DECSC

Minutes 10-9-2003

12-1pm, Bldg. 2400

Present:  Kathleen Allen, Fe Baran, Norman Buchwald, Desmond Chun, Darly Crew, Arlene DeLeon, Michael Gunter, Scott Hildeth, Zarir Marawala (new chair), Jeannine Methe, Minta Peterson, Sherri Yeager.

Guests:  Anne Brichacek, Gaila Moore, Norberto Ruiz, Wanda Wong.

1.  General Comments prior to agenda: 

Zarir clarified that the curriculum committee/Faculty Senate appoints members and he would need to check before confirming new committee members.  Also, faculty need to complete the tracking form first to make sure the proposal follows the complete review process.

Zarir - Does the committee need to respond to the article in the Spectator?  (the instructor who fraudulently took CAS 8 and attacked D.E. courses stating they should not be transferable since a student could easily cheat in them).  Scott - we must respond quickly. Discussing the positive aspects of DE courses for our students and that we are aware of the difficulties of with the courses and we are constantly working on improving them.  Des - Said these concerns are the same for regular classes. For DE courses an instructor can randomize the questions in a test and input time limits on each question.  Do we want to deny students access to education because of one student?  None of the issues are unique to online learning.  Regular courses are not scrutinized the same as online courses.  How are other colleges handling these issues?  Committee continued discussion online. 

1. Old business (revised proposals)

Introductions, including new chair Zarir Marawala.  Norberto provided follow-up to his Spring 2003 ELECT TECH proposals.   Electronic class is doing well. By having the on line portion to the electronic courses, the program can be completed in 2 years rather than 5.  Blackboard is very useful, providing a location for communication, quizzes, and more.  Students who work full-time no longer need to attend as many on-campus meetings, yet instructor-student and student-student contact is maintained, if not higher.  Scott suggested that he gets before and after stats on the Electronic courses on line.

2. New business (new proposals)

• Business 7 ? Kalyagin (online) - (ran out of time for discussion)

•  CAS 50 ? Brichacek (online) - Michael confirmed that the Spring 2004 schedule is finalized, so the next time this course could be offered is summer or fall.  Anne will hold an optional orientation, there will be a lot of e-reading, and discussion will be the "meat" of the course.  Students must have access to soft, browser, Office including Power point and Access.
  Scott asked Gaila what does she do to support her students with little or no experience?   Gaila confirmed that most students are familiar with the internet. Anne - email is mandatory in her general course. In her proposal orientation not mandatory. Students may meet in person or have discussions on line.  Followup:  awaiting paperwork from division.

• English 4 ? Shen (hybrid: online w/ meetings) - Pam will hold required and optional meetings.  Norman - this proposal is clear and detailed.  Minta - proposal is a model proposal, in which Pam clearly addresses the issues for DE students.  Recommendation:  Approval.

• Nutrition 7 ? Grace (online) - needs tracking form.

• Nutrition 8 ? Grace (online) - needs tracking form.

• Psychology Counseling 13 ? Harbin (online)

• Speech 1 ? Deane (hybrid: online w/ meetings) - needs division approval.

• Speech 10 ? Deane (online) - needs division approval.

• Speech 11 ? Deane (online) - needs division approval.

• Speech 30 ? Deane (online) - needs division approval.

Followup email on Speech courses as of 10/08/03:  (Zarir) I received the latest email from Arlene informing the committee that only Speech 11 has been okayed by the divison faculty. However, I have no tracking forms yet reflecting that situation.

 Zarir - asked the committee to approve Nutrition 7 and 8 ASAP and Speech 1 in a few days.

4. Comments:  English course use of CHARLIE.

Samples of papers, a writing lab, and other resources online. A 500 course.  No approval required.  Just awareness of project and to request to continue DECSC's advisory role in the development.

5. Discussion:  identifying support available for faculty

 As the number of online courses or courses using online components continues to grow, we need to "glue" faculty experiences and discussion.  Scott proposed informal Blackboard "brown-bag" sessions to discuss pedagogy.

5.  Discussion:  issue of requiring or barring certain types of tools for delivering DE content

Michael - suggests that the Committee examines the issue of instructors using individual course management systems rather than Blackboard.  Many faculty are using publisher-blackboard courses, which create a realm of problems for the faculty and students, with the campus unable to provide the help needed.  Jeannine revisted the district-wide plan that is in place to convert the courses.  Minta provided the Chabot update that she is working with all of the faculty who are currently using publisher-blackboard courses and most of them plan to use the new CLPCCD server and import Course Cartridges.

Minutes taken by Kathleen Allen and Minta Peterson.