To be a successful learner at Mount St. Mary’s University, it's important to understand the type of course you're enrolling in. Learn more about the various learning models below.
Visit Canvas for a video and infographic with more details on course formats.
A course with in-person meetings only. Students should not expect to be able to attend using web-conferencing (i.e., Zoom). Location will indicate FRED or EBURG.
A course with in-person meetings and web-conferencing available (i.e., Zoom). EBURG UG students must obtain permission from the Associate Provost to attend using web-conferencing. Adult Accelerated students may attend courses in person and/or via web-conferencing. Location will indicate FRED or EBURG.
A course with in-person meetings and synchronous/asynchronous teaching blended to equal the required credit hours. The meeting day and time will indicate the synchronous portion of the class.
A course with regularly scheduled meeting times using web-conferencing only (i.e., Zoom).
A course with all content delivered online without a specific course meeting day or time. Instead, content is completed within assigned date ranges. Any scheduled meetings are typically limited to capstone events and/or proctored exams.
A course with synchronous meetings using web-conferencing (i.e., Zoom) and asynchronous teaching in Canvas blended to equal the required credit hours. The meeting day and time will indicate the synchronous web-conferencing portion of the class.
| Meeting Type | Mode of Attendance | Day / Time / Location |
|---|---|---|
| Classroom IP | In-Person only | Yes / Yes / EMMIT or FRED RM# |
| Classroom WC | In-Person - Web Conferencing with permission | Yes / Yes / EMMIT or FRED RM# |
| Classroom Blended | Combination of in-person and synch/asynch online | Yes / Yes / EMMIT or FRED RM# |
| Online Synchronous | Online-synchronous only | Yes / Yes / ONLINE |
| Online Asynchronous | Online -asynchronous only | No / No / ONLINE |
| Online Blended | Online -combination of synch/asynch | Yes / Yes / ONLINE |
Below is a table of resources to help you get started building your course. It includes many frequent actions needed to set-up a course, suggestions for various ways to complete the action, and resources to help with the technical details of implementation.
Communicate to students your instructional format
Post a description of your instructional format in the “Start Here” tab on the Canvas Landing Page.
Add an announcement in Canvas.
Establish clear communication expectations and communicate them to your students
Establish modes of communication for whole group and/or individual communication.
• How will you communicate with students?
• How often will you communicate with students?
• How students should communicate with each other?
Example of Communication Expectations:
• Personal Online Teaching Tool Kit
Decide how you will provide support typically offered through “Office Hours” and inform students of your availability
Communicate to students how you will provide office hours such as Canvas chat, live conference in Canvas, scheduled email or phone calls.
In the Syllabus tab there is a space to include this information
Make your syllabus available on your homepage
There is a syllabus tab on the main Canvas landing page
1. Click on the syllabus tab off of the Canvas landing page
2: Click “edit”
3. Upload a file into the block prompting for syllabus file
Post necessary course materials
Post any course materials, handouts, videos, recorded lectures to Canvas
Modules or Pages are recommended for organization.
• How to add a module
• How to bulk upload files
• How to create a file link in a page
• How to create a page in the module
• How to embed a video in a page in a course
Determine lecture format
Post lecture notes, upload PowerPoint presentations, record a screencast, host a live lecture using e-conferencing
Facilitate interaction
Create a discussion forum or student activity. Extend communication via individual email.
Expect student assignment submissions in Canvas
For each assignment, ensure that the submission method is online.
Use the Gradebook in Canvas
Add a Canvas assignment for each graded course activity in your course in order to create your gradebook.
Provide feedback to students through Canvas
Providing feedback on student work can be done using SpeedGrader. Numerous options are available.
Shorten your course navigation to just the resources your students will need
This is extremely important to help avoid student confusion.
View your course in "student view"
This is extremely important to ensure that your students are able to see the content you intend for them.
Lectures
Description:
Delivery is primarily lecture
• Lecture Guidelines from Stanford
• 10 Activities to make a Lecture Interactive
• Four Strategies for Effective Online Lectures
• Professional Online Lectures
• Audio recordings
• Lecture notes
• Video recordings
• Guest Speaker (live or pre-recorded)
• Zoom
• Canvas Conferences (BigBlueButton)
Board/PPT and lectures
Description:
Delivery is a combination of lecture and supporting board and/or PPT notes
• PowerPoint
• Digital Whiteboard
• Screencast-O-Matic
• Canvas Conferences (BigBlueButton)
Large group discussions-focused on board/PPT/text
Description:
Delivery includes large group discussion focused on board notes, PPT and/or text
• Zoom
• Canvas Conferences (BigBlueButton)
• Discussion prompts
Small group discussions
Description:
Delivery includes small group discussions
• Using Small Groups to Engage Students and Deepen Learning
• Small Groups and Discussions
• Discussion Board: Valuable? Overused? Discuss
• Zoom
• Canvas Conferences (BigBlueButton)
• Conference calls
Student presentations
Description:
Delivery includes student presentations
• Less Stress, More Success: The End of Semester Student Presentation
• Student Presentations: Do they benefit those who listen?
• Powerpoint
• Screencast-O-matic
• Zoom
• Canvas Conferences (BigBlueButton)
• Asynchronous video record (cell phone)
Student work groups w/ instructor
Description:
Delivery includes students working in groups with the instructor present
• Zoom
• Canvas Conferences (BigBlueButton)
• Microsoft teams
• Canvas (collaborations???)
Student work groups w/out instructor
Description:
Delivery includes students working in groups without the instructor and scheduled by the students.
• Social Media
• Zoom
Collaborations during class time
Description:
Delivery includes collaborations during class time resulting in a product/deliverable
• Canvas Conferences (BigBlueButton)
• Zoom
Collaborations outside of class time
Description:
Delivery includes collaborations outside of class time resulting in a product/ deliverable
• OneDrive
• Dropbox
• Email
Labs
Description:
Delivery includes a lab
• Online labs
• Data sets available under public domain or creative commons
• Faculty developed data sets
Demonstrations and/or simulations
Description:
Delivery includes demonstrations and/or simulations
• Online Simulations
Blended Learning
Description:
Flipped classroom, rotation model, etc.
• Lecture recordings
• Zoom
• Canvas Conferences (BigBlueButton)
• Lecture Notes