Need to Know for Remote Learning

In response to the massive upheaval caused by Covid-19, Georgian College has created the Georgian Learning Guarantee. This states that “at Georgian, we guarantee a learning experience of exceptional quality, where you’ll achieve your learning outcomes whether you’re studying remotely, in-person or a combination of both. We’ll support you every step of the way, whether you need career advice, tutoring, personal and academic counselling, technical help, financial assistance, and so much more.” (GC Georgian Learning Guarantee, 2020)

In order to return to studies in the safest way possible, Georgian will be offering courses in three ways: Remote, Hybrid, In-Person.

At this time, Dual Credit courses are predominantly being delivered as hybrid courses, though a small number will be fully remote. For both hybrid and remote courses, teaching and learning will be done both synchronously and asynchronously.

Common Terms & Definitions (retrieved from GC CTL Site & Externally):

Hybrid

“An instructional delivery format which blends online and face-to-face teaching and learning strategies, where learning occurs in a combination of online and face to-face environments. Learning facilitation in online and hybrid environments requires appropriate and specific knowledge and skills to design, develop, and facilitate high quality learning that mirrors or runs parallel with learning experienced in face-to-face teaching environments.” Georgian College Centre for Teaching and Learning

Remote

“This is used as a short to medium term solution when interruption of face to face class delivery occurs and the only option to continue delivery is through remote means. It is an alternate delivery mode that uses synchronous and asynchronous technologies to best meet the learning outcomes. Facilitating a course remotely in this manner helps provide continuity in the curriculum however it is not intended to replace the level of robust online course delivery that occurs when courses have been developed using a comprehensive on-line course development process. The goal is to complete teaching and learning of the course learning outcomes through a variety of remote techniques leveraging Blackboard and other technologies (e.g., WebEx, Screencast, etc.) as much as possible. The understanding is that courses taught in this manner will eventually return to the delivery model for which the courses were designed.” Georgian College Centre for Teaching and Learning

Synchronous

“Synchronous learning refers to a learning event in which a group of participants is engaged in learning at the same time. For that, they should be in the same physical location, such as a classroom, or at the same online environment, such as in a web conference, where they can interact with the instructor and other participants. There is real-interaction with other people.” easy-lms.com

Asynchronous

“If synchronous learning takes place at the same time, asynchronous learning refers to the opposite. The instructor, the learner, and other participants are not engaged in the learning process at the same time. There is no real-time interaction with other people.” easy-lms.com

VIDEO – “Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning in an Online Course” – Video created by UMass Boston

ARTICLE – “Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Learning: What’s the difference?

Georgian College has said that students should expect to spend around 6 hours a week on their remote class. What does this look like?

As a teacher, you do not need to deliver 3 consecutive hours of class. There are options for remote delivery so that some coursework is done separately, (students watch/listen/read on their own) and then you come back together as a class to discuss.

Some options for students to explore asynchronously:

Podcasts:

Podcases can supplement your material, or depending on your course, can provide source information. A few examples of podcasts that are fairly well-researched, with well-cited sources for stories of relevance and interest include:

  • Frontburner, CBC
  • Out in the Open, CBC
  • This American Life, NPR
  • Quirks & Quarks, CBC

For a more detailed list of suggested podcasts, please visit the Educational Technology Resource Bank.

Documentaries:

Documentaries are becoming more accessible with the growth of Netflix, Amazon, and other streaming services.  Many are also available through public streaming sites like CBC, TVO, NPR, etc. as well as some quality documentaries that are available from YouTube, in full length or sometimes in sections (as in the Terry Fox story). Many documentaries are available through public broadcasters have closed captioning and/or transcripts (an important option for accessibility).

Screencasts:

Either created by you, the faculty, or externally, there are many screencasts are already available through CTL. These can be used to illustrate material for your particular class OR to show students how to access the asynchronous learning tool you have set up. For example, a screencast could be used to explain WebEx, Flipgrid, BlackBoard, etc.

CTL has a number of workshops for teaching faculty how to create screencasts. You can direct your students to a Student Remote Learning Kit, prepared by the Centre for Teaching and Learning, that includes instructions and tips on using all of the tools they will need for Remote Learning. This is also a helpful resource for faculty to check out.

The Centre for Teaching and Learning has a massive collection of resources and tips for teaching remotely available online.

WebEx:

Every Georgian College faculty will connect with their class in real-time (synchronously) using WebEx.
Using WebEx for Remote Learning:

  • You will need a ‘personal room’ web address
  • Workshops and drop-in troubleshooting available through CTL
  • WebEx support site through CTL
  • Record WebEx sessions and put link on BB (Recorded Sessions Folder under Weekly Learning tab)
  • Screencasts on recording and sharing WebEx on CTL site (link above)
  • CTL Video for how to log in, schedule, and invite students to WebEx

BlackBoard:

Georgian Faculty will communicate with their students and post all class materials and links on the college online learning system: Blackboard.

  • Announcements
    • The most efficient way to communicate with the whole class and DC Support Teachers
    • An announcement is posted to BB as well as sent to all participants’ Georgian email addresses
    • Post clarifications about meeting times and links
    • Reminders about homework/assignments
    • Convey news about changes to timetable
  • Tests and Quizzes
    • Setting time and limits
    • Creating exceptions
    • For example, students with IEPs and approved accommodations
  • Assignments
    • Submitting and marking through assignments
  • Group Work
    • Discussion boards, blogs, wikis, set up groups
  • Getting to Know Each Other
    • Discussion boards, journals to teacher
  • Links for who to contact for BB help
    • Specific Blackboard questions can be sent to Faculty Support
    • Technical errors, enrollment issues, or login/password/permission questions can be sent to IT Support.
    • Additional BB support is now available to students and faculty:
      • can now call 1-249-498-5638 or toll free 1-844-788-9892 and speak to Blackboard directly
      • Many videos and step-by-step directions
      • CTL has weekly, online drop-in sessions on BB
      • See your GC email for news about weekly training opportunities or contact Deb Moore if you are having trouble finding training sessions for BB
      • DC Faculty can also email Rob Harrison with questions

Georgian College Resources for Faculty:

Centre for Teaching and Learning

New Faculty Orientation with a focus on remote teaching available through CTL

Georgian College Library

Indigenous Services

Screencasting and Video Tools (coming soon)

Screencast-o-matic (coming soon)

Flipgrid (coming soon)

Adobe Spark (coming soon)

Screencasting & Video support through CTL

Articles & Websites for Teaching Online:

ARTICLE – “8 Ways to Improve Your Online Course

ARTICLE – “Engage Your Students in Your Online Course: 20 Proven Ways

WEBSITE – Government of Ontario Site: Study Online

Mental Health & Well Being for Faculty and Students

We are in a time of unprecedented uncertainty for both students and faculty. It makes sense that we all need more ready access to mental health supports and tools. Here you can find links to mental health resources, articles, and videos, some of which are created by Georgian College and some that are external. If you have an excellent resource you would like to share, please contact Sammi Marriner.

First and foremost, check out the resources curated especially for the Dual Credit and SWAC programs in Georgian’s SharePoint.

Additional links:

Campus Mental Health: Well-Being and the Online Environment

Upcoming Mental Health Workshops

For more information, email: mhwb@georgiancollege.ca

Inclusion & Remote Teaching

WEBINAR – “Scaling Inclusion in the Transition to Remote Teaching: Barriers to Access and Opportunities for Transformation” with Dr. John Scott, Product Manager with Blackboard Ally

ARTICLE – Remote Instruction Best Practices for Inclusion