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End-of-semester reminders (Spring 2019)

^{PHOTO: J.Michael}

Key Dates

The Spring 2019 semester ends on SATURDAY, May 25 — one day earlier than the usual end of a module. Please make sure you alert your students. You can also choose to extend the due and close dates of your assignments to give your students an extra day to submit their work, if you like. Keep in mind, however, that students cannot access the course modules after the official end of the semester.

Final grades for all classes are due by 11:59 p.m. on FRIDAY, May 31. (Learn more: Posting Progress Grades.)

Part-time instructors must submit their final hours for the semester by 11:59 p.m. on SUNDAY, June 2. (Learn more: Reporting your hours in Workday)

Wrapping Up — and Looking Ahead

You might find it helpful to review these pages and blog posts, which provide guidance on crucial end-of-semester tasks and issues:

RETURN TO: Online Teaching Blog | Academy Teaching Library

Spring 2019 — Start-of-Semester Checklist for Online Classes

Teaching online this spring? This checklist will help keep you on track.

(Spring classes begin Monday, February 4. Spring Art Experience classes begin Saturday, February 23. See the Online Module Calendar for details.)

CRITICAL #1 — Get familiar with the Academy's UPDATED Online Teaching Standards.

Our teaching standards were revised for Spring 2019, so please make sure you are familiar with the current expectations.

Starting this semester, there has been an adjustment to the instructor attendance requirements:

Online instructors are expected to enter course section(s) a minimum of five (5) days a week, and leave public evidence of presence each of those days.

As part of this five-days-a-week requirement, the Academy now requires online instructors to log in and spend a minimum of one hour every Wednesday and one hour every Saturday, between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. in their respective time zones, engaging with all of their online classes. (Please note that this new requirement is for a minimum of one hour of participation each Wednesday and each Saturday — not one hour per section on each of these days.)

Reminder: By the end of Module 1, online instructors are required to post the days and times when they will be working in each online class; these working hours must now include the one-hour minimum on Wednesdays and the one-hour minimum on Saturdays.

If you have any circumstances that prevent you from adhering to the Wednesday & Saturday schedule requirement, you must immediately notify your academic department director who will evaluate your request and get back to you.

Review the full list of Standards for Online Instructors and download the rubric to help you assess your own effectiveness as an online instructor.

#2 – Review the most recent updates to the online learning system.

Is your class using The Gradebook?
Online updates for Summer 2018
If you haven't taught online in a while...

Do you have our app?

Online Education has developed Classes, an app for students and faculty, where they can check all things Academy-related. The Classes app includes the campus shuttle schedule, along with course information, online classrooms and student grades. Download the app for iOS or Android today — and tell your students about it!

#3 – Review the Workday requirements for reporting your hours (for part-time employees only).

#4 – Plan your time.

Review & download the Online Module Calendar for this semester. And please take note of the new requirements for online participation, described above and in the Standards for Online Instructors.

PLEASE NOTE: This semester, Spring Break runs from Sunday, March 24, through Friday, March 29. Online classes resume on Monday, April 1.

#5 – Clarify and post your expectations.

#6 – Make your class student-ready.

Avoiding duplicate topics
Review and edit your topics, as needed. Learn more: Setting Up Your Discussion
Set up personal topics for your students, if your department requires this. Learn more: Project-Based Classes
What if... you want to encourage students to discuss each other's work?
Try Creating a Private Office where students can contact you about personal issues and concerns.
Extend the close date for all your Module 1 and 2 topics to the end of Module 3 (2/24), to accommodate any students who register after the semester begins. Learn more: Welcoming your later arrivals

#7 – Get students talking.

Personalize your "Welcome" topic and add an icebreaker (or create a new topic for your icebreaker). Learn more: Icebreakers & Refreshers
Introduce yourself via video — and ask your students to do the same. Learn more: Connecting with your students via video
You might also consider tagging all your students in this initial post. Learn more: More tips for tagging
Make it easy for students to engage by posting optional topics where they can share initial ideas about the class. Learn more: Discussing "First Impressions"

#8 – Take care of administrative tasks.

Update your contact information in WorkDay.
Contact HR (hr@academyart.edu) to update your contact information in the Academy's official record, if needed.
Set up Easy Grade Pro with your new class roster. OR, if your class is using The Gradebook, familiarize yourself with its features.

#9 – Set up an online office (optional).

Request that a virtual office in Adobe Connect be set up for you (onlineoffice@academyart.edu).
Attend a workshop on "Teaching in your Online Office."
Learn more about Teaching in a Virtual Office.

#10 – Get some support.

Contact Jenny Michael (jmichael@academyart.edu; 415-618-3547) to make an appointment for one-on-one support.
Post a question (as a Comment, below).

RETURN TO: Academy Library of Teaching Resources: Blog | Home

The semester is wrapping up...

^{Credit: Stephanie Mast, PH 611 (Fall 2018)}

Key Dates

Please make note of these important dates:

The Fall 2018 semester ends on SATURDAY, December 22 — one day earlier than the usual end of a module.

Please remind your students about this early deadline by posting an announcement and/or sending a message through the Mailbox.

Keep in mind that you can extend the due date for your assignments, if you want to give students an extra day or two to finish up. (Learn more: Setting Up Your Topics) However, once the semester is officially over, students will no longer have access to the course modules. (They will still be able to view course media and everything in the Discussion.)

Final grades for all classes are due by 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, December 29. (Learn more: Posting Progress Grades.)

Part-time instructors must submit their final hours for the semester by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, December 31. (Learn more: Reporting your hours in Workday.)