Checklists for Teaching Modalities

Face to face/Lecture Courses Checklist

This page provides a basic checklist of strategies for teaching in each of the four teaching modalities that Webster courses are taught in: Face to face/Lecture,  Remote and WebNet+, Online, and Hybrid.

  • Go paperless: distribute and collect assignments, projects, and exams through Canvas (Canvas Assignments, Discussions, and Quizzes)
  • Post your syllabus in Canvas
  • Post all course files in Canvas
  • Practice using Webex or Zoom so that you’re ready to teach remotely
  • Talk to your students about your plan for your course if you need to transition to remote learning
  • Establish backup systems for when students cannot attend class due to illness: collaborative/shared notes in Office 365 documents, lecture notes, backup content for students to access as alternatives (videos, podcasts, readings), videos or audio recordings of your lectures (if possible for you).

Remote and WebNet+ Courses Checklist

  • Use Canvas for sharing course files, videos, announcements, assignments, quizzes and exams, asynchronous discussions, and grading.
  • Use Webex or Zoom for holding real-time class sessions.
  • Keep real-time Webex or Zoom meeting within the time window allocated for your course.
  • Establish class norms for class sessions (muting, “raising” hands, using the chat, protocol for breakout rooms).
  • Be transparent about your expectations for attendance at class sessions. Consider recording your remote sessions as a backup in case students fall ill and miss class.
  • Use Kaltura or Office365 to share recordings of class sessions in which students appear or are heard. Since these are Webster-sponsored tools, users will need to sign in to access them, and you will protect student information.

Online Courses Checklist

  • Retain the standard format for fully-asynchronous courses; do not expect students to attend any live sessions via Webex or Zoom.
  • Even though this format of teaching remains the same as it did before the pandemic, you may now have new student issues to navigate related to stress and trauma. See the checklist for all modalities.

Hybrid Courses Checklist

  • Use a combination of synchronous (real-time) and asynchronous (on your own time) activities and experiences.
  • Synchronous activities might include: discussions, one-on-one or group coaching, collaborative work in small groups, collaboratively working out problems, and student presentations. Asynchronous activities might include: lectures, videos, podcasts, readings, assignments, online discussions, group work, collaborative note taking on course readings, problem sets, and reflection papers.
  • Students will want to know how much time each week they should expect to spend in real-time sessions, and how much time they will spend working on their own or in groups, so tell them ahead of time, and keep each week to a predictable pattern to assist students with their planning.
  • Use Canvas for sharing course files, videos, announcements, assignments, quizzes and exams, asynchronous discussions, and grading.
  • Use Webex or Zoom for holding real-time class sessions, office hours, or student group work.
  • Use Office 365 for collaborative work.

For All Teaching Modalities

  • Use Canvas as much as possible to simplify things for your students.
  • Keep to a standard schedule each week as much as you can so that students can plan their time.
  • Encourage students to use Office 365 for collaborative work, including pooling resources such as notes and study guides.
  • Modify your course policies to allow for absences and late work caused by illness.
  • Students may be experiencing trauma, illness, and uncertain schedules, and may need to provide care for family members. Direct students to appropriate support and be flexible with deadlines when students need it.
  • Use the Student Success Portal to direct students to academic supports and mental health resources.
  • Model self-care and care for others: you cannot be a good resource for your students or stay healthy if you overwork yourself. You may not be able to implement every strategy you’d like to implement. Focus on those strategies that you can get done in a reasonable amount of time, that work for you, and that you believe will have a big impact for your students.