We will update this page with new communications throughout the semester.
Table of Contents
Past Updates
APRIL 9, 2020
We hope you are getting more accustomed to working and teaching remotely. These communications are intended to support you as a valued member of the Syracuse University community. If you have suggestions for future topics or questions about best practices, please share them. We will do our best to address them.
Please continue to visit the Academic Continuity Resources toolkit, which we will update as needed. In addition to our regular communications each Tuesday and Thursday, you also can refer to our archive of previous messages and follow ITS on Instagram and Twitter for updates and tips.
Today’s topics:
- Best practices for Zoom
- Summer Institute for Technology-Enhanced Learning
- Testing and grading in Blackboard
- Web workarounds
- Refresher: Academic integrity
Best Practices for Zoom
As you might know, Syracuse University recently implemented Zoom for students, faculty and staff. With the recent surge in Zoom meetings worldwide, internet trolls have “Zoombombed” public meetings by sharing their screen and playing disturbing content. With this in mind, we strongly urge you to review your settings in detail before launching your next Zoom meeting. Recommended settings include:
- Require a meeting password.
- Do not use your Personal Meeting I.D. (PMI).
- Enable the waiting room feature.
- Disable “Join Before Host.”
- Limit screen sharing to the host.
- Lock the meeting after all attendees have joined.
For more information on these and other security measures, please review these best practices and read this interview with Shiu-Kai Chin, a computer security expert and professor in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. The ITS Service Center also has compiled a helpful FAQ collection.
Summer Institute for Technology-Enhanced Learning
In response to concerns about the coronavirus, the 2020 Summer Institute for Technology-Enhanced Learning (SITETL) will not take place in person as scheduled. The Online Learning Services group within ITS is in the process of creating an online alternative. Information about how to participate will be announced in the coming weeks.
Testing and Grading in Blackboard
Now that your courses are up and running in Blackboard, how do you assess your students’ learning and share feedback with them? Learn more about testing and grading in Blackboard.
Web Workarounds
Depending on your students’ circumstances or location, they might encounter issues accessing certain online resources or websites (e.g., YouTube, Blackboard Collaborate Ultra, Google). In these situations, the ITS Service Center might be able to suggest an alternative. Please contact the ITS Service Center if you need to find a technological workaround to support student success.
Refresher: Academic Integrity
Transitioning to an online environment is challenging, especially when exams and quizzes are involved. For example, learners can text screen shots of exam questions to others or take an exam on a laptop while using a cell phone to browse for answers. The academic integrity overview included in the Academic Continuity Resources toolkit addresses these and other challenges.
As always, we invite your questions, suggestions and success stories (and, let’s be honest, maybe your not-quite-a-success stories). Thank you for all you do for your students and for Syracuse University.
APRIL 7, 2020
We hope this email finds you well. While the road ahead remains challenging, please take time to reflect on the progress you’ve already made in shifting to online instruction. Thank you for your hard work, creativity and commitment to your students’ success.
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Are you going to be 15 minutes late to your scheduled Blackboard Collaborate session? Do you need to miss it entirely? Be sure to communicate any changes to your schedule using the Announcements feature within Blackboard. You also can use announcements for assignment/project due dates, changes to your syllabus and correction or clarification of materials.
Web Workarounds
Depending on your students’ circumstances or location, they might encounter issues accessing certain online resources. In these situations, the ITS Service Center might be able to suggest an alternative. For example, if a student cannot access YouTube, the student likely could access video content on Ensemble. Please contact the ITS Service Center if you need to find a technological workaround to support student success.
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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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