Background

The Faculty Executive suggested an Ad-Hoc Tech Committee be created made up of departmental representation with an intent to meet weekly to discuss departmental findings and to strategize solutions with a faculty-wide perspective including:

  • brainstorm mechanisms that could be used in effective remote learning (classwork and labs)
  • explore the practicality and usefulness of the available platforms
  • best guidance/help available from CATL
  • examples from other universities.

The Committee is comprised of the following members:

Agribusiness: Gary Johnson
Animal Science: Argenis Rodas-Gonzalez
Biosystems Engineering: R. Sri Ranjan
Entomology: Jordan Bannerman
Food and Human Nutritional Sciences: Snehil Dua
Plant Science: Martin Entz
School of Agriculture: Garrett Sawatzky
Soil Science: Marla Riekman
CATL: Sol Chu (Guest) and Cheikh Ould Moulaye
Jitendra Paliwal (ADA) (Chair)
Mya Kraft (Resource)

Teaching with Technology Demo

Dr. R. Sri Ranjan shares technology tips and tricks for teaching online.

Platform for online delivery

  • FASO surveyed our students; survey results indicate students would like to see the use of one single platform.
  • WebEx is the university’s preferred teaching platform because of its integration with UM Learn
  • Use of Zoom is permitted in courses that are team-taught with other Faculties that are using Zoom as an instruction platform.
  • Microsoft Teams is another recommended platform and IST is working to roll this out to all students this fall so students can use this platform to book group video meetings with classmates.

Synchronous vs. Asynchronous:

  • Some instructors prefer problem solving courses to be synchronous and live; students are able to be present and work alongside them. Recordings are available for students to access after the scheduled course time.
  • Some instructors prefer to offer students with notes and a pre-recorded video lecture that is asynchronous and then later offer a synchronous lecture to discuss problems over a live session where students can practice problem solving.
  • Each teaching style is different and we need to provide the flexibility for instructors to offer their courses in the way that suits them. One size does not fit all.
  • A combination of synchronous and asynchronous lecturing is also useful in accommodating the needs of students who are physically located in a different time zone.

 

Academic integrity

Academic integrity quiz

Entomology has shared an "Academic integrity quiz" that they require all their students who enroll to take prior to submitting assignments or taking tests. You are welcome to utilize their example in your own course, but this is not compulsory.

To set this up in your UM Learn course page:

  1. Download zip folder containing the content you want to import.
  2. Navigate to the UM Learn course page you would like to import the content into.
  3. Click on the gear wheel symbol in the upper right-hand corner of the page, then click on “Import/Export/Copy Components”.
  4. Once on the Import/Export/Copy Components page, select “Import Components” then click the start button.
  5. Upload the zip folder containing the content you are importing, then click the Import all components button once it changes from light blue to dark blue.
  6. When step 5 is complete the files have been imported, you should now be able to view it.
  7. Set availability/due date/release conditions as you see fit by clicking on quiz and clicking on the Restrictions tab.

Respondus LockDown Browser

Respondus LockDown Browser is a locked browser for taking quizzes in Brightspace (UM Learn). It can be used in a face-to-face, computer lab setting, where an invigilator is present. It prevents students from printing, copying, going to another URL, or accessing other applications during a test. If a UM Learn test requires that Respondus LockDown Browser be used, students will not be able to take the test with a standard web browser.

Instructors are asked to sample the software, test it out, and have students try it out at the beginning of classes in September.  

  1. Respondus instructor and student user guides in UM Learn and
  2. Promoting integrity in online course via best practices UM website.

If this technology is something you are interested in using for your course(s),

  • Please ensure you make your students aware of this decision at the beginning of the term.
  • Attend one of the training sessions organized by CATL in September.
  • Email your Department Head by September 21 with a list of courses where Respondus will be used.

UM Learn course adaptation

Suggestions for adapting courses to online delivery in UM Learn

  1. Provide an overview document for each week of the course that covers learning objectives for the week and all tasks students are expected to complete.  Consider also posting this as a course announcement each Monday morning.
  2. Be careful with the frequency of course announcements you make, otherwise they will increasingly be ignored due to information overload and dropping off the course home page.
  3. Use release conditions to set start dates (and possibly due dates/ end dates) for course related files (if prepared and uploaded in advance, for same reason as point 2).
  4. Enter important dates/deadlines into the course calendar (Assignment due dates, Quiz/midterm date/time, VW deadline, Exam period).
  5. Set up discussion forums for general course questions and interaction, not just for discussion-based assignments (for students to be able to post you must create these as topics within a forum).
    • E.g. General insect questions
    • E.g. Course related questions
    • E.g. Introduce yourself
    • Do not be disappointed with low activity levels on course discussion forums, students tend to form their own groups and use alternate programs for communicating with one another.
  6. Set up Assignment folders for all assignment submissions.  When providing feedback, upload feedback so that it is associated with the student’s original submission.  This is much more efficient than email.
  7. When developing online quizzes and tests, enter all questions into the Question Library, then develop quiz afterwards.
    • One folder per section/question type/topic
    • And/or one folder per question if you are developing multiple question versions
  8. Investigate if the use of Intelligent Agents is appropriate for your course.
  9. Investigate the monitoring tools available to you in the Grades and User Progress and Quizzes page.

CATL resources

All instructors are now enrolled in UM Learn so they can access the pre-recorded CATL Webex training modules prepared for our faculty. 

A development course for instructors is useful to have in order to test and try out UM Learn and WebEx features.

Through CATL there are course framework options (course frameworks are pre-tailored for you to add your own content to) which can be downloaded and then you can create your lecture and fully export and import into the course you want to teach. This fits very well into UM Learn and is a good tool to create your courses online if you have not already done so.

Recommended course order for UM Learn and Webex workshops

  1. UM Learn: Content - In this workshop, participants will learn how to add course content (including syllabus, course notes, lectures, etc.) to their course in UM Learn. 
  2. UM Learn: Communication Tools - In this workshop, participants will learn how to use communication tools (news, classlist/email, discussions and groups) in UM Learn. 
  3. UM Learn: Assignments & Rubrics - In this workshop, participants will be guided through the steps of creating a rubric as well as an assignment submission folder. We will also learn how to use a rubric to aid in the assessment process. 
  4. UM Learn: Quizzes - In this webinar, participants will learn how to create and use quizzes in UM Learn. Quizzes can be set up to be autograded and the grade automatically published into the gradebook. 
  5. UM Learn: Grades & User Progress - In this workshop, participants will be guided through the process of building a gradebook and utilizing the user progress tool in UM Learn. Using the gradebook in UM Learn allows instructors to share feedback and assessments with students in a confidential manner.               
  6. Using Cisco Webex for Delivering Lectures - Cisco Webex is a video conferencing solution supported by The Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning. Cisco Webex is fully integrated with UM Learn that allows students to join an online classroom through their UM Learn accounts. In this online training session, participants will have an opportunity to learn how to use Cisco Webex for delivering online classes. This session includes how to schedule and manage events, host/join an event, passing presenter privileges to other users, how to share files and desktop, record your online class and download the attendance list.               
  7. Using Breakout Sessions on Cisco Webex - Breakout sessions can be used to place your students into smaller groups where they can collaborate and share ideas. In this session, participants will learn how to create and manage breakout sessions. Previous knowledge of Cisco Webex is recommended.

Sample Online Demonstration Labs

CATL shared a link to a Google spreadsheet document which shares over 200 links to online demonstration labs. The website provides a long list of examples to a sampling of science labs, many related with biology and chemistry.

Contingencies for Teaching Resources

Quick Guide to Self-Directed Video - The quality of videos in your online classrooms can significantly impact the attention and learning of your students. In this quick-and-easy guide to recording videos for online classes, we will demonstrate recording software/hardware, setting up a recording space, editing and other best practices needed to make a quality video.

Course Development - How our staff can contribute to your course development needs.

Ask an Expert - Instructional Design, Creative Media and Videography - Discover the ways we can help you enrich your course's content, including videos, artwork and other instructional ideas. Book a private consultation today with Ask an Expert.

See all resources under CATL Contingencies for Teaching

Hardware tips

Recommendations from committee members

Tablets

What tablet to buy? PCMag The Best Tablets for 2020

Ranjan recommends the iPad Pro 2020 with Apple Pencil 2.  His comments:

  • IPad Pro 2020 with the Apple Pencil 2 is one of the fastest combinations to write freehand during your lecture. 
  • The Apple Pencil 2 works only with the iPad Pro and charges by contact and remains charged all the time.  The iPad will show a millisecond lag when you write compared to the iPad Pro, which is instant, like writing with a pen on paper! You will need a minimum of 256 Gb storage to have all your books and notes for all the courses in your iPad Pro all the time.  Using the "sidecar" feature, you can extend any Mac computer screen to your iPad, where you can draw with your Pencil, and it will show up on your computer.
  • You do not need the cellular version as you can always tether the iPad Pro to your phone for internet connection on the go.  However, if you travel overseas, you can buy a local SIM card and use it for Skype instead of using your phone. Here is an excellent description of the difference between Wifi Only and Cellular.
  • What size to buy?  11" vs. 12.9" - The choice is mainly a personal preference.  The 11" weighs 1 lb and the 12.9" weighs 1.4 lbs making it a bit heavier to hold and read documents over a long period.  The voice dictation of the virtual keyboard does a pretty good job.  Also, the keyboard cover adds weight to the iPad Pro, defeating the purpose as a reading device.  If you still want a keyboard, get a USB-C hub that will connect multiple devices to your iPad Pro.  Then you can have a wired keyboard and mouse. This USB-C hub  allows you to connect your iPad Pro to the data projector or a TV.
  • You can also use the Bluetooth keyboard by Logitech Model K480, which is handy to carry separately instead of always with your iPad Pro to add to the weight.
  • Do not buy the protective case from Apple, which is high priced and does not have a slot to store the Apple Pencil 2.  Here is a link to one on Amazon at a fraction of the cost and much more practical to use. This iPad case is for the 11" one.  If you decide to buy the bigger one, you will have to search and find it.  
  • Do not use the screen protector that comes with it.  If you still need one, get the one from Paper Like.  I do not use the screen protector because I got used to writing with the Apple Pencil directly on the glass screen on the iPad Pro.  The iPad Pro comes with a special coating on the glass to prevent fingerprints.  I personally did not want to cover it with a screen protector.  Some people want to feel the "resistance" of pen on paper.  If that is your case, then get the Paper Like.
  • You can use the Educational Pricing as a university employee or student.  You can order through EPIC on a PDF or grant.  However, make sure you get the Canadian Educational pricing from the website above and get a shopping cart with the price shown. It gives you their promotional price and the free AirPods (upgrade if you wish by paying the difference) which is much lower from what appears on EPIC which does not show the promotional price or the free item. Your attached quote from the shopping cart will trigger an override request to EPIC getting you the lower price.  

Digital microscope - The technology exceeded expectations and is a very useful tool for lab courses requiring small specimen (aggregate) close up identification. Depth of field is larger than a real microscope and therefore more functionally useful. The workaround for lower quality video output is to play the video onscreen and then record a screen capture. Any questions, contact Jordan Bannerman. 

Wall Unit Powerline Adapter - can be used to bring internet to areas of your home where wi-fi signal is weak or non-existent. A Powerline adapter uses the electrical wiring in your home to transfer data eliminating the need to wire an ethernet cable.

Software tips

CollegeGeek - Best apps for notetaking

Ranjan recommends:

  • iPads come preinstalled free with Pages/Numbers/Keynote apps (= Word/Excel/PowerPoint). Any MS Office document can be opened using the corresponding Apple apps.  You can also export any document prepared in Pages/Numbers/Keynote to MS Office format.  
  • I use Keynote app (= Apple's PowerPoint) and Notes Plus app as a whiteboard to write freehand and share my screen (via WebEx, Zoom, or MS Teams) with the students.  I frequently switch between these two apps (Slides on Keynote/Powerpoint and Handwritten Notes on NotesPlus app) during my lecture.  Sliding two fingers across the screen will bring up the other app instantly.  Anything you write in Notes Plus is searchable, and you can export as pdf pages of notes to send by email to your students.  You could have hundreds of Notes Plus "notebooks" you created before, and just typing a word you wrote will instantly pull up all the pages in all the notebooks which have that handwritten word.  I use the Good Reader App to mark up the thesis and large pdf documents or fill pdf forms, securely sign pdf documents.
  • Office Lens App (free) - A scanner and OCR app to scan and edit text. This is the best scanning app that will convert scanned text to editable word file. 
  • Browzine App (free) - An app to bring the Library journals to you. The UofM libraries are part of this app.
  • Mendeley App (free) - An app to store and annotate references. There is a Word "cite-as-you-write" add-on available.  You never have to type your references.  You can export the citation directly from within the BrowZine App into the Mendeley App.  The UofM has a site license for Mendeley to get the Pro features.