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FITSDePauw University
mailP.O. Box 37
Greencastle, IN
46135
FITS Center (765) 658-4364 or (765) 658-6600
Recommendations for Keeping Class Going
FITS recommends the following technologies to keep your course going in the event students or you miss class. FITS is prepared to assist you in learning and using these technologies, but please plan ahead of when you actually may need them.
Lectures
- Post your lecture notes in Moodle. For more Moodle instructions, click here to access the Moodle 101 course.
- Appoint a student to take notes and post them as an attachment in a Moodle Forum. You could also create a wiki in Moodle or use Google Docs where the student could enter notes, and other students in class can contribute as needed to augment the notes taken.
- Create an audio file of your lecture using Audacity.
- Create a slideshow with narration using VoiceThread.
Class Discussion
- Use Moodle's Forum for posting questions to which students can respond. They can also respond to each other's postings to create a dialogue.
- Use screen-capture software to record your computer desktop as you present material in class or while your class interacts online. Some faculty have purchased Camtasia with departmental funds or used its free version. Jing and ScreenToaster are available for free and allow voiceover. The latter does not require downloading a program. Others use DyKnow regularly for their courses and could use the record feature to document a class session.
- Create a class blog for student interaction. DePauw currently hosts WordPress, so please contact Michael Gough if you are interested in starting a blog and getting an account set up.
Collaborative Work
- Create a Moodle Wiki or Google Doc for students to work collaboratively.
Assignments
- Use Moodle's Assignment feature to create a virtual space where students can turn in assignments for your viewing only.
- Use Moodle's Forum feature to enable students to upload assignments that other students can access for class interaction. Students can respond to postings to provide each other feedback.
Lab Classes
- Arrange alternate activities resembling the planned lab exercises.
- Find online lab kits for students to complete. Some can be found in Empire State College's Math and Science Literacy Community Engagement project.
Quizzes and Tests
- Create online quizzes and tests in Moodle that all students can take simultaneously. Please consult with FITS on how to create a quiz or test for your needs.
Grading
- Use Moodle's Gradebook to post course grades that students can access anytime.
- Provide oral feedback by recording your comments in Audacity or use VoiceThread for both the assignment and for your feedback.
Virtual Office Hours
- Use Novell Messenger, Meebo (which interfaces with almost any text-messenging program), Skype, or Moodle Chat to hold online office hours if you are able. This enables students to ask questions and get clarification on work they missed while out sick, and each can do so when starting to recuperate.
Announcements
- Use News Forum in Moodle to post updates regarding when you will be online or other information regarding the course.
Synchronous Technologies
Using synchronous technologies may be difficult if those involved are absent due to illness. For students who are ill, you may find it impractical to have them "attend" class and might rather concentrate on creating materials for documenting classes for students when they are healthy enough to use those materials.
- Use videoconferencing/Multipoint Interactive Videoconferencing software, such as NITLE-hosted Elluminate (Live! version), to hold a class discussion. Elluminate supports video, audio, chat, and a whiteboard much like Marratech did. You can share text, slides, and images within the whiteboard space, and students can also contribute content to it. Dimdim is another MIV option.
