Archive for the ‘Process’ Category

Copyright Clearance Center

August 6, 2009

Each campus of the University of Texas System is now subscribed to the Copyright Clearance Center’s Annual Academic License (CCC Annual) for the academic year 2090-2010. The CCC Annual enhances each campus’ existing rights to make and distribute copies of materials to students. Each campus currently relies on a combination of library licensed materials, materials whose owners make them available freely over the Internet, and fair use. The CCC Annual adds to that body of materials and rights to use them the ability to copy and distribute materials owned by the Annual’s publisher participants, through online course management systems such as Blackboard, through electronic reserve systems in campus libraries, and through electronic and paper coursepacks, created both on and off campus.

Information about license benefits and obligations will be of interest to those who operate the services through which each campus provides digital and analog course materials to students. For example, if a campus delivers course materials using all three methods (course management system, electronic reserves and coursepacks), participants who represent each of these services should attend. Additionally, each campus will need to consider whether it wishes to extend the CCC Annual privileges to its area copy shops. The license permits this, but does not require it. So those on each campus who may be involved in making this decision will also wish to attend.

Two System-wide videoconferences about the Copyright Clearance Center’s Annual Academic License have been held. For those unable to attend, and because we now have a System CCC License Website, UT System has posted the presentation Powerpoint as well as other information of interest to those who will be involved in the management of the license on each campus. The website will be fully accessible on Friday from the OGC website at http://www.utsystem.edu/ogc. At that time, and afterwards, if you have any questions or comments about the license, feel free to contact Georgia Harper (gharper@austin.utexas.edu) or Steve Rosen (srosen@utsystem.edu. We will be happy to discuss your concerns with you.

Help Plan IOL 2009

October 10, 2008

Would you be interested in having a role in the planning of IOL 2009?  The fifth annual UT System Innovations in Online Learning (IOL) conference will be held May 20-22, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency in Austin.  We have volunteer opportunities on the program, hospitality, marketing, sponsorship and awards committees.  Interested?  Please email the planning committee (IOLconference@utsystem.edu) for more details on how you can help.

2009 Course Development Schedules

October 6, 2008

The new and updated course development schedules for Spring, Summer, and Fall 09 are now available from the UTTC website, here.

Note to course developers and faculty: New policies and procedures for proctored exams

August 29, 2008

Beginning Spring 2009, new policies and procedures (word .doc / 767kb) require that any course that proctors an exam through UTTC must have the exam online.  This requires course developers to communicate with faculty considering, or already using, exam proctoring, to develop their exam(s) within the course in Blackboard.

Please note that proctoring services can’t be used unless this step is completed and the exams are in place within the course by the course technical review deadline, and at least two weeks prior to the first day of class.

If you are responsible for course development where faculty are considering, or currently use, proctoring services please download and review the Spring 2009 policies and procedures (word .doc / 767kb), specifically the section entitled Course Developer Responsibilities.

Spring, 2008: A New Beginning

January 3, 2008

New! WELCOME ANNOUNCEMENTS IN COURSES

UTTC has a new requirement that all courses have a welcome announcement posted by the faculty member prior to the semester start. In addition, UTTC requires that at least one discussion board forum be available to students on the first day of class.

 

New! PLAIGIARISM DETECTION (SafeAssignment/SafeAssign) UPGRADE

UTTC is currently upgrading the plagiarism detection service we use in Blackboard. We are moving from SafeAssignment to the new Blackboard version of the product, which is called SafeAssign. Upgrade information is available on the Blackboard portal. We expect the process to be complete by the end of the day on Thursday, January 3 and ask that you refrain using the service until then.

 
New!
CHANGE IN HELP DESK PROVIDER

UTTC has signed a contract with SunGard and will be making the shift to a new help desk partner in the beginning of February. The toll free number for the help desk will not change (1-866-321-2988) but we will no longer have a webform for support. If you have a link to the webform in your course, please remove it. Also, please change any reference to “Embanet” to “24/7 Help Desk.” We expect the transition to be relatively seamless (for example, the current webform link will go to our technical support website pages).

 
New!
WEBSITE AND KNOWLEDGE CENTER UPDATES

UTTC recently unveiled a new website (www.uttc.org). We are currently updating the information in our Knowledge Center (http://www.telecampus.utsystem.edu/enrollmentservices/knowledgecenter.aspx) to reflect the website changes. We expect to have the Knowledge Center updates completed by January 14.

 
SEMESTER START

The student and faculty services (SFS) group at UTTC puts a great deal of effort into getting students started for the semester. In addition to emails and postcards, UTTC will call enrolled students the day before each course starts, using an automated phone system. The call is to encourage students to login on the first day of class and explains how they can get help if they need it.

 
COURSE ACCESS

The way in which individuals receive access to your course is determined by their role in the course and, for students, the first day of class at your campus. Each campus may have up to two staff members in a course to provide support to faculty during the semester. Staff can be identified in courses because their last name in Blackboard includes “Course Dev.”