Faculty Guide to Getting Started on the Web

Why put class materials online?

Our students are online!

• 74.9% of U.S. households have Internet access¹
• The SCC Website receives an average of over 9,000 visitors per day
• Orlando is sixth in the nation in broadband usage at 64.7%¹
• SCC's traffic is comprised of 85% high speed users

¹http://www.nielsen-netratings.com/pr/pr_040915.pdf

What are the benefits?

Information access and availability

• One central repository for class materials, announcements, supplemental reading, etc.
• Makes information more accessible to learners - 24/7 access to the course from anywhere via the Web.  Students who miss class can still keep up with assignments and materials.
• Easy to maintain, modify and re-use course content.
• Helps to release your time in spent giving out redundant materials or asking questions that could be documented online

New capabilities

• Links to work and resources at SCC and elsewhere
• Enhanced class communications
• Multimedia-rich documents engage students
• Interactive learning units

How do I put materials on the Web

Currently SCC provides two different avenues for placing content on the Web:

• ANGEL - ANGEL is a web-based software application that offers a suite of tools for administering a course, delivering instruction and facilitating student interaction online. ANGEL is an easy alternative to creating a Web site from scratch. The variety of tools allow faculty to create an online environment for their class based on their individual goals and objectives for their course. ANGEL offers the following benefits:
  • Communication tools, such as discussions, chat, IM, virtual office hours, and internal e-mail, to improve interaction and the delivery of important course information.
  • Content tools that assist in the delivery of course materials including the ability to set release dates on content.
  • Evaluation tools, such as Quizzes, Surveys, Assignments, and Games that can help improve the student's learning experience.
  • The ANGEL Gradebook to assist in the management and calculation of grades.
  • ANGEL sites are password protected, which makes them a very secure place turn in work and to post grades
  • The ANGEL Attendance Manager can help you keep track of attendance for online or on-campus meetings
  • Tracking tools to track student activity within the course
  • ANGEL Drag-N-Drop file management enables you to move multiple files to and from your course.
  • A built-in WYSIWYG HTML editor which lets you easily create and edit content online.
  • Tool Wizards and Design Help are available to assist the instructor in setting up a ANGEL course.
• Instructor SubWebs - SubWebs are SCC's method of administering instructional Web site space.  They are perfect for instructors who do not want to run their course online, but would like to take advantage of the Web to post supplemental course materials.  SubWebs are administered via Microsoft Frontpage (available from the SCC helpdesk) and use a "Word-like" interface to allow creation of Web pages with no knowledge of HTML or Web site design.

SCC is also in development of an instructor content management system (CMS) that will allow instructors to create basic content in a template-based format to facilitate an easier transition of material to the Web

How do I get an ANGEL site?

ANGEL classes are set up by contacting the Distance Learning office.  Information concerning what is available with ANGEL can be found at the Distance Learning Faculty Support area.

How do I get an instructor subweb?

Request that a Web space set up for you by filling out a CTS user access request in the TIM system.  It will need to be approved by your program manager.  Once the subweb has been created you will receive an e-mail sent to your SCC e-mail address with the site address, username and password information.

Steps to developing online class content

• Develop a "Game plan".  Determine what your objectives.  Why are you putting the material online?  What do you hope to have the students gain from it?
• Review and select your class materials to put on the Web such as:
  • Syllabi
  • Hand outs, Reading lists, Course Calendars and lecture notes (in HTML or PDF)
  • PowerPoint presentations
  • Course-related links
  • Practice exams
  • Instructor biography with information aimed at helping learners know more about your and why they should value your instruction.
  
  Imagine what you would add to your course if you had no class time constraints and could access large quantities of information available on the Web
• Keep it simple at first.
• Start small; your syllabus is a good start.  Don't feel that you need to build a massive site from the start!
• Select an organizational structure, e.g. by lecture, by week, by topic, by chapter.
• Add content as the semester progresses.
• Ask faculty and students for feedback.
• Look at what others, at SCC or in your field, have done.  Do a Google search for class sites in your discipline.
• Follow good Web design practices:
  • Author concise and meaningful content
  • Offer a clean and intuitive design
  • Provide a consistent user interface
  • Use effective navigational tools
  • Map out course site organization
  • Write short, easily scannable textual documents
• Test it
  • try different browsers
  • pretend your are the target audience
• Seek comments
• Refine it, add to it and keep it up-to-date

What else should I know?

Here are a few things to keep in mind when about an instructor Web site:

• Visitors:  While ANGEL sites are restricted to SCC students or course participants, the Web is accessible to people from all over the globe, so, non-student participants may happen onto your site (and may even ask questions!).
• Access speed:  Remember that although we all have high-speed Internet access on campus, there are still students who access you materials via a slow dial-up connection.  Make sure that you don't create materials that are impossible for them to use.  Watch out for large file sizes when using images, sound files and PowerPoint presentations.
• Copyright:  You need to be informed and mindful of copyright issues regarding your own work and the work of others.  The SCC library has created a page explaining copyright issues.
• Over doing it:  Be aware that it is also very easy to start having so much fun building your site that you make too much content available. Don't overwhelm your users.  Work towards having "less better" content.
• e-mail:  Remember that will 24/7 access to materials online, your users may also have more questions or comments.  Respond to e-mail promptly and make it a part of your "office hours".

Every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the content contained on this site.  However, we encourage you to contact the College, specific department, or instructor to verify that the information you have is current.