Continuity of Teaching and Learning – Summer/Fall 2020
FCC summer/fall classes will be delivered primarily online to maintain public safety. Face to face instruction and student interactions will only be conducted when it is necessary, required, and feasible to do so in a safe environment.
Traditional Online (ONL):
Offered entirely online and do not meet at a specific time. Students enrolled in an online course will meet all expected deadlines and expectations outlined by the professor and can complete work on their own time.
- Faculty may not offer synchronous sessions to deliver required course content
- Optional synchronous sessions focused around extra help, exam review, etc. are acceptable provided they are recorded, captioned, and posted as appropriate
- Students cannot be asked to participate in face-to-face or synchronous instruction or testing
- Testing Center virtual proctoring services are available only for accommodated testing, with advance scheduling required, in coordination with the Testing Center
Structured Remote Learning (SR):
While still entirely online, have specific class times associated with them. Professors may use some of that time to have real-time virtual sessions. These sessions may include virtual classes, group discussions, office hours, or other class activities planned at scheduled times. The frequency of those sessions will vary from course to course. If you have signed up for a structured remote course, make sure you check the syllabus for the schedule of sessions. We understand that students may have difficulty making some of these virtual sessions. Therefore, all sessions will be recorded and made available to students unable to attend. Students will be able to watch these videos at a later time with no penalty.
- Synchronous instruction is not required for each or any class session(s)
- When session are offered synchronously, they must be held during the scheduled class time
- These courses will remain remote the entire semester, even if the campus reopens
- Notify students in the syllabus at the beginning of the term and through Blackboard which sessions will be synchronous and which ones will not
- Students cannot be penalized for missing synchronous sessions, but they can be held accountable for the content
- Students cannot be asked to participate in face-to-face instruction or testing
- All synchronous sessions must be recorded and made available for students (closed captioned). FERPA guidelines should be read prior to recording (these pop up automatically in ZOOM)
- Testing Center virtual proctoring services are available only for accommodated testing, with advance scheduling required, in coordination with the Testing Center
Hybrid Remote Learning (HYR):
Offered primarily online, but with required periodic on-campus or Monroe Center meetings during scheduled class times. Students enrolled in a Hybrid Remote class will be expected to come to campus or the Monroe Center for periodic class sessions that your instructor will tell you about at the start of class, or may also meet as a real-time virtual session during the scheduled class time. Virtual sessions will be recorded and made available to students unable to attend. Students will be able to watch these videos at a later time with no penalty.
There will be limited physical access to buildings, classrooms, labs, and College offices. Specific protocols will be in place to ensure the safety of students, employees, and community members. Guidelines and instructions for physical access will be provided to students and community members once they are finalized.
Comprehensive student resources remain available remotely to deliver College services to students. Click here for more information.
Course Design & Blackboard Support: If you need assistance from OLII, please submit a support request here:
https://servicedesk.frederick.edu.
- Face to face instruction should be minimized to the level needed to meet core learning outcomes and essential hands-on activities and should focus on content that cannot be delivered online
- There should be little or no lecturing in a face to face format
- Face to face sessions must be preapproved by a department chair or director and AVP, who will maintain a central calendar
- Face to face class sessions should be held during the scheduled class meeting time and communicated to students on the first day of class
- The number of students who can attend a face to face class should be in accordance with social distancing guidelines (typically a maximum of ten people in room, including faculty and sign language interpreters, unless room capacity requires a smaller number)
- All students and faculty will be expected to adhere to cleaning protocols, which are outlined in the document “Space Use Recommendations by Program”
- Hybrid Remote classes do not need to meet face to face every week. While many traditional hybrid classes are 50/50, Hybrid Remote classes do not need to meet face to face for 50% of the time
- Course content that is not taught on campus can be delivered synchronously (at the scheduled class time) or asynchronous
- Notify students in the syllabus and through Blackboard at the beginning of the term which sessions will be synchronous remote and which will meet on campus
- Be as flexible as possible for students who are unable to attend a synchronous remote session by sharing the recorded class
- Note that when recording a synchronous session, faculty should close caption the recording. The FERPA statement should be read prior to all recording, This pops up automatically in ZOOM
- Attendance can be required for on campus class sessions, though faculty should be flexible and accommodating to COVID-19 related absences
- Should FCC return to full campus instruction, faculty may request approval from an AVP for Hybrid remote classes to optionally return to campus, based on the needs of the program
- Testing Center virtual proctoring services are available only for accommodated testing, with advance scheduling required, in coordination with the Testing Center
- For all classes, but especially classes longer than 1hr 15 min, consider adding in time for a brief break for students who may benefit from taking some air outside of the building while maintaining appropriate physical distance from other students. Students should be wearing masks and should reapply hand sanitizer upon re-entering the classroom.
Faculty Guide (course modalities, guidelines and expectations for remote teaching, physical distancing):
Faculty Guide for Summer/Fall 2020 Instruction (living document)
Course Design Expectations and Tips
A number of resources have been curated and created from the Summer 2020 Faculty Professional Course: Essentials Guide: a direct link to those resources can be found here: https://guides.frederick.edu/facultyresource/howto
- Design the course and activities with a focus on core learning outcomes and the total amount of time student should engage in learning [Refer to Federal Credit Hour Guidelines and use the Time on Task Calculator.]
- Facilitate communication of course requirements and student progress through use of the college’s learning management system that includes use of the standard navigation, use of grade center and ensuring a syllabus consistent with grade center is posted (from the Faculty and Adjunct Roles and Responsibilities effective July 1 2020)
- We ask that you do not alter the standard navigation
- Please post your syllabus is the Syllabus Tab
- Please set up Gradebook and examine it in “student view” to make sure extra columns have been removed
- Please ensure your Syllabus and Grade Center match- course copying can lead to inconsistencies between the two if you do not modify Grade Center to match syllabus changes
- Explicitly indicate on the syllabus which sessions will be on campus (date, time, location) and which online sessions will be synchronous
- Consider crafting a customized announcement via Blackboard about the modality of your class, when you will be meeting (if applicable) and where students can go with questions or for more information.
- Consider setting a consistent method for identifying both the start and end dates for the modules and/or sections of your course.
- Ensure content is accessible (Refer to the Accessibility Section)
- Note that when recording a synchronous session and any posted recordings, faculty should include closed captioning. The FERPA statement should be read prior to any recording. This pops up automatically when recording in ZOOM
- Explicitly communicate Blackboard and technology requirements in the syllabus, announcements, course schedule, and other areas as appropriate
- Although not required, as a best practice consider adapting course design/delivery based on ongoing student feedback and progress (e.g., using a midterm course evaluation)
Communication, Interactivity, and Grading Expectations
- Respond to student inquiries within 48 hours for courses that are not designated online (in accordance with the Faculty Addendum in the Employee Handbook)
- For full-time faculty, per the Employee Handbook regarding office hours, communicate to students how they will be available for students for at least 5 hours of virtual 1:1 consultations per week (e.g., virtual office hours)
- Establish and communicate a clear schedule for posting course assignments and due dates
- Have a robust teaching presence in the course multiple times throughout the week. Examples of Teaching Presence include:
- Be available during the scheduled course time
- Post announcements Participate in asynchronous sessions
- Respond to and interact in discussion boards
- Conduct synchronous sessions
- Provide timely student feedback and post grades in Grade Center
- Conduct individual and small group interactions
- Create and post (and caption) lecture video clips
- Conduct office hours (virtual/email)
- Create or use existing brief how-to videos for assignments
- Use Blackboard to conduct instruction (e.g., Grade Center, Collaborate, student assignments submission) and FCC email to communicate, being mindful of technology issues, limited Internet access, and limited student experience with technology when creating assessments and assignments
- Clearly and repeatedly communicate course information (e.g., syllabus, announcements, reminders, course introduction/Start Here), the schedule of your availability, your response times for student inquiries and assessment
- Send Student Success Alerts when students are struggling academically to support student learning in accordance with the forthcoming Student Success Alert guidebook
- Frequently refer to the Academic Support Services available to students; a detailed guide on support services for Spring 2020 is forthcoming
- Create a culturally-responsive and inclusive learning environment and accommodate students with disabilities with Success Plans
- Students should be expected to complete some form of weekly activity for the purposes of attendance tracking. Simply logging in does not count as online attendance
- Create an expectation that students communicate course-related questions using the tools on Blackboard. Be deliberate and consistent about the location and method for this communication, and encourage students to offer answers to each other. In this way, the answers scale up to the entire class and you will relieve your email load.
- Please take attendance for hybrid remote on campus sessions to support contact tracing should it be necessary.
- The course syllabus and Blackboard site should be clear about technology needs and expectations for the course from the first day
- Blackboard Collaborate is the primary web conferencing platform for instruction. Zoom can be made available for programs with specific requirements that cannot be met through Blackboard Collaborate. Faculty can contact a department chair, director, or AVP with questions about getting a Zoom account
- Faculty should not use personal web conferencing platforms or course shells
Please refer to the Learning Technologies Tab for details and How to’s
- Develop assessments appropriate to remote structured learning, using multiple assessment types that align with course objectives and support academic integrity. [Refer to the Faculty Essentials: Assessment Lib Guide]
- On campus assessments can be scheduled for hybrid remote classes when a face-to-face exam is related to accreditation or licensing requirements, or where face to face interaction is integral to the assessment
- Proctored course exams are generally unavailable in the Testing Center, except for students with testing accommodations as delineated in their Success Plans [see the Testing Center webpage for details about services and operations]
- A best practice in all course formats ( Online, Structured Remote, and Hybrid Remote courses) is to provide an easily-identifiable course orientation that uses multiple methods to orient students to the course and establish expectations
- Faculty should refer to the forthcoming Course Orientation – we are waiting for this from OLII
- Recognize that this is not business as usual. Faculty will not be able to reproduce a standard face to face course experience for every student. On campus instruction is intended to cover only the essentials.
- Consider whether students need to participate in every activity, establish a modified schedule that provides some hands-on experiences to each student
- Ensure that face to face interactions are focused on the most essential material and stay within the existing course times
- Consult a department chair, director, or AVP if you have further questions
A. Setting Up Your Course in Blackboard
- If you would like assistance for setting up your course in Blackboard, please contact OLII and we will be happy to discuss best practices and assist you in setting up the content.
- Keep the navigation for your course simple so students can find things easily. Inside of “Course Materials”, create modules for your material and place all the content needed to complete that module within the module folder.
- Be aware that you may have students accessing your course using mobile devices and bandwidth may be a challenge. Use discussion boards where possible in place of Collaborate or video conferencing software.
B. Communicating with Students
- It is strongly recommended that students change their Blackboard notification preferences to alert them when a new Announcement is posted in the course. When you create an Announcement, select the box to have the announcement emailed to your students. Remind students to check their myFCC email regularly.
- Communicate any course changes such as assignment due dates or content availability with your students. Let students know your availability and when they can expect a response to their emails. Generally, an online instructor is required to respond to emails within 24 hours. These are special circumstances and that may not be possible, so let students know if this is the case.
- Set up a course Q&A discussion forum within your online course so students can post questions to you. If one student has a question, it is safe to assume that several others have the same question. By setting up a discussion board forum for questions, you can avoid having to answer the same question multiple times. Instruct your students to search / use this forum should they have a course related question.
- In an online course, documenting that a student has logged into an online class is not sufficient, by itself, to demonstrate academic attendance by the student. If a student has only logged into the online course by the date that attendance is due, then you should report this student as “never attending.”
Academically related activities that count towards attendance can include, but are not limited to:
- physically attending a class where there is an opportunity for direct interaction between the instructor and students
- submitting an academic assignment
- taking an exam, an interactive tutorial or computer-assisted instruction
- attending a study group that is assigned by the school
- participating in an online discussion about academic matters, and
- initiating contact with a faculty member to ask a question about the academic subject studied in the course
- Use the Gradebook to communicate student performance in your courses. If a student is struggling in your course, consider sending a Student Success Alert (SSA) using the SSA link available in Blackboard (left navigation).
C. Rethinking Online Assignments and Activities
Leverage auto-graded quiz options, online assignment submission, grading features and rubrics, and community building discussion forums in Blackboard for class assignment and activities.
- Use online assignment submission feature instead of having students email you their work. Blackboard will track student submissions, automatically rename files (to include the assignment name, the student username, and the filename the student originally submitted), and enable you to notify students who have not submitted their assignment.
- Include the due date while setting up the quiz, discussion, or assignment. Blackboard sends reminders of upcoming work and helps students in their time management using these due dates. Keep due dates consistent over the term - Sundays 11:59 p.m. ET is recommended for assignment due dates.
- Consider revising your assignments to give students more time to complete their work. Access to reference material and the availability of research options may also be impacted by the situation. Determine if more time should be given and communicate this to your students.
- Recognizing that online assessments come with the risk of potential academic dishonesty, consider mitigating this risk using one or more of the following methods:
- Emphasize students' responsibility to uphold academic integrity and share the Code of Student Conduct Policy and Procedures with them.
- Consider having students sign the Academic Integrity Pledge.
- Create assessments within Blackboard using single-question formats with time-limits. This format dissuades cheating and researching answers. Keep mind that you can set the time-limits to adjust for students with extended time accommodations.
- Offer multiple assessment alternatives, and allow students to choose how they will demonstrate what they know and can do.
D.CREATING OR FINDING ONLINE CONTENT
- You may need to convert some of your classroom lectures to an online format. Section your lecture into a combination of text, readings, and short videos with captions (about 7-10 min).
- Record your lecture using PowerPoint (Resources section below), Blackboard Collaborate, or other tools (microphone needed). You can use captioned videos from other sources such as YouTube or other free resources (please review videos in advance and use only those with accurate captions).
For meeting accessibility requirements, post the recorded video (MP4) to Microsoft Stream to create/ edit captions (see the instructions in the Accessibility Section).
- If a textbook is required as part of your course, you can post accompanying publisher PowerPoints and reference materials online for students.
- Avoid large file sizes and zip files.
- If a live session is required due to a core learning outcome, have a Blackboard Collaborate Session during the regular time that your class would have met on campus. This will help maintain the continuity of learning, as students are accustomed to being in class at this time. Make sure to record the session and post the recorded video (MP4) with captions for students to access later.
- Contact Library Services if you have questions related to copyright of the materials you plan to post online (see the Resources Section).
- There may be content already available for you to pull into your courses. See the Content Resources for Remote Teaching and Learning page on the Faculty Essentials guide and reach out to a Librarian for help in finding content.
Learning Technologies
Blackboard LMS allows you to administer and teach your courses online by providing students with access to course materials and the ability to interact with their peers / you through the LMS. Please review the Blackboard technology requirements and help resources.
FCC Alert - Sign up for the College emergency and closing alerts: FCC Alerts.
Bb Faculty and Student Apps Blackboard Mobile Apps: Instructor and Student Mobile apps are available for you and your students to communicate with each other.
FCC Office 365 has a range of tools available for instructors and students for teaching, learning, and collaborations including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, and Stream.
FCC Supports the use of video conferencing using Skype, Blackboard Collaborate and ZOOM. Blackboard Collaborate and ZOOM are suggested for instructional synchronous sessions.
Video Conferencing tools help you to:
- Record your lecture and post it for students to view later.
- Set up student groups for online collaborations.
- with students individually for office hour sessions
A series of guides and video tutorials to help you use Blackboard Collaborate more effectively:
A guide to use of ZOOM for synchronous sessions can be found at the links below:
Formative Assessments and Review Tools
edpuzzle
Choose a video from YouTube, Khan Academy, Crash Course and more. Embed your own voice narration and questions, and track your students' comprehension. Check if students are watching your videos, how many times they're watching each section, and if they're understanding the content. Get more information here. FCC has a pro account.
Formative
A tool for embedding questions directly into the documents you distribute electronically to your students. Get more information here.
Socrative A classroom app for student engagement and on-the-fly assessments. Find answers and advice about using Socrative here.
Kahoot
Quizizz
Quizlet
Everything you need to know and a comparison of review tools can be found here: Kahoot!, Quizizz, Quizlet Live. Which Should I Use?
Lesson Creation and Resources
TED-Ed
Browse hundreds of TED-Ed Animations and TED Talks - designed to spark the curiosity of your learners. You'll also find thousands of other video-based lessons organized by the subjects you teach.
Accessibility Guidelines
General statements about online accessibility
ADA Compliance and Universal Design Title 5 of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) makes it clear that online classes must meet certain criteria to lawfully fulfill accessibility requirements. Additionally, section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act states: “Distance education means instruction in which the instructor and student are separated by distance and interact through the assistance of communication technology. All distance education is subject to the general requirements of this chapter as well as the specific requirements of this article. In addition, instruction provided as distance education is subject to the requirements that may be imposed by the American with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. §12100 et seq.) and section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.”
By the start of the fall 2020 semester, all courses with an online delivery component, meaning a space within Blackboard, will be compliant with current laws. Meeting these standards benefits students with disabilities, and helps all students to access and use the content in online courses. FCC will use the standards set forth in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to achieve ADA compliance. UDL is a set of principles for curriculum development that gives all individuals ‐ all learning styles and all ability levels ‐ equal opportunities to learn.
Guidelines for Closed Captions and Transcripts:
Closed Captions and Transcripts: Course videos must have time‐synced closed captions to be ADA compliant. This includes any video recording used in the course from the recording of a synchronous session to professional recordings of content. Closed captioning provides a critical link to individual who are deaf or hearing impaired. For individuals whose native language is not English, captions improve comprehension and fluency. Having the option of using closed captions also helps people who may not have audio available to them on their device or who are in a setting that is noise restrictive. Transcripts for all videos, while not required, are encouraged. Additionally, transcripts for videos do not replace the need for time synced closed captions.
Note: For audio‐only files, a transcript is required, and it is recommended that they be provided in PDF format for ease of use.
FERPA Guidelines for Recording:
Prior to recording a synchronous session we ask that faculty read the FERPA guidelines to all students. If you are recording using ZOOM, the FERPA statement will appear in a window that must be acknowledged by all students before proceeding.
The FCC FERPA statement reads as follows: All student records are protected by the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). Portions of this course may be audio-visually recorded so students who cannot attend a particular session or who wish to review material can access the full content. Students who participate orally, visually, or via chat agree to be recorded. The content of this recording may not be shared with anyone who is not registered in this class without written permission, as it is an educational record.
FCC Endorses 3 methods for generating closed captions/ transcript development:
- YouTube (for video captioning and hosting after recording in Bb Collaborate): To address video accessibility requirements
- Microsoft Stream (for video captioning and hosting after recording in Bb Collaborate– Use only for synchronous recordings that do not have student images or identifiable voices)
- ZOOM (for video captioning and hosting after recording in ZOOM cloud recording)
Other Accessibility Features:
Ally: The Ally tool is part of all Blackboard courses. The tool icon next to documents in your courses provides alternative formats for your students to access depending on their preferred learning style.
FCC’s Web Accessibility Guide provides additional information and resources.
Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD): Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) at FCC assists and supports eligible students with disabilities. Please contact SSD in advance if you have questions regarding how to best accommodate students with disabilities while ensuring continuity of teaching and learning.
Faculty Links for Additional Guidance
Trainings and Individual Consultations
1. Trainings
Below is a list of trainings provided by Online Learning and Instructional Innovation and IT to support the transition of courses online using specific Blackboard tools, as well as Skype.
LMS |
|
TRAININGS |
Blackboard Basics
(Required) |
Blackboard Basics training addresses how to get your content into your LMS Blackboard site. The session includes instructions on uploading files, creating announcements, and completing other critical tasks and steps when moving teaching and learning to the online environment.
|
On-site and Virtual Synchronous Sessions: Please visit the Employee Development Calendar to sign up for these sessions.
Self-Paced Session: Access anytime
http://courses.frederick.edu/BbBasics/BbBasics.html
|
Blackboard Advanced
(Required) |
For more advanced Blackboard training, take the Blackboard Advanced training online. This session explains how to enter grades, set up assignments, and perform other tasks that you will find helpful. |
Self-Paced Session: Access anytime
http://courses.frederick.edu/BbAdvanced/BbAdvanced.html
|
Blackboard Training for Students
(Required) |
|
Self-Paced Session: Access anytime
Student Blackboard Training
|
VIDEO CONFERENCING |
Blackboard Collaborate
(Required if you plan to record content or host live sessions)
|
Collaborate is a web meeting tool that is built into all FCC Blackboard courses.
Please note that a webcam and/or headset with microphone may be needed to participate.
|
Self-Paced Session:
Access anytime - Registration Required
https://calendar.frederick.edu/site/employee/event/online-blackboard-collaborate-training/ |
Skype (available in FCC Office 365) |
Skype is a telecommunications application that specializes in providing video chat, voice calls, and instant messaging between computers, tablets, and mobile devices via the Internet. |
Please see Resources section below for training guides.
For technical support, submit a HelpDesk Ticket to IT |
2. Individual Consultations
To provide you with the support as you transition your credit courses online and/or into alternative formats, In CTL and Academic Departments are creating an evolving list of Super Users. Please review the Super User List and contact a Super User for your Department for your course-specific question.
Getting Help with Your Course
Copyright and Finding Course Content Help
- The Copyright Resource Guide provides an introduction and guidelines on copyright. Specific copyright questions can be directed to the Director of Library Services, Colleen McKnight.
- Organized by subject, the Content Resources for Remote Teaching Guide pulls together resources the Library and the web that can be added to your online course.
Blackboard and Course Design Help
- To provide you with the support as you transition your credit courses online and/or into alternative formats, In CTL and Academic Departments are creating an evolving list of Super Users. Please review the Super User List and contact a Super User for your Department for your course-specific question.
- If you need assistance from OLII, please submit a support request here: https://servicedesk.frederick.edu.
Step-by-step Instructions are available for many Blackboard and Microsoft 360 functions.
Student Academic and Support Resources
Be Mindful of Students’ Experiences
- Despite starting the semester remotely, students may still have issues accessing essential technology, variable and uncertain work and/or childcare schedules, and health concerns that make participation challenging. Faculty should show as much empathy and demonstrate as much flexibility as possible.
- At the beginning of the course, ask students to proactively consider what challenges they may face in terms of time management, access to the Internet or technology, etc. In some instances, FCC may be able to provide resources or support. The chart below provides the main emails and phone numbers for Student Support services.
- See “Student Virtual Resources for information on other student support
Academic Support Services/Helping Students Learn Online
- Library Services
The Library is available online to support you and your students, and all resources can be accessed at www.frederick.edu/library. In addition, the link to the Library page is automatically embedded in your Blackboard Courses under the “Library Resources” button. The most relevant resources include:
If you or your students have any questions or need help finding resources go to https://answers.frederick.edu to submit questions. Librarians will be monitoring the queue during our usual hours Monday – Thursday, 8:00am – 7:00pm; Friday, 8:00am – 4:00pm; and Saturday, Noon-3:00pm.
Live Chat is now available Monday – Friday: 11am – 3pm, and an email form may be submitted at any time.
- Online Tutoring and Learning Resources
- Virtual Academic Coaching
Students can request a 1-hour virtual academic coaching appointment with FCC learning assistants through the learning centers website www.frederick.edu/tutoring
- Online Tutoring: Students have access to online tutoring for many introductory courses, including English and writing across the curriculum, accounting, math, statistics, biology, chemistry, economics, and computing.
→ To connect, students log into Blackboard and click “Online Tutoring,” under “Tools.” - Powered by ThinkingStorm Online Tutoring.
- For answers to questions related to tutoring, or to ask a question, go to https://answers.frederick.edu.
- Remote Teaching and Learning Resource Guides
- Web Resources and Articles