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Remote Teaching Toolkit
Overview

In the event classes are unable to meet locally and the University needs to continue operations, we have compiled recommendations that may help ensure continuity of instruction.

If you are currently using Canvas or Sakai, below are recommended tools to help teach remotely
Communicate with your students
Make your syllabus available digitally
Distribute documents and readings during the disruption
Collect student assignment submissions
Facilitate class discussions during the disruption
Make your lectures available to students digitally
Identify an option for holding synchronous sessions
Evaluate student work and learning

Best Practices
  • Communicate clearly, fully, and frequently with your students--there’s no such thing as over-explaining. Summarize all of the changes to your course in a dedicated space (such as in an email, Announcement, a Page in Canvas, or a Lessons Page in Sakai).
  • Notify students immediately if any additional changes to the structure are to take place.
  • Encourage your students to contact the Help Desk if they are unfamiliar with Canvas or Sakai.
  • Contact TLT to schedule an appointment with an Instructional Designer for any assistance or consultation you’d like.
  • If you find something that works, share it with your colleagues!

Common Pitfalls to Avoid
  • Holding synchronous online sessions during a time in which the class doesn’t normally meet.
  • Extending class time or time commitments beyond what the class would typically require.
  • Increasing the amount of the work students are expected to do.
  • Compressing a normal workload into a shorter amount of time (this may affect students’ ability to successfully achieve the objectives).
  • Adapting the course in a way that makes your TA work more than their allotted hours in a week.
  • Significantly altering the grading scheme or weights of assignments.

Register for Training

We are offering sessions that cover a variety of topics related to transitioning your course for remote instruction.  Separate sessions are offered for Canvas and Sakai.

  • Webinars that cover communicating with students, web-conferencing, sharing resources, and lecture capture (requires registration)

Schedule an individual appointment

Contact Information

You can contact the Office of Instructional Design at any time, if you have questions about course development.
Email:  oid@docs.rutgers.edu