Reading Time: 2 minutesCongratulations for making it through the first third of the semester! This semester has provided some unique challenges, and we’re here today with a couple reminders about techniques or tools you can use to help keep your courses running smoothly. 1. Use Canvas to your advantage. Canvas can be the central hub for your class. It contains your syllabus and gradebook, and you can take it a step further by using the Canvas Announcements to communicate with your whole class. If you aren’t currently using Quizzes in Canvas, consider using them to make it very simple for students to complete those assessments whether they’re in the classroom…
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How do I give a student extra time on a quiz or exam?
Reading Time: 2 minutesWith the changes of this semester, you may have moved some in-class quizzes or exams into Canvas. And with that change, there’s a feature you’ll need to use – moderating quizzes to give a student extra time for an accommodation. Even though the steps are a little different depending on whether you built your assessment as a Classic Quiz or New Quiz, the basic idea is still the same. You need to update the availability and due dates as well as give the student the extra time. Let’s look at how to do this in each quiz type. Remember: the Classic Quiz icon is just outlined, and the…
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What Do I Need to Know about Using Proctorio in Canvas?
Reading Time: 3 minutesIf you’re wanting to use a lockdown browser with your quizzes or exams in Canvas, Proctorio is the answer. It’s not hard to start using it, but there are a few things you need to know. You (and your students) must use Google Chrome. Proctorio works through a Chrome extension, so you cannot use any other browser when adding Proctorio to a quiz/exam or when students attempt the assessment. Before you can add Proctorio to a quiz/exam, you need to add Proctorio to your course and install the Chrome extension. Adding Proctorio to your course Since Proctorio is enabled at the course level, you will need to…
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How Can I Import My Course Content without Overriding the Autosyllabus?
Reading Time: < 1 minuteCedarville is launching an “autosyllabus” this fall – a syllabus template that’s pre-loaded into your course sections. This syllabus will have some sections pre-filled, but there are others where you’ll need to add the necessary information. Since the syllabus is already loaded in your fall section, you’ll need to remember that so you don’t override it when you bring over your course content. So how do you bring over your course content without overriding the syllabus? Canvas will then process the import and bring over the content. If you have already brought over your course content and accidentally overridden the autosyllabus, it’s okay. Delete all the…
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Using a Virtual Background in Zoom
Reading Time: 2 minutesHave you gotten all set up and ready to host a Zoom meeting or record a lecture only to realize that the background of your video is not what you want? Or maybe you didn’t get that far – you’ve spent time contemplating what room of your house or angle in your office not only provides good light but also a pleasant backdrop. Zoom has a feature that can take away some of those considerations: virtual backgrounds. They provide a few default options, and you can also upload your own backgrounds. And this is where the good news gets better. Cedarville has created backgrounds featuring views of…
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Scheduling a Zoom Meeting through Google Calendar
Reading Time: < 1 minuteScheduling a Zoom meeting through Canvas is an excellent way to meet with all the students in your course. However, what’s the best way to meet with a single student when you want to ensure nobody else can join the call? Enter scheduling your Zoom meetings through Google Calendar. With a simple add-on, you can create a meeting through Google Calendar and set it to launch a Zoom meeting. Installing the add-on You’ll see a message letting you know that the add-on has been installed. Scheduling a Zoom meeting Joining the meeting When it’s time to join the meeting, you and your student would just go…
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Everything has changed…again
Reading Time: 2 minutes“And the days went by like paper in the windEverything changed then changed again” – Tom Petty, “To Find A Friend” So, you’ve been teaching remotely for a week because of COVID-19. You thought you were halfway through, and then you got the latest news: We’re doing this for the rest of the semester. (And if you’re hearing this for the first time…surprise?) Whether you’re excited or apprehensive about the rest of the semester, know that you’re not alone. The CTL is here for you, and we’re going to help however we can. We’ll be adding to the Getting Started with Remote Learning course, and we’ll keep…
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Remote Learning: The Next Level
Reading Time: 2 minutesOnce you’ve worked through the tools we talked about in Remote Learning: The Basics, you’re ready for the next step. These items will enhance your course – they make content easier to find for students, grading easier for you, and improve accessibility in your videos. Linking Canvas content together We’re going to start off with one of the coolest features in Canvas: linking to items within the course from a page, discussion, announcement, or anywhere else that the Rich Content Editor is used. This is especially helpful if you’re sending an announcement out to students where you reference a page or assignment – you can link directly to…
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Best Practices for Conducting a Synchronous Session
Reading Time: 3 minutesWhile synchronous sessions can function similar to class sessions (you get to verbally communicate with all your students at once), there are some considerations you should make. From coming into the session with a plan to developing a method for student interaction, these items will help your sessions run smoothly. Prepare and plan ahead Are you planning on going through a presentation? Showing some other program or document via screen share? Have all of those items ready so it’s a simple toggle to the resource. You won’t have to sort through files for folders to find what you need. Consider also having an outline on what you…
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How Can I Organize my Canvas Course?
Reading Time: 2 minutesWith moving online, you’ll most likely be adding more content to your course than before. But what is the best way to organize that content so you and your students can easily find items? Each of the methods we’re going to look at uses the Modules section in your Canvas course. Modules are particularly helpful because you can add almost anything – content pages, videos, assignments, quizzes/tests/discussions – to keep content grouped together in some way. There are a few options for organization, so let’s look at how they each function. Modules by class day/week This is the method we use in our fully online courses. We number…