Teaching & Learning Onboarding and Training Experience

Welcome to the DE Track

Hello and welcome to the Distance Education (DE) Track at Lake Tahoe Community College. Historically, the term “Distance Education” has been used to mean a form of education in which the instructor and student are not physically connected as they would be in a face-to-face class. Prior to the age of technology, the Internet, and LMS (Learning Management Systems), some distance education included correspondence education in which instructors and students communicated through written means that was delivered through the mail. Surprisingly, such education can be traced back to the 1850s in Europe. One concern with this form of education is the lack of real-time communication and pedagogical conversation between the instructor and students. We sometimes refer to this sort of education as “asynchronous” as real-time interaction is not present in the teaching process. Since the mid-1980s, we are witness to a new and more interactive form of distance education known as Online Learning. Online learning takes the idea of distance education and improves it by providing more frequent asynchronous communication between instructor and students. As well, due to the advent of the telepresence of video and audio technology, online learning may be offered in a “synchronous” mode in which the instructor and students are able to interact in real-time as they would in a face-to-face class. While some would call our ISP education a form of distance education, for clarity sake, we will refer to distance education as that which only involves online learning.

Basics of DE Instruction

Not all of our faculty begin their teaching in the distance education modality. Many have transitioned from the face-to-face to the DE one. This transition can be challenging, particularly if you are not technologically inclined in terms of your everyday life. No matter your technology background, we believe that each and every one of you can train and develop the skills needed to be an effective an outstanding distance education faculty member at LTCC. Here is a video that discusses the basics of distance education instruction.

Content Videos

Transitioning to DE

One of the first things that you might one as you consider teaching in distance education is what the transition will be like. You might also reflect on some of the challenges that will accompany a transition into DE teaching. This video addresses some of the transitions you might experience in your move to DE teaching.

Your Class: DE

After you have been hired to teach a class for LTCC, you may be wondering: what do I do next? This brief video considers what steps you should take as you begin the process of organizing your LTCC class. This video emphasizes the DE course.

CVC-OEI

In 2019, LTCC received a $500,000 grant to improve the quality of DE instruction in CTE disciplines. This brief video describes the project, including goals and core team members.

Class Controversy

Teaching in DE, you will, without a doubt, experience a controversy or two in your class. The DE teaching format is unlike any other in terms of both the rewards and challenges of the instructional environment. This video will guide you through some of the controversies you may encounter in your class.

Plagiarism (Coming Soon)

The world of DE instruction is no stranger, unfortunately, to cases of plagiarism and academic dishonesty. One of the vital aspects of your work as a DE faculty member is knowing the College’s policies that relate to academic dishonesty, plagiarism, and other forms of cheating. Please have a look at this video.

Instructor Presence

Instructor presence, or the ways in which you connect with your students, is a foundation of a successful DE class. This video discusses strategies for improved instructor presence in your Canvas class.

OER and ZTC

Open Educational Resources and Zero Textbook Cost opportunities are a growing facet of the LTCC teaching and learning environment. In this video, we will take a balanced approach to OER and ZTC and how they might transform your learning environment.

Plagiarism, Tolerance, and Conduct

Plagiarism, student behavior, and tolerance are just a few of the issues that you may encounter in a DE class. These can be challenging issues, so have a listen to the video and let's discuss your ideas for dealing with these challenges in a DE class.

The Value of Video

Video is one of the most effective tools available to the DE instructor in terms of establishing rapport with students and overall presence in the class. Have a look at this video that focuses on the many possibilities in terms of video in your DE class.

DE Pedagogy

There are many techniques that may be used in a DE class. These are techniques that can improve the pedagogical processes that we use in a DE class.

Basic Canvas Shell

After you have received your Canvas certification, you might be curious as to what you should include in your Canvas shell that will house your DE class at LTCC. This video addresses some of the key components that should be a part of your class in Canvas.

DE Class Policies

This video focuses on the importance of including a number of class policies in your Canvas class. Have a listen!

DE Track