NTU Faculty IA Interaction

NTU's courses are created by Contributing Scholars (CS) highly regarded for their expertise in their disciplinary areas. Some Contributing Scholars may choose to interact directly with students who take their recorded courses. Other Contributing Scholars may value the involvement of other faculty in the management of daily instructional activities associated with offering a recorded course. In the latter case, Part-time Faculty (PtF) take on the responsibility associated with offering online classroom instruction for a particular pre-recorded course. The relationship between Contributing Scholars and Part-time faculty is one of partnership. Part-time faculty have a direct instructional focus on students, something that is particularly critical in an online classroom environment. Contributing Scholars focus on developing and organizing course content with disciplinary depth and up-to-date information situated within a broad learning context. Part-time Faculty and Contributing Scholars together ensure that the learning experience for NTU students is optimized.

Note that the PtF does not report to the CS faculty. The PtF reports to a Faculty Chair. However, the PtF must be aware that it is our intent to offer courses true to the instructor's objectives and values in accordance with NTU's Learning Model. It is important for all CS faculty to understand the Learning Model before committing to offer an NTU course.

The PtF needs to be able to respond to the level of activity the CS faculty assumes in the course. There will be cases where the CS only records a course and the PtF takes full charge for teaching it on line. In other instances the CS may participate at various levels in offering the course. A sampling of CS/PtF interactions is described below:

CS provides consultation to Part-time Faculty as needed. Depending on the prior experience of the PtF, when a course is first taught, this task may require up to two hours per week over 14 weeks. Subsequently, the time requirement will decrease as more confidence is gained in the PtF/CS faculty relationship.
CS provides exams, assignments, solutions, and grading rubrics. After a significant library of exam questions and assignments is accumulated, this task will lessen. In subsequent terms, CS faculty may choose to create the above listed instruments or approve such instruments prepared by the PtF. Suitably qualified and experienced PtF will be the instructor of record for the course and will develop exams, assignment, solutions, and grading rubrics on their own.
In some cases the CS will consult with the PtF regarding examination grades and final course grades. It is important to ensure that student assessment measures in NTU courses be consistent with those in the CS faculty's on-campus classroom. PtF serving as the instructor of record will be fully responsible for student grades in their classes.
CS updates course content as per contract and as needed.
Typically, PtF will be completely responsible for interacting with students in the eCollege classrooms. However the CS faculty member will have access to the eCollege platform where he/she may choose to view content in the master course, access the grade book/user activity tools, and examine drop boxes, chat logs, and discussion boards.
The PtF is responsible for all other course management. In general, the PtF should assume responsibility for areas that are unclear until communication with a Faculty Chair and CS faculty indicates otherwise.