The document provides an overview of an orientation course for instructors at Ballinphort Academy. It outlines the course content which will cover the Academy's mission and policies, copyright issues, accreditation goals, financial assistance for students, instructor status as independent contractors, illness and substitution policies, collaboration among faculty, office hours, use of online resources and Blackboard, creating course materials, and new course ideas. The objective is to acquaint instructors with various instructional techniques for presenting academic materials to students online through the Academy's platform.

1. Michael P. Hays, M.S.
mhays@ballinphortacademy.org
SKYPE: lvmegabyte
© 2011 Ballinphort Academy
All Rights Reserved

2. “Photography [literally translated „drawing with light‟] is essentially a combination of technique and visual
observation.” Anna Fox & Richard Smith.
Photography captures an image in a moment of time, permitting the artist to illustrate an
idea, concept, person or ‘thing.’
Limitless in scope, photography evokes powerful emotions via visual access to the viewer’s
imagination and consciousness.

3. WELCOME TO METHODS OF
INSTRUCTION (MOI)
This course is an orientation course designed to acquaint the user
with various instructional techniques for presenting academic
materials to students. Additionally, Academy policies, procedures
and requirements will be reviewed.
This course is not designed to teach instructors how to teach but to
suggest various delivery techniques using the electronic environment
presented by the Internet and our learning platform, Blackboard
/Collaborate.
The Academy integrates two libraries for student and faculty use:
• The Academy has a digital library for upload and download of
course materials provided by the individual instructor;
• The Academy contracts with Creative Edge, an online digital
library with over 7,500 texts and instructional videos.

4. During this course instructors will be presented content in the following
sequence:
1. Overview of the Academy‟s mission and objectives;
2. BAPA Policies, Terms and Conditions, Disclaimers, Chatroom Rules, and Nudity
Policy, Academic Integrity;
3. Copyright & Copyright Infringement;
4. Accreditation Goals - Certificate, Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Art, Master of
Fine Art;
5. Student Financial Assistance Program;
6. Independent contractor status explanation;
7. Illness, leave and substitution policy;
8. Collaboration among faculty members will be encouraged both from a business
and academic perspective;
9. Office hours policy will be presented and accompanied by suggestions for
scheduling student advisement;
10. Introduction to the Academy‟s website to include use of the Digital
Library, uploading and student downloading of course materials. Editing Faculty
Bio‟s and images will be demonstrated;
11. Creating Course Materials including, syllabus, lesson outlines, PowerPoint
presentations, and testing instruments;
12. Introduction to Blackboard/Collaborate;
13. Setting Screen Resolution for Live Demonstrations;
14. Class Scheduling;
15. New course ideas.

5. Ballinphort Academy‟s mission is to provide the highest quality
photography instruction through the Internet in a live environment.
Non-photography subjects will also be presented to provide students
with a well-rounded education that prepares them for a professional
career in industry or academe.
Objectives:
• Quality instruction
• Quality student images
• Professional placement upon graduation
• World-Wide engagement

12. BAPA ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY

13. BAPA NUDITY POLICY

15. Certificate of Completion 1 Year
Associate of Arts 1-2
Years
Bachelor of Fine Arts 2-3
Years
Master of Fine Arts
4-5 Years
Accrediting Agency: Association of Western
Colleges and University

16. We have contracted with a
national bank to provide students
with financial assistance while
they are admitted and enrolled in
courses offered by the Academy.
The student is provided an
opportunity during registration to
apply for a credit line with the
bank. If he/she is approved, the
bank pays the students tuition and
fees and advances the student
the balance, if any, on a
MasterCard or Visa. The student
must re-apply each semester for
this funding. All arrangements for
this loan are between the bank
and the student as BAPA merely
provides the application at the
time of course registration.

17. The key case is Nationwide Insurance Co. v.
Darden, 503 U.S. 318 (1992), which lists the following
factors as being what a court must weigh to determine
whether someone is an employee or an independent
contractor:
The United States Supreme Court adopts a common-
law test for determining who qualifies as an "employee"
as defined under the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), 29 U.S.C.S. 1002(6)
In determining whether a hired party is an employee
under the general common law of agency, the Court
considers the hiring party's right to control the manner
and means by which the product is accomplished.
Among the other factors relevant to this inquiry are the
skill required; the source of the instrumentalities and
tools; the location of the work; the duration of the
relationship between the parties; whether the hiring
party has the right to assign additional projects to the
hired party; the extent of the hired party's discretion over
when and how long to work; the method of payment; the
hired party's role in hiring and paying assistants;
whether the work is part of the regular business of the
hiring party; whether the hiring party is in business; the
provision of employee benefits; and the tax treatment of
the hired party.

18. Feeling a little blue? Weather got you down? Get the flu
every season?
We’d like to say that to miss class, you need to look like
this guy on the left! But… that seems a tad
unreasonable.
In reality, we know people get sick but IF you get
sick, don’t wait until the last minute to make
arrangements with a substitute instructor. BAPA’s policy
is to trade classes as a guest instructor.
If another faculty member substitutes for you, you owe
them a reciprocal event. Abuse of this policy will make it
very difficult for you to cover legitimate illness.
A note about leave: As an independent contractor, you
are not required to teach every semester. But please…
plan ahead and schedule your leave at least a semester
in advance.

19. Productivity is the engine that drives success. In our situation, that could be
translated into, “The more students you teach, the more money you will earn.” We
have developed a referral system whereby each student referred by an instructor will
be registered in the referring instructor’s classes when offered. Instructors are
encouraged to exchange course introductory presentations to inform the students
about their availability and scheduling.

21. Photography was offered in colleges and universities, especially in art
colleges. America was the first to offer photographic university degree
courses, included it in art and design, social studies and communication.