Transitioning traditionally-face-to-face courses to an online or remote format is significant and will require flexibility. WPI is committed to providing support during this adjustment to ensure the continuity of instruction.

Moving courses online quickly is intended as a short-term solution and is not the ideal process for developing high-quality online course content. However, there are many practices that faculty can follow to provide a positive learning experience for all students.

This module from Bryant University is a great place to get started in exploring implementing the best practices outlined below.

Presence

Maintaining a strong presence in online courses is one of the most significant things that faculty can do to ensure a positive experience for their students. Online learning can be isolating, and students who are used to in-person classes may have a hard time adjusting to the new online format. Faculty can maintain their online presence in a variety of ways:

- - Host regular synchronous online class sessions or review meetings using Zoom.
  - Use the Announcement feature in Canvas. Posting regular Announcements are a great way to keep the class up to date, and to send reminders and information that you might normally share in class.
  - Use the Discussions feature in Canvas, and check the discussions forums regularly, responding to questions and comments, and interacting with students.
  - Keep communication channels open. Let your students know your policy for responding to student questions/emails (ideally within 24-48 hours). Inform your students if you plan to hold open virtual office hours, or by appointment.
  - Check into the course often, not missing more than two consecutive days.

Content

Focus on the pedagogy, not the technology. In moving content online, it is easy to get caught up in all the tools and tech. But first, think about what you want your students to get out of the course, how you will assess them, and what material you need to provide to support that learning. Think about which teaching strategies you currently use in the classroom will translate easily online, and identify those that may need to be modified for an online course.

- - Use Canvas to house and organize course materials. Canvas can act as the "classroom" for your online courses. Use it to post your lecture content, and any readings or other materials. Canvas also has integrated Discussion, Assignment, and Gradebook features.
  - Be consistent. Try to organize your online course content in a logical and consistent manner. We suggest using the Modules feature in Canvas. Consider creating a Module for each course week, or topic, and organize all the lectures, readings, discussions, assignments, and other relevant content into that Module.
  - Provide more written directions. When creating assignments, be sure to include very specific and clear directives for students. Since you are not meeting in a face-to-face classroom, where students may have the chance to ask questions, you will need to anticipate potential questions and include that information right into the assignment description.
  - Be open to innovating. WPI faculty are no strangers to creativity and innovation. Switching to an online format is one way to invigorate your teaching practices. Keep an open mind and consider opportunities to try something new.

Accessibility

Students have a range of abilities, and it is our responsibility to ensure that the online class space is accessible to all learners. This is even more important in the online classroom, as all digital content must be accessible.

- - Use text based resources when possible. Students may use assistive technologies such as screen readers or magnifiers that are designed to work with digital text. Aim to use text whenever possible. If you use images, be sure to include Alt-Text or a detailed description to accompany the image.
  - Some students may need additional processing time. If you host any synchronous class sessions in Zoom, record the session and post the link in your Canvas course site for review later.
  - When selecting course materials to use in an online class, be sure to select accessible materials.
  - Canvas Studio has the ability to create closed-captioning for instructional videos, and a transcript can be generated as well.
  - Use the AccessChecker tool in Canvas to review your course content for accessibility compliance.
  - If you receive a Request for Accommodation letter from a student, and are unsure how to provide the accommodation online, please contact the Office of Accessibility Services or the Technology for Teaching and Learning Team for guidance.

Grades and Feedback

Students in online courses need to have a sense of where they stand in the course. As in a traditional class, grades and feedback are the primary mechanism for faculty to communicate expectations and progress to students. Canvas has a built in Grades feature that connects seamlessly to assignments and graded discussions. Using the built in SpeedGrader tool is one way to easily grade, annotate, and provide feedback on Assignment submissions and Discussion forum posts.

- - Use SpeedGrader to provide grades and feedback.
  - Check your Grade book in Canvas to ensure that the Assignments are organized into Assignment Groups and that the Assignment Groups Weight is correct and matches the grade breakdown on your syllabus.
  - Provide feedback in addition to the letter or numerical grade. Canvas SpeedGrader allows for written/ text-based feedback, as well as uploaded media such as a video or audio file, and speech-to-text.