Category: Teaching Tip

Online Course Essentials (ONCE) is a simple ISU Course Template in Canvas and a straightforward process to assist instructors in including the must-have elements in their online courses. Whether a course is taught entirely online or as a combination of face-to-face lectures with online instructional materials, activities, and assessments, it can benefit from including these … Continue reading Implement online course essentials and guidance for virtual classes summer 2020 (Teaching Tip)

(May 1, 2020) As virtual instruction evolves from the spring semester to summer, it is appropriate to review the best practices for delivering online education, in particular how faculty interact with students. Students’ relationships with instructors is a hallmark of the Iowa State academic experience. This document shares new federal guidelines regarding interaction between instructors … Continue reading Guidance for virtual classes summer 2020

Congratulations on the end of this historic semester in which we shifted from face-to-face to virtual teaching this spring semester! To guide you through the grade submission process, follow the seven steps outlined on the End of Semester Checklist page. As a reminder, grades are due Tuesday, May 12 at 2:15 p.m. (Note: Due to the COVID-19 Temporary Pass/Not … Continue reading Take a moment to celebrate the end of this semester! (Teaching Tip)

So much of the spring semester 2020 is different. As you prepare for your final exams, consider the following factors, and consult the CELT Remote Assessments page for more information. 1. Determine the acceptable evidence of learning Your learning goals are an excellent place to start when considering alternative assessments. Consider: What can I do … Continue reading 4 factors to prepare for remote assessments (Teaching Tip)

The move to online instruction means both instructors and students are going to be doing a lot more writing. We may not always have time to check our work scrupulously before sharing it, but one slip of grammar or spelling can make a bad impression. Grammarly* can help make the transition to online teaching easier. … Continue reading Grammarly as a teaching and learning tool (Teaching Tip)

Uncertainty strains our mental, physical, and emotional resources. Much like scheduled Canvas, Webex, and Zoom maintenance updates, there are steps that we can take to help our students (and ourselves) feel a bit more certain. I do not know about you, but I am stressed. Stressed about the well-being of my parents in a Covid-19 … Continue reading “Uncertainty is a bandwidth stealer”* (Teaching Tip)

This teaching tip includes answers to the most frequently asked instructor questions as well as Canvas basics for those new to ISU’s learning management system (LMS) Canvas. In addition, we want to share how faculty are finding success while delivering content online: ISU news highlighted Steve Butler (Mathematics), Raluca Iancu (Art and Visual Culture) in … Continue reading Finding success, FAQs & Canvas basics (Teaching Tip)

As we move to the online environment for teaching and learning, follow these fundamental principles: Keep it Simple Don’t try to create a whole online course now. While commercial and non-commercial companies are flooding your inboxes, now is not the time to try to learn and implement more technology than you and your students need. … Continue reading Ready, Set…Here we go online! (CELT Teaching Tip)

ISU will be delivering course content online for March 23-April 3, 2020 (for official information, see the ISU COVID-19 Updates and resources site). The CELT Course Continuity in Response to COVID-19 page will provide instructors with some actions to take when making that shift quickly. To make the course run smoothly during times of emergency, focus on … Continue reading Steps to Begin Course Continuity in Response to COVID-19