DE Oracle @ UMUC

Beginning of Semester Checklist for GSMT Face-to-Face Classes

CSI Staff

Staff Writer

Center for Support of Instruction

Category: » Semester-checklist » Gsmt-checklist

No teaching is expected to take place in online classrooms prior to the official class start dates; however, it is Graduate School policy that all face-to-face classrooms be web enhanced using WebTycho and adhere to the minimum required setup standards, most due by one week prior to the start of classes. These standards are detailed in the official UMUC "Expectations" documents that apply to online and face-to-face classes.

Early provision of basic course materials allows students to evaluate courses before the last date to drop classes without a minimum 25% financial penalty, which is the day before classes start. Students also appreciate being able to coordinate their study schedules with their business and personal schedules before the semester begins.

Provided below are a

• Items required by one week before classes start
• Optional items for online class setup
  

Also available is a SHORT-FORM of the Checklist.

In the event that an instructor is unable to provide the basic materials listed below by one week before the course start date, s/he should contact the program director and the CSI Instructional Support Specialist for the course.

Required Items for Web-Enhanced WebTyco Classroom Setup

1. ____ Faculty Biography

Create and post a generic biography in WebTycho via Options-->Biography anytime after you have login access to TychoUSA, but no later than one week before the official start date of a class.

If you've already created a biography, you may edit it at any time. The same biography is available in all WebTycho classrooms in which you are rostered.

If you haven't already added a photo (.jpg or .gif image) to your biography, consider doing so to make your biography more lively and personal. In addition, you may add a link to a personal website in your biography. If you are unsure how to add an image to the Bio area, or your image is too large you can contact your CSI Instructional Support Specialist for assistance.

2. _____ Accurate email address

Your email address in WebTycho must be accurate at all times. Email address changes need to be done through MyUMUC. When you update your email address in MyUMUC, your email address in WebTycho will automatically be updated.

3. _____ Welcoming Initial/Introductory Class Announcement

Faculty are encouraged to post a Welcome announcement as soon as they gain access to their new classrooms, since students can see the announcement areas once they register for courses. The first announcement should be posted no later than one week prior to the formal class start date.

The first announcement(s) should begin to set the tone for the class and can include such information as times/location of class, official class dates, the link for Options for purchasing course materials (either in College Park, MD, or online). It's a good idea to briefly explain that the WebTycho classroom is provided as a supplement to the face to face classroom and that you will discuss in class how it will be used to enhance the class.

4. _____ Course Syllabus and Schedule

All Faculty must provide a detailed course syllabus including a course schedule in accordance with departmental guidelines by one week prior to the official course start date. The syllabus (and schedule, if separate) may be posted as webpage(s), as pasted text, or as attached document(s). It should be as accurate as possible; free from grammatical, spelling, and date errors; and it should contain,

• Faculty contact information
• Course goals and objectives as approved by the department and the Grad Council. Individual instructors may add a comment to these in their own classrooms but must first provide the approved text.
• Required text(s) and other course materials, as approved by the department and the Grad Council.
• Grading criteria, including explicit expectations for participation and policy on late submissions. Class Participation must be weighted at least 10% of the course grade.
• Descriptions of all projects/assignments (preferably detailed). These should be closely aligned with course objectives and include sufficient detail (including rubrics, as applicable) so that students fully understand the assignments and your expectations of them.
• Detailed course schedule, including inclusive dates for units/modules and dates for all deliverables. Focus on reasonable pacing and wherever possible, provide graded activities early in the course so that students have both information and time to adjust to your expectations and grading style.

5. _____ Gradebook

The Gradebook is required to be completely setup before the start of the semester, setting up and using the Gradebook IS a requirement of WebTycho classroom management and the total value of all assignements need to total 100% or 100 points. No letter grades can be used when grading assignments. Please use points or percentages when grading assignments.

There are seval resons why getting up the gradebook before the start of the semester is required:

• Issues that might arise when setting up the Gradebook sometimes cause an instructor to rethink his/her grading plan, which would impact the Syllabus document.
• Once the semester begins, dynamic management of class activity becomes the instructor's primary focus. Setting up the Gradebook before class starts helps avoid the delays or distractions of doing it later, as well as helps avoid student complaints when there isn't a way to submit assignments
• No Gradebook item = no way for students to privately submit an assignment online.

Optional Items

For ways to use WebTycho to enhance a Graduate School face-to-face course, see the following:

• Using WebTycho to Enhance Face-to-Face Classes: overview and policy
• Index of Teaching Strategies for Using WebTycho to Enhance Face-to-Face Classes: list of technical and collegial support sites