CIS-31 DE
Curriculum Committee Approval:
April 22, 2005
DISTANCE LEARNING CLASSES
Courses already approved by the Curriculum Committee require an additional review and
approval in order to be taught as distance learning classes, defined as classes in which the
instructor and student are separated by distance and interact through the assistance of
communication technology (Title 5, 55370). The purpose of this separate review and approval
is to ensure that classes taught by means of distance learning have the same quality, rigor and
intensity as other classes. In order to encourage experimentation and accommodate limited
timelines, classes may be taught once by means of distance learning before being approved by
the Curriculum Committee. The Committee, however, must be informed before the course is
scheduled.
1. Course for which approval is being sought: CIS-31 Networking Operating Systems
2. Maximum class size for the distance learning section: __30_
3. Please specify what communication technologies will be used for this class and how:
BlackBoard course delivery software and the Internet.
4. How many hours of instruction will be delivered by means of these technologies? _54__
The course is divided into two components: three hours per week of lecture and
three hours per week of lab. This proposal is a request to allow the lecture component
to be delivered online via BlackBoard, while the hands-on lab component will remain
an on-campus, in-person class.
5. How many hours of instruction will be provided in person by the faculty member? __54
(hands-on lab)
Note: Instructors of transfer level classes must meet with the class in person on some regular
basis. Instructors of other classes must simply maintain regular contact.
6. What forms of supplementary communication will be used and to what extent (e.g.,
telephone, e-mail, regular mail, computer bulletin board, newsletters)?
BlackBoard utilities including discussion boards, electronic surveys, quizzes, and
lecture delivery. Communication will also be supplemented via email and telephone.
The latter used when all other forms of communication simply aren’t getting the job
done.
Curriculum Committee
1/30/01
CIS-31 DE
Curriculum Committee Approval:
April 22, 2005
7. Please specify the reasons this course is appropriate for delivery by distance education:
The course is a technology specific course (Network Operating Systems) whose
content is best presented to students via technical reference documents, Requests for
Comments (RFC) document series, manuals, and industry articles. The presentation of
this material via traditional lecture is not an ideal pedagogy for this type of course. The
instructor’s job in this case is more of a coordinator and guide versus a traditional
lecturer. The students are best served by reviewing the technical material, discussing it
amongst themselves with instructor mediation and then applying the knowledge
gleaned from the technical references in a hands-on lab environment (CIS 31L).
8. Please specify the changes that will be made in the delivery and conduct of the class in order
to maintain its quality:
A variety of industry and company specific reference materials will be made
available to students via links in BlackBoard, students will be required to participate at
least three times per week in weekly discussion topics, take weekly online quizzes, and
complete weekly case studies.
Faculty member:
Dan Calderwood______
Date:_4/12/05_______
Dean/Campus. V.P.:
_Steve Brown_______
Date:__4/12/05______
Curriculum Committee Approval: April 22, 2005
Academic Senate Approval: May 6, 2005
Curriculum Committee
1/30/01