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

Past Updates

JUNE 16, 2020

The campus IT community works to ensure faculty have the best technology at their disposal to create outstanding learning opportunities for their students. With this goal in mind, we are rolling out the Kaltura Video Cloud for Education for the fall semester.

Kaltura is a cloud-based video management system that helps you store and share video course content online. Video drives student engagement, interactive learning experiences and better learning outcomes. Kaltura includes a range of products designed to create engaging and accessible experiences.

Kaltura will launch officially on Wednesday, July 15, 2020. The initial deployment will include the Kaltura MediaSpace Video Portal, Kaltura LMS Video Plugins for Blackboard and Personal Video Capture. As more phases of Kaltura are deployed, you will be able to migrate your existing videos from Ensemble to the Kaltura MediaSpace and take advantage of Kaltura Lecture Capture. 

Please note you can continue to use Ensemble for the fall semester. You also can augment your existing courses with Kaltura. If you are at the beginning stages of using a video tool to create asynchronous content, we recommend waiting until the Kaltura launch on July 15 so you don’t need to learn two tools.

The faculty support team (help@syr.edu) is available to answer questions related to Kaltura or any other component of your fall semester planning. Faculty seeking assistance with online course development are encouraged to fill out the Fall Course Development Form to request support or to submit questions about specific aspects of online instruction and preparation.

Please also remember the online coaching and consultation opportunities available to you: 

• Teaching and Technology Zoom Series (Tuesdays at noon E.T.)
• Overview of Blackboard Course Transition Services (Tuesdays at 6 p.m. ET)
• Course Development in Blackboard: Open Q and A (Thursdays at 10 a.m. ET)

We look forward to working with you. Go Orange!

JUNE 11, 2020

Over the last few weeks, we have shared information about a number of opportunities to engage with IT professionals and your fellow faculty members in preparation for the fall semester. We also recognize that we are not the only email in your inbox. With this in mind, we have compiled a brief overview to help you decide which training and consultation opportunities are right for you.

Teaching and Technology Zoom Series — Tuesdays at noon ET

A partnership between the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence and Information Technology Services, this weekly lunch-and-learn Zoom series will help faculty prepare for the fall semester. These hour-long sessions will take place each Tuesday at noon ET from June 16 to Aug. 25. The first session will focus on reviewing your course to determine what you might need to change. You can register online.

Overview of Fall 2020 Course Transition Services — Tuesdays at 6 p.m. ET

Join representatives from Syracuse University and Blackboard for a guided presentation to learn about the services available to move your course materials online for Fall 2020. The Blackboard Academic Services team will review the course transition process and timeline. When you’re ready for the next step, we encourage you to fill out the Fall Course Development Form to request support or to submit questions about specific aspects of online instruction and preparation.

Fall 2020 Course Development: Open Q & A — Thursdays at 10 a.m. ET

This open-format session allows you to ask questions about the Blackboard process once you sign up for the course design services. Syracuse University staff also will be available to address any questions regarding technical services beyond Blackboard and any other needs you might have in preparation for the semester.

In addition to these group discussions, the faculty support team (help@syr.edu) provides one-to-one coaching and consultation. This group comprises representatives from the Center for Online and Digital Learning, the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence and Information Technology Services. Whether you have technical or pedagogical questions, the most appropriate support personnel will respond based on your specific needs.

Please also note that fall classes have been populated in Blackboard. You can log in to Blackboard to access your courses. To request the Fall 2020 course template from the faculty support team, please email help@syr.edu.

Our job is to help you make the best possible use of technology in your teaching. We are here for you. Thank you for the time and energy you devote to your work and to your students.

JUNE 9, 2020

In addition to the campuswide resources described below, please know that your school or college IT personnel are available for year-round support. We maintain a list of school and college IT contact information and Answers documentation for your reference.

The faculty support team (help@syr.edu) also stands ready to help you conduct your summer courses or prepare for the fall semester. This group comprises representatives from the Center for Online and Digital Learning (CODL), the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE) and Information Technology Services (ITS).

Across campus and within your school or college, IT professionals are here to help you.

Today’s topics:

• New Lunch-and-Learn Zoom Series with CTLE and ITS
• Faculty Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Workshops
• Alternatives to Traditional Exams
• Classroom Technology Instructions
• Reminder: Course Transition Services

New Lunch-and-Learn Zoom Series with CTLE and ITS

We are excited to introduce a weekly lunch-and-learn Zoom series to help faculty prepare for the fall semester. These hour-long sessions will take place each Tuesday at noon ET from June 16 to Aug. 25. The first session will focus on reviewing your course to determine what you might need to change. You can register online.

Faculty Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Workshops

The Faculty Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility workshop series is designed to heighten awareness of diversity, equity, inclusion and access as they relate to the college classroom. Workshop topics include identifying and reducing implicit bias in pedagogical decision-making and establishing civility and a positive climate in your teaching environment.

Alternatives to Traditional Exams

Rather than planning on large exams for your fall courses, we suggest creating smaller, low-stakes assessments. These assessments give students the opportunity to demonstrate what they know and give faculty the opportunity to assess gaps in students’ knowledge and skill acquisition. Read more about alternatives to exams.

Classroom Technology Instructions

ITS maintains detailed information about technology in registrar classrooms across campus. Watch this overview of standard instructional classroom technology.

Reminder: Course Transition Services

In addition to resources provided by our faculty support team, Syracuse University has partnered with Blackboard Academic Services to provide fall course transition services to faculty throughout the summer. We encourage you to fill out the Fall Course Development Form to request support or to submit questions about specific aspects of online instruction and preparation. We have provided some frequently asked questions and relevant links for your reference. You also can attend virtual office hours every Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET and every Thursday at 10 a.m. ET.

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 can refer to our archive of previous messages and follow ITS on Instagram and Twitter.

Thank you for all you do for your students and for Syracuse University. Go Orange!

JUNE 4, 2020

We continue to add resources to help you prepare for the fall semester. Just as important, we are available to answer your questions as you determine your goals for your courses. Whether you have technical or pedagogical questions, you can reach our faculty support team at help@syr.edu. This team comprises staff from Information Technology Services, the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, and the Center for Online and Digital Learning. We are working together to help you succeed.

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• Reminder: Course transition services
• Faculty conversation blog
• Classroom technology guide
• Lights, camera, action: Recording from home

Reminder: Course Transition Services

In addition to resources provided by our faculty support team, Syracuse University has partnered with Blackboard Academic Services to provide fall course transition services to faculty throughout the summer. We encourage you to fill out the Fall Course Development Form to request support or to submit questions about specific aspects of online instruction and preparation. We also have provided some frequently asked questions and relevant links for your reference.

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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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