E-Learning typically entails the use or integration of electronic resources that support teaching and learning.  Distance Education, now part of E-Learning at GCCC, is defined as the acquisition of knowledge and skills via selected media in an environment where the instructor and learner are geographically separated this includes our web based, video, and two way interactive courses. Gulf Coast Community College offers a wide variety of E-Learning resources and an extensive distance education program of AA, AAS, and PSAV courses.

Students who are unable to meet the rigors of traditional class schedules due to work, family commitment, or other circumstances, or who simply prefer the E-Learning/distance mode of delivery may enroll in distance education courses.

Course Development

Faculty are responsible for the development and/or selection of all course content. This content should meet the same standards as face to face instruction and require the same outcomes. Due to the uniqueness of each course the content must be approved by the division chair prior to initial offering.

All faculty teaching DE courses must have access to a computer and have e-mail. Faculty must use the GCCC on-line course management system to communicate with students using e-mail, chat rooms, or quizzes.

Communicating with Students

Since distance learning students do not attend regular classroom sessions, it is extremely important to make them feel that someone cares about their progress.

Faculty should e-mail the students a welcome message within the first several days of class and post an initial announcement on ANGEL to ensure that students are recognized as part of the class. In addition it is suggested that you communicate at least every two weeks via e-mail or telephone and respond to student e-mails. This will ensure that the student stays on task and knows you are available. If you are out on travel or otherwise unavailable please notify your students in advance.

A course syllabus MUST be provided to the student via your ANGEL web site. The course syllabus must include the name, e-mail address and phone number of the faculty, orientation dates, testing dates, and a list of course materials such as text books, web sites, and or DVD’s. The faculty’s expectations should be explicit as students in these courses come with varying expectations such as possibly doing all their work at the end of the semester or never having to come to campus at all.

The E-Learning Web site will provide a brief course outline describing the course including assessment techniques (i.e. tests, writing assignments, portfolios.

Orientations

During the first week of classes an orientation session for students should be held. (The distance education office will book the classroom). Information about time and location of the orientation will be available on the course outline. Students are encouraged to attend these sessions. At the orientation the faculty member is responsible for describing the course, and relating the anticipated expectations and outcomes, the grading scale and presentation of the complete course syllabus.

In some instances students will have two or more orientations scheduled at the same time. It is their responsibility to notify the instructor of the conflicts and arrange for a private orientation either in person or by telephone. Many of our E-Learning students live outside Bay County. In those cases where a student is simply not able to come to the college or a long distance telephone call would be required to communicate with them e-mail should be used. 

Testing

The testing policy should be clearly stated in the course outline. Faculty should schedule class testing according to the course format. The E-Learning office will reserve the primary testing rooms. Testing times and locations will be available on the course outline and on the E-Learning Web page. Instructors should have at least one alternate testing date. The alternative time and place are the responsibility of the faculty member, and is usually an office or small conference room.

If the student is in a remote site they may request a proctor. The student should contact the E-Learning office to arrange the location and receive approval of a proctor. The E-Learning office will then inform the faculty member and request copies of the exam for these students, distribute the exams to the proctors and return the exam to the faculty member. All proctors must be professional staff at an educational institution or library.

Students in Gulf and Franklin Counties may take tests at the Gulf/Franklin Center in Port St. Joe. They must contact the E-Learning Office (850)-872-3854 or by e-mail: vcampus@mail.gulfcoast.edu at least two weeks prior to each exam date.

Students living in Bay County must test at the scheduled time and place. If there is a significant reason why this is not possible the student must first contact the instructor for approval and will then notify the distance education office. The GCCC library will proctor exams for these students at the following times:

Monday - Thursday 8am - 7pm
UPDATE: Friday 11am - 2pm (excluding Summer semester)
Saturday 9:30am-3:00pm
(Sunday CLOSED)

Student No Shows & Withdrawals

Withdrawal policies can be found in the current college catalog.  You can access the catalog online at  http://www.gulfcoast.edu/catalogs (Student Information Section, under Academic Policies)

Course Evaluations

Students will have an opportunity to evaluate all online courses each semester. This evaluation is on-line. Faculty and adjuncts are required to complete a Faculty Information Form (FIF) for each course. Faculty and adjuncts will receive an e-mail with a link to the FIF form. Each student in the course will receive an e-mail with a link to the student evaluation form the week before the evaluation window. Be sure to check your e-mail account (using the e-mail account address you stored in the Angel Learning System) for notification that the evaluation forms are available. Please encourage your students to complete these evaluations.

Grades

Grades may be posted by the instructor on ANGEL. When written work is required graded papers are returned by mail. The E-Learning office has envelopes for this purpose and will supply them upon request.

The E-Learning office will NOT discuss grades with students.
 

Office Hours

If a distance education course is part of the regular workload for a full-time faculty member, the faculty member should schedule three hours for the class during the 35 hour work week. If the distance education course is an overload for full-time faculty or taught by adjunct faculty the hours may be completed in the faculty office or at home. This will allow overload distance education course office hours and adjunct distance education course office hours to be completed at home via e-mail and ANGEL options rather than requiring the instructor to be on campus.