Remote Teaching: How-to and tools

Teaching and Learning practice

    Tools supported by USask for planned remote instruction

Lectures

• Record video presentations for your class using Panopto
• Host a live online class using WebEx
• Upload content to your Course Tools (Blackboard) course (all USask courses automatically have a Blackboard course created)
• Annotate or narrate lecture notes using PowerPoint
• If using Panopto videos, encourage students to use the Panopto Discussion tool to ask written questions throughout videos
• Link to existing online content, such as lectures available on YouTube from various universities

Class Discussions

• Use the Blackboard Discussions tool for class discussions
• Use the Top Hat Discussions for class discussions
• If using Panopto videos, encourage students to use the Panopto Discussion tool to ask written questions throughout videos

Group Projects & Group work

• Break large classes into smaller online groups using Blackboard
• Provide options for students to meet virtually (e.g. WebEx)
• Use Office 365/OneDrive or Google Docs for student collaboration
• Student video recording or digital sharing of projects / performances (e.g., using Panopto or YouTube)
• Structure peer feedback using the Discussions on Blackboard

Communicating with Students

• Email your students, either through PAWS or using the Blackboard Email tool
• Post Announcements for all students in Blackboard
• Update your syllabus / course outline, email it to your students, and upload it to your Blackboard course site

Office hours

• Hold virtual office hours using tools, such as WebEx
• Create a FAQ in the Blackboard Discussions tool
• Create a FAQ in the Top Hat Discussions tool

Quizzes and Tests

• Use the Blackboard Tests tool for auto- and manual-graded tests
• Use Top Hat questions in “Assigned as Homework” mode
• Note that these tools can’t prevent students from accessing course materials, books, etc.
• Explore changing quizzes and tests to different online assessments such as group projects, reflective writing, written or photo essays, research reports, critiques, simulations, scenarios or case studies presentations, and/or ePortfolios

Assignments and Feedback

• Have students upload documents for grading using the Blackboard Assignment submission tool
• Set up the Blackboard Grade Centre tool in your Blackboard course site and connect items to assignments
• Have students submit video or digital recordings of their performances, presentations, or projects – Panopto has a “Student Video Assignment” tool. Note: Please contact gmctl-support@usask.ca for support setting this up.
• Use rubrics to help grade assignments more efficiently – Blackboard has a Rubric Tool for assignments uploaded
• Provide digital inline feedback on student assignments on Blackboard

Readings, Resources and Support

• Upload content to your Course Tools (Blackboard) course (all USask courses automatically have a Blackboard course created)
• Speak with your Library Liaison about putting reserve items online for use in classes
• Provide students with a link to open textbooks instead of commercial texts they’d need to get physically from the Bookstore
• Contact the University Library to arrange an online library orientation, a workshop on research, writing, or academic skill development for your students, and other support for teaching.
• Integrate resources like the Academic Integrity Tutorial in your course design