College of the Redwoods
CURRICULUM PROPOSAL FOR DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSE
Date: 4/20/2011
1. Division: Math, Science, and Engineering
2. Course ID and Number: Chem 100
3. Course Title: Preparation for General Chemistry
SHORT TITLE (appears on student transcripts; limited to 30 characters, including spaces):
4. Please select the distance education method that best describes how the course content will be delivered to most
students taking this class:
CTV
DE 52: One-way video and two-way interactive audio (delivered video and telephone)
ITV
DE 51: Simultaneous Interaction: Two-way interactive video and two-way interactive audio
Online
DE 71: Internet based - Simultaneous Interaction: Session under supervision of instructor not
available by line of sight using the Internet with immediate opportunity for exchange
between participants.
DE 72: Internet based - Delayed Interaction: Session under supervision of instructor not available by line of
sight using the Internet without the immediate involvement of the instructor.
Other
DE 53: Simultaneous Interaction: Two-way interactive audio only
DE 60: Text One Way
DE 70: Audio One Way
5. Attach course syllabus to this proposal.
6. What perceived need will this distance education course address?
This course will be available to students in outlying areas where it is inconvenient to come to
the Eureka campus. This course will allow students who are working or are otherwise engaged
during the day to take this class.
7. Describe in detail how the course content will be delivered and how students will engage this content. Be sure
to describe the specific technologies and/or software to be used.
The learning modules will be accessed on MyCR and students will demonstate their
understanding of each module by sending messages through MyCR to their instructor, who will
provide feedback on thir work. The entire textbook will be available as modules and the same
homework problems assigned in the on campus course will be assigned in this one.
Course modules will be delivered through the learning management system (LMS). Students
will need to have access to a computer, the internet through a standard web browser, and email.
Instructions provided to the students through the LMS will direct them to internet sites where
additional content will be available. In the LMS, a syllabus will be posted. This syllabus will
describe in fine detail the course description, required textbook, objectives, grading, course
details, policies, contingency plans, and schedule. The schedule section of the syllabus will
describe each week's textbook chapter that will be covered, and it will spell out the homework
Curriculum Approval: 01.23.09
Academic Senate Approval: 03.04.09
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assignment. This schedule will be mirrored in the LMS calendar where additional information will
be posted.
8. To illustrate the description in #7, describe what students in this course may do in a typical week of this course.
Students will view the module in the Lessons tool in MyCR or modules assigned for the week
at the Chem 100 MyCR site and work out and submit their worked out answers to the
questions assigned to each module in the Assignment tool. There will be several very simple
chemistry demonstrations that they will be able to do with common household materials ( i.e.
coffee filters, water soluble ink pens, water, a glass) that will also be reported on during the
term. Each module consistes of: a reading, example problems, an assignment, and a
discussion question using the Discussion Forums tool in MyCR.
9. Title V mandates “regular and effective” contact between DE students and the instructor. Describe the nature
and frequency of instructor-student interactions in this course.
The instructor will also communicate with students via email usin the Mail Tool in MyCR and
the Announcements tool in the LMS on a weekly basis. The instructor will also utilize the
Discussion Forums tool in the LMS on a weekly basis. Every time a student submits their
solutions to the problems associated with a module through the Assignments tool, their work will
be evaluated and the students will receive comments. If the instructor doesn't receive this
communication from a student, then the instructor will contact the student to encourage them to
submit it.
10. Describe the nature and frequency of student-student interactions in this course.
Each week students will be given a brief discussion topic about the module; they will be
asked to answer a discussion question in the Discussion Forum tool in MyCR and respond to one
other posting. Additionally, there is a "Class Questions" forum where students post questions
and can get points for answering them as well. The instructor will be encouraging students to
discuss these questions among themselves.
11. Describe how you will identify and respond to students experiencing difficulty in this course.
There are multiple means in MyCR for tracking students experiencing difficulties. When they
submit their module practice problem solutions, they will be encouraged to ask questions about
points that they do not understand. The instructor will help them by refering them to the
appropriate section of the course materials or will explain the material in a different way. The
instructor will also be monitoring student access to the course via the "Site Statistics" tool in
MyCR.
12. Will exam proctoring be required?
No
Yes
If yes, who will proctor exams? The students may take a proctored exam in the LRC or at a library.
Exams may be proctored by any librarian.
13. Describe how assessments are used in this course to ensure that student work is evaluated effectively and
accurately.
Submitted student work will be evaluated promptly and this information will be sent via a
return message to the student to allow them to correct their errors or finish an incomplete
assignment. Students will be taking quizzes in the "Tests & Quizzes" tool in MyCR.
14. Describe the equipment and staff resources necessary to support the course for students and instructors.
MyCR and the staff it requires to keep it operating.
15. Describe the contingency plan for this course if access to the delivery system is interrupted.
Curriculum Approval: 01.23.09
Academic Senate Approval: 03.04.09
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The course material could be accessed in printed form or from a CD. It is already in a
workbook format for the on-campus course. Students could utilize the postal service to turn in
work from the modules in case of a network outage.
16. Both state and federal law require community colleges to design courses to ensure access for students with
disabilities, including compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. Please indicate the steps taken to
ensure accessibility by checking the Yes, No, or NA boxes below. For further assistance with accessibility and
assistive technology, please contact DSP&S.
Yes No NA Requirement and Purpose
1. The course delivery provides a text equivalent for all non-text elements such as images,
animations, applets, audio/video files and art. This will enable a screen reader to read the
text equivalent to a blind student.
2. The course delivery provides descriptions for important graphics if they are not fully
described through alternative text or in a document’s content. The description would inform
a blind student of what a picture represented.
3. The course delivery ensures that information conveyed by the use of color is also
understandable without color. For example, so a blind or color-blind student could
understand a color-coded representation of DNA.
4. The course delivery provides textual equivalents to audio information (captioning). The text
will enable deaf students to know what others are hearing.
5. The course delivery provides an alternative audio description for multimedia presentations.
The sound will enable blind students to know what others are seeing.
6. The course delivery ensures that moving, blinking, scrolling, or auto-updating objects or
pages may be paused or frozen. The movement can be distracting for students with certain
disabilities.
7. If using faculty web site vs. college provided course management system, the web site
identifies, by labeling or other appropriate means, row and column headers. The
identification will enable screen readers to discern the headers, which disclose the purpose
of the data in the rows and columns.
Curriculum Approval: 01.23.09
Academic Senate Approval: 03.04.09
3 of 4
Yes No NA Requirement and Purpose
8. If using faculty web site vs. college provided course management system, the web site
provides title frames and includes sufficient information as to their purpose and relationship
to each other. This will help blind students understand the organizational purpose of the
frame.
9. If using faculty web site vs. college provided course management system, the instructor has
ensured, through HiSoftware’s “Cynthia Says” http://www.cynthiasays.com/ or other
appropriate verification, the usability of pages, and will attach to this proposal evaluation
printouts of Section 508 and WCAG—Priority 1 compliance.
10. My course syllabus recommends that students who require accommodations for a disability,
such as accessible formatting of course materials, contact me immediately. Example: “In
compliance with equal access laws, I am available to discuss appropriate academic
accommodations that you may require as a student with a disability. Students are
encouraged to contact Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSP&S) for disability
verification and for determination of reasonable academic accommodations.”
Submitted by: Paul Farnham
Approvals:
Department Chair:
Dean, Distance Education Maggie Lynch
Division Chair/Director: Select
Tel. Ext: 4221
Date: 4/20/2011
Review Date:
Review Date: 5/5/2011
Review Date:
CURRICULUM COMMITTEE USE ONLY
Approved by Curriculum Committee: No
Yes
Date: 5.13.11
Academic Senate Approval Date: 5.17.11
Board of Trustees Approval Date: 6.7.11
Curriculum Approval: 01.23.09
Academic Senate Approval: 03.04.09
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