Options for Remote Learning and Teaching

for Denison University Faculty

****This site is no longer active. Please see the Denison Hybrid Fall 2020 site.****



Below are suggestions for how to hold classes remote. We have indicated "tech savvy" level for each option as beginner, intermediate, and advanced. There are linked resources and a video provided for each section. If you have any questions about technology or would like to discuss further options for your own teaching style, please email ets@denison.edu for additional assistance.

Tip: If you want to view all of these instructional videos go to this Remote Learning & Teaching Playlist

Message from the Office of the Provost: Updates to Videoconferencing

Check out the ETS Tuesday Tech Tips

**Click on the BLUE headings below to expand the text.**

Create a Repository of Resources

Tech savvy level: Beginner

► VIDEO: Repository of Resources

  1. Use Google Drive to store your course materials.

  2. Share files (documents, slides, sheets, videos, audio, photos, etc) with students by posting links in the Documents tab of Notebowl.

  3. Set available date in the Notebowl settings to plan ahead.

Provide Written Lectures

Tech savvy level: Beginner

  1. Create a PowerPoint Presentation or Google Slides presentation to your class.

  2. Supply lecture notes or additional information to supplement the slides.

  3. BONUS: Add audio to your presentation

► VIDEO: Adding Audio to Powerpoint Slides

► VIDEO Adding audio to your existing Google Slides

► VIDEO adding audio to your existing Keynote presentations

TIP: Adding audio increases the size of the file. Given that some of our students may well have limited connectivity, adding audio to the entirety of an existing PPT can make the file too large to download in places like China, India or Malaysia. Therefore break the Powerpoint presentation into much shorter ones, and simply number them in sequence so the students can see an entire presentation in small chunks.

  1. Disseminate materials in Notebowl

    • Post your presentation and notes to the Documents Tab in your Notebowl course.

Receive, Assess, and Return Student Work

Tech savvy level: Beginner & Intermediate

Option A - Email and Microsoft Word

Tech savvy level: Beginner

► VIDEO: Receive Assess, and Return Student Work Using Word

  1. Have students email assignments as Word documents to your Denison email address.

  2. Download the files they have submitted onto your computer.

  3. Provide feedback using track changes and comments in Microsoft Word.

  4. Save the files with your comments with a new file name.

  5. Respond to the student email with your commented file attached to the email.

Option B - Notebowl and Google Documents

Tech savvy level: Intermediate

► VIDEO: Providing Assignment Feedback using Notebowl and Google Docs

  1. Create an assignment in Notebowl.

    • Turn on the feature for "Convert to Google Docs" and put doc, docx for the file types.

  2. When students submit their assignments, they will automatically be converted to a Google Doc for you to comment and mark up using the Suggestions feature in Google Documents.

How can students turn in their handwritten work?

  1. Option A: Google Drive App

    • Ask students to install the Google Drive app on their cellphones.

    • Upon opening the app, students will see a large + sign in the lower right-hand corner of the app

    • After touching the + sign, they will see the option "Scan"

    • Students will be prompted to give the app access to their phone's camera. They must allow this.

    • Students will hold their phone over their written work and touch the "Scan" option.

    • Next students will select the option to upload this to their Google Drive and then they will share it with you.

  2. Option B: Adobe Scan App

► VIDEO: Adobe Scan on iPhone

    • Ask students to install the Adobe Scan app on their cellphones.

    • Upon opening the app, students will be prompted to allow access to their phone's camera. They must allow this.

    • Next the app will "look" for the text. Students will hold their phone over their written work and the app will scan it.

    • After adjusting the crop, students will touch the option to Save PDF in the upper right-hand corner.

    • Finally they will select "Share" and share this with you through their Google Drive or by sending it to you in an email. You will just have to let them know which of the two options you prefer.

Conduct Tests or Quizzes

Tech savvy level: Intermediate

► VIDEO: Notebowl for Tests and Quizzes

  1. Go into a Notebowl course and navigate to the assignments tab.

  2. Click Add > Test/Quiz

  3. Setup your quiz options and create the quiz.

  4. Proceed to the next page to add questions. Be sure to set point values and correct answers.

  5. When you are finished Publish your test/quiz at the ttop of the professor view.

  6. If you want to see what the students see, you can always navigate to the More tab and select "View As" to see what a specific student sees.

► VIDEO: Allowing extra time for accommodations in tests and quizzes in Notebowl

Facilitate asynchronous class discussion in Notebowl

Tech savvy level: Intermediate

► VIDEOS: There is a three part video series for Discussion Boards in Notebowl. Those videos are linked to below under the corresponding section. We recommend going in order as they build upon each other.

  1. Post general announcements and discussion in the Bulletin tab of your Notebowl course.

  2. Create Discussion Boards in Notebowl for assignments or specific topics.

    • Create class discussion boards:
      ► VIDEO: Discussion Boards in Notebowl Part 1: General Setup and Class Discussion Boards

      1. From the assignments tab, click on the Add button, and then choose assignment.

      2. Fill in the general information at the top.

      3. Under submission, set submission type as "Discussion Board."

      4. For Individual/Group, choose "Individual" to setup a discussion for the entire class.

      5. You can set options for your particular discussion board assignment in the "Discussion Board Options" section.

      6. After you click "Create," you will be taken to a professor view of the discussion board.

      7. There are two tabs in the professor view.

        1. "Discussion Board" is where you can see and participate in the overall class discussion.

        2. "Submissions" which where you see individual student submissions. Provide grades and grading feedback in the "Submissions" tab, not the "Discussion Board" tab.

      8. If you would like to see how a student views the discussion board, go to the "More" tab and choose "View As." A red bar will show on the top of your screen. Choose a specific student name to view as and see what an average student would see.

    • Break students into discussion board groups:
      ► VIDEO: Discussion Boards in Notebowl Part 2: Group Discussion Boards

      1. From the assignments tab, click on the Add button, and then choose assignment.

      2. Fill in the general information at the top.

      3. Under submission, set submission type as "Discussion Board."

      4. For Individual/Group, choose "Group" to setup a discussion for individual groups.

      5. You can set options for your particular discussion board assignment in the "Discussion Board Options" section.

      6. Make sure to set a "Max # of Students per Group" at the bottom.

      7. After you click "Create," you will be taken to a professor view of the discussion board.

      8. There are three tabs in the professor view for group discussion boards.

        1. "Discussion Board" is where you can see and participate in the individual group discussions. Once you setup your groups, you will be able to view all posts or filter by group name.

        2. "Submissions" is where you see individual student submissions. Provide grades and grading feedback in the "Submissions" tab, not the "Discussion Board" tab.

        3. "Manage Groups" is where you setup the discussion board groups.

      9. If you would like to see how a student views the discussion board, go to the "More" tab and choose "View As." A red bar will show on the top of your screen. Choose a specific student name to view as and see what an average student would see.

    • Create a private discussion board for 1-1 discussion with students:
      ► VIDEO: Discussion Boards in Notebowl Part 3: Private Discussion Boards

      1. From the assignments tab, click on the Add button, and then choose assignment.

      2. Fill in the general information at the top.

      3. Under submission, set submission type as "Discussion Board."

      4. For Individual/Group, choose "Private" to setup a private discussion with each student.

      5. You can set options for your particular discussion board assignment in the "Discussion Board Options" section.

      6. After you click "Create," you will be taken to a professor view of the discussion board.

      7. There are two tabs in the professor view.

        1. "Discussion Board" is where you can see and participate in discussion threads with a particular student. You have the ability to see all the student boards or filter by the particular student.

        2. "Submissions" which where you see individual student submissions. Provide grades and grading feedback in the "Submissions" tab, not the "Discussion Board" tab.

      8. If you would like to see how a student views the discussion board, go to the "More" tab and choose "View As." A red bar will show on the top of your screen. Choose a specific student name to view as and see what an average student would see.

Facilitate Group Work in Notebowl

Tech savvy level: Intermediate

  • Use Notebowl to create course groups in the roster tab, or to create groups within a particular assignment.

  • Course groups can be useful for ongoing projects where students will continue to work with the same group.

    1. Go to the Roster tab.

    2. Click Groups in the top.

    3. Arrange students into groups.

  • Assignment groups can be setup when you create the assignment in the Assignment tab.

    1. Go to the Assignment tab and choose New > Assignment.

    2. Click the option for groups.

    3. Once the assignment has been created, you can add students to the groups yourself or you can allow them to place themselves in a group.

    4. You can create groups for assignments that are file submissions or for discussion boards.

  • Break students into discussion board groups:
    ► VIDEO: Discussion Boards in Notebowl Part 2: Group Discussion Boards

    1. From the assignments tab, click on the Add button, and then choose assignment.

    2. Fill in the general information at the top.

    3. Under submission, set submission type as "Discussion Board."

    4. For Individual/Group, choose "Group" to setup a discussion for individual groups.

    5. You can set options for your particular discussion board assignment in the "Discussion Board Options" section.

    6. Make sure to set a "Max # of Students per Group" at the bottom.

    7. After you click "Create," you will be taken to a professor view of the discussion board.

    8. There are three tabs in the professor view for group discussion boards.

      • "Discussion Board" is where you can see and participate in the individual group discussions. Once you setup your groups, you will be able to view all posts or filter by group name.

      • "Submissions" is where you see individual student submissions. Provide grades and grading feedback in the "Submissions" tab, not the "Discussion Board" tab.

      • "Manage Groups" is where you setup the discussion board groups.

    9. If you would like to see how a student views the discussion board, go to the "More" tab and choose "View As." A red bar will show on the top of your screen. Choose a specific student name to view as and see what an average student would see.

Record lecture audio

Tech savvy level: Intermediate

  1. Record audio of your lecture using one of the options below.

  2. EXTRA: Edit the audio using one of the following software applications. You may also use these applications to record your audio.

  3. Upload your completed audio file to your course folder in Google Drive (see Create a Repository of Resources above).

  4. Share the link to your audio file in the Documents tab of Notebowl.

Pre-record a lecture of yourself talking into a camera

Tech savvy level: Intermediate

  1. Use a computer webcam and software to record a video of your lecture.

  2. Upload your recording to Google Drive and then share the link in Notebowl (see Repository of Resources section above)

Pre-record a lecture that includes capturing your screen

Tech savvy level: Advanced

Mac/PC: Google Meet

► VIDEO: by Tempus Nova

  1. Start a Google Hangouts Meet.

  2. Choose present to share your screen.

  3. Select Record in the more menu (the three dots).

  4. Your recorded video will automatically be added to your Google Drive.

PC: Windows 10 screen recorder app

► VIDEO: by Kevin Stratvert

  1. On a windows keyboard click shortcut key Windows-G. (an X Box Game Bar Window will appear on your screen)

  2. Select/Click on Gear icon in the Game Bar.

  3. Select/Click on the Game DVR tab.

  4. Set Audio Quality to 192 KBPS

  5. Select/Click on Edit More Preferences Tab

  6. Read through and review the Shortcut Keys on the page

  7. Select/Click on Game DVR Tab (on upper left part of screen)

  8. Check Settings where to save, record length,Record audio when I record game (set to ON) recorded video (set to 30 fps) video quality (set to high) microphone settings, audio settings (set to 192 kpbs for best results) capture mouse in recordings (set to on or off).

  9. On a windows keyboard click shortcut key Windows-G. (An X Box Game Bar will appear on your screen)

  10. To Start recording click the Red Button to begin recording (press space bar to stop or use stop button in Game Bar)

To reclaim what you just recorded.

  1. Stop Recording.

  2. Select/Click on the X Box icon on the X Box Game Bar. (Circle in the left corner of the Game Bar)

  3. X Box App Window will open, Look at the left hand side of the APP Window, then Click/Select on the Navigation. (Three horizontal lines at the top left hand corner of the APP Window)

  4. Go to the Game DVR Tab, all your recordings will be listed there.

  5. Alternatively, in that same window you can Select/Click Open Folder on to see all your screen caps recorded.

Mac: Quicktime

► VIDEO: by Michael Kinney

  1. Launch Quicktime Player (in Finder or Applications Folder select Quicktime or use magnifying glass spotlight search-in upper left hand corner of screen)

  2. Once opened in the Quicktime player window Select/Click File.

  3. In the drop down window select either New Movie Recording to record your webcam or new Screen Recording to Record your screen.

  4. The Screen Recording Interface opens on the interface select/Click on the downward facing arrow next to the Record button to change and set your settings.

  5. Select your microphone you will use.

  6. Choose Show Mouse Clicks in Recording if you want to track your mouse clicks. (uncheck if you do not want to use.)

  7. Select/Click Red Button in Screen Recording Interface to start recording. Follow Prompts. (select what is appropriate)

  8. To Stop Recording-Select/Click on the Record icon in the upper right hand corner of your screen. (looks like a circle with a square in it)

  9. Alternatively, you may use the keyboard shortcut-Command Control Esc to stop recording.

  10. A playback window will appear of your vide, playback your recording to check.

To Save

  1. Select/Click File

  2. Select/Click Save

  3. Select where you want to save your file.

Facilitate synchronous class text discussion using Google Chat (not video)

Tech savvy level: Advanced

  1. Visit chat.google.com to start Google Chat.

  2. You can send direct messages with others using Google Chat.

  3. You can create rooms and hold text conversations in real time with a group.

*Google Chat was previously called Google Hangouts, and it is sometimes referred to as Google Hangouts Chat. The original Google Hangouts will no longer be available soon as Google is transitioning to Google Chat instead. Please do not use the older Hangouts feature in the email inbox, use Chat instead.

Facilitate synchronous class video discussion or lecture using Google Hangouts Meet (Includes How to Record, How to Add the Grid View and How to Use Your Cell Phone as a Document Camera)

Tech savvy level: Advanced

► VIDEO: Google Meet - Step by Step Video Tutorial

  1. Create a Google Hangouts Meet for your scheduled class time and have students join online.

  2. Present by sharing your screen with participants (Google Support Site)

  3. High-Quality Video Sharing Capability

  4. Record a Google Hangouts Meet session and share to your class for reference (Google Support Site)

  5. Consider student resources and technology requirements for using Google Hangouts Meet. They will need a computer that is connected to the internet in able to join the Google Hangouts Meet. It would be good to survey the class in advance to find out if this is an option.

Grid View: You may choose to add the Grid View extension that will permit you to see most or all of your students depending on your class size. This document will walk you through the steps. Here is a video walk through of how to set up the Grid View extension

View the ITS Quick Reference Guide

Using Your Phone as a Doc Cam

Tips: 1) Under the iPhone settings, turn auto-lock to “never” so that the camera will stay on

2) Keep the QuickTime sound at zero; otherwise you will get feedback.

**Google is providing free recording of sessions until July to help higher institutions provide remote teaching; we recommend Google Meet because we have a contract with them addressing FERPA and data privacy concerns and providing additional troubleshooting support.


Facilitate synchronous class video discussion or lecture using Zoom

Tech savvy level: Advanced

***For more videos on how to use Notebowl for asynchronous work, see this video playlist.***

General Help Resources

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