Emergency Planning

The first priority for those with the flu is to rest and focus on recovery. There may be times, however, when you or your students are confined with the flu, but feel well enough to want to continue the class. These recommendations are intended for that situation.

Teaching in times of extended emergency requires careful preparation, creativity, and flexibility. The following steps and linked pages will help instructors continue teaching even in a time of high absenteeism, using e-mail, CTools, and online collaboration tools.

Planning Considerations for Faculty

1. Consider ways to help students continue work even if they cannot come to class by reviewing your course goals and assignments.

2. Consider adding plans to your syllabus for proceeding with teaching during a flu outbreak. Even if you don't specify plans, explain on the syllabus how you would inform students if you need to make unanticipated changes in the course.

3. Create your class MCommunity Group in advance of a flu outbreak.

4. Be prepared to answer student inquiries about making up work.  There may be many student requests for special accommodations, so have plans in place that will treat all students equitably and be feasible in the face of large numbers of requests.

5. Use the links below to explore communications tools. Check with students to see if your preferred tools will work for them. Read more »

Student biographical information

At the beginning of the course, students are requested to post a brief bio to a bulletin board or discussion area to introduce themselves to the rest of the class and also become familiar with the course technology.  The instructor can provide guided questions for students in writing their bios.

Student home pages

Students can create personal home pages for the course, where they can publish their personal information, homework assignments, project information and other resources they collect for the course. The instructor can suggest a template for student home pages or leave it to students to decide their page format.  The instructor can also provide guidelines, goals, and expectations for home pages.

Team or Group Project

The instructor divides students into groups and each group selects a leader for an assigned project.  If there are multiple small projects for the course, students can rotate to lead group projects.  Students will apply course concepts to solving a problem the instructor has given them and report back to the instructor and the entire class.  Other students may be encouraged to comment on the final projects of each group.  Discussion and chat could be used to facilitate students’ group work.

Depending on the design of the course, students may be asked to design and/or build a project/model that illustrates the concepts they are learning. Read more »

To post lectures you give in class, or record at home, or to develop ways for students to engage in discussion online, explore the following options.  They require some comfort with new technologies, moderate skill levels, practice, patience, and a bit of planning.

1. Online Lectures

Audio-Only Recording

If you are not using or do not want to use PowerPoint or Keynote, you can record your lecture in the classroom or at home: Read more »