Moving Your Class Online

Considerations

When making the move to putting your class online, there are a number of considerations you should make:

• How will your students communicate with you?
• How will they be able to access the class and content online?
• Which tool(s) best support your course content and activities, and teaching of your course?
• What is the quickest way to provide access to materials that have been moved online?
• Should you deliver your content asynchronously (offline) or your class synchronously (live)? Or both?
• Will you experience bandwidth and service issues when you teach online?

Student use and access to hardware

You should also consider how your students will access your course content and your classes.

• Students may have limited access to a laptop or desktop computer and to internet access
• Students are more likely to own or have access to a smart phone than a laptop or desktop computer
• Students with laptops or desktops may be using older models that do not have a webcam or they might not be able to install new or updated applications
• Students with mobile devices and a computer are likely to have data plans rather than Wi-Fi. Data plans may be limited. Content should be made available online and should be downloadable for offline access.
• Students solely using smart phones for online courses may find the experience challenging. Some content has not been designed to be mobile responsive, however, some apps are not as fully featured as desktop apps.

Communicate with your students

Communicate using email

Communicate with your students using your College email or LEARN email. Email is easy to use,  familiar, and low bandwidth. Email is an excellent option when an immediate response is not required. Students can feel anxious waiting for a response so be sure to tell them you will respond within 24 hours.

Meet with your students in real time

Schedule meetings with your students in real time to see and hear each other, to feel connected, provide an immediate response, and avoid misunderstanding.

Use WebEx Meetings or Team Meetings to host live video streaming sessions:

• Online office hours
• Meeting one-on-one
• Classes
• Presentations
• Discussions
• Demonstrations

Drawbacks

Video streaming requires newer hardware/device and high bandwidth internet.

What’s required to use WebEx Meeting or Team Meetings?

• Computer using a web browser or desktop app with headphones, and/or
• Android or Apple iOS mobile device app (phone or tablet) with ear buds. The mobile apps have some limitations.

Use LEARN as a hub

LEARN is a hub to connect your students to all the components of your course. It’s an all in one place. LEARN is also mobile friendly, as long as the content you add is mobile friendly.

• Communication tools: email and news
• WebEx personal room for real time video sessions
• Course outline
• Learning materials
• Discussions
• Assignments, assessments and grades
• Link to external content
  • LinkedIn Learning
  • Pearson hub
  • Virtual labs
  • Videos
  • Podcasts
  • Text book content

What’s required to use LEARN?

Access LEARN using a web browser on a:

• Desktop or laptop computer, and/or
• Android or Apple iOS mobile device (phone or tablet)

Encourage student collaboration

Encourage your students to work together to build documents using Microsoft Office365 and OneDrive . Students can work on documents online or download them to work offline. Students can stay connected by meeting live and or chatting using Microsoft Teams.

What’s required to use Microsoft OneDrive and Office 365

• Web browser or desktop app for computers, and/or
• App for Android and iOS mobile devices (phone or tablet)