Past Updates

MARCH 31, 2020

We hope you are settling into the online learning environment. If you haven’t already, please check in with your students regarding what is working for them and what is not. As mentioned last week, perfect is the enemy of good—but even a small improvement can make a big difference.

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:

• Preventing “Zoombombing”
• Academic freedom and remote teaching
• LinkedIn Learning
• Tips and tricks to manage the online transition

Preventing “Zoombombing”

While ITS recommends Blackboard Collaborate as the primary platform for synchronous classes and meetings, there also might be times when you use Zoom. Since there has been a large increase in Zoom meetings, internet trolls have been “Zoombombing” public meetings by sharing their screen and playing disturbing content. In an effort to combat this, the University of Southern California and Zoom have each posted tips for preventing Zoombombing.

Academic Freedom and Remote Teaching

The Chronicle of Higher Education recently posted an article about how professors are dealing with the possibility that their recorded lectures, videos and other course material could become fodder for groups like Turning Point and Campus Reform. According to one lecturer in history and politics at Acadia University, “Faculty are alarmed because they are paying attention.”

LinkedIn Learning

Are you looking to develop a new skill or take up a new hobby? Syracuse University faculty have free access to thousands of videos and courses at linkedinlearning.syr.edu.

Tips and Tricks to Manage the Online Transition

We are all experiencing uncertain times that can lead to stress, worry and discomfort. As you transition to the online classroom, we will share tips to stay healthy and successful. Today’s tip: time management. Create and maintain a daily schedule that resembles as much of your on-campus academic schedule as possible. Your hours can change as needed each day depending on time zones, course meeting times or workload.

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

MARCH 26, 2020

Syracuse University prides itself on its history of “fearless firsts.” As a member of our faculty, you are part of another fearless first as we continue our academic mission under unprecedented circumstances. Thank you for everything you have done, are doing and will do to ensure your students’ success this semester.

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:

• Library resources for online teaching
• Low-tech online teaching
• Announcements on Blackboard
• Web workarounds
• Re-imagining your classroom

Library Resources for Online Teaching

Syracuse University Libraries staff members have compiled this guide to support faculty who wish to incorporate library resources into their online courses. In addition to using this guide, please consult the Rapid Online Course Development Guide for best practices on transitioning a face-to-face course to an online format.

Low-Tech Online Teaching

As previously discussed, webconferences or large files (e.g., videos, long audio files) can pose challenges to people with bandwidth issues. When possible, please consider using features such as discussion boards, group chats, PDFs and other alternatives to synchronous, bandwidth-intensive instruction. The iSchool has provided suggestions for ways to foster online student engagement beyond webconferencing.

Announcements on Blackboard

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.

Re-Imagining Your Classroom

Throughout the remainder of the semester, remember the aphorism that “perfect is the enemy of good.” As you transition your courses, syllabi, lectures and assignments online, don’t be afraid to fail. If you’re not failing, you’re not trying. Try new things, ask your students what is working and revise as needed. When you fail, fail fast. Take advantage of this opportunity to re-imagine your (virtual) classroom.

As always, we invite your feedback as classes progress, including your suggestions for future topics and your success stories. Thank you for all you do for your students and for Syracuse University.

MARCH 24, 2020

We hope this message finds you well. As classes resume online, please review the material available in the Academic Continuity Resources toolkit, which is designed to facilitate your transition to online instruction.

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 for updates and tips.

Today’s topics:

• Bandwidth Considerations
• Ensemble Video Recording: An Alternative to Webconferencing
• Supporting Students with Accommodations Online
• Special Offers from Content Providers and Internet Service Providers
• Safe Computing Tips
• FAQs
• Success Story

Bandwidth Considerations

As you might have experienced, the online learning experience depends on an individual’s network bandwidth, which can vary depending on the day of the week or the hour of the day. Internet service providers across the nation have seen slower-than-normal upload and download speeds. With this in mind, experiment with the time of day or day of the week you upload content. You might have better luck early on a Saturday morning or later on a Tuesday night than in the middle of a Monday afternoon.

Ensemble Video Recording: An Alternative to Webconferencing

As previously discussed, webconferencing can pose challenges depending on students’ locations, bandwidth constraints and other factors. Additionally, if you schedule a conference outside of your assigned classroom time, you might introduce scheduling conflicts for your students. If you are looking for an alternative to live webconferencing, ITS Online Learning Services recommends the Ensemble Video Recorder Chrome Extension as an easy way to capture short video clips and screencasts.

Supporting Students with Accommodations Online

The Office of Disability Services (ODS) will continue to provide support as you settle into online instruction. ODS has shared some helpful user guides about implementing accommodations, including extending times for exams in Blackboard. If you have questions regarding a particular student or accommodation(s), please reach out to the student’s ODS access counselor, listed at the top of the student’s accommodation letter.

Special Offers from Content Providers and Internet Service Providers

In addition to resources made available by Syracuse University, we have published a list of academic resources from a variety of content providers (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite) in response to COVID-19. We also have compiled a list of internet service providers offering special plans or incentives.

Safe Computing Tips

Now more than ever, it’s essential to protect your information. Check out these tips to keep your data and Syracuse University’s data safe and secure.

FAQs

We continue to update our list of frequently asked questions about Blackboard Learn and Collaborate on Answers. Some of the most common questions from faculty and students include:

Does it matter what browser I use?

Yes, Chrome or Mozilla Firefox work best.

Why am I having difficulty logging in?

Check that you are using Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Next, ensure you are using your NetID and password to log in. If you still have trouble, contact the ITS Service Center at 315.443.2677 or help@syr.edu.

Why isn’t my NetID/password working?

At any time, you can visit netid.syr.edu to look up your NetID, confirm your password works or reset your password if needed. If you still can’t log in, contact the ITS Service Center at 315.443.2677 or help@syr.edu.

Success Story

A member of the Online Learning Collective Facebook group shared the following note:

I decided to make the last three weeks of my winter course asynchronous with once a week due dates. I just got this note from a student:

“I do not have any questions or concerns. I will say thank you for making the class so flexible to everyone’s situations, as someone with major ADD all these classes with super rigid synchronous work is super stressful and it’s nice to have one professor who gets it.”

I followed a lot of advice [from the Facebook group], and it was solid. Don’t get too fancy, acknowledge students are going through a rough time, etc. So THANK YOU. I have had several expressions of gratitude like this. I think LESS IS MORE in this situation.

We invite your feedback as classes progress, including your suggestions for future topics and your success stories. Thank you for all you do for your students and for Syracuse University.

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.

As always, the Academic Continuity Resources toolkit remains the central repository for information regarding online teaching and learning.

Today’s topics are:

· Adapting Your Syllabus
· Academic Integrity
· Teaching From Home
· Blackboard Organizations
· Training Opportunities

Adapting Your Syllabus

When classes resume online next week, please remember that “perfect is the enemy of good.” As you adapt your course to an online environment, allow yourself the flexibility to revise assignments, change formats (e.g., an audio lecture instead of a video presentation), etc. Ask your students what works best for them given their current situations. Now more than ever, your students are your partners in education.

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. We have added an academic integrity overview to the toolkit to address these and other challenges.

Teaching From Home

To help you negotiate the differences between teaching on and off campus, we have developed the Working and Teaching Remotely guide, which covers subjects such as Blackboard Collaborate and remote desktop solutions. Please direct any technology-related questions to your school or college IT personnel. A quick tip: Talk to your family about maximizing available bandwidth when you need to work online.

Blackboard Organizations

Are you looking for an online meeting space? Blackboard Organizations can serve as an online meeting space for groups that would like a space for information sharing, collaboration and communication. Examples might include faculty and/or staff organizations, departmental organizations, research groups and recognized student organizations.

Training Opportunities

We will continue to provide a range of training opportunities related to working and teaching online. You can find a schedule of upcoming Blackboard Collaborate Ultra training sessions on Answers.

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.

Today’s topics include:

• Working and Teaching Remotely 
• Student FAQs 
• Ensuring Online Accessibility 

Working and Teaching Remotely

We have added a Working and Teaching Remotely section to the toolkit. This page provides a checklist of items necessary to teach or work remotely, as well as an overview of remote access solutions, web conferencing tools, file sharing options and much more. Please review the checklist as soon as possible and discuss any hardware or software needs with your school, college or unit IT support personnel.

Student FAQs

We have begun to compile a list of frequently asked questions from students to help you address their needs. Some of the most common questions include:

Where do I access Blackboard?
Go to blackboard.syr.edu or connect through myslice.syr.edu. For either option, use your NetID and password to log in to Blackboard.

Does it matter what browser I use?
Yes, Chrome and Safari work best.

Why am I having difficulty logging in?
Check that you are using Chrome or Safari. Next, ensure you are using your NetID and password to log in. If you still have trouble, contact the ITS Help Desk at 315.443.2677 or help@syr.edu.

Why isn’t my NetID/password working?
At any time, you can visit the NetID self-service page to look up your NetID, confirm your password works or reset your password if needed. If you still can’t log in, contact the ITS Help Desk at 315.443.2677 or help@syr.edu.

How do I find my course information?
Once you log in to Blackboard, your course will be listed under My Courseson the landing page. Click on your course name to enter the course room and access material. If needed, you also will find access to Blackboard Collaborate Ultra by entering your course room for a virtual classroom.

You can find more FAQs related to Blackboard and Collaborate on Answers. We will share additional questions and answers based on student and faculty feedback.

Ensuring Online Accessibility
The Office of Disability Services (ODS) will remain operational during the suspension of residential classes. Access counselors will be available to discuss additional accommodation requests from students. ODS will continue to support faculty in providing enhanced mitigation of course materials to students who require it. For general ODS questions, visitdisabilityservices.syr.edu or email disabilityservices@syr.edu.

We will send academic continuity resources update emails each Tuesday and Thursday over the next few weeks. For specific technology-related questions, please consult your school or college IT support personnel or contact the ITS Service Center. For teaching questions, the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence also is available to support. Send questions and challenges to CTLE@syr.edu. Your questions (and the ensuing solutions) will inform future updates. Together, we will make this work.

As always, thank you for everything you do for your students and for Syracuse University.

March 9, 2020

As we work to ensure the continuity of our academic mission, in the event that concerns related to coronavirus require a suspension of residential academic programming, we have created the Rapid Online Course Development Guide. This guide will facilitate moving classes online and engaging students in distance learning modalities to meet course learning objectives. In addition to best practices regarding online course development and instruction, you will find associated technical reference material.

The Rapid Online Course Development Guide is part of a larger toolkit of Academic Continuity Resources under development by the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, Information Technology Services, and the Center for Online and Digital Learning. We will continue to add resources to the toolkit in the following days and weeks as events warrant. This toolkit will provide:

• instructions for activating and populating your Blackboard course section with essential content
• options for meeting course objectives with alternative instruction
• information about research-based online teaching methods
• technical support resources, including creating a virtual classroom

We also recommend that instructors take the opportunity now to talk with students about the possibility of remote coursework, including asking students to practice using web conferencing tools. Additionally, the Syracuse University Office of Online Student Success is coordinating with the Office of Retention and Student Success within the Division of Enrollment and the Student Experience, the Office of Disability Services, the Center for International Student Services and academic advising offices within the schools and colleges to ensure that student support and services are available in the event of instruction moving online.

We appreciate your willingness to adopt new technologies in order to best serve our students in this challenging time. We will continue to provide updates on available resources as we add them. For technology-related questions, please consult your school or college IT support personnel or contact the ITS Service Center.

Thank you for everything you do for your students and for Syracuse University.