Online Learning Checklist

Whether you're teaching your online course in Canvas or ZOOM, the tips below will help you create a successful, engaging learning experience.


Canvas Tips

Communication
  • Create a page, video or both in Canvas that summarizes any changes to your course
    • Explain to students how the class will operate during the period of instructional modification
    • Inform students of the expectations for attendance and participation under your modified teaching plan
  • Use announcements to keep students up-to-date on any changes or modifications
  • Set up a discussion area so students can introduce themselves to the group before the first webinar
  • Use inbox to send messages to the entire class or individual students
    • Let students know how often they should expect to hear from you and the best method for communicating with you

Active, Engaged Learning
  • For long class sessions, break up instruction by utilizing the group discussion tool to give students time to work with material
  • Use the assignment tool to give students time to write about a topic before, during, or after a webinar

Course Materials
  • Upload needed materials to your Canvas course
  • Embed those materials or videos in a page or module
  • Provide clear instruction to accompany the use of these materials

Assessment

Canvas offers features for transitioning your in-person assessments online

Zoom Tips

Zoom is a user-friendly webinar platform for students and instructors to engage in learning in real-time. Zoom helps you to:

  • Facilitate live group learning
  • Share visual materials from your computer with your students
  • Pre-record short videos to support students and instruction

Learn the basic features of Zoom:

Preparing Students for Zoom Learning
  • Using Canvas inbox or announcements, let your students know that you will meet with them at the usual day and time via Zoom
  • Advise them to be at their desktop or laptop ahead of time to try out the link you have sent them

Zoom Best Practices for Students

Send the following best practices to your students:

  • Use a computer located in a quiet room, without other computers that are accessing Zoom
  • Click on the Zoom meeting link sent by the instructor
  • Unmute the audio and video at the bottom of the screen
  • When you are not talking, mute your audio
  • Use the chat feature if you have questions