Distance Learning Course Development Program
The Office of Academic Affairs, with the support of the College Deans and the Library Dean, has established the USFSP Distance Learning Course Development Program, a multi-pronged program for the development and support of distance/online learning courses and course development.
Faculty interested in participating in the USFSP Distance Learning Course Development Program must complete the New On-line Course Development Proposal.
Distance Learning Course Improvement/Refinement Awards
Faculty who have received initial course development awards as defined above, as well as those who have previously developed and offered an online course before this program was implemented, may be eligible to apply for a Course Improvement/Refinement Award after the course they have developed has been offered at least twice. These one-time, lump-sum awards of $2,000 are intended to enable faculty to “tweak” their courses, make adjustments in response to assessment, and/or incorporate recent technology innovations that were not available at the time of the initial course development.
Faculty interested in Course Improvement/Refinement Awards must complete the Distance Learning Course Refinement Award Application.
Technical Assistance with Developing an Online Course
The Distance Learning division of the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library’s Instructional Media Services provides coordinated support for online courses at USFSP.
USFSP faculty who are planning to create new courses or revise existing courses for online/distance delivery have the option of requesting technical assistance from the Library’s Distance Learning division for their work. In order to qualify for such assistance, faculty must complete a request form to initiate discussions and arrive at a budget for the work. Proposals lacking the budget supplied by the Library’s Distance Learning Coordinator will not be able to obtain assistance from the Distance Learning division later.
Services available include:
- Training and assistance in using the System-supported course management system, Blackboard
- The Library’s broadcast studio receives and transmits events such as conferences and USFSP credit classes
- Digital audiovisual services are provided to develop multimedia packages for teaching, delivery of information, learning and research.
- Professionally trained instructional designers assist faculty in the design, delivery, and maintenance of online/distance learning courses and applications.
- Online courses are offered as streaming video or podcasting and use high-speed Internet access to any authorized user with an active e-mail account and Internet access.
- Three group listening and viewing rooms for all audio and video formats, a graphics lab, digitalization facility, a studio and control room and a production room round out the technology and facilities available in the Library to support online learning.
