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

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:

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).

#5 – Clarify and post your expectations.

• Basic Expectations & Communication

• Late Homework Policy

• Excused Lateness in Online Classes

• Minimizing grade complaints

• Posting Class Policies

• Making Announcements
  

#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).