We will update this page with new communications throughout the semester.

Past Updates

MAY 7, 2020

As the spring semester draws to a close, we will continue to provide information for faculty with summer courses, as well as for instructors considering how to incorporate technology into their fall semester planning. Our goal is to help you leverage technology and best teaching practices to strengthen your courses and your research.

Please feel free to send us your questions or suggestions for future topics. Our faculty support team also is available at help@syr.edu to assist you as you plan for summer or fall.

Today’s topics:

• The language of online learning: ‘Template’
• Answers: Syracuse University’s knowledge base
• Developing your summer course
• Register for SITETL 2020
• Research computing resources

The Language of Online Learning: ‘Template’

As faculty continue to explore online teaching and learning, they might encounter terms with which they’re unfamiliar. For example, a “template” is a set of materials that can be pre-populated into Blackboard before a faculty member adds any specific content to the course. A recommended best practice, templates provide locations for materials that are the same across courses. Templates free up mental bandwidth for both you and your students by keeping materials in the same location as you and your students move from course to course.

Answers: Syracuse University’s Knowledge Base

Available to all faculty, students and staff, Answers is a knowledge base of technical self-help information. The website’s content focuses on Syracuse University systems and technical services, including solutions to common problems, how-to instructions, FAQs and more. 

Developing Your Summer Course

Faculty who are preparing to teach a summer course online are encouraged to utilize the online Academic Continuity Resources. Instructional design support and faculty coaching also are available. If you would like a consultation or coaching, contact the faculty support team at help@syr.edu. This team includes representatives from the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, the Center for Online and Digital Learning, and Information Technology Services. The most appropriate support personnel will respond based on your specific question(s).

Self-service resources available include:

• A new checklist from the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence. Guided by the goal of long-term retention, the checklist includes course objectives, assessments, assignments and weekly modules to maximize online learning during the condensed summer semester.
• A Blackboard summer course template from the Center for Online and Digital Learning and the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence. Applying the template to your course will save you time and energy for the work that only you can do—creating learning opportunities for your students. Please follow these instructions to search for the “Summer 2020 Example Course Template” Blackboard Organization and enroll. Once inside, you’ll see announcements with more information and instructions on how to apply it to your course.
• Scaffolding tips to help you build your assignments. This method also works well for courses as a whole.
• Ideas for creating a sense of community in the online classroom. 

Register for SITETL 2020

The Summer Institute for Technology-Enhanced Teaching and Learning (SITETL) is moving online this year and is open to all Syracuse University faculty members, instructors and teaching graduate students. The event will take place on Wednesday, May 20, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. SITETL will consist of two sessions: one general session in the morning for all participants and an afternoon session with four tracks focused on different topics. If you have any questions, please contact Michael Morrison at memorr02@syr.edu.

Research Computing Resources

Research computing at Syracuse University is a collaborative effort among the research community and technology groups from across campus. Available resources include high throughput computing, virtual private cloud computing and GPU-based computing. To learn more, visit researchcomputing.syr.edu or email researchcomputing@syr.edu.

Please continue to visit the Academic Continuity Resources toolkit, which we will update as needed throughout the summer. 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.

As always, we invite your questions, suggestions and success stories. Thank you for all you do for your students and for Syracuse University.

MAY 5, 2020

Thank you so much for taking the time to read these emails throughout the semester. While we all would have preferred to be on campus, we hope that you have felt supported wherever the semester has taken you.

Today’s topics:

• Resources for summer course development
• Advisory: Extortion email scam
• Reminder: SITETL 2020 is moving online
• ‘Behind the Monitor’ from ITS: Creating engaging videos

Resources for Summer Course Development

Faculty who are preparing to teach a summer course online are encouraged to utilize the online Academic Continuity Resources. Instructional design support and faculty coaching also are available. If you would like a consultation or coaching, contact the faculty support team at help@syr.edu. This team includes representatives from the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, the Center for Online and Digital Learning, and Information Technology Services. The most appropriate support personnel will respond based on your specific question(s).

Self-service resources available include:

• A new checklist  from the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence. Guided by the goal of long-term retention, the checklist includes course objectives, assessments, assignments and weekly modules to maximize online learning during the condensed summer semester.
• A Blackboard summer course template from the Center for Online and Digital Learning and the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence. Applying the template to your course will save you time and energy for the work that only you can do—creating learning opportunities for your students. Please follow these instructions to search for the “Summer 2020 Example Course Template” Blackboard Organization and enroll. Once inside, you’ll see announcements with more information and instructions on how to have it applied to your course.
• Scaffolding tips to help you build your assignments. This method also works well for courses as a whole.
• Ideas for creating a sense of community in the online classroom. 

Summer faculty will receive emails with summer-specific support information and resources beginning this week.

Advisory: Extortion Email Scam

Recently, many Syracuse University community members—and people around the world—have received extortion emails claiming the recipient’s computer has been hacked and threatening to release embarrassing photographs if the recipient does not pay the attackers. The passwords cited to assert the threat’s credibility are usually from previous breaches at other organizations that have been made public. If you receive this type of email, delete it. If you still use the password the attackers used to convince you of their “hack,” change it anywhere you still use it. 

Reminder: SITETL 2020 Is Moving Online

The Summer Institute for Technology-Enhanced Teaching and Learning (SITETL) is moving online this year and is open to all Syracuse University faculty members, instructors and teaching graduate students. The event will take place on Wednesday, May 20, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. SITETL will consist of two sessions: one general session in the morning for all participants and an afternoon session with four tracks focused on different topics. If you have any questions, please contact Michael Morrison at memorr02@syr.edu.

‘Behind the Monitor’ from ITS: Creating Engaging Videos

On the latest episode of the ITS podcast, Jason Webb from Online Learning Services shares tips for creating engaging videos for your courses. Spoiler alert: You have all the technology you need on your laptop, tablet or smartphone.

Please continue to visit the Academic Continuity Resources toolkit, which we will update as needed throughout the summer. 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.

As always, we invite your questions, suggestions and success stories. Thank you for all you do for your students and for Syracuse University.

APRIL 30, 2020

First and foremost, you’ve done an amazing job this semester. Keep up the good work!

...

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.

...