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Course Introduction
Course Structure & Navigation
Explain the layout of your course:
- How many weeks is this course?
- Will your modules be weekly or unit/topic-based?
- What will an average module consist of? (ex. instructional content, discussions, assignments, quizzes, etc.)
- Will modules be locked based date or have any prerequisites?
Example Statement:
[Course Title] is an 8-week course broken up into eight modules. You can access the modules by clicking "Modules" on the left-hand side course navigation menu. Each module will consist of an overview page that will introduce you to the content we will be learning about, an instructional content page that houses readings, videos, and additional materials, and various learning activities and assessments, such as discussions, assignments, and quizzes. Each module will be available on Monday at 6:00 AM; you will then have the whole week to work through the content, activities, and assessments. Please note that your activities and assessments will have various deadlines throughout the week; this is to help keep you working consistently on course content rather than waiting until the last minute.
Course Expectations
Clearly state your expectations for students enrolled in your course. Some items to consider include:
- Course participation (how often should they login, how many hours per week should they be working on material)
- Assignment completion (late work or missing work policies)
- Student-to-student and instructor-to-student interaction (netiquette)
- Course technology (what software and/or applications will students be required to use)
For additional examples of netiquette and policy wording, check out "What to include in your online classroom materials and procedures Links to an external site." on the Teaching, Learning, and Academic Innovation website.
Example Statement:
As a student enrolled in [Course Title], you are expected to be regularly checking in to the course shell, as well as UKY email, in order to stay up-to-date on course announcements, content, discussions, activities, and assessments. You should expect to be working [x hours] per week on this course. It may be helpful to designate specific days/times throughout the week to work on this course, just as you would if attending a course face-to-face. Per the syllabus, late work will receive a 10% deduction each day that it is late. Assignments that are more than 7 days late will receive a 0.
This course will incorporate both individual and group-based work. Students are expected to demonstrate respectful, professional, and appropriate behavior when interacting with their peers. Remember that your messages/words reflect YOU. Think about your audience and the relevance of your message before hitting the 'submit' button. Take time to make sure your message is correct in its form and content.
The majority of technology used in this course will center around Canvas, our Learning Management System (LMS). If you are unfamiliar with Canvas, please be sure to review the "Canvas Student Orientation" page, located in the Course Technology Resources Module. Additionally, we will be using Zoom, a web-conferencing platform, for virtual office hours. If you have not used Zoom before, be sure to also check out the "Zoom Student Orientation" page, located in the Course Technology Resources Module.
Instructor Contact Information
Clearly state your preferred contact method and protocol (average response time). Be sure this matches what is posted on the home page!
Example Statement:
My preferred contact method is email or Canvas Inbox. I will respond to messages within 24 hours Monday-Friday and 48 hours if sent on a Saturday and/or Sunday. You may also post course-related questions to the "Ask the Class" discussion forum.
If you have specific questions about Canvas, remember that you can call or chat Canvas customer service 24/7! You can access Canvas support by clicking the "Help" button in the left-hand side Global navigation menu (the blue menu).
Next Steps
Step 1: Read Course Syllabus
Provide a brief statement on the role and importance of the course syllabus.
Example Statement:
The course syllabus will provide you with the course schedule, course objectives, explanations of assignments and assessments, grading policies, and instructor contact information. Please read it carefully. You should have a deep familiarity with the schedule and process of the course. You can access the course syllabus via the "Syllabus" link on the left-hand side course navigation menu.
Step 2: Review the Learn Anywhere Resources
Provide a brief statement about the Learn Anywhere academic assistance resources provided by the University. Be sure to also include any specific academic assistance services that your department or college may provide.
Example Statement:
The Learn Anywhere Links to an external site. website contains a variety of remote learning resources. For this particular course, you may find the following student resources beneficial:
Step 3: Technology Introduction
Reiterate the required course technologies and direct students to the "Course Technology Resources" module for additional information and support.
Example Statement:
Canvas is the learning management system (LMS) that we will be using for this course. All course content, activities, and assignments will be housed and submitted through Canvas. If you are unfamiliar with Canvas or need a refresher on check out the "Canvas Student Orientation" page, located in the Course Technology Resources Module.
The only other additional technology we will be using is Zoom, a web-conferencing platform, for virtual office hours. If you have not used Zoom before, please review the "Zoom Student Orientation" page, located in the Course Technology Resources Module.
Step 4: Additional Step (Remove if not needed)
Include any additional steps a student needs to get started. That could be proceeding to the first module, participating in a "Meet Your Classmates" discussion board, etc.
Step 5: Additional Step (Remove if not needed)
Include any additional steps a student needs to get started. That could be proceeding to the first module, participating in a "Meet Your Classmates" discussion board, etc.