Faculty FAQ

2020 Schedule Modifications

Schedule Modification Guidelines

All instructors assigned to Online (WEB9D), Web-Blended (WEB9B, Face-to-Face & Online), Real-time Virtual (WEB9V), or Web-Blended (WEB9H, Virtual & Online) will complete full Blackboard Blended/Online training.
If any changes are made to sections with students already enrolled, the campus/department of origin is responsible for communicating with any impacted students. In addition, there will also be a district-wide announcement to students regarding changes in the schedule.
Curricular delivery will use the approved learning management system (Blackboard Learn) in accordance with DoE and HLC accreditation guidelines. Blackboard Collaborate has been selected as our synchronous tool, as such, Zoom, Skype, and Teams should be avoided for curricular delivery. Synchronous days/times and technology requirements will be added as notes to the schedule as guided by the Scheduling Department.

*Faculty can work with deans and provosts if an exception from these delivery expectations is necessary.

Basic Course Information

What is the difference between the types of courses (e.g., enhanced, virtual, blended, online)?

Face-to-Face, Web-Enhanced Course (WEB9E):

Face-to-face class at DMACC Campus or Center
Blackboard will be used for sharing course syllabus, course materials, and the gradebook

[Classroom time is not lessened because of the online component.]

Online Course (WEB9D):

Class taught completely online with no specific meeting times
Lectures, learning materials, assignments, tests are delivered using Blackboard
No face-to-face component; students will not come to a DMACC Campus or Center
Blackboard will be used for sharing course syllabus, course materials, and the gradebook

Web-Blended (Face-to-Face & Online) (WEB9B):

Partial face-to-face class at DMACC Campus or Center
Partial online learning
Blackboard will be used for sharing course syllabus, course materials, and the gradebook

[The course format has at least one of the course credits (15 hours) online and at least one credit (15 hours) in the classroom. The time spent face to face is lessened because of the online component of the course.]

Web-Blended (Virtual & Online) (WEB9H):

Partial virtual classroom with specific meeting times via Blackboard Collaborate (possibly face-to-face meetings as well, depending on circumstances)
Partial online learning
Blackboard will be used for sharing course syllabus, course materials, and the gradebook

[New delivery method beginning Summer 2020, the course format has at least one of the course credits (15 hours) online and at least one credit (15 hours) in the synchronous virtual classroom. The time spent in the synchronous virtual classroom is lessened because of the online component of the course. WEB9H courses may have been previously scheduled as WEB9B.]

Real-time Virtual (WEB9V):

Virtual classroom with specific meeting times via Blackboard Collaborate (possibly face-to-face meetings as well, depending on circumstances)
Blackboard will be used for sharing course syllabus, course materials, and the gradebook

[New delivery method beginning Summer 2020, this is similar to a web-enhanced course, but the regularly scheduled class meetings are conducted in a synchronous, online environment instead of a physical classroom. This virtual delivery does not meet the standards for an online course.]

When will my course become available in Blackboard?

Upcoming semester course shells are added in Blackboard after the schedule is finalized in Banner, the Student Information System. See the Credit Class Registration Dates page for when student registration begins. If the new semester's course shells are in Blackboard, you will have access to the course shell within 24 hours of being assigned as the instructor of record. If you do not see your course in Blackboard, please contact your Dean's or Provost's office.

Students will not be enrolled in Blackboard courses until one day prior to the scheduled course start date. Check the DMACC Course Schedule to see when your course begins.

What do all the numbers in my course title mean?

This breakdown of the course title should help you keep track of your courses from term to term and help you get support.

Example Course Title: 202302 SDV108 21234 - The College Experience

Format: TermCode Course CRN - Course Name

Explanation:

202302 = Spring of 2023

2023 = the graduating/latter of the 2022-2023 academic year
01 = fall
02 = spring
03 = summer

Course Reference Number (CRN) = 5-digit number, unique to each course each term

10000+ = fall, 20000+ = spring, 30000+ = summer

Please provide the CRN to Instructional Designers for support.

My Blackboard course is empty. How do I begin?

Don't worry, we have plenty of resources for you!

Check out our Start-of-Term Guide (PDF), which contains the information below and much more.

We have framework courses that can be copied in - contact an instructional designer to get a copy.

We have a Virtual Course Framework to help you and your students get started. It contains a welcome announcement template, Your Instructor template, a Collaborate link in Course Content, getting started tips and tutorials for students, links to student support services, instructor resources, and Grade Center columns to meet DMACC's Blackboard Gradebook Expectations.
Please also check the I'm teaching a Real-Time Virtual Course. What should I do? FAQ above.
We have a Signature Course Framework that is designed to be used with blended or online courses. It contains a welcome announcement, Your Instructor template, course folder structure for units/weeks, a sample activity list in each folder, sample grading rubrics, course evaluation surveys, and Grade Center columns to meet DMACC's Blackboard Gradebook Expectations.

Refer to the Online Course Checklist for best practices.
See the Signature Course FAQs below or check with your department chair to see if there's a course available for you.
If you previously taught the same course, you can follow our Course Copy guide to copy in everything from your previous course.
Log into Blackboard and go into the Online Instructional Resources course. There you will find help guides and information on a variety of topics, such as Collaborate and other Blackboard tools, Kaltura videos, Ally and accessibility, etc.
Recordings of our past training sessions are in the Teaching and Learning Community in Blackboard: Organizations > Teaching and Learning > Online Teaching & Learning > Our Training Session Recordings.
Additional support material can be found on our Faculty Resources page.
Please make sure all your course materials are accessible for all students. DMACC's Digital & Web-Based Content Accessibility Resources for Faculty site has help guides and information on accessible publisher content (log in with your DMACC username and password to access it). The Blackboard Ally and ReadSpeaker page contains information on the tools in Blackboard to help make content accessible. For additional Ally support, please visit Blackboard's Ally for LMS Help site.

Please contact an instructional designer for more help.

I'm teaching a Real-Time Virtual Course. What should I do?

The DMACC Virtual Class Instruction Checklist (PDF) contains the best practices you should follow in your course.

We have several Collaborate resources to help:

Contact an instructional designer to load in the Virtual Course Framework in your course shell. It contains a welcome announcement template, Your Instructor template, a Collaborate link in Course Content, getting started tips and tutorials for students, links to student support services, instructor resources, and Grade Center columns to meet DMACC's Blackboard Gradebook Expectations.
In the Online Instructional Resources course in Blackboard > Course Content > Helpful Tools > Collaborate Ultra, you will find a few video tutorials for instructors, tips, and links to our help guides. Our Blackboard Collaborate Help Guide for Instructors (PDF) is full of instructions, tips, and troubleshooting advice.
Additional troubleshooting advice can be found in the Virtual Class Troubleshooting Tips (PDF).
Check out our Blackboard Collaborate Cheat Sheets (PDF) for some of the more advanced features for engagement.
Recordings of our past training sessions are in the Teaching and Learning Community in Blackboard: Organizations > Teaching and Learning > Online Teaching & Learning > Our Training Session Recordings.

You may also want to visit the Real-Time Virtual Courses page for students.

If you have additional questions, please contact an instructional designer.

Is there anything I need to do before the term ends?

Please visit our End-of-Term Guide (PDF) for tips on checking the gradebook and exporting the course, along with other suggestions for wrapping up the course.

Blackboard Training

As a new instructor, do I have to take the Blackboard training?

Yes, you are required to complete the Blackboard Training before you can use Blackboard. See Blackboard Training Information & Sessions for further details.

Online Advisory Council Reports

Where can I find information about the Online Advisory Council?

The Online Advisory Council page contains information and recommendations.

What are the expectations for an Online instructor?

The Online Advisory Council discussed expectations for all faculty who teach an online course. For more information, see the Online Instructor Expectations document.

Online Course Development

I want to develop a course that has never been offered online or in a blended format before. How do I proceed?

Instructors who wish to develop a new online or web-blended course should see the Online Course Development Procedures for more information.

Are all online courses, including new courses developed through grants, expected to be a Signature Course from now on?

Although not all courses will be considered Signature Courses, DMACC's goal is for all online courses to meet the best practices of the Online Course Design Expectations and LMS Standards, which includes the Online Course Checklist that is used for course development. Both documents are aligned with the Signature model.

There are a few types of Signature Courses:

Cabinet approved the top 25 enrollment courses: All instructors teaching these courses online are expected to use the Signature Course. See the Signature Course Status page for a list of these courses.
Department required courses: Some departments have Signature Courses, not part of the top 25, for all or part of their programs (e.g., Mortuary Science, Criminal Justice, Computer Information Systems). They, as a department, have decided to require all faculty to use the Signature Course (sometimes a modified version for blended or face-to-face courses).
Optional courses: Some departments have Signature Courses available as an option for faculty to use if they so choose.

How are online courses scheduled?

Online course scheduling is similar to face-to-face course scheduling. The difference is that district chairs don't schedule campus-based face-to-face courses. All online sections are sent to the district chair of the instructor's content area for approval. If not, the course will not be put on the schedule.

Full-time instructors are given first right of refusal.
If two full-time instructors want a given section, the Deans/Provosts will work together to determine a solution.
Adjunct instructors are given online sections as needed based on student enrollment numbers.

Signature Course: About

What is a Signature Course?

Signature Courses, also called master courses, are designed by a team of faculty, with assistance from an instructional designer, to prioritize quality and consistency in course development and ensure that course competencies are being met. Signature Courses are shared courses, taught by multiple instructors and require faculty collaboration, careful planning, and intentional design to provide students with quality online learning experiences. All DMACC Signature Courses meet the Online Course Checklist before approval.

Another goal of Signature Courses is that they be continuously improved. Therefore, feedback and suggestions from the instructors teaching the courses, as well as the students taking the courses, are imperative.

Why is DMACC adopting Signature Courses?

All DMACC students deserve a quality educational experience, whether that is face to face or online. Signature Courses promote best practices, faculty collaboration, and continuous improvement, all of which benefit students. They also support faculty with limited time and/or experience designing online courses, leading to consistency and quality.

Signature Courses have been in use by colleges across the U.S. for over a decade and have proven effective in delivering on quality and consistency in learning. Some departments at DMACC have followed this model since as far back as 2009, and others have made Signature Courses available for faculty who choose to use them, though they are not required.

However, in Spring of 2018, the Online Continuous Process Improvement (CPI) team was tasked with evaluating quality and consistency in online courses. The team's report showed that DMACC Online courses could make significant improvements in these areas. To benefit the greatest number of students, they therefore recommended that the top 25 enrollment courses become DMACC's first required Signature Courses.

Cabinet approved the CPI team's plans in Spring 2018. In Fall 2019, the first of these 25 courses were implemented, and the remaining are expected to be completed soon.

Who teaches Signature Courses?

Faculty assignment for Signature Courses is consistent with other online and face-to-face class assignment procedures. Full-time faculty have the first right of refusal.

I believe that one size does not fit all when it comes to education; how do Signature Courses account for various teaching and learning preferences and differentiated instruction?

We recognize that instructors have differing experiences and expertise to share with students. The Signature Courses are intended to ensure some consistency across sections so DMACC students are best served and all held to the same standards.

Signature Courses are designed with different preferences in mind and should incorporate a variety of approaches as we increasingly work toward universal design.

Furthermore, a Signature Course does not prevent instructors from providing differentiated instruction or individualized outreach/feedback. In fact, it encourages such support from instructors by allowing them more time to focus on teaching rather than developing and designing course materials from scratch or worrying about content availability, gradebook setup, and students understanding course navigation and expectations.

Whose intellectual property are the materials in a Signature Course?

Based on Cabinet recommendation and approval, the top 25 Signature Courses are developed as part of faculty institutional building.

Do Signature Courses infringe upon my academic freedom?

In regard to academic freedom, DMACC's policy (Board Policy 4003) states, "The teacher is entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing his/her subject." Signature Courses do not infringe upon this right, as instructors may supplement the course with their own materials, including personalizing feedback and providing his/her own discussions on the subject.

Signature Course: Copies

Are Signature Courses copied into upcoming instructor sections? If so, by whom and when?

Yes. Distance Learning will communicate with the lead faculty on the development team regarding the date courses will be copied, typically around one month prior to the upcoming semester. Distance Learning will also communicate with lead faculty to determine if there have been significant updates to a course, necessitating copying in spring and summer terms. At the very least, Distance Learning will copy the Signature Course into all fall sections, with the expectation that courses will have been improved upon from the previous year.

Distance Learning is responsible for copying the courses to ensure the one copied has the most recent updates and the copy is completed without error. Prior to copying the courses, Distance Learning will make sure the shells are empty.

If an instructor teaches more than one section, the Signature Course will be copied into the first section (numerical by CRN), and that instructor will be responsible for copying it into his/her other sections. This will save the instructor time because modifications, such as Your Instructor info, announcements, welcome video, etc., can be made in one course instead of multiple.

How can I copy my announcements and other tailored items from previous semesters?

You may copy your Announcements and Your Instructor areas from a previous course. In the previous course, go to Packages and Utilities > Course Copy, click Browse to select the new course, then click only the "Announcements" and/or "Your Instructor" option(s) (do not select any other option), and then click Submit. You should then remove or clean up any placeholder items that were in the Signature Course to avoid duplication and confusion for students.

Please contact Distance Learning to discuss your specific needs. Please also see the question above regarding adding content to your section of a Signature Course.

Can I copy the Signature Course I taught last semester since it has all my announcements and additions?

Please see the questions above on "How can I copy my announcements..." and "Are Signature Courses copied into upcoming instructor sections..."

Can I still merge my courses?

Yes, you can still have your online sections merged. To do so, make sure you submit the Section Merge Request Form prior to the date the Signature Courses will be copied. Merges result in a new course shell, so they must be requested before any content is copied and before students are enrolled.

Signature Course: Making Changes

Can I add content to my section of the Signature Course?

Yes. You may supplement the course with extra materials and announcements to help students understand the content. We encourage you to share those resources with the faculty leader and other colleagues to see if they could be added to the next version of the Signature Course. That way more students could benefit from the resources.

How much of a Signature Course can I change within my own section?

Please see the previous question regarding adding content to your section of a Signature Course. If you want to remove or replace content, you should first check the competency alignment grid (curriculum map) in the Syllabus area. Any graded activity tied to a Program Competency (see your program chair) or an Essential Learning Outcome (ELO) cannot be removed or altered because it is attached to a rubric and used for reporting purposes.

Second, you should make sure you are still meeting all the course competencies. Third, you should change no more than 20% of the course to keep the integrity intact. Finally, you should avoid changes to the structure of the course, as that may lead to inconsistencies and confusion for students.

How can I request changes to a Signature Course and get them made? Who do I have to go through?

Please post your changes/suggestions in the discussion board provided in your department's Blackboard Community (now listed under Organizations in Blackboard.

For example, if you have a suggestion for LIT101, you would go to Organizations in the Blackboard base navigation menu > Communication Community > Courses > Literature Courses > Introduction to Literature (LIT 101) > LIT101 Signature Course > LIT101 Signature Course – Faculty Feedback and Suggestions.

Each Signature Course lead faculty member (see Signature Course Status) is also required to hold a meeting to discuss changes and receive input and feedback from faculty using the Signature Course. You should attend these sessions to help improve the course and stay abreast of changes.

I am using some awesome materials in my own section. Who do I contact, when, and how about getting them added to the Signature Course?

Great! We love to see improvements made to the courses to better help students learn. Please share your ideas in the Signature Course's discussion board in Blackboard Community (now called Organizations) and/or in the semester meetings held by Signature Course lead faculty (see the "How can I request changes..." question above). If agreed upon by your department, changes could be implemented as early as the following semester.

What if the lead faculty of the Signature Course and I disagree about changes? What is the process to follow?

You should work together with other faculty in your department to gain a consensus on improvements to the course. If a consensus cannot be reached, you should speak with your academic dean.

Can I use weighted grades instead of points (or vice versa)?

Yes. The Signature Courses are set up as either points-based or weighted, but you can adjust that in your section after it's copied. Similarly, unless your department has agreed upon a grading scale, you can adjust that in your course as well. Please make sure your syllabus and the gradebook match.

Is there a consistent day of the week for which assignments should be due?

Yes, to help students succeed, you want to use a consistent schedule in your course (e.g., due on Fridays or Sundays), and not change due dates every week (i.e., not have a paper due Friday one week, but Sunday another week, and Thursday yet another week). The Signature Course will be set up with consistent due dates. However, you may adjust the day(s) in your section; it does not need to be consistent across all sections of the course.

As you select your day(s) of the week, keep in mind that students are more likely to ask questions the day before or the day an activity is due. For that reason, we recommend choosing days when you will be able to respond to student questions. For example, if your policy is that you do not answer emails on Saturday or Sunday, it would be best if the due date were Friday. If you change due dates, please make sure you update the syllabus accordingly so that students know when things are due.

Do individual instructors set due dates in the course each semester or lead instructors?

All graded activities will have a due date set up, but you can use the Date Management (PDF) tool in your section to adjust them (e.g., the course is set up so weeks run Monday-Sunday but you want them to be Friday-Thursday). Please make sure the schedule in the syllabus matches so students know when things are due.

Besides the link included above, instructions for using the Date Management tool can be found in the Online Instructional Resources course > Course Content > How-To's Not Included in Blackboard Training > Content Management.

Student Support

What resources are available for students?

All students and faculty have access to the Blackboard Basics for Students course (requires login), which appears under the Courses list. The content includes information on the following:

Blackboard Navigation and Features
How to Access Grades and Use Blackboard Tools (Discussion Boards, Assignments, Blogs, Journals, Assessments, Communication Tools)
Common Tools and Practice Lessons
Netiquette and How to Succeed in Online Courses
How to Use Other Helpful Tools (ReadSpeaker, Collaborate Ultra, Kaltura, and more)

Your students and you can also find helpful information on the Online Student Resources page. Links to DMACC resources (advising, counseling, tutoring, etc.) are also available via Assist in the Blackboard base navigation menu.

When will students be able to access my Blackboard course?

Students will be enrolled in Blackboard courses one day before the course is scheduled to begin. Check the DMACC course schedule to see when your course begins.

Please make sure your course is ready prior to students being enrolled (e.g., welcome announcement, syllabus and due dates updated, etc.).

What is the required response time to students?

The college expectation is 24 hours during the week and 48 hours on the weekend. A statement regarding response time should be included in your syllabus and the "Your Instructor" area of your course.

Where can students get their DMACC login information?

A new DMACC student's username and email address will be created 1-2 business days after registering for credit classes. Students will receive a letter from DMACC with login information, and it will also be emailed to the student's external email address and DMACC email address.

Students can log into the learning management system 15 days prior to the course start date to access the Blackboard Basics for Students training course. They will be enrolled in their Blackboard course(s) one day prior to the scheduled course start date.

Students can follow the instructions on the Course Login page if they need help signing in. If they need further assistance, please have them contact Tech Support at 515-965-7300 or techsupport@dmacc.edu.

What is the status of adopting a student readiness tool for an online course?

We are investigating several different strategies for assessing student readiness for an online course. We recognize the need for a solution. However, we need something that works on a large scale, which is difficult to find.

In the meantime, it is best to refer your students to the Blackboard Basics for Students training (requires login). They may also wish to take the Online Readiness Self-Assessment.

Textbooks

Why do I have to use a common textbook if I teach an online course?

Many disciplines already require a common textbook in their online courses. It is a practice that is very helpful to students as we combine or add sections in the last weeks leading up to the start of the semester. This alleviates students from having to exchange textbooks at the last minute. It also provides consistency for online courses, especially for adjuncts.

I'm interested in using Open Educational Resources (OER) for my courses. Where can I get more information?

Email oer@dmacc.edu or visit the DMACC OER site.

Check out the Iowa OER site or join the Iowa OER Mailing List to receive emails about upcoming webinars or newly published OER.