Distance Learning and Distributed Learning at Hofstra

The FCS mission is to help faculty incorporate appropriate teaching technologies into their courses wherever it helps to achieve learning goals.

"Distributed learning" can be the use of a learning object, discussion board, or other software as an integral part of your on campus course. With current instructional technology tools, there is a wide variety of things you can have your students do outside of the classroom walls that could raise the level of discussion when you meet face to face with your students in the classroom.

For faculty who are teaching distance learning courses for the first time, FCS offers a 30 hour Best Practices Workshop. The Best Practices Workshop is fully online, taught by Hofstra Instructional Designers and is offered in the Fall and Spring semesters. Currently most distance learning courses at Hofstra are in the Summer, January session, or in one of our fully-online degree or certificate programs.

Faculty who are interested in teaching a fully online course may wish to review the approval application form found on the Hofstra website in the Provost's Forms section. If you wish to develop a course for one of the Summer terms, you should be prepared to develop it during the prior Spring semester, and you'll want to have your application completed and submitted by the end of January. Applications to teach fully online courses in the January term should be completed and submitted by the end of August and developed in the prior Fall semester.

Once you have completed the Best Practices Workshop, Faculty Computing Services' Instructional Design staff are available to answer questions about building your online course. The tools and expert assistance you need are here to help.

If you would like to learn more, you can email us at fcshelp@hofstra.edu, phone us for an appointment at the Faculty Hotline, (516) 463-6894 or visit our self-service support wiki at www.hofstrateach.org and explore.