While this term might not be what we expected (!), and the transition of a course to a distributed or online format is new to many of us, there is help! In this community, we've pulled together various resources that we thought would be helpful. We've organized it by what we thought would be major topics or tasks. Topics will have helpful tips and resources, and where appropriate checklists and technical guides. We'll continue to add to the community over the next few weeks.
Also, feel free to contact the Rady Faculty's Office of Educational and Faculty Development at OEFD@umanitoba.ca. We're here to help!
First, here is some thoughtful advice from the Chronicle of Higher Education to consider as you think about moving your course to a distance delivery mode (Gagnon, 2020).
First, it's okay to not know what you're doing. There are a lot of people going through the same thing. Talk to colleagues, explore twitter, many people are offering to share resources, communication plans, and their own tips and tricks. Also, find out from your department/program who is already teaching online and ask them questions, and for advice, and guidance.
Remember, good teaching is good teaching. Gagnon (2020) suggests it requires:
Regular, effective, and compassionate communication with students
Flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances
Transparency in course materials, like tests, assignments, and activities, such as clear objectives, expectations, and timelines.
As you move to online/distance, keep it as simple and accessible as you can. Moving from in-class to online is disruptive enough, now's not the time to add complicated tools or procedures.
Start with what you've already been doing. Have you used Zoom, or Adobe Connect, or WebEx for meetings? Start there. Do you use part of UMLearn for posting your powerpoints, hosting discussions, or submitting assignments? Build on that. Even if you aren't using UMLearn or Entrada already, students probably are familiar with these, and you should consider capitalizing on this. Reach out to the Office of Educational and Faculty Development for help. We have a number of educational specialists who have expertise in online and distributed learning.
But, expect turbulence, and be ready to change your plans accordingly. The plan isn't the goal....the goal is helping students learn the content from your course, with as little disruption as possible. And because this is all new and done in a hurry, the plan may need to change to support the goal. . Be prepared to re-think due dates, assignment design, and grading. Think about class participation.
Acknowledge the disruption to students, this often goes a long way to minimizing anxiety
Online learning doesn't mean dumbing down content, but it will look different. It doesn't have to be impersonal. Many courses will become more asynchronous. However, using video conferencing software help with make learning more social. Reach out with email and chat with your students, perhaps consider writing a blog about your lecture/tutorial, or use the discussion board in UMlearn or Entrada. Consider expanding your office hours, or use WebEx, Zoom, or AdobeConnect (whatever you're used to) for virtual office hours. Make it easy for students to connect with you, whatever you choose. The more you converse with your students and co-construct learning with them, the easier learning will be.
Adapted from: Gagnon, K. (March 12, 2020), How to make your online pivot less brutal. The Chronical of Higher Education retrieved from https://www.chronicle.com/article/How-to-Make-Your-Online-Pivot/248239