree to teach the course at least two (2) additional times within two (2) academic years beyond the first initial course offering. Faculty will be responsible for submitting the course to the College of Arts and Sciences Educational Policy Committee (EPC) no later than after the course is taught a third time. Faculty are also responsible for receiving the EPC's approval before the course is offered a fourth time.  
• Faculty agree to participate in all required workshops on on-line pedagogy and course management. 
• Faculty agree to work with the TLT Center to implement a survey/assessment so that the course can be redesigned based on faculty and student feedback. 

Course Development:
The process of developing an online course include:

• Use of the template materials based on the Quality Matters ™ rubric.
• Reconsideration of traditional classroom content for digital delivery, converting content where appropriate.
• Development and/or evaluation and review of available multimedia resources and interactive modules. 
• Implementing strategies for the effective use of the grade book (and other assessment tools/processes), the on-line discussion board tool, and additional communication elements available in the Learning Management System.
  

During the course development phase, the faculty member should schedule at least two in-person meetings per month with the assigned TLT Center Instructional Designer. The initial meeting will include the completion of a project planning document and deliverables timeline. During their course development, faculty will need to use TLT Center resources that include: 

• Computer training on all appropriate software applications necessary to develop and deliver digital materials and learning objects including the University's learning management system (LMS)
• Development of activities with the Digital Media Services team to deliver video and multimedia relevant to the course, as appropriate. Please allow a minimum of at least four weeks notice for video and multimedia components.
  

Reporting and Payment:

In order to maintain updated information about the course's development, the faculty will work with their Instructional Designer and submit a progress report and final report outlining their goals and achievements. First payment is contingent upon the completion of the Project Plan and Deliverables Timeline which is to be completed at the first meeting with your Instructional Designer. Final payment is contingent upon passing the final Quality Matters Review and submission of Final Report. All reports are to be submitted to Renee M. Cicchino, Sr. Instructional Designer, at cicchire@shu.edu.

The Final Report and Final Quality Matters Review will be forwarded to Miriam Lyons-Frolow, Assistant Dean, Special Projects & Events in the College of Arts and Sciences. Faculty will also be required to present their projects at the Teaching, Learning, and Technology Roundtable Best Practices Showcases, as well as participate in scheduled Online A&S Faculty Roundtable meetings. These events are essential to the development and planning process of on-line courses.

Teaching Technology Assistants:

The course must be completed the semester before it is taught and reviewed by a Quality Matters Reviewer. Once the on-line course is developed and it is ready to be launched, the faculty member has the option to identify and assign an upper-level student (Technology Teaching Assistant), who is both technologically savvy and immersed in the discipline to work with the on-line instructor. This student will be available to assist the faculty member with course management and the monitoring of communication within the on-line course. Students must be eligible for campus work.

Eligibility: Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences whose submissions are supported and guided by their department chairperson are eligible.

Application Procedures: Applications should be received by the TLTC (tltc@shu.edu) no later than 5:00 PM EST Friday, March 14, 2008. Please use the A&S submission form. The applications will be reviewed and recommendations for funding will be made to the TLTC by Miriam Lyons-Frolow, Assistant Dean, Special Projects & Events in the College of Arts and Sciences. Applicants will be notified of the results of their applications by April 14, 2008.

Statement of Copyright: The Teaching, Learning, and Technology Center is committed to adhering to the proper use of copyrighted materials as outlined by the DMCA, TEACH ACT and Fair Use provisions of the Copyright Laws. Any materials intended to be used in the proposed project should adhere to these provisions of the United States Copyright Law.

If you have any questions regarding the Arts and Sciences On-line Course Development Grants, please contact Renee M. Cicchino at cicchire@shu.edu or at 973-313-6249.