Week 6, Spring 2020

Canvas Hack: Continuity of Instruction

Emergency Preparedness & Online Learning

Resolution-Miramar Distance Education Committee:

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently urged schools and other public institutions to begin making plans for "teleschool" in case there is a nationwide spread of coronavirus that leads to school closures. The Miramar Distance Education Committee encourages all faculty (even those teaching on-campus classes) to consider how they can use the features of Canvas and other online tools to provide students with ongoing access to course materials as a general preparedness measure.

To be clear: We're talking here about how classes can engage in "temporary remote teaching" where applicable. We aren't talking about any classes magically becoming Distance Education courses or about suspending online teaching certification. However, the CDC has asked schools to consider how they might use online tools to provide "continuity of instruction" should school closures or individual student quarantines become necessary.

How can we maintain discussions with our students and continue applicable coursework remotely for a short, temporary period of time during a public health situation? 

To go to last week's post with many ideas for using Canvas including a variety of tutorials: Week 5 Canvas Hack

OER Resources

Angela Boyd, Miramar Librarian

Are you interested in trying out an OER textbook for your class? Maybe you would like to see the latest that is out there for your subject area. 

• The University of North Georgia is giving away print copies of approximately 30 titles that are free to you if you request a review copy. The subjects range from accounting to literature to warfare. Digital copies are freely available on their website: North Georgia Textbooks and OERs  

• Bookstores, libraries, schools and educators, museums, stores and gift shops, book bloggers, book review programs are all eligible to receive a review copy. To order one, please go to this site: Request a Review Copy 

As always, if you have any questions about OER/ZTC materials, please come see me in the library or or give me a holler at 619-388-7310.

Links and Resources

Pronto is now available at no cost to faculty in an effort to allow teachers and students to stay connected while they work from home. (I've been using Pronto this semester to stay in touch with students and they love it).

They aren't the only company, there's a growing list of EdTech Companies offering FREE subscriptions during closure.

It's not as simple as "flipping a switch," Learning in a Pandemic Part 1 and Part 2.

On a positive note, in this Inside Higher Ed article, "Quiet Power," by Karen Costa explains how online learning benefits introverted students.