**This page is from an old version of CSUN's Faculty Development website. Find an updated version on the current Teaching Toolkit on Canvas.**
The first step to teach remotely is to think about all the parts of your course that may need an alternative modality now that you aren't in a face-to-face environment. It is okay to change because what you had planned may no longer work remotely.
Use the worksheet below as a guide to your brainstorm process. What changes do you need to make in your class to accomplish your learning objectives remotely? As you fill out your own worksheet, select the items in the accordion list below to learn about technologies available at CSUN and online equivalents to instructional components of a face to face class. You can also see some sample completed worksheets from faculty with various comfort levels with technology.
Teaching Remotely Worksheets
- Level 1 Sample Plan (Faculty member uses email, Zoom & no Canvas yet)
- Level 2 Sample Plan (Faculty member uses Canvas, Zoom & some tools)
- Level 3 Sample Plan (Faculty member uses Zoom, Canvas and many other tools)
What adjustments do I need to make in my course in order to teach remotely?
The components outlined below list the most common and critical aspects of a face to face class which often have points allocated towards the final grade. As you learn about online alternatives to instructional practices that are familiar, pay attention to the various instructional technologies available at CSUN that can help you teach remotely. As you make decisions, keep accessibility in mind and refer to campus accessibility services and resources for assistance. Also, the library has lots of helpful resources to support teaching remotely, including scanning and embedding instructional materials. When looking for more in-depth information about creating technology-enriched practices in teaching, refer to Faculty Development's eLearning Resources page.
> Return to Teaching Through Disruption
Announcements
Which primary mode of communication will you use with your students?
Alternatives/ Technologies
- Announcements
- Tools to Explore:
- Solar roster (CSUN email)
- Class email list (CSUN email)
- Canvas Announcement
- Canvas Inbox
Considerations
- Let students know the ‘best means of communication between you and the students
- When can students now expect a response from you (e.g., within 24-48 hours)
Resources
Assignments: Papers/Homework
How will students submit assignments and receive feedback from you?
Alternatives/ Technologies
- Online Submissions
- Tools to Explore:
- Canvas Assignments
- Turnitin in Canvas Assignments
- Google Drive
- MyCSUNBOX
Considerations
- Clearly state the due dates in each assignment
- Give your students clear directions (with the purpose, steps & grading criteria), including instructions on how to submit them and let them know how you access your feedback. Designing assignments transparently can reduce student anxiety. Learn more about transparent assignments in the Teaching with Transparency page.
Resources
Discussions
If your class relied on discussions and debates and you allocated points for this expectation, will you still require this and/or how will you score engagement?
Alternatives/ Technologies
- Synchronous Discussions
- Asynchronous Discussions
- Tools to Explore:
- Zoom (synchronous)
- Canvas Chat Tool (synchronous)
- Canvas Discussions (asynchronous)
Considerations
- Breakout rooms in Zoom can be used for discussions in small groups
- Canvas Discussions can be customized for interactive communication on your class topics.
Resources
Grading and Feedback
How will you provide feedback on assignments and let students know their grades?
Alternatives/ Technologies
- Grade all online submissions in Canvas
- Speedgrader in Canvas lets you view and grade student assignment submissions in one place
- Tools to Explore:
- Gradebook
- Speedgrader
Considerations
Canvas has many tools you can use for grading student work: Assignment Markup, Embedded Rubrics,Options for Feedback Comments and Anonymous Grading.
Resources
Group Projects
If group work is still required, how will you help facilitate group meetings?
Alternatives/ Technologies
- Online team collaboration
- Tools to Explore:
- Canvas (Groups, Collaborations)
- Google Drive
- Zoom
- Microsoft Teams
Considerations
- All CSUN students have access to Zoom to create meetings
- Students can work together on the same document using Drive or Microsoft teams
Resources
Guest Speakers
How could guest speaker content still be delivered?
Alternatives/ Technologies
- Live and/or recorded personal guests
- Curated content from across the internet
- Tools to Explore:
- Zoom
- MyCSUNBox
- YouTube
- Canvas
Considerations
- Invite guests to present live on Zoom
- Upload video content from video open sources such as TED Talks
Resources
- Zoom
- TedEd
- Online videos (e.g., Youtube, Kahn Academy; TED Talks; etc.)
Labs/Studios
If students need to experiment to learn, what alternatives can be considered?
Alternatives/ Technologies
- Take part of lab online
- Provide video demonstrations of techniques
- Investigate virtual labs
- Provide raw data for analysis
- Explore alternate software access
- Tools to Explore:
- Canvas
- Camtasia
- Snagit
- YouTube
- MyCSUNBox
- Publisher Content (i.e. MyLab Math)
Considerations
Your video lectures can be stored in Box, or uploaded to YouTube and embedded in Canvas.
Resources
Lectures
What is your plan to continue sharing & discussing content knowledge with students?
Alternatives/ Technologies
Synchronous Online Lectures
- Recorded lectures and screencasts
- Tools to Explore:
- Zoom
- SnagIt
- Camtasia
- Canvas
- MyCSUNBox
- YouTube
Considerations
- Use Zoom for synchronous video lectures
- Your video lectures can be stored in Box, or uploaded to YouTube (Unlisted) and embedded in Canvas
- All instructional videos need to be captioned. CSUN faculty and staff can request captioning by visiting the NCOD Media Captioning webpage.
Resources
Office Hours
Alternatives/ Technologies
- Asynchronous Discussions
- Instant Messaging
- Tools to Explore:
- Zoom
- Canvas Q&A Discussions
- Canvas Chat
Considerations
- Explore Zoom features: breakout rooms or the waiting room for privacy
- Set up a Q&A Discussion Forum for general course questions
- Let your students know when you will be available to be reached via Canvas chat
- If you anticipate having difficult dialogues, Faculty Development resources with practical advice on how to manage those difficult moments may be of use
Resources
Quizzes/ Exams
What assessments will be in place to evaluate student learning related to your course objectives?
Alternatives/ Technologies
- Online assessments
- Tools to Explore:
- Canvas Quizzes
- Google Forms
Considerations
- Explore Canvas Quiz settings for graded exams
- Visit the Online Testing Strategies to Promote Academic Honesty webpage to learn about online exam design practices.
- Keep in mind higher-stakes online exams can add to student anxiety. Consider offering practice tests that are low stakes allowing students to ensure their internet is sufficient, adding to their comfort for the actual exam.
Resources
Resources
Aside from your assigned text, do students need additional course resources that you would usually pass out during class?
Alternatives/ Technologies
- Open Educational Resources
- Tools to Explore:
- Canvas (Files, Pages, Links, Modules, Text Headers, Course Menu Navigation)
Considerations
Use Modules and Headers in Canvas
- Disable unnecessary items in your Course Menu
- See if there is an option for ebook or online access for your textbook with the Oviatt librarians
- Test how your material looks on mobile devices keeping in mind that students use the Canvas Student App
Resources
Student Presentations
How will students present their work to the rest of the class, if that is still required?
Alternatives/ Technologies
- Online live presentations using Zoom
- Recorded student presentation
- Tools to Explore:
- Zoom
- MyCSUNBox
- YouTube
- Canvas
- PowerPoint
- Keynote
- Google Slides
Considerations
- Make students co-hosts in a Zoom meeting so they can lead a presentation
- Students can explain, teach, or showcase a concept recording videos over slides
Resources
Syllabus
Where will students access your revised syllabus and how will they know which one is the most recent?
Alternatives/ Technologies
- Place your syllabus and course documents in Canvas (Word, PDF) or Link to a Google Doc
- Email your syllabus file
- Tools to Explore:
- Canvas (Files Pages and Syllabus Tool)
- Google Doc
- CSUN email
Considerations
- Update your syllabus with information specific to online learning. If you have to significantly change your assignments (e.g., online exams instead of in-class exams; open note exams) please consider how you will specifically operationalize cheating in your course now. What's the line between collaborating and copying? If your approach to academic dishonesty was to simply point to the CSUN policy (and that's it), a disruption in your course and new assignments means more clarity may be needed now. Faculty Development's Teaching Toolkit includes a comprehensive Academic Honesty webpage to make this adjustment easy for you.
- Make sure your syllabus is easy to find in your Canvas course
- Consider adding Rules for Netiquette for online discussions
Resources
- CSUN Syllabus Policy
- How to use the Syllabus tool as an instructor
- How do I create a file link in a page in a course
- Academic Honesty: Faculty Development's Teaching Toolkit