Keep Teaching: Getting Help

This Keep Teaching resource helps you make choices about how to ensure continuity of instruction in the event of a campus closure. It does not replicate the richer experience you would obtain by going through Online in 9 or one of the online course development programs. It is meant to be a just-in-time online teaching guide if you need to switch delivery modes quickly. 

Questions to Consider as an Instructor

1. Review your syllabus for adjustments. What will have to temporarily change in your syllabus (policies, due dates, assignments, etc.)? Since students will also be thrown off by the changes, they will appreciate details whenever you can provide them. You can find Blended and Online Syllabus Templates and Sample Syllabus Statements here.
   
   
2. Be realistic. What do you think you can realistically accomplish during this time period? What activities are better rescheduled, and what can or must be done online? Give yourself a little flexibility in that schedule, just in case the situation takes longer to resolve than you think.
   
   
3. Consider pacing. Do you think you can maintain your original syllabus and schedule?
   
   
4. Guide students. Consider ways to guide students through the readings by structuring in discussions or assignments to add accountability and help students process what they’re reading.
   
   
5. Focus on what's most important. Identify your priorities during the disruption—providing lectures, structuring new opportunities for discussion or group work, collecting assignments, etc.

What can you do now to prepare for an emergency campus closure?

• Download student roster from MyView in case you need to get in touch with your students. Use Canvas as your messaging platform to students.
  
  
• Please note that not all UMSL students have a computer, printer, or webconferencing equipment at home, though most have smartphones. Do a technology needs assessment about technology for the class (Which device(s) do they use? What do they use for Internet access?) and use the results to make adjustments accordingly. You may find that everyone in class has what it takes to access your content or participate in class activities through at least a smartphone. This will help you know whether to offer synchronous real-time online meetings via Zoom or whether you need to develop asynchronous (not in real time) delivery of learning materials and activities.
  
  
  • Consider having your students participate in an icebreaker on VoiceThread. This will serve two purposes: begin to create a sense of community in your class, and familiarize students with the tool in case you use it later in the semester.
    
    
  • Consider having a short, optional, Zoom session early in the semester, for similar reasons.
    
    
• Remind students to download or print a copy of the syllabus.
  
  
• Consider issues of Internet accessibility and data bandwidth. Students may experience outages, or lack of access to the Internet, or have other issues with using data and bandwidth, particularly if they are using their phones to complete assignments.
  
  
• Include a statement in your syllabus such as the one above that instructs students in the case of an extended campus closure.

Where to Find Help

The Center for Teaching and Learning and Office of eLearning staff are ready to help you pivot to remote teaching via Canvas or Zoom. This page provides direction about how to get the help you need for teaching remotely. 

In-Person Workshops, trainings, and supported working sessions have now concluded. If you need help, please consider one of the virtual training sessions or reach out for individual consultation help below.

Pivoting your course from in-person to online can feel daunting, but rest assured knowing that you have help. Reach out to any of the colleagues below, a trusted colleague in your department, your department chair, or any of the talented, innovative online instructors who can show you how to accomplish what you need to do.

CTL Staff

• Keeta Holmes
• Jen McKanry
• Erin Whitteck
• General CTL Account

eLearning Staff

• Marcel Bechtoldt
• Kelly Crone-Willis
• Emily Goldstein
• Mary Fowler
• Dave Gellman
• Gretchen Haskell
• Dasha Kochuk
• Michael Porterfield
• Tom Roedel
• Pearl Xie
• Kristen Wilke
• Paul Wilmarth

ITS Helpdesk

• helpdesk@umsl.edu 
• http://www.umsl.edu/technology/

Workshops

Virtual Workshops are coordinated centrally by the UM-System Office of eLearning on a variety of tools. These are hosted by our colleagues across the UM-System campuses and are open to any UMSL faculty or staff member. Registration is required for some webinars but not all. See the website for details as they unfold http://keeplearning.umsystem.edu/support/solutions/articles/11000083652-getting-training

How to get help with instructional design for your course in Canvas

Consult the pages at UM-System Office of eLearning, http://keeplearning.umsystem.edu/support/home

You can also leverage the instructional design teams across the UM-System campuses by emailing this single account: keeplearning@umsystem.edu . Your email will be routed to an instructional designer on your campus who’ll reach out as soon as possible.

Please also email your colleagues in the Center for Teaching and Learning if we can help. ctl@umsl.edu 
 

Faculty Helping Faculty

We have a cohort of amazing UMSL faculty who teach online and who have volunteered to help departmental colleagues with questions or assistance in Canvas or teaching online. Please reach out to your faculty colleague for help as needed.