Moving to a Remote Environment in 4 Steps
Step 1: Maintain your designated in-class teaching time
- Your class has a set meeting time - use it! Conduct remote meetings during your regularly scheduled class time to either lecture, lead a class discussion or activity, or conduct office hours. Continuity is key. A lot is changing already! It is possible to maintain active learning during synchronous sessions (read more or see examples).
- If you can’t conduct a virtual meeting during class time, at a minimum, check in with your students through Canvas Chat or through the phone at the designated class time.
- Meetings can be recorded for students who have technology issues. There are system-supported tools available to assist you. You can even use your phone if you have to. Don’t worry about editing the recorded video afterward, and don’t worry about kids or pets in the background or how your hair looks! :-)
- Be flexible. Even though we think students should be free at the same time they were a week ago, their lives are rapidly evolving. Work with students individually as needed.
Step 2: Communicate your plan to your students
As soon as possible, communicate with your students. Identify the manner in which you will primarily communicate (email, Canvas messages, etc.) and begin a conversation about your course plans and expectations.
As soon as possible, communicate with your students. Identify the manner in which you will primarily communicate (email, Canvas messages, etc.) and begin a conversation about your course plans and expectations.
- Send a Canvas message (Guides | Video) and post a course announcement (Guides | Video).
- You may also want to send an email via Gmail to your classes (this is simple using Gmail Distribution Lists; when composing a new message type the 5-digit class number into the To: field of the message(e.g.: PCC.2020.Spring.PREFIX.SUBJECT#.CLASS #@phoenixcollege.edu)
- Regular and authentic communication is essential to emergency-based instruction!
- Be clear in your instructions on how you will use Canvas or other tools for instruction.
- Provide students with a weekly schedule/checklist that includes the times/dates of any virtual meetings, chats, or office hours.
- Don’t assume students know how to use Canvas or other tools. Communicate how they can get assistance.
- Share other important communication resources.
- The Maricopa Community Colleges encourage all students to install the Rave Guardian App on their mobile phones. It provides an additional way for everyone to be proactive in staying safe.
- Students should make sure they keep their contact information current for Phoenix College. To verify/update their student contact information, go to: https://my.maricopa.edu/ and click on "Student Center." Scroll down to "Personal Information" and from there you can verify/update your information.
- If students have questions about setting up their preferences, they should contact the 24/7 phone support at the Maricopa Help Desk at 1-888-994-4433.
- Communication is key to your success and student success, please communicate regularly.
Step 3: Build your Canvas shell
Every course at PC has an instance within Canvas, our District’s LMS. To begin, familiarize yourself with these key components.
Every course at PC has an instance within Canvas, our District’s LMS. To begin, familiarize yourself with these key components.
- Have a clear design plan before jumping in. Design impacts usability and learning. The following guides can assist you:
- Log in and orient yourself to Canvas (set up your Canvas course in 30 minutes or less; Getting Started with Canvas)
- As a best practice, set up your course structure using Modules: Modules are used to organize content by weeks, units, and other organizational structures for courses. Think of a module as containing everything a student needs for one unit (or piece) of instruction. Modules can contain files (e.g. Powerpoint, Word Docs, PDFs, videos, etc .) or typed/linked on Canvas Pages.
- Add a weekly checklist using Canvas Pages for each module/week/unit.
- Check with your department to see if another faculty member has course content they can share with you through a course import: Import Course Content or a Template.
- Note: If in doubt on how to do this, please contact the CTL for assistance prior to starting the copy process.
- Depending upon the number of imports occurring, it could take up to a day for your content to copy to your new course shell. Do not resubmit it or you will have duplicate content. Check with your CTL for assistance if it takes more than 24 hours to copy.
- Use Student View to ensure the course looks the way it should.
- Remove any tools you are not using from the Course Navigation
- Publish the course (Do not publish the course until you are ready.)
Step 4: Teach
Live (Synchronous) Instruction
You have three options to host live (synchronous) instruction that are supported by MCCCD. Choose what works for you and your students. You can use:
- Google Meet |Using Meet in Canvas | How to use Google Meet for eLearning, Online Learning | Google Meet Guide for Students (Courtesy of SCC)
- Canvas Conferences (Big Blue Button)
- Cisco Webex
- Product Feature Comparison Guide
- Quick Start Guide for Webex Meetings
- Personal Meeting Quick Start (Video)
- Quick Connect Guide (First Time)
- Webex Feature Guide for Students
- Joining a Personal Webex Meeting Room for Students (Video)
- Faculty Instructions to Set up a Personal Webex Meeting Room (Video)
- Webex Feature Guide for Faculty
- Help Center for Webex Training (ability to conduct breakout rooms)
- Recorded MCLI Sessions for Webex
Asynchronous Instruction (Recording Lectures)
If you want to pre-record lecture materials, use Screencast-O-Matic (Quick Reference Guide and iPad/iPhone app) and share them with students using your pre-determined communication method.
- Taking your lectures online
- Best practices recording and uploading video (supports phone/iPad recording)
- How do I record a video using the Rich Content Editor as an instructor?
- How do I record a video using Flash in the Rich Content Editor as an instructor?
- How do I upload a video using the Rich Content Editor as an instructor?
- How do I record audio using the Rich Content Editor as an instructor?
- How do I record audio using Flash in the Rich Content Editor as an instructor?
- How do I upload an audio file using the Rich Content Editor as an instructor?
Move Office Hours Online
Maintain your office hours for students to get in touch with you. There are several ways you can do this: in Canvas (conference/chat) and phone.
- Create appointment slots in Canvas Calendar
- Create Virtual Office Hours in Canvas using Conferences
- Chat in Canvas - note that Chat feature records all history for users to see so do not use chat to discuss private matters such as grading with students.
Assessment of Learning
Assessment of learning can be easily managed in Canvas.
- Create Assignments, Quizzes, and Discussions on Canvas
- How to quickly record assignment instructions using audio or video in Canvas using the Rich Content Editor.
- Respondus - if you are worried about test integrity, you can use Respondus LockDown Browser with Monitor
- LockDown Browser Training Materials and Monitor
- PC Faculty Instructions
- Respondus is offering daily webinars during the month of March to learn how to use this tool
- Grading
Maintaining Classroom Community
There are many ways to keep the classroom community thriving online. Use of synchronous meetings through web conferences and chat as already mentioned are very helpful but there are other options such as:
Learning Activities
You can still create engaging learning activities for students in the online environment. Here are some resources to get you started.
- Lab Simulations
- H5P - contact the CTL for information about the Phoenix College Account
- Whiteboards