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How do you use a course from Coast Learning Systems?

What Telecourses Are and How To Use Them

Telecourses are integrated learning systems that combine video lessons and print components to be used under an instructor's direction. Professionally produced video series, usually comprised of 18 to 26 half-hour programs, course textbooks and study guides, and a full complement of quizzes,study activities, and examinations?ensure measurable Student Learning Outcomes.

Telecourses are an exceptionally flexible means of providing instruction and training. Not only can they be delivered by broadcast television and modes of communication such as satellite and cable, students can take telecourses using videocassettes or DVDs in their homes, at training sites, or at learning centers. And telecourse video lessons can be effective in meeting the training needs of businesses and institutions as well as serving traditional educational purposes.

Student Satisfaction Builds Enrollments

Now is the ideal time to consider telecourse and online course adoptions. If your institution has never offered distance learning courses, we hope you will call us for more information. If your institution already offers an array of distance learning courses, we encourage you to expand your current program.

Call us at
(800) 547-4748

Student Satisfaction Builds Enrollments

Distance learning courses have proven to be an effective way for colleges and universities to serve the changing educational needs of their communities. Today, the "traditional" college student is far more likely to be a working parent than a recent high school graduate. Multiple delivery modalities, telecourses and online courses, allow institutions the opportunity and flexibility of increasing enrollments while making it convenient for working adults, seniors, homebound or disabled persons, and other "nontraditional college" students to take a college-credit course.

Instructionally designed courses offer faculty members structured lessons and a chance to use a variety of communication methods to create exciting and challenging exchanges of information with and between students.

Distance Learning Courses Can...

  • build enrollments by appealing to a broad range of students.
  • help students accelerate their progress toward earning a college degree.
  • increase student retention by offering flexible and convenient scheduling.

Students can...

  • complete course work toward a college degree.
  • schedule course work around job and family responsibilities.
  • work independently at their own pace.
  • save travel time and expense by not having to commute to campus.
  • improve the quality of their lives through enriched learning experiences.

Audiovisual Use

Video lessons can also be used as an effective supplement to classroom instruction. Coast video lessons offer students the opportunity to see and experience an array of places and subject matter experts beyond the usual classroom experience. Each program is a thorough, carefully designed presentation of an important topic selected to motivate students and to enhance understanding.

How can your college offer one of the courses in our catalog?

1. Faculty Review
After you've decided which courses best fit the needs of your students and curricula, request preview material* by calling (800) 547-4748 or e-mailing us at CoastLearning@coastline.edu.

2. Approve and Assign

Refer the selected course(s) to your curriculum committees for approval, assignment of a course title, course number, and credits to be listed in your college's schedule. Assign faculty members to work with students, ensure the academic integrity of the courses, establish assignments, administer tests, and conduct optional discussion sessions.

3. Contact Coast Learning Systems

As soon as your institution approves a course, call us to request a license and a set of master tapes, if needed. (There are no video lessons for online courses.) Discounts on license fees are offered to member institutions through consortia adoptions. Call
(800) 547-4748 for details.

4. Decide How to Make the Telecourse Video Lessons Available

Broadcast or Cablecast
One of the ways in which telecourse programs reach students is through a public or local broadcast, cablecast, or instructional television fixed service (ITFS). Contact the educational programming representative at your selected station to make broadcast arrangements.

DVD, VHS Tape, or Videostreaming
These are excellent options, and the most frequently utilized delivery modalities. For colleges that predict small enrollments initially, or that are unable to acquire cable or broadcast system delivery, these alternatives provide the perfect solution. Your college can provide students with DVDs or VHS tapes of the programs to view at home, or you can refer students to RMI Media for rentals. Coast allows duplication and distribution of VHS tapes through approved sources. All video tapes must be returned to the licensed institution the end of each term. Institutions do not have the right to digitize and duplicate media in any format other than VHS tapes. For more information, please review the Digital Use Policy.

5. Place Textbook Orders
Place textbook and student study guide orders for the course and confirm their arrival at the campus bookstore following the same procedures used to order books for on-campus courses. You will receive one Faculty Manual from Coast Learning Systems with every license. A printed testbank is provided in the Faculty Manual, and it is also available on diskette or CD-ROM.

6. Arrange to Duplicate the VHS Tapes
Encourage your media department to make VHS copies of the programs for use in libraries, learning centers, or other viewing sites so enrolled students have access to videos for regular viewing, make-up, or review. DVDs, for a select number of courses, are available from Coast. Please see the DVD Order Form for more information.

7. Promote by Advertising
Develop a promotional plan that will encourage students to enroll in the course. Coast will work with you to approve promotional video spots for broadcasting* or videostreaming** on your Web site.


** This is the only footage that is approved for "open" videostreaming.

8. Register Students
Following registration and before class starts, consider hosting a brief orientation or discussion to assist first-time distance learning students prepare to be successful. Near the end of the course, you may wish to ask students to complete a course evaluation. If you have students evaluate one of our courses, please feel free to share the results with us.

*Preview materials for all telecourses include a booklet and/or a videotape. Review copies of the textbook and telecourse student guide may also be requested. Preview tapes are made available at no cost for 30 days. Your institution assumes return shipping costs. Preview tapes may not be duplicated under any circumstances without permission nor can they be used for classroom or training instruction. (Frequently, preview materials are shipped via UPS, so please provide a complete street address.)

** To videostream video lessons,
please refer to the Digital Use Policy for rights and restrictions.

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