Why were UAOnline and Banner Changed?

So that students can go to one website to search for:

• Only E-Learning education courses,
• Only traditional courses, or
• All courses.

They can find information about the requirements of those courses and register for them all in one place. The ability to search for courses from a single campus, multiple campuses, all campuses within a single institution, all campuses, or institutions was added at the request of students.

Were the changes to Banner or to UAOnline?

Both. Banner refers to the software that is used to maintain student information on a database. We made changes to Banner so that we can collect, store, and report this new information about courses. UAOnline is the on-line interface of Banner. UAOnline was changed so that students have a much simpler and more effective search tool. When students look at the search results, there is more information about each course.

Did registration dates change?

No, he registration dates remained the same. Students can find their registration date by visiting their campus calendar. Students interested in taking courses from other UA campuses should also visit the calendar for that campus to get registration date information.

How do these changes affect students?

There ae two benefits. First, searching for a class is simpler and more effective. Second, when a student finds a course they are interested in, they get more information regarding the structure and requirements of the course. Students now have more information to help them decide if the course is a good fit.

How do these changes affect faculty?

While faculty need to provide additional information to the scheduling staff that enter the classes into Banner, this new information is displayed to students so they can determine if the class is a good fit. Additionally, faculty likely appreciate the new search tools that have replaced the old 'Look-Up Classes to Add' with a new Quick Search tool and the new Advanced Search tool for finding courses when advising a student.

How do these changes affect staff?

Department staff initially needed to coordinate with faculty to provide new information to the scheduling staff that enters the courses into Banner. Like faculty, departmental staff likely appreciates the new search tools that replaced the old 'Look-Up Classes to Add' with a brand new Quick Search tool and the new Advanced Search tool for finding courses when advising a student.

What new information do faculty need to report on?

Faculty need to supply the following information on each course being taught: delivery methods, whether the course is instructor paced or student paced, the equipment required for a student to participate in the course, whether there is a required meeting time or not, and what percentage of time a student has to physically be in a particular location for the course.

Faculty is already reporting on some of these items, but now are reporting more detail. Faculty provide this information in the same manner they report on other course information, typically by entering it either onto a worksheet or excel spreadsheet.

When were the changes made in Banner?

Staff began coding the new information for the fall 2011 schedule into Banner in December 2010. The results of this coding were seen in late March 2011 once the fall schedule was viewable.

When were the changes made available at UAOnline?

Students first saw this new information and the new UAOnline search on March 28, 2011 when the fall schedule became viewable.

Has the definition of an E-Learning class changed?

Yes, the campuses have agreed upon a single definition of e-learning classes. The biggest difference is the focus on student geography rather than on where or how a class is being delivered. The new definition is, "E-learning is planned learning that predominantly occurs in situations where a student is not required to be in a predetermined location. E-learning courses require a different course design and development, different pedagogical techniques, and communication through instructional technologies."

How do students find an e-learning course? What are the changes?

Students have been able to use the new UAOnline searches to find courses since March 28, 2011. The Distance Education Gateway search was replaced by the new Quick Search tool and the new Advanced Search tool in UAOnline.

Students are able to select an option to search for e-learning classes only, traditional classes only or both. They also have the option of searching for courses from a single campus, multiple campuses, all campuses within a single institution, all campuses or all institutions. Once the student is eligible to register each semester and the course is available for registration, the student can register for the class.

Are e-learning courses only available through the new search tool? Are they also available through the standard online catalog?

E-learning is a method for offering a specific section of a course. The standard online catalog at UAOnline indicates whether a specific course has the option of being offered via e-learning. Individual sections indicate whether they are e-learning courses or not.

Are prerequisites continuing to be honored in this system?

Yes, prerequisites are checked for those courses that have prerequisite checking turned on. It prevents registration if the student has not met the prerequisites.

Did the Distance Education Gateway go away entirely?

Now that the new UAOnline search tools are in place, the Distance Education Gateway search will be discontinued. Since the Gateway has provided more service that just searching for a course, it's likely that the Gateway will continue as a resource for other e-learning education information. However, the online site to search and register for e-learning courses is exclusively at UAOnline.

When is faculty trained on these changes?

Each campus has delivered training on these changes. Find out who at your campus is the "key contact" involved in the E-learning Education Workgroup by visiting www.alaska.edu/studentservices.

What if I need assistance?

Each campus has designated a "key contact" that is assigned to the E-Learning Training Workgroup and is an expert on these changes. Find your campus "key contact" by visiting www.alaska.edu/studentservices.