Quick start to teaching remotely

Download the Remote Teaching Checklist PDF.

For more information or assistance with UM Learn and Webex, please call: 204-474-8600, or email: ServiceDesk@umanitoba.ca.

For assistance in teaching remotely, please email: TheCentre@umanitoba.ca.

Adapted from The Taylor Institute, University of Calgary, Teaching Remotely Checklist. Last updated: 2020-03-13

Adapted from: Going Online in a Hurry: What to Do and Where to Start and Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning: Teaching Continuity

• Your students may know less about using UMLearn than you think. Consider including prompts and instructions to direct them in accessing tools like the Assignment submission tool and Discussion board.
• Many students will be accessing the internet on their phones. They may have limited data, so bear this in mind when uploading video lectures.
• Students may be sharing their technology (laptop, desktop) with household members. They may have less time to do their homework, not more.
• Some students may be losing their jobs and others may be putting in longer shift hours. This may have an impact on their ability to complete their assignments.
• Synchronous work may be very problematic for the above listed reasons and should be only be used where essential to the functioning of the course.
• If you are going to include videos, keep them short and to the point. Do not spend too much time editing, as you are not designing a fully online course, you are teaching remotely during a course disruption period.

Adapted from: GoodAnything.com

Review copyright considerations as you move your courses online. Consult the Rapidly Shifting your In-Person Course to Online: Copyright Considerations (PDF) guideline, and if you are uncertain whether you can use a resource or require assistance obtaining permission to use materials, contact the Copyright Office at um.copyright@umanitoba.ca. The Copyright Office is here to help find ways for you to access the resources you require for online course delivery. 

Modified from: Mace, N. (2018, August 25). 6 Engaging Icebreakers for Your Online Students. Leveraging E-Learning. Accessed April 28, 2020 from Leveraging Learning (this website is no longer available).

Step one in creating a successful online learning environment: build a learning community. How can instructors start this process? Just as a face-to-face class may spend the first class session getting to know one another, the online class must do the same, maybe even more so. Since online learners start out with a cyber-separation, course designers or instructors need to make an extra effort to create social connection in a nonthreatening manner. Think about a traditional in-person class. Students gather at the classroom door prior to the start of class. Conversations arise about the course, similar interests, and life outside the classroom. When the class ends, students gather in the halls and/or common areas on campus in order to create personal connections and friendships. This socialization is priceless in building a safe environment for learning. So, start this process by breaking the ice.

Here are six engaging icebreaker activities that all use a discussion board and are easy to implement. This coming term, update the usual introductions forum by trying out one of these instead.

1. Score Yourself & Introduce Another

This activity uses two discussion forums. In the first discussion forum, students score themselves on five given statements to indicate a level of knowledge or interest. The top score of 10 signifies a high interest or ability to teach. A score of 1 indicates minimal knowledge and/or interest. Once students have entered their scores on the given statements in their initial post, peers look for classmates with the score closest to their own on each statement. Next, using the learning management system (LMS) messaging tool, students introduce themselves to this classmate. Through messaging, students find other common interests of one another. Ideally, students have found a partner. If the student already has a partner, then he or she can reply to say so. The student returns to the forum to find another similar score. Lastly, it is now the student’s job to introduce his or her partner to the class in the Introductions forum.

1st forum: score yourself

Example statements (provided by the instructor)

1. I consider myself a MasterChef.
2. I’d rather spend my days in nature.
3. I love to read.
4. Working with my hands makes me happy.
5. I have an interest in the subject matter of this course.

2nd forum: Introductions

Example introduction

Hello all, I’m introducing my new friend Sandy Smith. She loves to read mystery novels and watches more cooking shows than actual cooking…

2. Lost in Space

Instructions are not the only way we learn more about people. Sometimes we learn more about people through seeing their priorities. In this imaginative icebreaker, students pretend they are living on a space station for a year. Suddenly, the station is malfunctioning and they have fifteen minutes to gather only five items to take with them on the evacuating space shuttle. This is not a time for deep thought. Students are instructed to quickly type out the five items they are taking with them. Once all participants have entered their items on their initial posts, peers read through the entries to find similarities and/or curiosities. Students post replies to comment and ask questions about the reasoning behind choosing the items. Give students categories of technology, personal, and survival to start their explanation.

3. One Word

Students are asked to post one word that they would use to describe themselves. Following the word, they provide 3-5 sentences that then describes why they chose that word. Students review peers’ posts and find someone whose word resonates with them. Replying to that post with the connection and tries to find two other nouns that the two classmates have in common. Note: Students always do better with this activity when a strong example is provided after the instructions.

Example

Word: Challenge

I’ve chosen this word because I feel like my life constantly has challenges that I overcome in order to achievement my goals. For example…

4. Things

Change up the text by starting student introductions with an image. Students find an image of an object that represents them or why they are taking the course. Students add the image and an explanation of why they chose that particular object. Start this activity by posting your object and explanation. Once students have completed their initial post, their job is to respond to interesting images and reply with a question. Original students reply to the question with an answer.

Example

I simply love history. It’s the story that no fiction could rival…

5. 2 Truths + 1 False

An oldie, but a goodie. Students post two truthful statements and 1 false, without labeling. Peers review and reply with their guesses on which statement is false and explain the reasons behind their guess. After a given date, students return to their original post to reveal the actual false statement in a reply. Also, within this revealing reply, students list the names of the peers who guessed correctly as a little applaud in this friendly game.

• I have a twin sister.
• I have been to six countries.
• I have swam with sharks.

6. Acrostic Poem & Classmate Quiz

A simple activity kicked up a notch. Students use their own first name to create a short poem. Writing their name vertically, students use each letter to start a line, or be the main word in a line, that describes something about themselves. Peers review all poems and try to remember details about each classmate. The instructor then creates a short quiz using the statements posted in different poems. Classmates take this fun quiz to show their knowledge of their peers.

Example of Acrostic Poem:

N – Not a fan of pie.
I – I love cookie dough Ice cream.
C – I prefer Cooking over eating out.
O – My family has an Olive Oil ranch.
L – Learning is fun for me.
E – I’ve ridden an Elephant in Thailand.

Please keep in mind that you will need to export your video to a video before you upload it to UM Learn. Turn Your Presentation into a Video (PDF)

How to record audio to your PowerPoint presentation

Record Audio Narration for your PowerPoint Presentation – Mac (PDF)