Tips for Instructors

• Modify your expectations - what are the essentials that you need to keep? 
• Are there due dates or policies that you can relax to accommodate student anxiety?
• Can a test or quiz be an open book or postponed?
• If participation and attendance are part of your course, how might that look online?  For example, can you use online discussions to maintain community AND encourage students to be present and engaged?

Tips for Students

• Ensure you can log in to GVSU's learning management system (Bb Ultra) and your email.  If you have trouble logging in, contact the IT Service Desk.
• Review your instructor's syllabus and schedule to keep on track.
• If your instructor has included due dates in Blackboard, those reminders will also appear on your Bb activity stream and Bb calendar. 
• Check your email and Blackboard Messages regularly for important information from your instructor.
• Be mindful of etiquette when communicating with professors and classmates online.
• Some courses will include live synchronous meetings or online office hours using Zoom. To use this technology, you must have a device with a webcam and microphone.

• Revise your syllabus to reflect any changes you make to your course structure and assessment plans.
• Use Blackboard's announcements to communicate easily with all students.
• Use your Blackboard to provide students access to essential course documents and resources. 
• Use Zoom to hold LIVE meetings and online office hours with students.  This article explains how to add a Zoom meeting link to your Bb course. 
• Allow students to submit written assignments using Blackboard's assignment tool.
• Post your lecture notes, PowerPoint files, and other essential resources in Blackboard. See this article for assistance with posting a variety of content in Bb. 

• Consider using Blackboard's online discussions to maintain community and encourage student engagement.
• Increase your options for delivering content - instead of posting PowerPoint files or lecture notes, use Panopto Video to record yourself narrating your lectures.
• Use Blackboard's Grade Book to ensure students can access their current grades.
• Use Ally to ensure that your learning materials and experiences are accessible to all students.
• Organize your Blackboard site so students don't struggle to find what they want.  See this article for assistance with Blackboard Learning Modules and Folders. 

• Have students submit videos as assignments with Panopto.
• Use Blackboard's private journal as creative alternative assessments.
• If you're creating Panopto videos for your students, break them into separate videos of 5 to 10 minutes each.
• Consider providing voice or video feedback on your students assignments through the Blackboard assignment tool.
• Use Blackboard's groups tool to hold small group discussions and allow students to submit group assignments.
• Consider creating brief "weekly videos" using Panopto as a way to maintain a sense of community and convey information to your students.
• Use a tool like Flip to allow students to conduct video-based discussions—a great way to build community and work against feelings of isolation.

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