We will update this page with new communications throughout the semester.
MARCH 19, 2020
We hope you and your family are navigating the current challenges as well as can be expected. With classes set to resume online next week, we will provide as much support as possible to ease the transition and will continue to stay in touch throughout the semester.
If you haven’t done so already, please communicate with your students this week to let them know what they can expect in terms of coursework, web conferencing and online office hours while inviting their ongoing feedback to determine what is working well and what needs improvement. Communication is essential to the success of our academic mission.
As always, the Academic Continuity Resources toolkit remains the central repository for information regarding online teaching and learning.
Today’s topics are:
- Remote Desktop Services
- Alternatives to Web Conferencing
- Creating Accessible and Inclusive Online Content
- Blackboard Capacity
- Focusing on Student Success
- Re-Examining Exams
Remote Desktop Services
Remote Desktop Services (RDS) provide remote access to a Windows 10 operating system complete with University-licensed software applications. This service is intended for Syracuse University students, faculty and staff who have a stable broadband internet connection but do not have a pre-existing method for working remotely. Please note that you should use your local device for Blackboard (including Collaborate) to ensure the best experience. You can learn about the new Remote Desktop Services, as well as other remote access solutions, on Answers.
Alternatives to Web Conferencing
With the heightened emphasis on Blackboard and Blackboard Collaborate, it is important to consider the desired outcome for a given lesson and whether a live web conference is necessary to achieve it. Web conferencing can pose challenges such as coordinating students in different time zones, bandwidth issues and more. When possible, consider using tools such as pre-recorded 15-minute audio lectures, discussion boards and group forums. For more ideas, read this blog on videoconferencing alternatives and our own iSchool’s helpful matrix of online interaction methods (both asynchronous and synchronous).
Creating Accessible and Inclusive Online Content
To help you create inclusive online content, visit our Accessible Technology Toolkit on Answers and Blackboard’s free Accessibility Checklist. As we shift to online instruction, delivering content that is inclusively designed and accessible is essential. Blackboard Ally is included in our learning management system and enables us to build a more inclusive online learning environment.
Blackboard Capacity
In a recent post on the Blackboard Community site, Blackboard Chief Product Officer Tim Tomlinson said the company has seen record numbers of users with universities moving to remote instruction. “I’m glad to report that our system is performing well,” Tomlinson said, “and users are having a good experience in large part.” ITS will continue to stay in close contact with our Blackboard service delivery manager to monitor and address any issues related to capacity. We also have posted some Blackboard Collaborate tips to ensure the best experience for you and your students. In addition, the ITS Service Center and Online Learning Services staff are committed to supporting faculty in delivering their courses via remote methods.
Focusing on Student Success
The education environment has fundamentally changed in recent weeks, but our students’ safety and success remain our top priorities. EAB recently discussed three best practices to guide your decision-making through the rest of the semester.
Re-Examining Exams
Some faculty members will conduct their first online exam this semester, while others might need a refresher. Whatever your comfort level, this flowchart from Giulia Forsythe of Brock University provides an opportunity to reconsider the format of your exams.
We will close with a reminder: We are all in this together. We invite your feedback, including your suggestions for future topics and your success stories. Thank you for all you do for your students and for Syracuse University.
MARCH 17, 2020
Before discussing today’s academic continuity topics, we would like to thank you for your efforts to deliver the education your students deserve. These communications are intended to strengthen your response to extraordinary times, so please share any feedback with your school or college IT personnel to guide future messages.
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This is not the semester that anyone envisioned. We realize that everyone’s situation is slightly different in terms of family, resources and more. Even so, please remember that you are not alone—we are all in this together. We look forward to helping you make the best of a challenging situation.
MARCH 12, 2020
To support the transition to online course delivery effective at the end of the academic day on Friday, March 13, we will continue to send regular communications to ensure you have the most up-to-date information related to online teaching and learning. If you haven’t already, please bookmark the Academic Continuity Resources toolkit available at at Syracuse.edu/coronavirus/academic-continuity.
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