Finalize Your Plan

Before you set sail for the term, you want to make sure that you have your itinerary and documentation all in order. We have a check list of items you should consider to make sure you are prepared. Print the checklist Download Print the checklist

to use when reviewing your final plans for your course.

REMINDER: Your sailing date is earlier than you think. Your Canvas course and the syllabus should be published on Monday of Week 0 (one week before the term start date).

❏ Syllabus

Help your students to trust you. Accurate information matters.

- Syllabus is updated for current term with correct term name and updated schedule with correct dates listed.
- Your contact information is correct.
- Syllabus includes current University required elements, statements and policies, and up-to-date contact information for support offices. [On-Ground Syllabus template Download On-Ground Syllabus template
  ] [Online Syllabus template Download Online Syllabus template
  ]

❏ Communication Plan

Make it easy for students to communicate with you. Decide how you will consistently communicate with your students and post it in your Syllabus and Canvas.

Craft a statement for your students which includes:

- how they should communicate with you (email, Canvas inbox, phone, Remind Links to an external site., etc.);
- expected netiquette/requirements of their communications;
- when they can expect to hear back from you; and
- how you will be communicating with them (announcements, email, text, Remind Links to an external site., etc.).

❏ Weekly Guidance in Canvas

Provide guidance for your students in Canvas on what they need to do each week and how to interact with the materials. Don't expect them to remember what you told them in the Zoom session.

It can be a simple list of resources to read and tasks to do or a one sentence explanation of how to work with the files and resources you have provided.

❏ Grading Rubrics

Grading rubrics clearly outline your expectations for assignments, projects, discussions and participation. They can improve the quality of student work and make grading faster and easier.

Share the rubric in the course resources and post it with the assignment. You can create the rubric in Canvas Links to an external site. (watch this demonstration of creating a Canvas rubric Links to an external site.)and attach it to an assignment Links to an external site. or a discussion Links to an external site. for use in SpeedGrader.

❏ Zoom expectations

Prepare your students for your live sessions. You have planned on when and how you plan to use Zoom.

- Let your students know your Zoom participation and behavior expectations.
- Put a statement in Canvas and your syllabus outlining your expectations.
- Include a recording and privacy advisory statement if you are planning to record and post class recordings. Advise students to talk to you if they have a problem with being recorded (i.e. witness protection, stalking, etc.)

❏ Check Your Tech

Practice with your technology tools. Gather friends and family into a Zoom session to practice sharing your screen, allowing others to share, creating and managing breakout rooms, etc.

Know how to use any third-party tools and apps you plan to use and provide instructions to students in Canvas.

❏ Welcome video

Create a short (3-5 minute) video that you can post in a course announcement during Week 0. Include a welcome to the course, course overview, and teaching plan in student language. Check out the Showcase example for ideas.

❏ Get Ready activity for students

Create an activity for students to do so they are ready for the first day of the term. It could be as simple as having them use Zoom with friends and family so they have worked out the issues before the first day of class.

❏ Pre-course email communication to students

Reach out to students before start of term, no later than Week 0, with a welcome message and important information that they need to be ready for the first day of the term (syllabus, books, technology, plan for first week, any activities in Canvas before first Zoom session, etc.)

❏ Final Check of the Course

Go through the Check Your Canvas Course checklist to make sure that everything is ready to go before you hit the Publish button.