Student Help and Support
Distance Learning Gen Info/ Angel/ UAH DL Communication Tools/ Distance Learning Library Assistance/ Distance Learning Textbook Purchasing/ Distance Learning Testing and Proctoring/ Distance Learning Student Resources and FAQ's/ DL Student Evaluations/ New to UAHuntsville/ DL Tuition - What does it cover?
Distance Learning General Information
Distance Learning coursework at UAH supported by CoE uses a number of technological tools. Our capture tool is Mediasite, which allows us to capture live lectures while our professors are teaching, and to then provide this content to our DL students very shortly thereafter. This system also allows for live streamed events. Many of our faculty also supplement their DL classes with Angel, the course management system for the UAHuntsville Campus. In addition, we also offer some courses across the UA System using videoconferencing.
Availability of Content
Your account for accessing the online course lecture system through Mediasite will be created after you are registered for classes through the DL office. The accounts are normally created within 48 hours after you have been registered, and access will be granted by the first day of the semester to view the videos for your class with UAH. All distance learning students will have access to the captured lectures through our Mediasite lecture web server. The DL lecture capture is typically posted within 1 hour after the scheduled class time has completed. If there is a delay in posting, this is due to post-production needs for the class. Allow 24 hours M-F prior to notification of the DL office of no posting for your class. Content remains available throughout the semester that students are registered for class; students do not have access through the Internet upon the end of the academic term in which they are registered.
How does lecture capture work, and what will I be able to view in the lectures?
Most of the time at UAHuntsville, we record (capture) live classes using advanced media encoding software from Mediasite to consolidate audio and video lectures alongside materials presented by faculty members. Our unique lecture capture system allows any content presented in class to be captured and made available to you through our server. These materials may include slideshows such as PowerPoint, demonstrated documents such as drawings or excerpts from textbooks, audio and/or video media clips, SmartBoard and Sympodium annotations, as well as many other technology inputs. Synchronization of this content is completed and the captured lectures are placed online for asynchronous viewing via Mediasite. You have the option to watch content as many times as you need, and at any time after the lecture has completed.
Logging into your DL Content/Lectures on Mediasite
Online Distance Learning video content can be accessed through the Log In Quick Link on the homepage of the DL website; you may also log in HERE. You may also find it helpful to review the Viewing Lectures on Mediasite Helpsheet.
Your username is the prefix for your UAH-assigned email, which is sometimes referred to as your "LDAP ID". For example, if your name is jjones@uah.edu then "jjones" is your username. Your password is your A# with the "A" in uppercase (i.e. A12345678). The A# is your individual student ID that is assigned and used by UAH. Non-DL students may of received different login info from their instructors. If so, use this information as your username and password.
Content in Mediasite is organized in a directory, sorted by classes, as shown below. To locate your course, simply select the UAH Distance Learning folder, followed by selecting the Distance Learning by CoE link. The directory will expand and show you links for each class in which you are authorized to view videos this term. Then select the term in which you are enrolled from the expanded Distance Learning by CoE folder view.
Currently we have two viewing options avaiable to you, the Classic Mediasite Player and the Silverlight Mediasite Player. Select the player you prefer to watch your class in, and then select the class you need. Both will present the same video content, but differ only in their interface and some functionality.
Individual class content will appear in the right-hand side of your screen as sessions for your class are recorded and published. You may then select each session of lecture content that you would like to review, as shown below. Contact information of your professor is provided in their profile on Mediasite for your convenience, as well.
What features are available through Mediasite when viewing a Webcast (live streamed) event?
Mediasite allows viewers to watch content on-demand (asynchronously) and also via Webcasting, which is also called live streaming. Webcasting events allow viewers to see and hear the presenter while the event is being recorded, along with seeing any content being presented (i.e., PowerPoint slides) as time-synched pictures alongside the presentation, just as though you were watching asynchronously. Webcasting events may be configured to allow viewers to also see and respond to live polls, submit questions via a Q & A tool, and view linked documents that are being shown live in class along with the rest of the class. Q & A functionality is typically managed by an on-site moderator during the event.
See the Live Stream Interaction Options handout for more information on these options. If you are interested in seeing your class live, contact your professor to request this option. (Please note that you may also view polls that have been completed, view linked documents, and submit questions when viewing videos on-demand/asynchronously, if these tools are enabled in your event).
You may also find it useful to review our Mediasite Student Helpsheet if you need further assistance with accessing your course videos through Mediasite.
Technical Specifications for Using Mediasite
- You may check your technical specifications on your computer using the MediaSite website here
- If you are having trouble with our website you may "click" the following web link to view our DL System Requirements.
- Also check the Mediasite Playback checklist for further help.
- If you are having problems with trouble shooting or play back issues when trying to use Mediasite, here is further provided Mediasite knowledge.
Windows
Mac
Linux
|
Asistance--Contact Us!
If you have problems figuring out what your username should be or cannot get logged in to the Mediasite lecture web server, please contact the DL Student HelpLine at (256) 824-6563 or DLHelp@eng.uah.edu and we will be glad to assist you. We are available between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. M-F. If you have any problems with the course delivery website, please let us know.
We have also recently created a DL @ UAH group on Facebook--please join us!
ANGEL
Angel is the course management system used by the UAHuntsville Campus. Many of our DL faculty members may use this system to post syllabi, collect assignments, and distribute documents, among other uses. If you need assistance with use of this system with your DL classes, please contact the Technical Assistance Group (TAG):
Phone: (256) 824-3333
Email: tag@uah.edu
UAH Distance Learning Communication Tools
Email/UAH Google Apps
To log into the UAH campus-wide email, web calendar, and other tools, now available through Google, see this page.
For additional assistance, check out this page. You may also find it useful to review this Gmail helpsheet on setting up your UAHuntsville Gmail account--this includes information on forwarding your new UAH Gmail account to another address
Distance Learning Library Assistance
DL students have full access to the UA Huntsville M. Louis Salmon Library. For additional support for DL students through our library, please select the following link:
Distance Learning Textbook Purchases
Each DL student is responsible for obtaining all required textbooks for DL classes. All textbooks for DL courses (as well as traditional courses) offered at UAHuntsville may be ordered through our Bookstore.
Contact your instructor for information pertaining to required textbooks, if you are unable to locate this information from the UAH Bookstore.
Distance Learning Testing and Proctoring
Proctoring of on-site and online examinations are common among DL courses offered by UAH, in order to ensure the integrity of both the student completing the exam and also of the content presented in the examination itself. DL policy requires the DL student to identify someone in the student's local region that is willing to serve as a testing proctor.
Local students who are registered as DL students are expected to take examinations with the on-campus class, if they normally attend lectures with the live class. Students should gain instructor approval to deviate from this policy. Exams are proctored from the DL office for local students who do not attend classes held live. These proctored examinations should be scheduled through the DL Administrative Assistant (256) 824-6976 or luke@ise.uah.edu .
Guidelines for local proctoring at UAH are as follows:
- Daily proctoring on-site at UAH is offered M-F, by appointment, at 9:30 am and 1:30 pm. Proctoring of examinations ends by 5:00 p.m. each business day
- Students are responsible for scheduling exam dates with the DL Administration Office at (256) 824-6976.
- All examinations will begin on time, as indicated in one of the two time slots above, and as agreed up on the reservation made by the student.
- Students who are as late as 15 minutes will be allowed to begin but will not be given extra time at the end of the exam.
- Students who are later than 15 minutes will be asked to reschedule within the guidelines/deadlines set by the instructor.
- The instructor guidelines for proctoring will be closely adhered to, and will follow all instructions provided to the DL Administrative Office on the Exam Control Form; i.e., student will be allowed to take only those materials specified on the control form into the room.
- Students are not allowed to bring electronic personal belongings, including but not limited to cell phones, PDA’s, and other devices, into the proctoring environment. All students will be asked to leave these devices in a secure environment prior to test administration.
- Upon administration of the examination to students, once per day, completed examinations will be given to the administrative assistant of the academic department for which the faculty member teachers. These exams may then be picked up from this individual by the faculty member.
Remote (defined as outside of Madison Country in mailing and physical address) DL student exams must go through a designated, certified proctor. Students are responsible for identifying the appropriate proctor at their location and submitting the name and contact information to the DL Administrative Office as soon as this information is known, through use of the Proctor Consent Form. The UAH DL Administrative Office will then contact and certify the proctor.
Please note that exams are sent directly to the proctors with instructions for administration, after the Proctor Certification Process is completed.
Distance Learning Student Resources and FAQs
Below are links to a variety of Distance Learning student topics of interest.
FREE ONLINE COURSE (from Open University UK) on Living with the Internet: Learning Online
Are you considering enrolling in online education, but are unsure about some of the expectations, lifestyle considerations and changes, and other factors that may be important in this decision? The above, self-guided free online course module will walk you through these aspects and more.
Is Distance Learning Right for You? (About, Inc.)
7 Success Strategies for Distance Learners (WorldWideLearn)
Online/Distance Learning Tips (Monster)
5 Ways to Stay Motivated As a Distance Learner (About, Inc.)
4 Ways to Balance Family and School As a Distance Learner (About, Inc.)
DL Student Evaluations
Please take a few moments to evaluate the DL course that you have completed through UAHuntsville by completing this
You should complete one survey per course, per term. Thank you for your feedback! We look forward to hearing your suggestions.
STUDENTS: PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS SURVEY IS ANONYMOUS. IF YOU WANT TO BE CONTACTED, PLEASE ADD YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS INTO THE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FIELD ON QUESTION 9.
New to UAHuntsville?
Never been to campus? Take a look at the UAH Virtual Tour, created by the Computer Science department at UAHuntsville.
DL Tuition - What does it cover?
Distance Learning students will receive full online, readily available access to all captured class lectures recorded during the semester in which the student is registered. Where approved by your professor, you are also allowed to join in on the live class, should you be available locally during the term.
DL students may also use the DL Administrative Office to arrange for proctored testing arrangements, where required by faculty members, either with a remote DL proctor (as approved by instructor) or a local DL proctor from our office. No extra charge is assessed for DL students requesting proctoring services through the DL Administrative Office at UAHuntsville.
For more information covering tuition, please refer to the Office of the Bursar.
- Details
- Hits: 7221
