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Remote Teaching Resources

In collaboration with The Chang School, Computing and Communications Services, and the Toronto Metropolitan University Library, we have compiled a comprehensive list of resources at-a-glance to support faculty and instructors in preparing for remote teaching.

Course management and planning

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 (PDF file) Policy 166: Course Management

Policy 166 provides a framework of common understanding for students and faculty

 (google doc) Keeping online teaching simple (external link) 

A list of quick tips, simple strategies, and low tech resources for teaching online

 (google doc) Using Toronto Metropolitan University supported tools for remote teaching (external link) 

A one-page chart with ideas for lectures, communication, learning activities, and assessments using Toronto Metropolitan University-supported technologies

Getting started: teaching with D2L Brightspace

Instructions on setting up your shell and a list of other D2L Brightspace guides for instructors

Request a class Google Group

Learn how to request and use google groups to facilitate sharing of resources and collaborative activities

Creating accessible content 

There are many resources available on the Guides & Resources page of the Accessibility website.

Delivering an inclusive teaching experience

Students registered with Academic Accommodation Support

  • Academic Accommodation Support (AAS) is Toronto Metropolitan University's disability services office who work directly with incoming and returning students looking for help with their academic accommodations.
  • Toronto Metropolitan University Library Accessibility Services is committed to providing equal access to services and collections to all students, faculty and staff. Services include retrieving accessible materials, alternative format production and support with media captioning. 

Assisting students with limited access to technology

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Description

 (google doc) Promoting academic integrity in online courses through collaboration (external link) 

Strategies to create classroom community, reduce student anxiety, and encourage academic integrity

AIO Faculty Resources (external link) 

A Google Drive folder with a comprehensive collection of Academic Integrity resources

AIO undergraduate resources (external link) 

Academic Integrity resources specifically related to undergraduate courses

AIO graduate student resources (external link) 

Academic Integrity resources specifically related to graduate courses

Delivering course content

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Description

 (google doc) Best practices for delivering live online lectures (external link) 

A guide taking you through the process of creating an engaging live session for your class

 (google doc) Live online class checklist (external link) 

A checklist based on best practices for delivering online lectures

 (google doc) Terms of conduct, privacy, and engagement for live sessions (sample) (external link) 

Sample text that can be adapted and used to communicate expectations for live sessions to students

Host a live meeting in Zoom (opens in new window) 

Technical instructions for setting up a meeting in Zoom

Host a live meeting with Google Meet (opens in new window) 

Technical instructions for setting up a meeting using Google Meet

 (google doc) Protecting your Zoom session: seven privacy and security tips for instructors (external link) 

Strategies to keep your Zoom session as safe as possible for all participants

Conducting accessible virtual events & meetings

Tips for hosting accessible lectures in Google Meet and Zoom, including information on closed captioning.

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 (google doc) Slide presentations for online teaching (external link) 

Tips and resources  for adapting presentations for online delivery

Slide templates for online classes (external link) 

To use these templates in PowerPoint, right-click on the file and choose “Download.” To use these templates in Google Slides, right click on the file and choose “Make a Copy”

How to create accessible slideshows

A guide that takes you through best practices for accessibility when using Google Slides and Microsoft PowerPoint

How to create accessible documents (opens in new window) 

A guide that takes you through best practices for accessibility when using in Google Docs and Microsoft Word

Record lecture components using Zoom (opens in new window) 

How to use Zoom to pre-record materials, upload them to Google Drive, and share them with your class through D2L Brightspace

 (google doc) Podcasting tips for teaching (external link, opens in new window) 

Strategies and advice on creating podcasts for content delivery and podcasts as a form of assessment

 (google doc) Creating effective tutorial and demo videos (external link) 

Guide to creating and sharing video tutorials and demonstrations with your class

 (google doc) Audio-video tech for teaching (external link) 

Comprehensive guide of equipment and software suggestions for creating video content

 (google doc) Video recording tips for teaching (external link) 

One page guide with helpful hints for recording video

 (google doc) Video editing tips for teaching (external link) 

One page guide with helpful hints for editing video

Captioning and description for accessibility

Resources and guides for adding closed captioning and description to both recorded materials and live sessions

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Adding content in D2L Brightspace

How to use the Content tool in D2L Brightspace to share your course outline and add modules for course content

Sample Brightspace courses and content packs

Brightspace shells are available with sample content you can view  to get ideas for your own course, as well as content packs you can use in your shell.

Create and share a class folder on Google Drive

How to use a class folder in Google Drive to host and share documents, spreadsheets, forms, audio, and video

Accessibility checker in D2L Brightspace

Learn how to check for accessibility issues in your D2L Brightspace course shell

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Supplementary course materials

Comprehensive list of existing materials you can integrate into your teaching

Open Educational Resources (OER)

Information about finding, creating, and using Open Educational Resources

In-person to online copyright considerations

A guide to help navigate copyright concerns when delivering course content online

Accessibility services

Services available to help meet accommodation needs  for your students

Communication and collaboration

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Description

Facilitate a class collaborative activity using GSuite

How to leverage Google apps for group work

Organizing messages in Gmail using labels

Instructions to help you organize your Gmail

Instant message with Google Chat

How to use this Google app with your credentials so that you can chat with students, staff and faculty

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Post announcements to your class

How to use the announcements tool in D2L Brightspace to broadcast updates to your class

Sending email and setting up notifications

How to effectively send emails through D2L Brightspace to your entire class, groups, or individual students, as well as details about notifications on the platform

Create student groups using D2L Brightspace

Instructions on setting up groups that you can then apply to various tools such as assignments and discussions in D2L Brightspace

Host an online discussion with D2L Brightspace

Instructions for setting up discussion forums and topics in D2L Brightspace

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Description

 (google doc) Group project charter template (external link) 

Template to help students set guidelines for group work

 (google sheet) Group project action plan template (external link) 

Template to help students plan and delegate tasks for group work

Peer evaluation using peerScholar

Software integrated into D2L to facilitate peer evaluation

Wordpress blogs at Toronto Metropolitan University

Information on using the blogging system supported by Digital Media Projects in your course. 

Assessments, quizzes and exams

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Description

 (google doc) Rethinking your final course assessments (external link) 

Strategies to adapt course assessments to an online or alternate format

 (google doc) Online exam checklist (external link) 

Practical step-by-step checklist to support you in the process of designing and facilitating online exams

 (google doc) Online exam considerations (external link) 

Information and advice about how to approach final exams in a remote teaching environment

Virtual Proctoring Considerations The tools available for use at Toronto Metropolitan University, assessed based on availability, data privacy and security, and alignment for supporting common assessment methods. 
Privacy Considerations for Virtual Classes and Virtual Proctoring

As mentioned on Toronto Metropolitan University’s Privacy Policy web page, Toronto Metropolitan University supports the closely aligned principles of transparency and accountability and is committed to protecting specific types of information, which include personal information, teaching and research records. 

This privacy guideline is developed in an effort to assist faculty and instructors with their teaching activities and use of technologies in teaching, especially in response to remote teaching due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Academic Accommodation Support Faculty

Access key information about accommodated online exams.

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Description

 (google doc) Best Practices: take home exams (external link) 

Comprehensive guide to designing take home exams

 (google doc) Best Practices: alternative assessments (external link, opens in new window) 

This guide goes through the process of designing several forms of assessment

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Create online quizzes using D2L Brightspace

Technical guide on using the D2L Brightspace quiz tool

Reweight final grade calculations

Technical guide on adjusting weighting in the D2L Brightspace gradebook

Supporting students

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 (google doc) Student Wellbeing in Remote Teaching (external link) 

Resources and information on supporting students in a remote teaching environment, and links to supports available to students in support of wellbeing

Student Life Events

Listings for Student Life events 

Health and Wellness Events (opens in new window) 

Listings on Connect RU for all events related to wellness 

Mental health help and resources for students

Page for students to learn where to get help, including a link for those in crisis

ThriveRU (opens in new window) 

Resilience training and resources for Toronto Metropolitan University students

Movement Breaks Recharge your mind and body during those quick moments in between classes and meetings with activities created by TMU Recreation. 

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CCS Help desk

Information for students on how to get technical help

my.torontomu login help

If students are having trouble logging into my.torontomu, D2L Brightspace, Google apps or Wordpress blogs, this page will help them troubleshoot the issue.

Student Computing Guidelines

These guidelines outline student rights and responsibilities as a computing user. Note some of the information on this page refers to use of computers on campus.

Continuity of Learning guide

List of technical resources and guides available for Toronto Metropolitan University students for remote learning

Student guide to D2L Brightspace

Guide specifically focused on student use of D2L Brightspace

CCS Software Page

Full list of software available through CCS or enabled on CCS labs with download and installation information if available.

External Resources

 

Getting Ready to Learning Online (external link) , an introduction to online learning for students from the University of Waterloo