You are at:

Online Learning Resources

Distance Learning is a planned learning or teaching experience that frees participants from having to be in a fixed location (e.g. a physical classroom) or a fixed time.

On these pages I have assembled Distance/Online Learning resources that may be of use to DePaul University students, staff and faculty. We attempt to use online learning extensively in the Driehaus College of Business. Historically, these were the three types of classes you are were likely to encounter in the college:

  1. Online Asynchronous (OA): A course in which 100 percent of the regularly scheduled classroom time is replaced by online activities.
  2. On-Campus Hybrid (HB): A course in which 50 percent of the regularly scheduled classroom time is replaced consistently by online activities. For graduate courses, the face-to-face meetings typically occurring weeks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 or 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 (the eleventh week is either the final exam or student project/presentations). Undergraduate courses are typically taught twice a week for 90 minutes, so meeting patterns alternate like so: Mondays on campus, Wednesdays online. Schedule is adjusted for summer classes.
  3. On Campus (P): A face-to-face course in which some of the regularly scheduled classroom time is extended with online activities.

Since 2020, the university has offered classes in nine modalities. The Driehaus College of Business typically offers courses in five of those modalities:

  1. On Campus (P): A face-to-face course in which some of the regularly scheduled classroom time is extended with online activities.
  2. Flex (FL): A course taught in a technology-enhanced classroom that allows for students and guests to remotely connect via Zoom and actively participate with students and faculty in the physical classroom. This modality is highly desired by students who enjoy learning in the classroom but want the flexibility to connect online when work or family responsibilities prevent them from traveling to campus.
    • This modality is equivalent to Online Synchronous (OS) for a student who never attends in the physical classroom, but attends 100% via Zoom.
  3. On-Campus Hybrid (HB): A course in which 50 percent of the regularly scheduled classroom time is replaced consistently by online activities. For graduate courses, the face-to-face meetings typically occurring weeks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 or 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 (the eleventh week is either the final exam or student project/presentations). Undergraduate courses are typically taught twice a week for 90 minutes, so meeting patterns alternate like so: Mondays on campus, Wednesdays online. Schedule is adjusted for summer classes.
  4. Online Hybrid (HB): Online Hybrid blends asynchronous and synchronous online formats, with 50% of the learning activities designated as asynchronous online, and the other 50% synchronous online. Synchronous videoconference meetings are scheduled and occur using tools like Zoom. Dates and times for synchronous meetings must be visible to students when registering for the course.
  5. Online Asynchronous (OA): Asynchronous online classes have been the default modality for online learning at DePaul up until the COVID pandemic. There are no set meeting times, and course content is available to students 24/7 via D2L. If an instructor offers synchronous meeting opportunities in this modality, student attendance should be optional and students who cannot attend should not be penalized. Asynchronous means that the students do not have to be online at a specific time. Students can progress through weekly content at their own pace. However, there may be weekly deadlines and assignments to complete.

Faculty resources on how to teach in these modalities can be found here.

In the Driehaus College of Business, our classes are delivered through our Learning Management System (LMS), which from 2000 to 2010 was Blackboard, but is now Desire2Learn (D2L). Once a student registers for their course and the quarter begins, they are able to login to the LMS and view all of their course materials.


The technology requirements for online learning courses are:

  • Frequent access to a computer that connects to the Internet.
  • A working email account that is checked regularly (and that is updated in Campus Connection).
  • Access to a software suite such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point).
  • The ability to view video files, either in a streaming or downloadable format.
  • Administrator access to a computer to install software (if required).

The syllabus will specify the exact requirements for a particular course.

Resources For Faculty and Staff

Information Services
Also known as IS. Responsible for the university's hardware, software, network infrastructure and telecommunications systems.

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL)
The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) promotes excellence in instruction across the university so as to enhance students' learning. Together, CTL staff provide guidance in innovative instructional methods, effective use of educational technology, and assessment of student learning in line with accreditation expectations. CTL has a blog which can be found at https://www.iddblog.org

CTL has a dedicated consultant to the Driehaus College of Business (Josh Lund) who has an office on the 12th floor of the Lewis Center. His contact information is:

  • Email: jlund2@depaul.edu
  • Telephone: +1 (312) 362-6689
  • Mobile: +1 (630) 962-9764

Josh is available to meet with faculty looking to create new online courses and to implement technology in their web-enhanced, hybrid, or online classes.

Driehaus College of Business Video Projects
The Driehaus College of Business has a dedicated video producer (Theophilus Jamal) who collaborates with faculty to create educational video resources. His contact information is:

  • Email: ojamal@depaul.edu
  • Telephone: +1 (312) 362-7251

Teaching Commons

The Teaching Commons is DePaul's collaborative teaching resource site.

Recommended Tools and Technologies

Technology Tuesdays

Each month, I promote informal, internal presentations focusing on educational technology and best practices for online and hybrid/blended learning. More information and the option to RSVP can be found on the Technology Tuesdays page.

Desire2Learn

Our Learning Management System (LMS) is Desire2Learn. There are multiple overlapping ways in which faculty obtain D2L training:

  • Videos and handouts. FITS and Teaching Commons have collaborated to create a series of extensive videos and handouts here.
  • Workshops. FITS schedules a series of dedicated D2L workshops. You can sign up here.
  • D2L Community. You can create an account at https://community.desire2learn.com and read D2L's online documentation and tutorials.

Video

Video
For Business course we have found that students prefer to be able to watch and/or download short video lectures (ideally no longer than 15 minutes in length). We either film in dedicated facilities, or faculty can use tools like Panopto (PC, Mac, iOS and Android), Camtasia (PC and Mac) or ScreenFlow (Mac only) to create their own video. Streaming video is hosted through Panopto (replacing Ooyala) here at DePaul. Panopto is a web-based tool that allows you to record, host, and share audio and video files. It is fully integrated with D2L. Both instructors and students have full access to Panopto.

Instructions on adding Panopto to a D2L course and embedding videos have been shared through DePaul's Teaching Commons.

Videoconferencing

DePaul has a long history of videoconferencing (pre-1999). The university has equipped several dedicated room and has portable units. Our preferred system is Zoom.

Secure Online Testing

DePaul has two services that can be used to provide additional security to online exams in D2L:

  1. Instructor Live Proctoring with LockDown Browser
  2. Examity

DePaul’s Teaching Commons has documentation and request forms on their website.

  1. Instructor Live Proctoring with LockDown Browser
  2. Examity

Resources For Students

The Helpdesk
The Helpdesk provides general support at +1 (312) 362-8765. You can also request assistance through email via helpdesk@depaul.edu
 You are at: