Regarding recent health precautions put in place on college
campuses across the country, many instructors are now moving their face-to-face
courses online indefinitely. Moving a course that was intended to be taught in
class to an online platform can be both over-whelming and time-consuming. Below
are a few tips and tricks that might make this transition more seamless for
both the instructor and the student.
Don’t reinvent the wheel. While it may seem to
be more logical to simply start from scratch in order to avoid assignment
confusion most assignments, even those set up as group work, can be implemented
on Canvas through discussion boards or conferences. Students are very savvy
online and can adapt much faster than we might think.
Remove non-essentials. Having to move a course
online could provide a great opportunity for cleaning house. This means getting
rid of classroom-based exercises that may have been added for the purpose of
filling class time. While many of us would like to think all of our assignments
are essential, very often we find that some might be redundant or might not truly
address the overall learning outcomes for the course.
Communicate often. Since moving a course online
is such a big shift, the most important aspect of getting students on board is to
make them aware of why the class is moving, what to expect and any changes that
may be coming in the future. Give regular daily updates that are both informative
and friendly. Let them know you are open for discussion and able to provide any
clarity related to an assignment they might need.
Record some videos. Video lectures and updates
are not only welcomed by students, many encourage instructors to create more of
them. One impressive method I have employed in the past is using my existing
written summaries but also adding hyperlinked videos that explain or further expand
upon the subject matter I am covering in the summary. For example, places in
the F2F lecture where I might normally stop and explore a particular subject a
bit deeper now becomes a hyperlink where I define a term or share a real world
example. (See Video) Posting a short video can improve student comprehension much more than
1,000 extra words might. Students love to see their instructors, especially in
the midst of a huge platform shift. Videos can be uploaded to YouTube directly
from most devices.
Don’t be afraid to postpone. Since the current campus
restrictions are indefinite, it might be more fruitful to simply postpone the
assignments you have yet to figure out the best way to migrate. While some
assignments are easier to continue online, others provide some not so clear hurdles
that may require more time and attention to hammer out. As long as students
understand that the assignment will still be required, most won’t have any issue
with having more time to work on it.
If you have any questions about some of the techniques listed
above, please feel free to contact TLT (Teaching and Leaning with Technology) or
CFE (Center for Faculty Excellence). I hope these tips help minimize any angst
and maximize your free time. Good luck and be well!
Jameelah Ra'oof MIS, MS
Coordinator of Teaching, Learning & Academic Excellence
Center for Faculty Excellence (CFE)
Texas Woman's University
940.898.3427
Stoddard Hall - Room 305A
