Introduction: Preparing for the Fall 2020

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The challenge of preparing for a remote teaching environment in the Fall of 2020 need not be faced alone. The Online Readiness Task Force provides many resources. The Task Force intends this Professional Development offered, during the course of Summer 2020, to provide you with what you need to teach your students.

There will be sessions held on Zoom covering the four topics listed below; they will be hosted intermittently through the Summer and recorded for your convenience. This Canvas site hosted by the Teaching With Technologies Committee with many resources; you can access them through the Modules page.   Make sure you peruse the Remote Teaching Quick Tips—quick tips can save you time.  You can do this. We can help.

          Preparation 

Preparing is important.  Consider what is necessary, the time you have, and the resources available to your students.  Start slow, but start now.

          Virtual Presence 

You have presence in the classroom, but it does not end there.  Students respond well to their professor’s online activities.  Give them hope.  They will give you their efforts.

          Zoom Interaction 

Zoom rooms are similar to physical classrooms in that expectations, standards of behavior, and—most importantly—standards of participation produce meaningful class time.

          Cheating Prevention 

An online testing environment need not have disintegrate your efforts.  There are preventive measures available.

 

Checklist

  • Contact Yvonne for a Sandbox
    • A “Sandbox”, or Canvas Shell, allows you to create a Canvas course in which no one is enrolled
    • Practice different techniques, quizzes, layouts and so on for each kind of course you teach
    • Copy that course to your official courses for the semester
    • You can edit the shell anytime, and keep whatever you want to keep
  • Organize your semester by module Here are some examples
  • Asynchronous Materials
  • Use a spreadsheet or text document to create Question Banks or other Quiz questions
  • Create Quizzes, Question Banks Links to an external site., and weight assignments Links to an external site.
  • Some guidelines
    • Plan for time flexibility — Asynchronous material
    • Consider tech challenges; Plan for student connectivity — Consider when or whether students have access to the internet
    • Communicate expectations — Use Canvas Announcements, grade comments, and emails; you can begin preparing and saving those as well.  I keep Assignment comments in a spreadsheet
    • Work to engage students
    • Keep videos short — Or, split the video up with “scenes”.  Students can use the pause button and frequently do.  They can also watch the videos repeatedly.
    • Allow student feedback
    • Stick to deadlines — Their deadlines and yours.  Schedules build stability.
    • Use the right remote learning tools
    • Keep students safe
    • Determine Priorities — Theirs and yours