Online Signature Courses

1
Online Signature Courses

• Karen A. Estes, Ph.D.
• St. Petersburg College
• estes.karen_at_spcollege.edu
• American Mathematics Association of Two Year
  Colleges
• Annual Conference, San Diego, November, 2005

2
Signature CoursesBackground

• Project Eagle I, II, Ib
• Three congressional awards worth over 10
  million
• To build a national model for increasing
• access for students
• workforce training
• education anywhere, anytime

3
Signature CoursesBackground

• Project Eagle July 1, 1999 - June 30, 2003
• To develop, implement, and evaluate over 160
  technology-mediated (primarily web-based)
  associate degree and certificate courses
• To develop the Electronic College as the point
  of integration, access, and services for distance
  students

4
Signature CoursesBackground

• Increase in online student enrollment.

5
Signature CoursesBackground

• Increase in classes sections.

6
Signature CoursesBackground

• Significant growthSpring 2005 data
• Over 16,000 students enrolled
• Offered 558 different sections
• Offered 304 different courses

7
Signature CoursesBackground

• Significant numbers of instructors
• Fall 2005-2006
• 135 full-time instructors with full or partial
  loads in online classes
• 134 adjunct instructors teaching online classes

8
Signature CoursesBackground

• Project Eagle II and Project Eagle I b
• August 1, 2003 - July 31, 2007
• Review and enhance current online courses to
  encompass innovative technologies
• Create model courses that include new
  technologies and applications
• Refine the concept of mentors to work with the
  Educational Technology staff to extend and expand
  training initiatives

9
Signature CoursesGoals

• Project Eagle Goals
• Signature courses will insure a high level of
  quality across courses which have multiple
  sections offered
• Signature courses will be the ONLY courses that
  can be cloned for Adjunct and New Instructors
• Full-time faculty may elect to use signature
  courses

10
Signature Course Initiative

• The Signature Course concept is one that was
  developed by the Project Eagle Action Committee
  and approved by eCampus administration.
• http//www.spcollege.edu/eagle/

11
Signature CoursesProcess

• Committee Members
• Full-time faculty members from four campuses.
• St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus
• Clearwater Campus
• Tarpon Springs Campus
• Seminole Campus

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Signature CoursesProcess

• Committee Goals
• Define a process/procedure to develop or
  redevelop all of the online Mathematics courses
• Find ways to pool resources and explore creative
  ways to uphold the integrity of our courses and
  also maximize the opportunity for students to be
  successful

13
Signature CoursesProcess

• Courses
• MAT 0012, 0024, 1033
• PreAlgebra, Elementary Algebra, and Intermediate
  Algebra (college preparatory)
• MAC 1105, 1140, 1114
• College Algebra, PreCalculus, and Trigonometry
• MGF 1106, 1107
• Mathematics for Liberal Arts
• STA 2023
• Elementary Statistics

14
Signature CoursesProcess

• Standard interface
• Same look and feel for all classes
• Syllabus
• Calendar/Milestones
• Communication

15
Signature CoursesProcess

• Discussion of Technology
• Angel would be the new learning management system
• Publisher packages
• Academic Systems, MyMathLab, EduSpace, MathZone
• Angel is the front-end for the publisher
  package

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Signature CoursesProcess

• Proctored Exams
• Proctored Midterm and Final
• Midterms are now given at the Seminole Campus
• True distance students can arrange for an
  approved proctor (cyberAdvisor)
  https//www1.spcollege.edu/onlineforms/dtpform/dtp
  Form.html

17
Signature CoursesProcess

• Grading for classes with exams
• Proctored Midterm30
• Proctored Final30
• Homework, Quizzes, Unit Tests40

18
Signature CoursesProcess

• Signature Course Managers (generally the
  developer)
• Update the course as needed at the beginning of
  each term (syllabus, dates, tests)
• Foster communication with instructors using the
  signature course
• Mentor instructors who are using the signature
  course for the first time

19
Other Initiatives

• 3-Year Online Course Review
• Systematic review of each class
• http//www.spcollege.edu/eagle/administration/form
  s_procedures/3_year_course_review_form.htm

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Other Initiatives

• Expectations and Performance Targets
• For studentsexpectations, responsibilities,
  academic honesty and integrity, academic civility
  and freedom of expression
• For instructorsstandards of service
• For eCampusstandards of service
• http//spcollege.edu/eagle/administration/forms_pr
  ocedures/expectations.shtml

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Questions

• Further information from Project Eagle
• http//www.spjc.edu/eagle/

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Signature CoursesBackground

• Project Eagle II and Project Eagle I b
• 2003-2007 Project Eagle II 4,470,750
• 2004-2007 Project Eagle I B 1,491,150
• 5,961,900