Distance education q&a
- Will the courses be online or offline?
Online (synchronous): Synchronous courses are the closest thing online to traditional classes. They require students and instructors to go online together at specific times.
Offline (asynchronous): In asynchronous courses, students and instructors do not have to go online together. Instructors provide materials, lectures, tests, audio recordings, presentations, projects, video recordings, and assignments that can be accessed at any time.
The University will use a flexible system. Classes will be conducted online and/or offline. Depending on the course content and the adjustment period of students, instructors will make their choice regarding the method of course delivery by keeping in touch with the department heads.
It is of utmost importance to conduct synchronous courses on its scheduled/regular hour in order to avoid course conflicts. In other words, synchronous courses will be conducted on days and times specified in our regular course schedules, however, they will be shorter than regular classes.
Some parts of the course can be conducted synchronously as well as asynchronously.
- Will there be Panopto recording of courses?
Yes. Recording in Blackboard may cause network and server issues. Therefore, you must also record your synchronous courses in Blackboard in Panopto as well. This way, you will be able to watch the synchronous courses again later.
- Can alternative platforms such as Zoom, and Skype be used for distance learning besides Blackboard Collaborate?
No. Only Blackboard Learn, Blackboard Collaborate, and Panopto will be used in order to avoid inequality of opportunity and confusion in students and programs. Quizzes, exams, assignments cam be conducted via Blackboard as well.
- Is attendance required?
Attendance is not required. However, students’ participation in synchronous courses, and their access to videos and other course materials uploaded on Blackboard shall be monitored via the system. Students’ answers to assignments and projects announced on Blackboard shall be considered in the assessment.
- Some of the applied courses requires specific software. How will the students access this software?
By installing VPN to students’ computers and connecting them to the University, students can have remote access to these software programs and use them. Directorate of Information Technologies will provide support on this.
- Will the distance education courses be conducted on the same day and times specified in our regular course schedules?
Yes, synchronous courses will be conducted on days and times specified in your regular course schedules, however, they will be shorter than regular classes.
- Will the exam schedule change? Will there be online exams?
Evaluation criteria in course syllabi will be modified and turned into assignments, projects, presentation, etc.
The percentage of final exams may be changed without removing the finals.
- Will the studios/labs stay open?
- Will students be able to study at studios/labs? How will they be able to use mock-ups, models, prototypes, etc.?
- Will they be able to collect their materials left at studios/labs?
We strongly recommend our students not to come to the campus due to the pandemic for health concerns. They must stay at home and keep their social distance as required by the Ministry of Health. If it is necessary, they can come and collect equipment and materials that belong to them. These materials will be recorded by a camera and may be used for checking purposes in the future. The procedure will be carried out systematically and in a controlled manner by submitting the list of students to Vice Secretary General Esen Zeynep Ege. Unless the list is approved by the faculty/school administration concerned, no students shall be allowed on campus.
- How will applied courses be planned?
4-hour courses (2 hours theoretical/ 2 hours practical) shall be conducted in theoretical format in distance education. Applications shall take place on a packed schedule at the end of the semester based on the directives by the Council of Higher Education and the course of the pandemic.
However, considering that we are going through extraordinary circumstances, course contents and evaluation criteria may have to be reviewed and made more distance education friendly as much as possible.
- How long the classes will last?
Regular 50-minute courses will take no less than 30 minutes in synchronous and/or asynchronous courses.
- Will there be make up classes due to technical issues such as interrupted broadcasting caused by the system?
There will be make up for synchronous courses. Length of the courses may vary but their number will stay the same.
- How will the competency exams, thesis monitoring committees, and thesis defense in graduate programs be carried out?
They will be carried out via recording in Blackboard Collaborate system.
- How will thesis, seminar, and semester project courses be carried out?
Meeting with students will be carried out via Blackboard Collaborate.
- How will the exams of students, who are enrolled in Disability Support Centre, be carried out?
Instructors of the concerned courses will get in touch with those students, consult the Disability Support Centre for necessary adjustments, and come up with solutions with the approval of the Dean’s Offices.