About Us

History

Distance Learning at Tarrant County College is celebrating 38 years of excellence. Our program is committed to providing the highest quality of distance education for faculty and students in an innovative environment with a wide range of academic possibilities.

The distance learning program began in fall 1973 with two courses via instructional television. Almost 800 students enrolled in the two courses, immediately demonstrating student interest in a flexible and convenient way to take courses. In the spring of 1989, TCCD began offering computer delivered instruction (CDI) courses, now known as Internet or online courses. Phenomenal growth has occurred since then making the Distance Learning at TCCD one of the largest programs in Texas. In spring 2011 Distance Learning set a record with over 22,000 enrollments in one semester.

Learning Management Platform

LogiCampus is the Learning Management System (LMS) used to deploy Internet courses at Tarrant County College.

LogiCampus was originally developed for Tarrant County College District from October 2002 – 2003 by Tap Internet, Inc. with public grant funding from the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund (TIF). During this time, select Distance Learning instructors were also compensated with TIF grant funded stipends to develop Internet courses in the new system. LogiCampus was finally implemented for the Fall 2003 academic semester and was released under a public license. Over the past six years, TCC’s version of LogiCampus has been enhanced to better fit the needs of District’s Distance Learning program.

Recently studies have been done by the District which resulted in the recommendation and adoption of Blackboard Learn 9.1 as the new learning management system to replace LogiCampus. Courses will be offered through Blackboard in a phased approach beginning in the Fall 2011 semester. See our Project Blackboard Updates page to read more about the implementation.

Method of Instruction

The District defines a distance learning course as any course in which a student receives more than one-half of the instruction at a different location from that of the instructor. Such courses include those offered through instructional television, the Internet, videoconferencing, VCT, independent study or arranged, and other instructional modes which use audio, video, computer technologies, or other methods to provide the majority of instruction and interaction. These courses are offered in accordance with the standards of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Commission on Colleges, requirements of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), and policies enacted by the College District.

TCCD Policies and Procedures - Distance Learning (PDF file will open in a new window)