Planning Your Course
Overview
The Gallatin School of Individualized Study offers a wide range of small, intellectually-challenging seminars that encourage student participation. Whether you've just received approval for your new course proposal (due March 1st for the Fall and Spring semesters), or you are getting ready to teach the same course again, please use the resources below to assist you in planning your semester, from developing your syllabus to familiarizing yourself with your classroom's A/V.
Brightspace Setup
Brightspace is NYU’s Learning Management System (LMS), which instructors can use to share course materials, assignments, discussion forums, assessments, & communications. If you're new to Brightspace, we strongly recommend that you attend a Brightspace workshop, offered throughout the semester by NYU IT. For the most comprehensive training materials and resources compiled specifically for Gallatin faculty, please consider enrolling in the self-paced Gallatin NYU Brightspace Training by clicking on Discover from your Brightspace homepage.
GET STARTED WITH ONLINE RESOURCES
Gallatin’s Brightspace Cheat Sheet (1-page quick-start guide)
Gallatin’s Brightspace How-To’s (video playlist)
NYU Faculty Checklist for NYU Brightspace Course Site Set-Up
PLUG-AND-PLAY MODULES
Gallatin has developed "plug-and-play" modules for Brightspace, instructional content that can be plugged into your course site and used as is, or customized. The current modules include Library, Research, and Information Literacy and Project Management for Students. For more information, contact the Associate Director of Educational Technology, Jenny Kijowski (jenny.kijowski@nyu.edu).
LIVE HELP
For a 1-on-1 consultation, book an appointment with NYU Brightspace Support, or contact Associate Director of Educational Technology, Jenny Kijowski (jenny.kijowski@nyu.edu).
For immediate, time-sensitive help, call NYU IT at 212.998.3333 (24/7/365).
To attend a training, register for a Brightspace workshop, offered throughout the semester by NYU IT.
Learning analytics are available in Brightspace. Contact learning.analytics@nyu.edu for more information, or to request a consultation.
BEYOND BRIGHTSPACE
For educational technologies beyond Brightspace, see Tools for Teaching and Learning.
Classroom Setup
Shortly before the start of the semester, you will receive an email with your classroom assignment. Please note the following important information about classroom equipment, capacity, and usage etiquette:
EQUIPMENT
Standard equipment: Almost all of NYU classrooms are "smart classrooms" and are equipped with a computer with internet access, a projector, and a CD/DVD player. You can find information about classroom equipment on NYU’s Campus Media Classroom Support page.
Equipment requests: If you need equipment that is not located in your classroom (for example, a VCR), please contact the Associate Director of Faculty Affairs, Jason Yi (jason.yi@nyu.edu), who can request the additional equipment for you. He will need to know what equipment you need and the date(s) and time you plan to use it. Advance notice of two business days is required by the office that provides this equipment. You may request this equipment on your own by filling out the Submit a Campus Media Classroom Support request form.
SPACE AND TIMING
Room capacity: If your course is closed and you are planning to allow additional students to register, please make sure that your room capacity can accommodate the extra students. Your course enrollment cannot exceed your classroom seating capacity (as mandated by fire code regulations).
Resetting the classroom: At the end of each class session, faculty are responsible for returning their classroom to its original set up. If you are having issues with the class before you leaving the room in disarray, please contact the University classroom office at 212-998-4220 (for non-Gallatin classrooms), or Jason Yi (for Gallatin classrooms).
Time considerations: There are approximately 15 minutes between classes. Please end class on time and, within the next 5 minutes, clear the room so that the next instructor can come in and set up and the students can sit down before class begins. If you are having issues with the timeliness of the class before or after you, please contact the University classroom office at 212-998-4220 (for non-Gallatin classrooms), or Jason Yi (for Gallatin classrooms).
SUPPORT
Classroom Technology: For assistance with classroom technologies, please see Gallatin's Technology, Operations, and Facilities Guide.
Classroom Facilities: If there are any problems with the facilities in your classroom (too warm/too cold, broken furniture, etc.), please contact Jason Yi, who will report the problem to the building manager.
Office Hours
Prior to the beginning of each semester, you will receive an email asking for your office hour preferences, which should generally be scheduled during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, 9am–5pm.
Part-Time Faculty: Please schedule one or two regular office hours each week.
Evening Courses: You may schedule office hours before your class begins.
Additional Office Hours: Office hours may be requested for advising, independent studies and tutorials as well.
See the New Faculty section of Working at NYU for information about office setup and mailboxes.
Need a Space for Meetings?
Faculty interested in reserving a Gallatin classroom space for a meeting should email facultyservices.gallatin@nyu.edu at least two weeks prior to the proposed date, and include preferred space, preferred date and time. Examples of small, one-time meetings include:
Invitation-only meetings with faculty colleagues to discuss a specific research-related topic, review a manuscript, etc.
Gallatin faculty working group meetings.
Reserving rehearsal space or extra classroom space so that your class can meet together and work on a special class project.
Reserving the rehearsal room or art studio to work with a student.
Gallatin information sessions.
If you are not sure if your gathering is a meeting or an event, please see our "Is it an Event?" guide, or reach out to facultyservices.gallatin@nyu.edu and/or events.gallatin@nyu.edu.
Any event or public gathering that is supported by Gallatin or that meets in a Gallatin space will need to go through the process outlined in Planning an Event.
See the Computer/Media Lab and Makerspaces section of Technology Resources for additional spaces that can be reserved for instructional use.