Distance Education Professional Learning Series (DEPLS)

Center for Teaching and LearningThe Distance Education Professional Learning Series (DEPLS) is designed for faculty members who are interested in teaching distance education (Virtual Campus, Online and Hybrid) courses at the County College of Morris. DEPLS is a three-part professional learning series which covers federal and accreditation expectations, course design considerations, using Blackboard tools to create interaction opportunities, and practices to facilitate a high-engagement distance education course.
As a participant, you will experience three different types of virtual learning environment, correspondence or self-paced, real-time virtual lecture, and high-engagement asynchronous courses.

Facilitators:
Dean, Virtual Campus
Co-Director, Center for Teaching and Learning

*You do not have to take them in sequence.
*Please visit Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) website to register.

DEPLS 1: Considerations for Course Design

Description: In this one-week correspondence/self-paced course, the focus will be on higher education student profile, federal and accreditation expectations and course design considerations for a high-engagement distance education course. To successfully complete this session, participants must complete deliverables embedded within the course. This one part of a three-part Distance Education Professional Learning Series will cover 

  1. Higher education student profile 
  1. Distance education expectations (federal regulations, ADA, credit hour, copyright),   
  1. Course design considerations (learning objectives, course mapping, types of content, interactions/student engagement and assessment) 

Time Commitment: Approximately 4-8 hours 

DEPLS 2: Blackboard for Teaching Distance Education Courses

Description: In this real-time virtual lecture workshop, the focus will be on designing a distance education course with the design set and using Blackboard features to provide instructor-student and peer-to-peer interactions. This one part of a three-part Distance Education Professional Learning Series will cover  

  1. Designing the course using the Design Set, 
  1. Mechanics of using Blackboard with focus on using interactive tools,  
  1. Design and create a learning module, 
  1. Develop interactive discussion questions. 

** Faculty members should already be familiar with Blackboard prior to registering for this workshop. Additional training for Blackboard Essentials is available through CTL

Time Commitment: Approximately 1 hour 

DEPLS 3: Facilitating a Distance Education Course

Description: In this four week, asynchronous, fully online course, the focus will be on the concept of “engagement” in a distance education course, from the perspective of both the learner and instructor. To successfully complete this session, participants must complete deliverables embedded within the course. This one part of a three-part Distance Education Professional Learning Series will cover  

  1. Social Presence and Creating Student Presence,  
  1. Teaching Effectiveness,  
  1. Developing Discipline-Specific Course Activities, 
  1. Creating an Instructor Feedback Plan 

Time Commitment: Approximately 16-20 hours