faqs for online instructors
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What should I do before I start teaching online at LAHC Before you start teaching an online course for Harbor College:Get a "throw away" email account--don't use your personal email or your LAHC email account as your contact account for your class(es).
For all of these reasons, it might get to the point where you don't want to use the account any more. So create a free email account. You can use MSN, yahoo or gmail among others to create the account.
This will be of enormous help in getting access to your students' email addresses and other information. |
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What parts of the AFT contract relate to Distance Education? There are several section in the AFT contract that are specifically related to Distance Education. You should review these sections carefully and make sure you understand your rights and obligations. The sections are:
If you have questions or concerns, contact Rod Oakes at: oakes@lahc.edu |
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How do I get my site(s) for my class(es)? First make sure that your class is scheduled as an online or hybrid class in the College's schedule of classes. Scheduling is done by your division chair in consultation with the Dean of Academic Affairs.
Once the schedule of classes is loaded into the LACCD mainframe, the Distance Education coordinator will use it to request an Etudes site for each online and each hybrid section in the schedule of classes.
Once Etudes creates your site, you will receive an email from them. If you haven't received an email by 2 weeks after the schedule is published, contact the Distance Education coordinator. |
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Can I request an Etudes site to enhance my in person class? Requesting sites for enhanced classes is part of the schedule production process.
Give your division a chair a written request for the section(s) that you need a site for. Include in the request how you want the sites set up—i.e., a site for each section or a site for each class or some other combination.
Your chair will forward that request with the schedule materials to academic affairs and they will forward it to the distance education coordinator, who will request the site from Etudes.
Once Etudes creates your site, you will receive an email from them. If you haven't received an email by 2 weeks after the schedule is published, contact the Distance Education coordinator. |
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What is the process for acquiring my Etudes ID and a development site? Use the ID that Etudes provided for your training and log on to the Etudes portal.
Go to the users group Etudes tab and Click on Dev/nt Site Request and fill it out. |
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How are my students added to my site? This is done daily through the LACCD IT department. Each morning, a file of students is sent to ETUDES and the students are loaded into your site. This does mean that there is a 24 to 48-hour delay between the time the student enrolls and the time that he/she will appear in your site. We usually start the uploads at least a week before the semester begins to ensure that the students are being loaded correctly and to address any problems. If you do not wish to allow student access as soon as the upload begins, you need to unpublish your site. Then go back to "manage access" and publish the site at the start of the semester. Some instructors like to let students have access as much as a week prior to classes in order to learn to navigate the site. You can lock or set dates on discussions and activities so that students can look, but not begin the class early. |
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How are my students contacted regarding information about my class? There are a variety of ways: Both the printed and website schedules provide your email address and encourage students to contact you when they've enrolled in your class. Approximately 3-4 weeks before classes begin, the college uses the SARS system to call your students and remind them to send you an email. You as the instructor should contact your students with instruction about accessing the site and other information about your class (your syllabus, for example). |
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It's the start of the semester and I get an urgent email from a student that they can't access the site, what do I do? Follow these steps: Check under site info and see if the student is listed as a participant in your class: If the student isn't listed or is inactive, the issue is most likely an enrollment problem. Use the LACCD faculty system to verify the student is active in your class. If the student isn't on your roster, give the student an add permit and send him/her to the admissions office to enroll in your class.
If the student is active on your LACCD roster, but not on your site participants list, it is most likely a database problem--contact the LAHC ETUDES help desk at lahc-etudes-help@lahc.edu for assistance.
If your student's active on your participant list, but still can't access your class, what then? The most likely cause is a user ID or password issue. Verify that they are using the correct ID--these are listed with their name in the site participant list. If they're using the correct ID, have them request that ETUDES reset their password at this site: https://myetudes.org/portal/site/!gateway/page/b0177bb8-e4b4-49f1-00b7-186d01ab8a11 Recommend that the student review the system requirements on the Etudes login page. Often, they need to set up their browser with appropriate settings. This also applies when students report problems within the site once they have access. If none of that works, have them contact the LAHC ETUDES help desk at lahc-etudes-help@lahc.edu for assistance. |
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How do I add students after the semester begins There are two different ways to add students once the semester begins. 1. Send or give the student a signed add slip to take to Admissions and Records. This method is also the only way to have a student readmit if they are dropped and wish to be re-enrolled.
2. Send the student an email from your approved email account (listed in the schedule of classes). It should contain the following information and statement:
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How do I change the enrollment limit of my class? Limits to enrollment must follow the contract and be approved by your division chair. It is advisable to work out enrollment limits prior to the opening of a new semester. If you increase the limit once the class is full, those on the waiting list will not be automatically added. |
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How do I get my class approved for online instruction? Online and hybrid classes must have an approved course outline on record as well as approval for online instruction. All online and hybrid offerings must be approved through the division chair as well as the Curriculum Committee and the Academic Senate. |