2009 - Utep - University of Texas at El Paso

DISTANCE LEARNING QUICK REFERENCE
What is Instructional Support
Services?
Instructional Support Services (ISS)
serves as the principal organization on
campus for the design, delivery, and
evaluation of online learning at UTEP.
ISS is committed to delivering quality
instruction to all students and meeting
the educational needs of the non-traditional
student. For more information,
please go to http://academics.utep.
edu/iss.
What is Distance Education?
The United States Distance Learning
Association(USDLA) defi nition: “The
acquisition of knowledge and skills
through mediated information and
instruction, encompassing all technologies
and other forms of learning at a
distance.”
Why Distance Education?
The American educational system is
challenged with providing increased
educational opportunities to non-traditional
students without an increase in
budgets. Many educational institutions,
like UTEP, are answering this need by
developing an online education program.
In conjunction with the UT TeleCampus,
UTEP has been able to incorporate many
cost effective measures and deliver a
quality online education to its students.
What are the advantages
of Online Learning?
Online learning is more fl exible for
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Fall 2009 | SCHEDULE OF CLASSES
DISTANCE LEARNING
Frequently Asked Questions
UT Telecampus Courses
WebCT Courses
More Information: http://academics.utep.edu/online
students to adapt their schedule around.
It can also help save on gas expenses
and consequently contribute to the
quality of the environment. Students
taking online courses enjoy the high
level of interaction that extends beyond
a few hours a week, and report having
better ongoing communication with their
instructors and classmates.
Is there an online listing of
online courses at UTEP?
Yes, you can fi nd an online listing at
http://academics.utep.edu/online.
Is Distance Education, or
Online Learning Effective?
In a word... yes! Extensive research has
been done comparing effective distance
learning to the traditional face-to-face
instruction and the results are that both
are comparable. Technology implementation
varies, but the learning outcomes
share the same effectiveness.
Are there additional Distance
Learning Fees?
All courses offered via online learning
are assessed a $25/credit hour for Undergraduate
courses and a $50/credit hour
for Graduate courses Distance Learning
Fee. Note that if you are enrolled
in ONLY online learning courses (i.e.
there are no traditioanl face to face, or
hybrid, courses), the following fees are
waived; Activity Fee, Union Fee, and
Recreation Fee.
What is the UT TeleCampus?
The UT TeleCampus (UTTC) delivers
online courses and degrees for the
University of Texas System and “is a
service-driven, central support system
for online education initiatives” for all
fi fteen campuses in the UT System. All
of the UTTC hosted graduate and undergraduate
distance learning courses utilize
only interactive Internet Web-based
delivery using Blackboard via the UT
TeleCampus at http://www.uttc.org See
p. 43 for current UTEP UTTC offerings.
What is Telecampus
Information System (TIS)?
The Telecampus Information System
(TIS) allows students who have registered
for UTTC delivered courses, to
set up their user accounts to access their
Blackboard course. A new student to
UTTC delivered courses should go to
http://www.uttc.org and create a student
account prior to the fi rst day of class.
What are WebCT courses?
WebCT courses are 100% on-line courses
that are offered only to the UTEP
campus. These courses are delivered via
the WebCT link available through http://
my.utep.edu. Courses available under
this category are listed on p. 46.
How do I register for Distance
Learning Courses?
Register for Distance Learning Courses
originating from UTEP via Goldmine.
Steps for registration are detailed starting
on p. 26.