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Distance Learning. At SMU, distance education refers to a graduate class that is taught on campus, recorded, and later distributed via DVD or other medium to students at remote sites. Duplication is typically done the day following the live class delivery, then mailed, usually by the U.S. Postal Service. Hence distance students will receive the class from two to seven days after it is recorded, depending on their location and whether an organization’s internal mail system is involved.
Every off-campus student has a site coordinator who is responsible for administering and proctoring exams, according to the faculty member’s instructions. How these coordinators are selected and vetted is one of life’s mysteries. This system is helpful for students that cannot come to campus or prefer the flexibility of viewing the classes on their own schedule.
Challenges of Distance Education. The challenges in teaching both on-campus and distance ed students result from the time lag between the live class and when it is viewed by distance students, and from the need to rely on site coordinators to ensure that proper testing procedures are followed. Problems may include: (1) unproctored exams, (2) students telling classmates about exams ahead of time, and (3) delays in receiving exams from distance students. Examples from my experience include: (1) coordinators that give a timed exam to the student and leave for the day; (2) Dallas-area student A takes exam on campus and tells “distance” student B, who works in the next cubicle, all about the exam he will take in a week or so; and (3) students that, if their instructor is flexible enough, will take their exams months after the campus students.
My “System.” This is a description of the grading and testing system that I use for dealing with some of the challenges of distance education, and especially test integrity. The students grumble and protest, but end up complying and deciding that it is ok.
- All Dallas-area students come to campus for exams. This includes anyone receiving the classes on a delayed basis, whether from SMU DVD or from NTU. I decide what constitutes Dallas-area. This minimizes the probability of problem (2).
Justification to the students: this avoids some testing integrity problems that I have experienced, ensures that everyone has the same amount of time, and, besides, it is only X times a semester.
- All students in the class, irrespective of location, take the exam on the same day. Hence non-Dallas-area students take their exam on the same day as the campus students. If there are multiple students at the same site, they must take the exam together on Test Day.
Justification: see above.
- Exams do not cover class material presented within 10 days of test day.
Justification: This gives the distance students time to receive the last recorded class, view it, do any homework exercises, and ask me questions prior to the exam.
Note: If an instructor requests, the SMU distribution group will expedite shipment for the time-sensitive “last class on the exam” DVDs.
- Coordinators must certify that the exam instructions were followed. A clearly worded set of proctoring instructions are critical. The certification relies on the coordinator’s personal integrity, but emphasizes that this is an important job. (Example exam instructions, Word format.)
Justification: problems (1) and (2).
- Site coordinators fax the completed exams to the EMIS department. They must be received no later than the day after Test Day. This avoids problem (3).
Justification: This enables prompt grading and avoids mail delays. My exam turnaround is one week; graded exams are handed out in the following week’s class and put in the mail for distance students.
- Comprehensive makeup exam for any missed exam, whatever the reason. I give three 85-minute exams during a semester, with last one given during the final exam period. Students that miss an exam, irrespective of reason, will be scheduled for that makeup. If a student has a death in the family, is on travel, is sick, or just does not feel like showing up, the policy is the same: he or she will take the makeup, scheduled in the second half of the final exam period. And, no, they cannot take the makeup as a fourth exam to improve their course grade.
Justifications: (1) this avoids having to determine whether an excuse is valid or not; (2) it enables grading to be completed in a timely manner; (3) three bites at the apple is plenty; and (4) grading three exams per student is enough work for me, thank you.
- Announce all rules in the first class and document them in the syllabus. The first class meeting sets the ground rules for the semester. Dates for all exams must be announced at this time to avoid conflicts. Suggest that distance students reserve exam times on Test Days with their coordinators right away, to avoid last-minute problems. If there are a large number of Dallas-area students and your classroom is too small for exams, have the EMIS department reserve a separate, larger room for test days. (Example syllabus, PDF)
Justification: the students need to know what is expected of them, up front. If documented, noone can claim surprise at a later date. Occasionally someone will find that this system does not work for them and they will drop the class. It is better for all involved that students are fully informed.
Teaching distance education is a challenge but it works, enabling many people to get a degree that might not otherwise. The above is my way of coping with its difficulties and making classes as close as possible to the ideal of all students in the same room at the same time being treated the same way. I hope this is of value to you...Dick Barr
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