Teaching Online for UMUC-Europe

Distance education (DE) occurs when a learning interaction takes place between an instructor and one or more students separated in space and time. The prototype for DE is the correspondence course by postal mail. However, Internet-based, multi-media communication has given rise to the virtual classroom –a far cry from the one-on-one correspondence course.

Just as in a conventional classroom, the instructor in an online class of adult students acts as a catalyst, creating meaning in the interaction between three basic elements –his or her academic expertise, the course materials, and the collective experience of the students.

In a Web-based learning system the classroom is a site on the Internet. The instructor and students access the class space frequently (3 or more times a week) –at any time of the day or night, on any computer connected to the Internet. In an online course class participants participate! They work together on projects, collaborate in the creation of documents, and discuss issues in a threaded conference space. [Please Note: DE is not the same as independent study! DE is not a collection of one-on-one correspondence courses by e-mail!]

Real time Internet chat is an option in some online classes, but is rarely required. All significant interaction occurs asynchronously, i.e., not at the same time. Online discussions are created with written notes and responses in the conference, or discussion area of the virtual classroom.

At UMUC online courses are taught using a learning environment called WebTycho. To see what WebTycho is all about, go to <http://tychousa.umuc.edu/>. Follow the directions to login as a guest. Once in, click on "WebTycho Orientation."

If you are interested in this exciting new way to teach, please visit our Web site for Technology Support for UMUC Europe Faculty. Before teaching online DE courses, it is mandatory for faculty to complete a five-week online training class. During this virtual class, faculty participate initially as "students," completing research exercises and assignments, and later as "faculty," developing and posting online course modules. Review the WebTycho Training Schedule.

If you would like to learn more about the DE program at UMUC Europe, visit the Distance Education home page. Learn more about DE, and browse the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). You will also want to check out the UMUC-Europe faculty home page.

If you any questions, please contact the Distance Education Office.