General Getting Help from CIS Questions

Who can I ask for help with my course?

The Centre for Instructional Support can help you activate your Canvas course shell, post materials, create assignment dropboxes, teach you how to simply record PowerPoint voiceovers, or plan and conduct synchronous online classes using tools like skype and collaborate. Contact us at learning@apsc.ubc.ca

There is central support. Any instructor is invited to call (604.827.4775), email (lt.hub@ubc.ca), or visit the Learning Technology Hub to reach instructional support staff.

A new campus-wide web resource is being created at https://keepteaching.ubc.ca/. It is currently up and available with instructions and content being updated throughout the day (March 9) and longer as we get feedback.  The first page on Lectures is completed and skeletons for the rest of the pages are being filled out as the content is being written.

I am not currently using Canvas, who do I ask to get started?

If you are not currently using Canvas, you will want to request the activation of a Canvas shell to be able to communicate with your students and continue delivering your course. The Centre for Instructional Support can quickly activate a shell for your course. Here is a form to request a Canvas shell activation.

How can I have students hand in their assignments online?

There is a tool within Canvas that lets you set up online submissions for student assignments. The Centre for Instructional Support can help you quickly set these up. Want our help - send us details about your assignment - course name /number (canvas ID if you have it), assignment name, assignment dropbox link open and close dates, due date (time and day), and if you will accept late submissions? - and we can quickly set it up for you.
 
For do-it-yourself instructors - here is a short web resource that shows you the simple steps for setting up an online assignment dropbox in Canvas.

How can I pre-record my lectures from home?

There is free screen recording software (Camtasia) that is available to all UBC faculty, student and staff. This software lets you easily create voice-over PowerPoint presentations that then can be posted in Canvas. Ask us for help with getting started. We can spend a few minutes together and get you started quickly and easily.
  1. Download software for free from UBC
  2. Recording - It is easy to record PowerPoint Voice-Overs and post them in Canvas. Here is a simple video tutorial on how to get started.
  3. Post exported mp4 in Canvas

What software can I use to conduct synchronous classes from home?

UBC has a free online meeting tool Collaborate (like Zoom and Skype) that is integrated into Canvas. You can use it to do synchronous online classes. It also allows you to record sessions and post them to Canvas. Contact the Centre for Instructional Support for help planning and implementing Collaborate sessions.

Here is a short movie to show you how to add the Collaborate Ultra link to your Canvas course.

What software can I use to conduct office hours from home?

UBC has a free online meeting tool Collaborate (like Zoom and Skype) that is integrated into Canvas. You can use it to do online office hours. It also allows you to record sessions and post them to Canvas. Contact the Centre for Instructional Support for help planning and implementing Collaborate sessions.

Can we do exams online?

There are a number of tools to support online assessments available at UBC. Canvas Quizzes only do a good job with multiple choice and text entry (essay) questions, calculation and drawing questions are a problem. Contact us with your needs and we can help develop a workable plan together.

   

What can I do if I teach a lab course?

Labs are difficult to recreate online, but we can achieve some of the outcomes. Here is a helpful article from the BOK Center at Harvard.

Contact jim.sibley@ubc.ca at the Centre for Instructional Support. We might not be able to replace hands-on-labs, but we can try to work out the best plan possible. We might be able to cobble together video demonstrations and having students using canned data to complete lab reports. Contact me and we can try to figure things out together.

Importance of communicating changing expectations to students

Any time you change the rules of engagement with your students you should over-communicate, rather than under-communicate. If you expect students to attend synchronous classes, watch posted videos, or hand assignments in online - tell them and tell them often.