Information Technology Services
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Flu-proOf Your Course with Educational Technology

 
Stay Calm and Carry On!

The use of educational resources allows students and instructors to continue their academic progress with minimal disruption even if attendance is not possible. CLT (The Centre for Learning and Teaching) and ITS offer assistance to instructors seeking ways to mitigate impact in the event of a significant disruption due to the H1N1 Flu.

The underlying principle is to be prepared. Have methods for students to catch up if they miss classes. Consider how you will carry on class if you are sick, or caring for the sick, for an extended period.

Planning Ahead

  • Develop and document a communications strategy. Advise your students where to find course information. Include this information with your course syllabus.
  • Plan how you will maintain contact with your Teaching Assistants, Markers, other Instructional Staff, and the Administrative Team in your department. Create a mailing list of people who need to be kept informed about the course in case of illness (yours or theirs).
  • Set up an online course space in our Blackboard (Bb) system and post (at a minimum) your syllabus, calendar, and information about assignments. Update as required.
  • Document your plan regarding make-ups and absences in clear and concise language.

Continuing Class if You or Students Must Remain Home

  For Lectured-based Classes

  • Post documents and assignments online in Bb.
  • Record the class lecture for students to view later.
  • Narrate a slide show from home in Powerpoint for students to play back. Run this session through Impatica to improve playback performance.
  • Adopt Wimba Classroom to hold real-time classes.
  • Use the Bb Announcement tool or Wimba Podcaster to post announcements and set up RSS feeds.

  Seminar Class / Discussion

  • Use Bb's Discussion Board or Wimba's Voice Board for class sessions.
  • Use Wimba Classroom to hold online real-time meetings.
  • Use Wimba Voice Direct for an audio conference with small classes.

  Lab Classes

  • Locate acceptable virtual labs online for student to complete.
  • Arrange alternative activities in place of the lab.

  Hold Online Office Hours

  • Use Voice Direct for an audio/text chat with students or
  • Use the Chat / Whiteboard tool in Bb.

Handling Passed-In Assignments

  • Post assignment instructions and related materials using the Bb Assignment tool.
  • Have students submit written assignments online through Bb.
  • Grade assignments and post grades online inside Bb.
  • Use the Bb Assignment tool to provide student feedback.
  • Use Wimba Voice Email to comment orally on student work.
  • Use the Bb Assessment tool to offer online quizzes, exams and questionnaires.

Meetings and Group Work

  • Offer students online tools for group work such as the Bb Group tools, the CampusPack Wiki, or a Wimba Classroom room with presenter access for students.
  • Use Wimba Voice Direct to communicate one-on-one so you can have a voice conversation with students.
  • Allow students to use Wimba Voice Direct to have team conversations.
  • Hold online meeting with Wimba Classroom to share visuals and have a voice conversation.
  • Use the Bb Announcement and Calendar tools to advise students of your availability.