Student Academic Services

1. Rigor doesn't mean massive volumes of work. Many first time online teachers add too much content and too many activities. Focus on your learning outcomes. Avoid the temptation to over build.
2. All teaching, regardless of how it is delivered is basically: present content, provide practice and feedback, assess learning. Sure, there is more, but focus on that.
3. Use tools you know. If you have video skills, great. Use them. If you have other media production skills, use them. Great. But you could do an entire online class with a word processor and e-mail if you had to.
4. Research in technology and learning shows that people can learn from anything. Video. Text. Audio. If you need to make a video, make it. Don't worry so much about production values. When the student is ready the teacher appears.
5. Put your online teaching on your calendar. Schedule times to do the work. Just like a face-to-face class.
6. Focus on your students. Encourage them. Tell them jokes. Accept assignments late. Be understanding while you hold them to high standards. These are scary times for all of us. But you’re the AIC (Adult In Charge). It will matter how you respond to them in a time of uncertainty. We have a responsibility to make sure our students are the focus.
7. Don't be a push over, but be nice. Help your students have a good day. Never underestimate the power of a good day.
8. Don't over think it. You’re a teacher. Just teach. You're going to be fine.

eLearning and instructional design experts are offering free short term help to K-12 and higher ed faculty who are teaching online. This wouldn't replace our office of online learning, but if you have immediate short term needs this might help you.

You can follow the Instructional Designers Emergency Network on Twitter (@id_erNet). They have built a website to connect instructional designers to people who need help quickly. You can sign up with a description of what you need.  

I would also add that there are a number of Winthrop employees who are enrolled in our M.Ed. in Learning Design & Technology. They work in the WOOL, the Provost's Office, Dacus Library, and in academic colleges as well. They have experience in skills sets such as multimedia production, including audio and video editing and production, and instructional design. These people could help as well. 

A: To adjust extended time on exams, and/ or quizzes, you may follow this link from the Office of Online Learning to Add Test Exceptions to a Test.

A: Yes! Please keep in mind the student may need these accommodations as they may experience an exacerbation of their disability- especially in this time of adjustment, heightened anxiety, and uncertainty. Also, the student and instructor need to communicate regarding the goals and expectations of the class. The student understands that they still need to complete the work and that their grade can still be impacted using this accommodation. Instructors and students can use this guideline for flexibility accommodations (PDF - 248 KB) to assist in conversations regarding the expectations of the class. OA staff can assist in conversations, as well.

A: Yes! OA staff will be working remotely, however with the assistance of technology, we will be able to initiate conversations via e-mail, and can then explore options such as Skype, telephone, or other online options to engage in discussion and conversation. OA staff can be reached at OA_Team@winthrop.edu.

A: Yes! OA staff will be able to register students via phone, Skype, or Zoom. Students will still need to submit documentation as specified on the OA website and our staff will be in touch with them to arrange a virtual intake appointment.

A: Make sure voice-over PowerPoint presentations, YouTube clips, videos, audio clips, etc., are closed captioned or have an accompanying transcript. Winthrop’s Dacus Library offers resources to help faculty locate appropriate videos that are already captioned. The Office of Online Learning is able to assist with providing instructions on properly captioning YouTube videos that are stored on your own YouTube channel. They can also assist with items that may need to be sent out for captioning or to generate a transcript. Please communicate with the Office of Online Learning as soon as possible for assistance with this process.

A: Winthrop’s Office of Online Learning has provided a Continuity of Instruction page to assist faculty. The Office of Online Learning also can “turn on” Blackboard Ally for your course. Blackboard Ally scans your course and indicates which documents (including PowerPoints, PDFs, Word docs, etc., have issues with accessibility, provides instructions for how to improve the accessibility, and provides alternative formats for the documents.