Proposal to move CGS2100/CGS2060 to a Distance Learning Format
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Transcript Proposal to move CGS2100/CGS2060 to a Distance Learning Format
PROPOSAL TO MOVE CGS2100/CGS2060
TO A WEB BASED FORMAT ONLY
Dr. David A. Gaitros
THE PROBLEM
Interest in Computer Science is growing
More diverse degree programs
Large enrollment in both introductory and advanced
classes
Growing interest in area specific courses
mobile program
gaming
security/cryptography
etc.
Increase demand for our faculty
With a shrinking budget and faculty:
Bottom Line: We must use the faculty more
affectively.
Problems with current Computer Literacy
Large lecture halls at reasonable times are highly sought
after commodities
Lectures are time consuming and not necessary
Very low attendance in lecture
Low Student Evaluations for faculty
Class perceived as “trivial” by students
Attempts to use the discussion boards failed
Having both web based classroom based sections complicate
the semester’s activity
Not enough classrooms or faculty to get rid of Web Based classes
Must have Separate Blackboard sites for both
Essentially the same course
Too much material for in-class students
Not enough material for web-based students
Web based students don’t do the readings
Problems with Computer Literacy (cont.)
Cannot give up Computer literacy because
Reduction in number of students would drastically reduce overall
FTE statistics.
Loss of funding from the College (OPS)
Perhaps even the loss of a faculty member
Could result in an increase teaching load for ALL faculty
Loss of 24+ Graduate Students
Giving up CGS2100 and CGS2060 would give PIC and Scientific
Computing a reason to exist, funding and more graduate students
SOLUTION
Migrate CGS2100/CGS2060 to Web Based
Format only
No Lectures/ No Classes scheduled
Most day-to-day semester activities handled by
Graduate Assistants/Mentors
Open to all on-Campus students
Wider student population
More flexible schedule
Athletic Department and College of Business has requested
this
Potential for increasing our FTE without increasing
workload
HOW?
Three things are missing to make this a
completely Web-Based course:
Weekly quizzes that complete cover the reading
material (forces students to study)
Most books have a question bank/answers for reading
material
A weekly study guide that directs the students on
their required activities
Better quality Video Tutorials that cover the skills
assignments.
ORGANIZATION
Divide Course organization and administration
among faculty (mostly non-tenured)
Divide the 1.0 FTE among the faculty
Prevents administration from increasing teaching
loads
Allows us to use our faculty more efficiently and
effectively.
Use more experienced graduate assistants to:
Manage the Help Desk
Manage and monitor Graders
Manage Testing and Test Reservation System
Answer student questions
Monitor discussion boards
CGS2100/CGS2060 SAMPLE FACULTY ACTIVITIES
AND DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITIES
(50%) Course Coordinators
Course Syllabus, Agenda, Study Guide
Syllabus Quiz
Blackboard Sites creation and maintenance
1st Day Attendance, Drop/Add, Announcements
TA Administration and Assignments
Final Grades
(25%) Course Study Materials
Test Center coordination (All Test Centers)
Test Reservation System
Weekly Quizzes
Tests
(25%) Assignment Preparation
Assignments (both 2100/2060)
Assignment Examples for TAs
Grading Rubric
Video Tutorials
CGS2100/CGS2060 TA ACTIVIES
Set up Test Reservation System
Answer questions on Test Reservations
Communicate with Testing Center
Add/update/delete users
Help Desk Organization
Assignment TAs to Help Desk
Monitor sessions and manage schedule
Grading Supervision
Assign Grading Ranges
Monitor Progress/Quality Control
Set up and manage Discussion boards
Post Issues/Answer questions (All help desk Individuals)
BENEFITS
Most faculty activities involved with the course
are preparatory and occur before semester.
Once accomplished, material need only be updated
each semester
Less work for 25% - 33% which is usually
considered a full 3 hour course.
Increase or decrease in student population does
not affect faculty workload…just the number of
TAs needed.
DISCUSSION