North Central Texas College continues to prioritize student achievement across all instructional formats. In Fall 2024, success rates remained strong for both face-to-face and hybrid courses, each at 73.6%, and online courses at 67.6%. These figures reflect the college’s ongoing commitment to instructional quality and student support, regardless of delivery method.
STUDENTS & COURSE OFFERINGS
ONLINE-ONLY STUDENTS
3,123
ONLINE-ONLY COURSES
586
Online education remains a significant component of NCTC's academic offerings. In Fall 2024, the college offered 586 online-only courses and served 3,123 unduplicated online-only students, highlighting both the scale and importance of virtual learning environments.
As online enrollment continues to grow, the eLearning and Instructional Design teams remain focused on refining course design, enhancing digital engagement, and supporting student success in all modalities.
ELEARNING HELP DESK SUPPORT
TOTAL TICKETS RESOLVED FROM 2024
2,256
TOTAL TICKETS RESOLVED FROM CURRENT *ACADEMIC YEAR
2,383
These tickets span a wide range of technical support needs, including:
• Canvas support and troubleshooting
• Instructional technology setup
• Course design consultations
• Account access and student login issues
• LMS tool integration and support
Note: These numbers do not include support via phone, walk-ins, or email, which significantly increases total support volume
NCTC eCampus offered its first online courses, British Literature I, American-State-Local Government, and American-National Government, in the fall of 2000. Online course enrollment and offerings have grown exponentially since the mid-2000s. In fall 2014 over 280 online sections were offered, and 32% of NCTC students took at least one online course through NCTC eCampus. In Fall 2018, 461 online courses were offered and 47.38% of NCTC students attending in that term took at least one online course through the NCTC eCampus.
NCTC eCampus is comprised of specialized systems and their users (e.g., students, faculty, and staff). The central platform of eCampus is the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS). Other systems, each providing a specific capability, integrate into Canvas, such as Respondus Lockdown Browser and TurnItIn Plagiarism Checker. Additionally, various publisher products, like McGraw-Hill Connect, WebEx and Pearson MyLab and Mastering, integrate into Canvas.
Canvas, an Instructure, Inc. product, has been on the market since 2011. Starting in spring 2011, a group of over 20 faculty members plus the eLearning Department staff began evaluating LMS options to replace the ANGEL LMS. In May 2013, after extensive research and evaluation the group unanimously recommended Canvas. NCTC signed with Instructure, Inc. in June 2013.
In the Canvas Instructor Guide, you will find everything you need to know to use Canvas as a teacher, from creating assignments to managing course settings.
The Canvas Student Guide will help you learn everything from submitting assignments and quizzes to communicating with your instructor.
If you have any questions or concerns about features updates in Canvas, please contact the eCampus Help Desk
Use your OneLogin and password to login to Canvas.
By clicking the Courses drop down list in Canvas, all faculty should see their Canvas Practice Course and Canvas Refresh. Any other training courses, guides, and groups (e.g., Faculty Group) are also listed under Courses.
Prior to early registration, course shells are batch generated in Canvas. Course shells are generated based upon the schedule of classes at the start of early registration and updated regularly until late registration closes. Student and instructor enrollments are also updated in Canvas regularly. All course enrollments are updated in Canvas 4 times a day. This is a shared process between the eLearning and ITS Departments. All courses, online, hybrid, and face-to-face, start on the first day of the semester. It is the responsibility of the online instructors to have online courses published before the first day of the semester.
Every instructor in Canvas has his or her own personal Canvas Practice Course. Install, edit, and copy over content from your Practice Course to any course or group in Canvas where you have Teacher rights.
All instructional deans, division chairs, and program coordinators are assigned the DEPT-ADMIN role in Canvas. The DEPT-ADMIN can access all courses, statistics, outcomes, rubrics, and reports in his or her Instructional Unit. The DEPT-ADMIN can also send communications to students and faculty at the individual, group, and course levels.
Contact the eCampus Help Desk for DEPT-ADMIN technical support
The Faculty Group course is the resource center for all full-time and adjunct faculty at NCTC regarding eCampus systems. More specifically, Faculty Group provides detailed information and instructions on various eCampus systems along with weekly webinars showcasing various parts of these systems.
All eCampus full-time faculty and adjuncts should see the Faculty Group course listed among their Courses dropdown list in Canvas. Contact the eCampus Help Desk for Faculty Group technical support.
The Canvas Mobile app is available for free on iOS and Android devices. Communications, grades, modules, quizzes (limited) and files are all available to students via the Canvas Mobile app. The Canvas Teacher app is also available for free on iOS and Android devices. The Teacher app is specifically made for faculty and allows the user to grade and communicate from their mobile device. Canvas Mobile and Teacher apps are available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Canvas Commons is a Learning Object Repository (LOR) that enables instructors to find, import, and share resources with one another. Use Commons to build courses and lesson plans. With Commons, instructors can find courses, modules, assignments, and quizzes to import into their own course(s). To introduce faculty to Canvas Commons, the NCTC eLearning Department offers Intro to Commons. Intro to Commons is a module in the Canvas Refresh course that details a few important aspects of Commons and how users can get started using Commons. More information, like how to access and navigate Commons, is available in the Canvas Guides
Cisco WebEx is managed by the ITS department. However, the eLearning department supports the WebEx Education Connector for Canvas. This is a seamless integration that offers three different features to utilize Webex in Canvas: Classroom Collaboration, Virtual Office Hours, and Virtual Meetings.
For more information on the WebEx Education Connector for Canvas, please refer to the Canvas Refresh modules or please contact the eCampus Help Desk.
For technical support, reach out to the ITS department, or submit a ticket here
Canvas Conferences, powered by BigBlueButton, is the Web conferencing application available to eCampus users via the Conferences tool within Canvas courses and groups.
SmarterMeasure is a diagnostic tool that measures a student’s preparedness for online courses. It asks questions based on time management, motivation, technology experience and other important measurements needed in an online course environment. Visit https://smarterservices.com/smartermeasure/ for more detailed information. The NCTC specific SmarterMeasure link can be found here: https://nctc.smartermeasure.com/
The eLearning Department maintains a department website at https://www.nctc.edu/elearning. It is also available from the college homepage at www.nctc.edu. The department website offers resources for both faculty and students, including links to technologies and services for teaching and learning, important downloadable documents, and other useful information for eCampus users.
Students, faculty, and staff in need of technical support with any of the systems administered by the eLearning Department should use the eCampus Help Desk. If you are experiencing a technical issue with one of these systems that requires immediate support, such as an exam not functioning properly in Canvas, please call the eCampus Help Desk at (940) 668-4243. eCampus Help Desk phone support is unavailable after regular business hours and on weekends. Before submitting a request, please search the eCampus Help Desk Knowledge Base. If you are unable to find an answer in our Knowledge Base, please submit a request
For technology support with systems outside eLeaning Department responsibilities, like OneLogin assistance, GoPrint, Shoretel/Mitel, campus hardware, MyNCTC and other network systems, please visit the ITS Department helppage
Each Division Chair is responsible for approving the online or hybrid courses to be developed within his or her division. Division Chairs, with consultation from the eLearning Department, also approve the instructors who will develop them. Once a course is developed and instructors are chosen, the instructor may contact Instructional Designers for course design or the eLearning department for technical support.
The time it takes to develop an online/hybrid course will depend on many factors. First, an instructor who has used supplemental well-developed content in a face-to-face course will have less to create than an instructor who has not used online content previously. An instructor who has taught a course for a long time may have a better knowledge of what videos and interactive content is available than an instructor who is newer to that particular course. Instructors who have more time during the day may need less time than those who have very little extra time during the day, etc. All instructors should strive to develop a course that has well thought-out activities and quizzes, interactive components, and content that takes the place of what an online student would receive in a face-to-face course. Simply uploading quizzes and PowerPoints does not produce a quality online course. All online courses should include a video introduction of the instructor and meet regular and substantive interaction criteria.
In 2015, NCTC implemented QM standards into course development and review, which was previously managed by a QM coordinator. At this time, Division Chairs are responsible for approving and/or developing their online courses within their division. Instructional Designers are available to assist with course design, technical support, and informal course review. However, Division Chairs who still want an official QM course review can submit the request to the eLearning Program Coordinator. The Coordinator will then assist with the course review application process. Course review fees may apply.
Instructor completes Intro to Canvas, located in Canvas Refresh 2.0. This module is a clear and concise intro to Canvas for users that have never been exposed to the Canvas LMS. It covers tools and features in Canvas, as well as course setup and a look at some of our favorite courses that have been created. Instructors are automatically enrolled in Canvas Refresh 2.0. It is available under the Courses list in Canvas. If you do not see this course under your Courses list, please contact the eCampus Help Desk
Introduction to Canvas trainings can also be offered throughout the year per request; however, faculty must still complete the Intro to Canvas module in Canvas Refresh to receive a badge and training credit.
The Canvas Refresh course is a Canvas resource and training group designed for NCTC administrators, faculty, adjuncts, and support staff who use the Canvas learning management system. Canvas Refresh is meant to refresh and deepen skills, knowledge, and competencies with Canvas and our instructional technologies. This course is composed of 6 units that correspond with a course readiness checklist. All faculty are enrolled in the Canvas Refresh course automatically when hired. Instructors complete modules located in Canvas Refresh. Each module will provide training on various topics, such as course design, engaging online learners, and meeting Regular & Substantive Interaction criteria for effective online instruction.
Intro to Canvas
This section offers a foundational walkthrough of the Canvas LMS, perfect for instructors who are new to the platform or need a refresher. You’ll explore essential features such as navigating the interface, setting up your course shell, managing content, and getting familiar with your eLearning Team and the Canvas Instructor Guide.
Canvas Essentials
At the heart of effective course delivery are the Canvas essentials: clearly organized modules with great information in regards to videos, quizzes, adjusting due dates, class imports, images, and more. Familiarity with these core features ensures students can navigate and succeed in their courses with confidence.
Start of the Semester
To set a strong foundation, instructors are encouraged to prepare and publish their courses ahead of the start of the semester. In this section you’ll find information including uploading syllabi, certifying your rosters, and audit rolls. A welcoming homepage and a clear communication plan help orient students from day one.
Best Practices
Incorporating best practices in Canvas means keeping course navigation simple, using consistent formatting, providing clear instructions, and offering timely feedback. In the Best Practices section you’ll find good information on using tools like announcements, rubrics, turnitin, and quickly attendance so students can make the best of their time with you.
Instructors are expected to respond to Canvas Discussions and Inbox Conversations within 24 hours Monday through Friday and within 48 hours on the weekend. Discussion forums referred to here are general help forums, not lesson interactions. Response time should be clearly stated in the course syllabus on the first day of the semester.
Term begin and end dates are handled entirely by the eLearning Department. This ensures student access is uniform across the college. However, please remember that the instructor must Publish his or her course prior to the semester start date, otherwise students will not be able to access the course. Publishing can be done at any point between when the instructor is granted access and the semester start date.
Instructors have full access to a course for two weeks after the semester end date. During this time, they can access all course content, including Grades. Student access defaults to read-only at the end of the semester. An instructor may need to provide a student extended access (i.e., over two weeks past the semester end date) to a course in the case of an Incomplete.
Please contact the eCampus Help Desk to request extended student access for an Incomplete. Note that after two weeks the instructor will see the course under his or her Past Enrollments in Canvas. At this point the course is in a read-only state for the instructor as well. A concluded course can be imported into any future course shell, if needed, by using the Import Content into this Course feature in the new course shell. Content can also be shared via Commons
ON-CAMPUS COURSES
For on-campus courses, the instructor must publish the associated course in Canvas on the first day of the semester. Students increasingly expect to access ALL of their courses in Canvas. They see Canvas as a tool to assist in their learning, regardless of the designated course delivery method. Providing on-campus students access to the course in Canvas allows the instructor to share content, communicate, and even deliver assessments beyond the physical classroom. Using Canvas in this way flips the classroom so that class time can focus on addressing student questions, expanding student abilities, and ultimately problem solving at a conceptual level. Additional information about enhancing on-campus courses in Canvas is available in the eCampus Help Desk Knowledge Base. Please note that grades and attendance data for ALL courses, regardless of delivery method, must be kept in Canvas (see Grades & Attendance).
Faculty are expected to provide students with a policy on what to do when an assessment performs unexpectedly in Canvas. Instructors are also expected to monitor Canvas communications with increased frequency during testing periods.
Faculty should include a course welcome video or audio file in each section. The quickest method for creating an audio or video file is to use Studio. With Studio, instructors are able to create web cam recordings, screen recordings or a combination of both. Faculty may also use their iOS or Android device to record, upload, and post video and/ or audio files to Canvas.
For archival purposes, every semester, instructors need to maintain grade and attendance data in Canvas. This includes online, hybrid, and on-campus, i.e., face-to-face, courses. For more information on how to use the gradebook or taking attendance in Canvas, please review the guides from Canvas Community and/or review their respective modules in Canvas Refresh. You can also utilize the Qwickly Attendance integration in Canvas which allows you to track attendance for in-person and online courses.
Students often misinterpret their standing in a course when missing assignments are left ungraded. This can lead to confusion—or panic—when their final average suddenly drops after zeroes are entered. To avoid this, make it a habit to enter zeroes promptly for missed work or enable the “Automatically apply grade for missing submissions” option in your Canvas gradebook’s late policies tab. This ensures students have an accurate view of their performance throughout the semester.
When a student receiving Title IV funds withdraws from an on-campus or online program, the institution must determine the student’s withdrawal date to calculate the amount of financial aid that must be returned to the Department of Education or the lender (known as the Return to Title IV, or R2T4, calculation).
NCTC Attendance Regulations state, “Simply logging into an online course does not constitute attendance. The Department of Education calculates the last date of attendance by the last time a student participated in an online discussion or made contact (interacted) with a faculty member and this standard is applied to online courses.” (https://www.nctc.edu/catalog/)
In 2020, the Department of Education (DoE) reshaped federal regulations and definitions on distance education that went into effect on July 1, 2021. This new federal definition includes clarification of regular and substantive interaction.
Regular and substantive interaction is the distinguishing feature of distance education versus correspondence education. Institutions risk losing access to student financial aid if more than 50 percent of their courses are classified as correspondence courses or more than 50 percent of their students are enrolled in correspondence courses.
Therefore, North Central Texas College (NCTC) must ensure that its distance education courses have regular and substantive interaction as a component of its online courses.
With an instructor
Initiated by the instructor
Scheduled and predictable
Academic in nature and relevant to course
Ensure that instructors are promptly and proactively engaging students in substantive interaction
Include at least 2 of the following:
- Direct instruction
- Assessing or providing feedback on a student’s coursework
- Providing information or responding to questions about the course content
- Facilitating a group discussion regarding the course content
- Other instructional methods approved by the institution’s accreditor
For more information on how to meet regular and substantive interaction criteria in your courses, please refer to the module in Canvas Refresh and/or make an appointment with an Instructional Designer.
See below to locate the appropriate support contact for a specific system:
Contact
eCampus Help Desk
http://ecampushelpdesk.nctc.edu/hc/en-us
System
Canvas Studio
Respondus LockDown Browser
Respondus Monitor
TurnItIn Plagiarism Checker
Canvas Conferences/BigBlueButton
Qwickly Attendance
Publisher integrations (Limited support)
SmarterMeasure
eCampus Help Desk
Cisco WebEx Education Connector for Canvas
ITS DEPARTMENT
Contact
ITS Help Desk
https://nctcitsupport.zendesk.com/hc/en-us
System
MyNCTC
OneLogin accounts
Hardware (Labs, classrooms, offices)
Software (Labs, classrooms, offices)
Jenzabar
GoPrint
Scanners and Printers
Phones
ShoreTel/Mitel
Lion Alert
Barracuda email filter
Faculty, staff email accounts
Student email accounts
Network security and access
Wireless network access (On-campus)
Network file management
VPN
Estudias
Docubase
Adastra
ITV Classrooms (Maintenance, Setup, Training)
SIM labs
Security cameras
ITS Help Desk
eLEARNING DEPARTMENT
NCTC eCAMPUS (LIVE)
NCTC eCAMPUS HELP DESK
CANVAS INSTRUCTOR GUIDE
CANVAS MOBILE GUIDES STUDIO GUIDE
RESPONDUS LOCKDOWN
BROWSER, INSTRUCTOR QUICK START GUIDE (CANVAS EDITION)
RESPONDUS MONITOR
TURNITIN PLAGIARISM CHECKER SPEEDGRADER™