Off Campus Teaching
If you are expecting any major course changes due to classes being online only at the moment please email: [email protected]
Below is a list of resources for you to teach or learn with alternative, online tools to continue your class virtually. CVM faculty can take advantage of these resources to prepare for how to best communicate virtually with students and colleagues. Please reach out to your departmental instructional technologist (listed below) if you need help with online course materials in Canvas.
Online Communication for Students
Online Communication for Students
In the event that your class will not be able to meet in person and is moved online, here are some helpful tips to make sure you don’t miss any communication with your class.
Through email
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Class Reps
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Year 3 Reps ([email protected])
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Year 2 Reps ([email protected])
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Year 1 Reps ([email protected])
Through Canvas
- Ensure that you receive your communications promptly by setting up your personal notifications in Canvas. Follow these directions to be sure that you are having your notifications sent to your umn.edu email account.
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Instructors may post announcements for everyone in their course through Canvas.
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Announcements will be sent to you as an email
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Also can be viewed by selecting “Announcements” in the left hand navigation
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Discussions
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This is a space where you can communicate quickly with other students and your instructors in a class
- Can be accessed by choosing "Discussion" from the left hand navigation, and also alerted via email when you update your settings
Using Zoom in small groups and in Canvas with Instructors
- The DVM program will utilze our student workers to moderate the Zoom links for each class. This will be done using a recurring link that is on the front page of your course below the banner. This applies to most courses in Y1, Y2 and Y3 but exceptions are made for electives that the student workers are not participating in. Please reach out to your course coordinator if you are having trouble accessing your Zoom meetings.
- If you are on rotations or your course is one of the exceptions mentioned above the instructions for accessing the Zoom integration in Canvas might apply to you.
Online Communication for Faculty
Online Communication for Faculty
In the event you can not meet with your students face to face and your classes are moved online, here are some helpful tips for how to communicate effectively with your students entirely online.
Communication Through Canvas
Canvas allows instructors and students to control where and when they receive notifications about Canvas activity. As you determine your communication plan, think about how notifications can support timely interactions with your students.
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Ensure students receive your communications promptly by directing them to set up their personal notifications.
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Consider setting up a discussion in Canvas for “Course Questions” This is a space where students could seek clarification from the instructor and each other.
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The Canvas Inbox (also known as Canvas Conversations) is an email tool within Canvas.
- Use the Inbox to send a message to all students in a course or send a message to one or more specific students
- Filter Inbox conversations to help you stay organized and manage your messages.
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Instructors can post an announcement for everyone in their courses through Canvas.
- Leave the “Announcements” section viewablein the left navigation so that the archive of information is available to students.
- Manage announcement replies to allow or restrict further student conversation.
- Announcements are typically sent as an email, be sure students know this is dependent on notification settings.
Communication Through email
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Class Reps
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Year 3 Reps ([email protected])
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Year 2 Reps ([email protected])
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Year 1 Reps ([email protected])
Using Zoom to communicate in small groups
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Video conferencing tools enable real-time conversations.
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Use Zoom to meet with students individually or in small groups
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Use Zoom with Canvas to set up virtual office hours
- Create a calendar event in Canvas.
- Attach a Zoom meeting invite to provide a virtual space that any student in your course can join.
Online Teaching Resources for Faculty
Online Teaching Resources for Faculty
In the event where in-person classes cannot meet face to face, there are alternative online tools to provide options for continuing instruction. CVM faculty can take advantage of this to continue facilitating most course activities. Review the following as options and solutions to teach your course effectively online.
University of Minnesota online teaching resources
- This 5-Module Online Course Design Seminar is open to all who teach at UMN -- faculty, instructors, postdocs, and grad students. Running from April 17 to May 26, the seminar is designed so that participants can move through as a cohort, or access the content at their own pace, or just dip in periodically for resources and ideas.
The Guidelines for Online Teaching and Design
- The Guidelines for Online Teaching and Design is a searchable, practical guide to assist members of the University of Minnesota community (e.g., faculty, instructors, administrators, instructional designers) in supporting student learning in online courses and programs.
Canvas discussions
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Consider setting up a discussion in Canvas for “Course Questions” This is a space where students could seek clarification from the instructor and each other.
Canvas assignments
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Use Canvas Assignments when students will need to submit content. This might include text, web site URLs, media recordings, or files.
Canvas quizzes
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Use Canvas Quizzes to create a check for understanding quiz, graded or ungraded survey, or an exam. Quizzes have a variety of question types including multiple choice and essay. Quiz questions and responses can be randomized to increase exam security.
Uploading files
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Links to files and online media can be added to modules or a Canvas page.
Creating videos
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Kaltura is a streaming video platform. Kaltura appears in your Canvas course navigation as My Media and Media Gallery. Videos uploaded to Kaltura are automatically captioned and these captions can be corrected before they are shared with students. Kaltura videos can be added to Canvas announcements, assignments, quizzes, discussions, and pages.
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You can use the Canvas Video Recorder to add video to pages and activities.
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Capture your computer screen and any on-screen cursor movements (for presentations or demonstrations) with Screencast-o-matic. Screencast-o-matic has editing options and is free for all staff and students. Review the help tutorials.
Using Zoom in Canvas
Connect to the U of MN Off - Campus
It is helpful to think about how you and your students will gain access to the course materials:
- University of Minnesota tools such as email, Google Drive, and Canvas require the use of DUO Mobilesign in.
- If your DUO-enabled device is your office phone, be sure to enroll a back up device, or, generate self-service bypass codes.
- Some secure tools or platforms require the use of VPN.
CVM distance learning shared resources
The College of Veterinary Medicine is compiling a list of shared resources to distribute to others that are interested. This is a living document so check back for updates!
Need Assistance?
Questions About Technology Tools: Email [email protected]
Questions About Canvas: Canvas Guides are an excellent just-in-time resource for your Canvas questions.
CVM Instructional Technologists