Frequently Asked Questions (faculty)
You should be able to find answers to most of questions under the links on the right, and especially 'Policies & Procedures'. If not, please take a look at the following.
Following are the questions and issues we most frequently face regarding online courses and programs.
Q. What's UNB Online's role at UNB?
UNB Online looks after the design, development, delivery, support, marketing, and administration of most of the online courses and programs at UNB.
Q. What's the difference between an open-entry course and a term-based course?
Students can enroll in an open-entry course at any time of the year and have six months to complete it. Term-based courses begin and end at the same time as on-campus classes and students proceed as a cohort.
Compensation is different for both: instructors are paid a stipend to teach a term-based course and a minimum number of registrations is required to launch. In general, instructors teaching an open-entry course receive a fixed amount annually for the first ten students, and a portion of the tuition paid thereafter. (More details under 'Policies & Procedures'.)
Q. I don't have the time or the expertise to develop an online course on my own. Is there help at hand?
Yes, UNB Online employs a number of technical specialists who can help you with most aspects of development. See 'Development Support'.
Q. I finished developing my course. Now what?
A number of things need to happen, such as review, setting up your course in Datatel, granting students access, and so on. See 'Policies & Procedures' for more details.
Q. Only a few students are enrolled in my course. How is my course or program being marketed?
UNB Online promotes its courses and programs online and in print. Aside from this website and the Student Viewbook, we also advertise on the Canadian Virtual University (CVU) website, and we use social media to promote our offerings. We welcome leads from instructors to help us better market their courses.
Q. What guarantees do I have that I will be able to teach a course I have developed for years to come?
The AUNBT collective agreement has clauses pertaining to 'right of first refusal' to teach an online course. There is an established hierarchy in terms of who has precedence. For more details, see the collective agreement, or contact your union rep.
Q. What's Desire2Learn (D2L)? How can I learn to use it?
D2L is UNB's learning management system (LMS), which is the main platform at UNB for online course delivery. The Centre for Enhanced Teaching & Learning (CETL) offers training sessions regularly. To register, visit this page. You can also take a look at our online tutorial.
Q. What's Elluminate? How can I learn to use it?
Elluminate is a service that allows live (synchronous) classes to be conducted over the internet, with instructors and students distributed almost anywhere in the world. No special equipment required, aside from a networked computer and a headset for each participant. For more details, see our online tutorial.
Q. How do I book an Elluminate session?
To book an Elluminate session, contact Brock Parks at UNB Online. If you teach across several time zones, keep this in mind when scheduling your sessions.
Q. What are the restrictions on materials that I can make available to my students through D2L?
You can, of course, upload content that you created. To upload copyrighted material however, you need permission first. Josh Dickison at the library can help you with most questions related to copyright. There is also a good deal of material on the internet that is classified as public domain, i.e. free and legal to download. For more information, visit www.lib.unb.ca/copyright.
Q. Once my course is developed, who owns the intellectual property?
As per the AUNBT collective agreement, you normally retain ownership of materials that you have developed, unless you have negotiated transfer of intellectual property to UNB.
Q. Which students can take an online course?
Most part-time students from UNB can take an online course. Full-time UNB students normally require permission from their advisor and from the dean of the faculty offering the course they wish to take. Students from other institutions can take a UNB Online course, but may need permission from their institution first. A permission form is available here.
Q. How long do students have to finish an online course?
It depends on the kind of course. Students taking an open-entry course normally have six months to complete. Term-based courses run in sync with the regular terms (fixed start and end dates). The time allotted to complete non-credit courses and programs vary. It is best to refer to the info for individual programs for details.
Q. What’s the policy on extensions?
See 'Delivery (Teaching)' under 'Policies & Procedures' for details.
Q. What kind of financial support is there for course development?
How and when will I get paid for developing my course?
How much would I get paid for teaching an online course?
Most of these questions are answered on this page.
Q. My course has been set up in D2L and Datatel, but the students can't see or find it.
There could be a host of reasons for this. But first, make sure that you have "activated" your course in D2L. If you have and students still can't find it, then get in touch with the UNB Online support staff at online@unb.ca or by calling 458-7223.
For More Information
If you haven't found answers to your questions here or under 'Policies & Procedures', please contact:
Joss Richer
Manager, UNB Online
joss@unb.ca
506-452-6338
