General Remote Teaching & Learning Guidance

• Staff are here to help – click here for updated staff availability and contact information
• Make sure you know how to access SONIS so that you can retrieve students’ contact information and continue to enter attendance and grades (if you have forgotten your user ID, please contact Allison Matthews, Rebecca Aponte, or Kathy Bardell)
• Email your students (using the BCC field) outlining the plan and putting their minds at ease
• Test the plan with your students. If you are going to be using a technology that you do not currently use in your class, test it before you need it. For example:
  • Send a group email and ask all students to reply
  • Invite your students to a GoToMeeting office hours session

Good Ideas to Keep In Mind

• Focus on learning outcomes – even if you need to adjust the specific activities that contribute to those outcomes.
• Have alternate options for students – who may have technology or other issues during the disruption. Flexibility is crucial during this time period.
• Teachers teach – technology is one tool that teachers can use
•  If you’re only going to read one thing, read this and remember that we will get through this together: “11 Teaching-Focused Things to Consider when Moving Your Course Online” – https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OmAqer6B9LJtOMytlB1z6sIi3NV-ZvPC4yeg8kl3J9o/mobilebasic

Technology Tools Available

• Email
  • Send regular updates so that students understand what you expect from them and how your course plans have changed from your original plans. Be sure to describe any attachments in the text of your email and name your files in a way that will help students identify what a file is. For example, if a file is an assignment, you might name it “COM181_Assignment2.”
  • Do not email through SONIS as emails are not reaching students; instead, email students directly from your email account. Remember to BCC (blind copy) your students so that they cannot see each other’s email addresses
    • How to BCC: https://www.lifewire.com/sending-an-email-to-multiple-recipients-cc-and-bcc-1171178
• Google Classroom
  • If you have or can set up a gmail email address, you can build a simple Google Classroom to post your syllabus or other course materials (readings, assignments, course files, etc.).
    • Please note: UCB is not currently able to implement G Suite for Education – please use your individual email address to set up a personal Google Classroom.
  • Some additional resources:
    • General Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0_p0fhdsTo
    • Signing in to create a Classroom: https://support.google.com/edu/classroom/answer/6072460?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform=Desktop
    • Creating a class: https://support.google.com/edu/classroom/answer/6020273?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform=Desktop
• DropBox Basic
  • While DropBox Basic has fewer features than Google Classroom, it is another free option for uploading syllabi and materials that does not require a gmail address.
  • How to Use DropBox: https://help.dropbox.com/guide/individual/how-to-use-dropbox#welcome-to-dropbox
• GoToMeeting
  • This is a video & audioconferencing tool that can allow you to hold class sessions or talk with students individually or in groups. Unlike Google Classroom or Dropbox, this is not designed for you to upload materials. This is simply a resource for you to hold meetings.
  • Signing up: You should have received an email on Sunday (3/15) afternoon with sign-up instructions. If you didn’t receive this email, please contact Caitlin (caitlin.callahan@urbancollege.edu) so that she can resend the email and help you get connected.
  • You can participate in a live training, listen to a previously recorded training, or walk through a self-paced training module. Here are the links to sign up and explore those trainings:
    • Live and on-demand training
    • Self-paced training module
  • After signing up, email students letting them know 1) when they will need to meet and 2) the log-in/call-in information
• Google Voice
  • Enables you to connect directly with student (via phone & text), without using your personal number.
  • Get started: voice.google.com
  • Resource: https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-google-voice-1616888
• Additional Resources
  • Boston Public Library – if you have a Boston Public Library card, you have free access to Lynda.com, a learning platform with short tutorials on Google Classroom (and other technology). Just log in through the organizational portal (bpl.org) and enter your card information.
  • Remote Teaching Resources for Business Continuity - a spreadsheet managed by Daniel Stanford, Director of Faculty Development & Technology Innovation, Center for Teaching and Learning, DePaul University
  • Resources for Online Meetings, Classes and Events by Facilitators for Pandemic Response group and other collaborators
  • Toolkit Resources for Early Childhood Educators and Instructors: https://fpg.unc.edu/presentations/toolkit
  • Webinar – Best Practices in Online Instruction: https://scriptnc.fpg.unc.edu/best-practices-online-instruction
  • More Than Cool Apps and Games: Using Instructional Technology to Improve Teaching and Learning: https://scriptnc.fpg.unc.edu/more-cool-apps-and-games-powerpoint-slides-archived-recording
  • How to Be a Better Online Teacher: https://www.chronicle.com/interactives/advice-online-teaching
  • Basic Computer, Software, and Technology Skills: https://www.digitalliteracyassessment.org/external-resources#
  • Technology Basics: https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/subjects/technology/
  • MetroLab Network Resource Guide: https://metrolabnetwork.org/resource-guide/