Overview
In the event that you need to teach a course off campus, there are a variety of ways you can complete typical classroom tasks in a virtual environment. Whether due to illness, weather, unanticipated travel delays, or a personal emergency, it’s always a good idea to have a back up plan that minimizes disruption for your students.
The resources listed here can help you make quick adaptations, or, serve as a starting point for integrating Canvas and other available technology into your courses. Each DU course is already set up with a Canvas shell that you can activate at any time! Need more assistance? Our Instructional Designers are ready to help, please feel free to schedule a 1:1.
First Time Teaching Online?
- In the event that you need to teach a course online, there are a variety of ways you can complete typical classroom tasks in a virtual environment. Read more about it here.
- Addressing Zoom expectations and webcam usage can vary, read more about camera usage or lack thereof in our blog “Teaching into the Abyss”.
- Check out our DU Teaching Toolkit for in-depth information about Canvas, Planning, Development and Delivery Methods for your course.
General Principles
- Prepare for working remotely: Do you have access to all the resources you will need if you must shift from your physical office to a virtual one? Set up Zoom, Canvas, and ensure you can access any other tools like DU portfolio. Do you have a device with a good internet connection, webcam, and microphone?
- Consult with your department: What departmental or unit requirements or supports are in place? Who is your local Canvas administrator? If you are responding to a campus-wide closure, your department may have more details or want class changes handled in a uniform way.
- Communicate with student and set expectations: Do this early and frequently! Be sure to set up structures that allow for easy updates and communicate your presence even if it is a virtual one. Let students know how you plan to communicate with them. Will you be using traditional email or Canvas? How will you let them know if due dates or activities have changed?
- Focus on learning outcomes: if an unexpected closure or absence means that activities need to be adjusted, ensure they are moving students toward the desired learning outcomes. Avoid busy work.
- Prioritize and rearrange if necessary: focus on the activities that have the most significant impact on student learning. And, be flexible with rearranging certain activities if necessary.
All Things ZOOM
- First time using Zoom in your Canvas course? Learn more about Zoom class meetings, how to use your DU login account, and more.
- Tips for managing multiple student Zoom presentations. Create Instructional Videos, whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced user.
- Visit our Zoom Ed-Tech Knowledge Base for all Zoom questions.
Assessments & Presentations
- Student presentations are a great way to gauge mastery of knowledge. Learn more about tools and methods available for your students to present online.
- Are you planning to have several student groups present their final projects via ZOOM or Kaltura? Take a look at different synchronous and asynchronous opportunities.
- How to assess creativity with online presentations? Find out more.
- Need ideas for student video activities? There are many types of video activities to help students demonstrate their knowledge, skills, creativity, and teamwork – check them out here!
- Accessibility in online presentations is now easier than ever, enable automatic captions or subtitles in PowerPoint or Kaltura.
Engagement & Discussions
Creating engaging online discussions, using different types of modalities. Learn how to encourage student to student interactions in an effective, engaging manner in online environments.
Student Absences, Accommodations & Wellness
- During these coming weeks, it important to keep the mental health of you and your students at the forefront. Please review the blog post “Taking care of ourselves and others” from Chancellor Dr. Jeremy Haefner, as well as our blog “Teaching Through a Pandemic: Cognitive Load, Mental Health amd Learning Under Stress”.
- Need sample syllabus statements? Find them here.
- Do you have students who need academic accommodations related to COVID-19? Please encourage them to contact the Disability Services Program (DSP).
- Staff and faculty should contact the Benefits Director/ADA Coordinator, Lloyd Moore, in Human Resources to request accommodations associated with a disability or medical condition.
- Students can seek confidential mental health services available on campus in the Health & Counseling Center (HCC) and My Student Support System (My SSP). Another helpful campus office is Student Outreach & Support (SOS), where staff work with students to connect to all the appropriate campus resources (there are many!), develop a plan of action, and guide them in navigating challenging situations. If you are concerned about a student, you can send an SOS referral. More information about HCC, MY SSP, and SOS can be found at:
- Health & Counseling Services
- My SSP 24/7 confidential services for students
- Student Outreach & Support (SOS) and SOS Referrals
Finals
- We know that making the change to distance delivery for finals in a short period of time can be a stressful undertaking. Learn more about moving your finals exams online here.
- Thinking about using Lockdown Browser for your exams? Take a look at the video below and check out the Instructor Quick Start Guide, for information on both Lockdown Browser and Respondus Monitor.
- Webcam Tips – For the Respondus Monitor option, make sure to let your students know that an adequate amount of lighting should be used during testing, and that they have a functional webcam.
- Read more about Inclusivity concerns around face identification software, people of color and technology disparities.
Peer Teaching Mentors
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- Peer Mentors are faculty across campus with an interest in providing personalized, peer-to-peer teaching support as we collectively navigate pressing topics around teaching off and on-line, including the many challenges that the pandemic has presented for our pedagogy.
- We recommend looking through our vast list of Peer Mentors, and sign up for a session using the following Google document sign up sheet, or contact Dr. Lina Reznicek-Parrado for more information at lina.reznicek-parrado@du.edu.
Planning ahead for a new quarter
- Identify plans early: Consider addressing emergencies and expectations up front in your syllabus, so students know what will happen if classes are cancelled, including procedures you will implement. Consider doing this each quarter, so you are ready in case of an emergency.
- Send a welcome email: At the beginning of the quarter, send your students a welcome email that includes your contact information. Suggest they hold on to the message until the end of the course in case they need to get in touch with you.
- Activate your Zoom account and introduce students to the tool: Consider having a short, optional Zoom session early in the quarter to help familiarize students in case you need this tool later.
- Replace physical resources with digital resources where possible. Digitize readings and upload handouts. Aside from contingency planning, this is a good habit to adopt for creating a greener classroom.
- Start the quarter “contingency-ready”:
Minimally, instructors should consider doing the following in Canvas:
This Setting Up Your Canvas Course video gives you step-by-step instructions for accomplishing those tasks.
24/7 Canvas Support:
- Canvas Support Hotline for Faculty: 1-833-291-3240
- Canvas Support Hotline for Students: 1-855-712-9770
