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Team Members
Providing instruction to students at a distance is not the sole responsibility of the instructor. In a distance education situation, teamwork becomes important in the development and dissemination of instructional materials.These team members provide expertise in particular areas in which the instructor does not have experience. As mentioned in previous sections, it's necessary to get assistance when developing a distance education course.

Hear Ron Thomas, an IFAS Communication Services instructional designer, describe the various roles that make up a distance education course development team. Hear more... (2 min. 17sec.)

Instructional Designer

The distance education instructional designer knows how to take a systematic, pedagogically sound approach to planning and producing an instructional unit, knows or can find out the distance education resources available in an academic institution, knows how certain technologies and media work, and serves as an intermediary between the instructor and the educational technology specialists. Sometimes the instructional designer is the educational technologist as well.

In this video clip, Ron Thomas explains how an instructional designer helps the instructor with course development.
Hear more... (1 min. 1sec.)

Dr. Elaine Turner emphasizes the need for instructional design support 
Hear more... (36sec.)

Dr. Dave Clark's advice is, "Don't panic." 
Hear more... (59sec.)

Educational Television Producer / Director

Producers plan the overall "look" of the program, in consultation with the instructor, and assists in the design of a video-based course. Directors on the other hand work behind-the-scenes and take care of the technology involved in videoconferencing while the instructor is teaching. In many educational television productions, the same person performs the roles of producer and director.

One way to build camaraderie with team members is to find out what they do. In preparing for a videoconferencing course, Dr. Marshall Breeze suggests taking a back stage tour.
Hear more... (55sec.)

Breeze also suggests getting to know the director for your videoconferencing sessions, which helps make the technology more seamless.
Hear more... (33sec.)

Educational Technologist

Educational technologists, such as computer specialists and educational television producers, have the production expertise to assist in the development of the program or course. Because of their professional backgrounds, they understand the specific instructional design needs dictated by the requirements of the media.

Other Support Staff

These people are the backbone for any successful distance education program. Support staff ensure that the little details are taken care of, so a distance education course can run smoothly and successfully. Staff members handle such tasks as student registration, materials duplication and distribution, securing copyright clearances, facilities scheduling, and textbook ordering. Contact instructional designers in IFAS Communication Services (ICS) to determine the person responsible for ensuring that each of these areas is addressed.

Site Facilitators

Site facilitators assist the instructor from the various videoconferencing sites across the state or country. Site facilitators don't necessarily need to be knowledgeable about the subject matter for the class they are facilitating, but it helps. Primarily, they should be able to handle technical problems that may arise at the sites and be well-versed in interactive strategies to involve the students as much as possible in the course activities. Site facilitators also set up the classroom, distribute class materials, give exams and perform other vital functions. You also may arrange for someone at a distant site to serve as a co-instructor to answer students' questions or conduct labs at that site. Again, contact the ICS instructional designers for guidance. 

Now that you've learned about the various members who might help develop a distance education course, who will be your team members?

Make a list of the team members who might help you with your distance education course.

If you're not sure where to start, contact IFAS Communication Services and talk with an instructional designer.