Online Communication Courses:
Courses Being Offered and Practices of Faculty Who Use New Technologies in Instruction
Stephen A. Cox
Department of Organizational Communication
312 Wilson Hall
Murray State University
Murray, KY 42071-3311
(270) 762-3174
A paper presented at the National Communication Association annual meeting, Seattle, November 9-12, 2000.
Introduction
During the NCA 1999 summer conference on Technology and Communication, faculty met to discuss the applications and implications of new technologies for the communication discipline. While those present agreed that new communication technologies were changing our discipline and occupation, all participants felt that too little was known about the pedagogical "best practices" of these new technologies. Administrators may advocate online instruction as a cost efficient means to "engage" more students, but most faculty felt poorly equipped and inadequately supported to develop online courses. Even the most experienced "online" instructors admitted to still being on the long and slow learning curve of how to best utilize new technologies for instructional purposes. Phrases such as "trial-and-error" and "hit-or-miss" characterized the participants’ experiences with new technologies as instructional tools. It was concluded if the communication discipline is to remain an "engaged discipline," more of its members need to develop competency in utilizing new technologies to better meet the needs of students and society.
Toward that end, this report includes information concerning online courses being offered by communication departments, online degree programs, related Internet sites, data on institutional support for online instruction, and advice about online instruction given by faculty who teach these courses. It is hoped that this information will assist the communication discipline in several ways. Because there is no comprehensive list of the online communication courses being offered, faculty and students are unsure what courses could be taken from other universities. This paper has consolidated information gathered from both faculty in the discipline and from Internet research in order to assist administrators, faculty advisors, and prospective students. This list of online communication courses provides "exemplars" for faculty to examine as they develop or improve their own on-line courses. Also, by reviewing the courses offered by other universities, administrators can make informed decisions about which courses they should attempt to offer online. Faculty advisors and students can locate specialized communication courses that their departments do not offer. Finally, compiling a list of practices and advice from faculty who utilize new technology will be of great help to those who are beginning to provide online instruction.
ONLINE COMMUNICATION COURSES
Northern Arizona University online courses: http://nauonline.nau.edu/courses/
SC315 Business and Professional Speaking
Instructor: Kurt Billmeyer; Kurt.Billmeyer@nau.edu
Course page: http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~sc315-c/
University of Delaware online courses: http://www.udel.edu/ce/online.html
COMM 486 Multimedia Literacy
Instructor: Hofstetter
Univ. of Minnesota online courses: http://www.cce.umn.edu/idl/studentserv4.html
Spch 5441 Communication in Human Organizations
Instructor: Patricia Kovel-Jarboe; patkj@umn.edu 612-626-7713(campus) 612-920-6900(personal)
University of Southern Maine
COM 102J Introduction to Communication
Course page: http://www.usm.maine.edu/com/intro-online/introbus.htm
Instructor: Leonard Shedletsky; lenny@maine.edu
Montana State University-Billings online courses: http://msubonline.org/
COMT 410 Advanced Interpersonal Communication (Spring 2001; Summer 2001)
COMT 414 Issues in Organizational Communication (Fall 2001)
COMT 492 Communication and Leadership Seminar (Spring 2001)
Course page: go to http://www.ecollege.com/
Instructor: Stephen L. Coffman; scoffman@msu-billings.edu 406-657-1727
Concordia University St. Paul, MN. Department of Communication Studies
SAC (School Age Care) 425 Social Skills for Interaction. Course is offered in the College of Continuing Education as part of a B.A. program.
and
Interpersonal Communication –proposed course for Spring 2001
Course page: go to www.csp.edu
Instructors: Dr. Lori Charron--651-641-8710, Dr. Marilyn Reineck 541-641-8850; lcharron@csp.edu ;
University of Colorado online courses: http://www.cuonline.edu/netindex.real
COMM 4600 Senior Seminar: Computer-Mediated Communication in Organizations
Instructor: Brenda J. Allen, Ph.D.
Penn State online courses: http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/wc101/
SPCOM 100B, section 01 —Effective Speech: Communicating in Groups
Instructor: Dennis Gouran
Course page: https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/welcome/spcom100b/
COMM 100 The Mass Media and Society
Instructor: John E. Park
Course page: https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/welcome/comm100/
Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis
Communication R110: Fundamentals of Speech Communication
Course page: http://www.oncourse.iupui.edu (section B239 as of January 2001)
Instructor: Jennifer Cochrane; cochrane@iupui.edu 317-274-2799
Arkansas Tech University
JOUR 4123-5123 Laws of Communication
Instructor: John Gale; john.gale@mail.atu.edu
JOUR 4033/5033 Community Journalism
Course page: http://vlc.atu.edu/jour4033-5033/2000-Fall/syl-4033.htm
Instructor: Dr. Van Tyson; van.tyson@mail.atu.edu
University of Rhode Island
COM103_TV: Interpersonal Communication (Spring 2001)
Course page: http://webct.uri.edu (students log-on w/ private course)
Instructors: Vince Petronio, Sandra Ketrow; petronio@uri.edu ; ketrow@uri.edu
University of Rhode Island
COM345: Gender & communication (Spring 2001, Summer 2001)
COM501: Theories of Communication (Fall 2001)
Course page: http://webct.uri.edu (students log-on w/ provided password, etc.)
Instructor: Sandra Ketrow, Ph.D. ketrow@uri.edu
Vincennes University
HSS-143 Speech
HSS-148 Interpersonal Communication
Course page: go to http://www.vinu.edu/distance/
Instructor: Dr. Charles R. McMahan; cmcmahan@indian.vinu.edu (812) 888-4378
Arizona State Universtiy
COM 394: Commuication Technology in Everyday Life
Course page: http://blackboard.dlt.asu.edu
Instructor: Jason Taylor; jasontaylor@asu.edu
University of Texas-Austin
CMS 353: New Communication Technologies in Organizations
Course page: http://webct.cc.utexas.edu:8900/public/SPC353_Online/ (Last offered Fall 99)
Instructor: Craig Scott; crscott@mail.utexas.edu
University of Kansas Communication Studies
COMS 560/930 Communication Technology and Organizational Change
Course page: go to http://kuec.ukans.edu/coms (Unsure when it will be offered again)
Instructor: Tracy Callaway Russo; trusso@ukans.edu
Marylhurst University
CM 340E Organizational Communication
Course page: go to http://www.marylhurst.edu
Instructor: Tony Bernal
San Jose State University
COMM 41, Critical Decision Making (Spring 2001)
Course page: http://www.online.sjsu.edu/COMM041
COMM 105, Communication, Self & Society (Fall 2000)
Course page: http://www.online.sjsu.edu/COMM105
COMM 144, Organizational Communication (Spring 2001)
Course page: http://www.online.sjsu.edu/COMM144
COMM 295, Communication & Cognition (Spring 2001)
Course page: http://www.online.sjsu.edu/COMM295
Instructor: Stephanie Coopman sjcoopman@yahoo.com
ONLINE DEGREE PROGRAMS & ONLINE UNIVERSITIES:
Jones International University (an accredited online university)
Offering a BA and MA in Business Communication, and an MBA
http://www.jonesinternational.edu/
SPRING 2001 COURSES
BC322 Public Speaking
BC345 Organizational Communications
BC350 Human Communication
BC355 Oral & Written Business Communications
BC360 New Communications Technologies
BC372 International Communication
BC380 Team Communication
BC440 Telecom Applications 1
BC445 Telecom Applications 2
BC455 Future of Telecommunications
BC470 Communication Technology Systems in Organizations
BC475 Communication Training and Development
BC511 Understanding the Human Communication Process
BC531 Dynamics of Person-to-Person Communication
BC561 Emerging Communications Technologies
BC562 Creating Business Solutions with Telecommunications Technologies
BC628 Perfecting the Presentation
MBA511 Dynamics of Person-to-Person Communication
MBA513 Creating Business Solutions with Telecommunications Technologies
MBA515 Perfecting the Presentation
MBA583 The E-Commerce Marketplace
Montana State University—Billings
Offering a BA Organizational Communication (delivering about 10 courses per year).
Marylhurst University
Offering a BA in Organizational Communication.
Contact: Tony Bernal (Tony is offering CM 340E Organizational Communication during Spring 2001)
Other courses offered periodically by Marylhurst U. include Effective Listening; Interpersonal Communication; Small Group Communication; Nonverbal Communication; Intercultural Communication; Organizational Communication; Team Building; Conflict Management; Research Methods; Professional Presentations in Business; Leadership Communication; Managing Transitions
Regent University
Offering an MA in Communication, MA in Journalism, and a Ph.D. in Communication
http://www.regent.edu/acad/schcom/
http://www.regent.edu/admin/reg/spreadsheets/01spcom.html
Contact: Robert J. Schihl; Director, Distance Education Programs; (757) 226-4204; robesch@regent.edu
SPRING 2001COURSES
School of Communication Studies
CMC 600 Foundations of CMC
CMC 606 Special Topics in CMC
COM 601 Research and Writing in Comm
COM 669 Comm, Culture & Technology
COM 662 Communication Ethics
COM 701 Com Res Methods: Humanities
COM 703 Com Res Methods: Soc Scien
COM 709 Theology and Communication
COM 750 Sem: Comm Consulting
COM 750 Sem: Persuasion and Evidence
School of Cinema Television and Theatre Arts
CTT 507 Topics in International Cinema
CTT 557 Writing for Children:Stage/Scrn
CTT 570 Text Analysis
School of Journalism
JRN 618 Writing for Christian Publicatns
JRN 655 Journalism History
Kentucky Virtual University (a central clearinghouse for online courses offered by Kentucky universities)
SPRING 2001 COURSES
COM 252-75Z1 Introduction to Interpersonal Communications
Instructor: Beth West; ann.west@kctcs.net
COM 181Basic Public Speaking
Instructor: Carla Hornback; carla.hornback@kctcs.net
Instructor: Constance Frank; constance.frank@kctcs.net
Instructor: Beth West; ann.west@kctcs.net
SEARCH ENGINES & COMPANIES LISTING ONLINE COURSES:
e-College
Cyber U
Mind Edge
http://www.mindedge.com/home/index.phtml
FYI: WEB SITES FOR UNIVERSITIES OFFERING ONLINE COURSES.
Many universities offered online courses, but few offered communication courses in the Fall 2000 semester. These sites are worth looking at from time-to-time to see if communication course have been added to their list of offerings.
Rutgers University online courses: http://ce1766.rutgers.edu/online/
Ohio State University online courses: http://www.telr.ohio-state.edu/
Univ. of Utah online courses: http://ulearn.utah.edu/
University of California-Berkeley online courses: http://learn.berkeley.edu/
University of Hawai'i Online: http://www.aln.hawaii.edu/
Bellevue University online courses: http://www.bellevue.edu/Online/intro.htm
University of Washington online: http://www.extension.washington.edu/online/
UNC-Chapel Hill online courses: http://www.fridaycenter.unc.edu/
SUNY-Empire State College online courses: http://www.esc.edu/cdl
Eastern Michigan University online courses: http://www.emuonline.edu/
INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT OF ONLINE INSTRUCTION
Subscribers to CRTNET were sent a request to complete an online survey about online courses being offered by their departments. In addition to data about courses, respondents provided some preliminary insight into the type of university support given to faculty who teach online courses. Of 15 respondents:
What type of standardized course development software is provided by your university?
33% Blackboard CourseInfo (see http://www.blackboard.com )
33% WebCT (see http://www.webct.com )
16% None
16% Other
Does your college/university have an official "Distance Education Policy" to guide on-line instruction?
53% Yes
13% No
33% Unsure
Who holds the "Intellectual Property Rights" (i.e., owns) to online courses at your college/university?
20% Professor
33% Institution
47% Unsure
Rate the level of support your college/university provides to facilitate the development and delivery of on-line
courses.
40% Fair
47% Good
13% Very Good
What type of additional "compensation" does your college/university provide for developing and teaching online courses?
If the "professor" owns the course: two reported "none" and one respondent reported $750.
If the "university" owns the course: For development: $ ranging from $500 to $3000 a course. For teaching: 2 reported "none", 3 reported $ and/or a load reduction
ADVICE FOR THE NOVICE OR "WHAT I WISH SOMEONE WOULD HAVE TOLD ME BEFORE I BEGAN TEACHING ONLINE COURSES"