Teach Online Preparation Checklist

Continuity of Instruction Guidance

The following resources and guidance are meant to address situations when we need to continue instruction without being able to meet with students face-to-face. This could occur in the case of university closure or widespread absences. Faculty may also want to consider how these suggestions could be adapted for single absences (such as one student’s prolonged absence due to illness or your absence for a conference). The tools and strategies are offered to minimize and help manage the effects of unexpected events.

A continuity plan could require creativity, alternative expectations, and flexibility on course delivery. In most cases, moving all components of an entire course online is not needed. Instead, the event may require using the learning management system for a few days or communicating via email or web conferencing to continue class dialogue.

New Continuity of Instruction Guidelines (Revised Spring 2020)

Primary Activities to Continue

Four primary activities will need to be continued, even if face-to-face opportunities to meet with students are temporarily restricted:

  1. Communication,
  2. Delivering course content,
  3. Participation and interaction,and
  4. Assessment.

In this guide, we offer several alternatives and support resources to provide you with ideas and assistance during an unexpected event. We encourage faculty to think about strategies in advance, so you are prepared.

While, multiple options are described below, the primary alternative the University recommends for faculty to use is Canvas. As ECU transitions from Blackboard to Canvas, we will offer guidance for both systems. Please continue to use university approved communications for the storage and communication of FERPA data.

Act Now

Consider the Following

  1. Which elements of your course can be supplemented using online content?
  2. Could you record and share lectures for your students?
  3. Which course activities can be translated to online?
  4. Can you adapt to an asynchronous vs. synchronous method of instruction?
  5. What is the minimum adaption you need to continue instruction?

What should I do now?

  1. Attend Canvas Training and review Canvas Guides & Overview Videos.
  2. Migrate your course to Canvas now.
  3. Test the communication, web conferencing and recording tools.
  4. Add a continuity statement to your syllabus, for example,

“In the event of a campus emergency that disrupts academic activities, course requirements, deadlines, and grading percentages are subject to change. Information about changes in the course will be communicated as soon as possible by email, and on Canvas. If we are not able to meet face-to-face, students should log onto Canvas and read any announcements and/or access alternative assignments. Students are encouraged to continue the readings and other assignments as outlined or this syllabus or subsequent syllabi.”

  1. Make sure your syllabus contains enough information each week such that students could continue on their own for a short period of self-study if needed.
  2. Move files needed for instruction to Microsoft OneDrive.
  3. Download the software you may need to work off campus.
  4. Visit the Virtual Computer Lab to determine if tools your students need are available.
  5. Reach out for a consult now to get help thinking through teaching strategies.
  6. Request an accessibility audit to ensure all students can use your digital files.

Teaching Online Best Practices

The ECU Office of Faculty Excellence

The Office for Faculty Excellence offers teaching resources to faculty, including Universal Design for Learning, teaching online, and resources offered at other institutions on strategy and best practices.

Additional Teaching Online Resources

While other institutions do not necessarily use the same tools, there are a host of great ideas and best practices available to help you think through how to adapt your course.

    ECU Academic Technologies, ITCS

    Faculty can schedule an appointment with a staff member from Academic Technologies to learn how to use available learning technologies to organize, design and facilitate online courses and assignments.

    Universal Design for Learning

    CAST, a nonprofit education research and development organization, also provides web-based resources for UDL in Higher Education.

    Creating Accessible Content

    Creating accessible documents and course resources is a necessary step when teaching online. The Accessible Content checklist provides guidance on creating accessible documents and content.

    Teaching Online Preparation Checklist

    All ECU courses currently have a course shell in Blackboard and Canvas.

    ActivityGuidance/Preferences Internet & Computer Available
    Communication
    • Establish a method of communication & content delivery.

    • Share syllabus electronically.

    • Establish objectives.

    Canvas

    Outlook Email
    Delivering Course Content
    • Upload content to LMS.

    • Use web conferencing to lecture
      and share information.

    • Record & share lectures.


     
    Canvas

    Lecture Recording

    Web Conferencing
    Participation & Interaction
    • Use chat, discussions, web
      conferencing and groups to engage
      students and achieve course objectives.

    • Use WebEx
      or Canvas web conferencing for
      office hours, and student-to-student,
      and faculty-to-student interactions.

    Canvas

    Web Conferencing
    Assessment
    • Use the assessment tools in LMS

    • As an alternative to online proctored
      tests for face-to face students assign papers, discussion groups,
      homework assignments, portfolios, and/or projects.

    • NOTE:  SACSCOC 10.6 requires notification of additional fees
      such as proctoring costs at enrollment.


     
    Canvas

    1 Available in learning management system (LMS).

    2 WebEx, Canvas, Canvas Studio work well on a mobile device. Blackboard will also work on a mobile device but has more limited features.

    3 Special Note:  All of the tools are available to the entire campus. In some instances, a college or school uses other specialized software not listed.