Teaching Online

Online Course Logistics

Before the Course Starts

Backup your course

If you did not backup your course at the end of last term, you should do so NOW – to preserve a copy of everything in your course. It is highly recommended that you backup your course periodically throughout the term and at the end of every term. Webcourses@UCF will only store 1 download, so you will need to save a copy to your computer.

Request your production course

Request your production course through the Faculty Webcourses Manager and copy your content to the new course. All of the previous data, aka discussion postings, grades, and students will be reset. Consult the Semester Startup Checklist.

Make minor updates to content (as needed)

  • Make sure all links still work.
  • Make changes to your schedule and syllabus.
  • As needed, make modifications to your content (for example: unexpected changes since you created the course/change in textbook).

Create “Discussion Topics” as needed

If you have a new course or have reset your course, you will need to create your discussion topics. Separate discussion topics make it easier to manage the discussions area.

Check quiz settings to edit release dates and review settings

If you have opening and closing dates on your quizzes, you will need to update the dates each time. Also, you might want to change the settings so students cannot see the answers to questions until the quiz closes.

Check assignment tool to edit release dates

If you have opening and closing dates on your assignments (drop box), you will need to update the dates each time you use the account.

Make calendar entries

Many faculty members prefer to use the calendar tool to keep students on task rather than an html page with the schedule. Steve Lytle has a hospital administration course and uses the calendar tool to simulate a hospital office setting. He frequently includes items likes the annual “Christmas Party” in the calendar.

Add a Guest Speaker to your course

If you are using a Guest Speaker for the course, add their Guest ID to the gradebook. If they don’t have a Guest ID, visit the Guest ID form.

Set-up grade management columns (with point values)

Certain Webcourses@UCF tools like quiz and assignments automatically create columns. All other columns must be created by you. In most instances, you will be creating Numeric or Calculated columns in Webcourses@UCF.

Set-up Shared Access

If you want another instructor or student assistant to have Instructor or Designer Access to your course, contact the Instructional Technology Group at itg@mail.ucf.edu or 407-823-0407