College of the Redwoods
CURRICULUM PROPOSAL FOR DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSE
Date: 01/14/12
1. Division: Arts, Languages, and Social Sciences
2. Course ID and Number: Psych 11
3. Course Title: Lifespan Development
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 provide access to a general education, transfer-level course , and nursing
prerequisite, for students who are constrained by time and/or location to take the on-campus
course.
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 course is organized by weekly modules including assignments, activities, and
assessment. Assignments include weekly textbook and web-based readings, instructor-authored
materials (written or slideshow lectures) and may include audio or video presentations. In
addition, students will engage in web-based multimedia (e.g., video clips) assignments.
8. To illustrate the description in #7, describe what students in this course may do in a typical week of this course.
Each week students will read assigned peer-reviewed content -- usually a textbook chapter -and instructor-authored material -- simulating a lecture -- which will be the context for a
student-lead discussion. Multimedia resources will be accessed demonstrating the concepts
assigned. Assigned materials will be assessed using weekly quizzes or exams.
Curriculum Approval: 01.23.09
Academic Senate Approval: 03.04.09
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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.
Regular effective contact will be met by weekly announcements, participation or grading
commentary/feedback in the weekly discussions, a discussion forum "questions for the
instructor" section, and timely (usually within 48 hrs) responses to student messages or email.
10. Describe the nature and frequency of student-student interactions in this course.
Student-student interactions will be continuous with weekly requirements for discussionforum participation and replies to classmates' posts.
11. Describe how you will identify and respond to students experiencing difficulty in this course.
Students will be encouraged to be proactive in addressing problems though contacting the
instructor, tech help-desk, or distance education advisor. Instructors will monitor student
progress and contact students who fall behind in their assignments.
12. Will exam proctoring be required?
No
Yes
If yes, who will proctor exams?
13. Describe how assessments are used in this course to ensure that student work is evaluated effectively and
accurately.
This course requires weekly online assessment using the learning management system (LMS)
testing software. In addition, exams can be administered using either the LMS or with proctored,
hard-copy exams. Additional writing assignments, including a research or applied paper will be
submitted using the Assignments tool. Multiple-choice items will be scored automatically by the
LMS with instructor oversight. Essay exams and written assignments will be evaluated with a
scoring rubric used in face-to-face classese.
14. Describe the equipment and staff resources necessary to support the course for students and instructors.
Students will require frequent and reliable internet access. Student and instructor support is
provided by the DE department.
15. Describe the contingency plan for this course if access to the delivery system is interrupted.
In the rare occurance of delivery interuption, deadlines for assignments will be extended.
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.
Curriculum Approval: 01.23.09
Academic Senate Approval: 03.04.09
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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.
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: Mark Winter
Tel. Ext: 4310
Approvals:
Department Chair: NA
Director, Distance Education Geoff Cain, Director, DE
Division Chair/Director: Rachel Anderson
Date: 01/14/12
Review Date:
Review Date: 2/2/12
Review Date: 1/25/12
CURRICULUM COMMITTEE USE ONLY
Approved by Curriculum Committee: No
Yes
Date: 2.10.12
Academic Senate Approval Date: 3.2.12
Board of Trustees Approval Date: 4.3.12
Curriculum Approval: 01.23.09
Academic Senate Approval: 03.04.09
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