Distance Teaching Resources

This complete course shell template includes a fully developed orientation module and a weekly folder structure that aligns with the upcoming term’s course dates. Learn more about the template. The template can only be copied into empty Blackboard course shells, so request a copy using the form found here before adding additional content to your course shell. Request the Course Template

This guiding document will assist you with creating activities, including accessible content and providing strong course facilitation – all in only 15 points. Download the Checklist

The Syllabus Template was created to include best practices as well as updated academic department information. The template is also designed to meet accessibility guidelines for MS Word documents. Access this website for directions on how to download and utilize the template. Get the Syllabus

Quick access to Academy and Faculty Blackboard Support Request Assistance

This link can be shared with students to help support them as they prepare for online or blended learning this term. Go to the Resource

This resource provides tips that will assist you with providing students a clear start to the term. Get the Tips

To help assist students with gaining access to course content in a variety of formats, Harper has incorporated the Ally tool into its Blackboard system. Visit the Blackboard Ally Support page to learn more about the tool and, under Recommended Actions for Student Awareness, for ideas of how to inform students about the use of this tool.

If you are looking for short, simply worded, Blackboard how-to videos to share with your students then please scan this collection for options that may be applicable. The videos reside in the Blackboard Student Resources folder within Panopto. You may give students the link to this whole folder, or the links to specific videos that you would like them to review. (Students do not need to be logged into Blackboard to open the links so you can feel free to provide the link through any method you would like.)

To help build a sense of connection, you can create your Faculty Information Blackboard course menu item to direct students how and when to contact you, as well as to share your experience and knowledge in your specific field of expertise

Posting announcements in your Blackboard course is a great way to get students started the moment they access their course. (All announcements posted are emailed directly to students’ primary email accounts.). Harper has created sample wording for your first announcement.

The Syllabus Template was created to include best practices as well as updated academic department information.  The template is also designed to meet accessibility guidelines for MS Word documents. Access this website for directions on how to download and utilize the template.

This complete course shell template includes a fully developed orientation module and a weekly folder structure that aligns with the upcoming term’s course dates. The template can only be copied into empty Blackboard course shells, so request a copy using the form found here before adding additional content to your course shell.

The State Universities of New York (SUNY) offers a handy outline and planning guide for creating a well-designed online course. The content aligns directly with the Open SUNY Course Quality Review (OSCQR) course design rubric that we also use here at Harper.

The Academy offers a Graduate Equivalency Course called “Teaching Online Successfully – Create” which prepares and supports faculty who are developing an online or blended course in Blackboard, and any faculty who have an interest in exploring best practices in online and blended course creation.  To read further about this offering, and/or to register for the next section, please visit our Graduate Equivalency Courses (GEC) page.

Instructors being present and communicating with students throughout the term is imperative for students’ satisfaction and success in online courses. It is so important that the U.S. Department of Education requires that all educational institutions that use federal financial aid ensure this interaction takes place. For a quick reference, please see this info-graphic on the three essential characteristics of this form of interaction. Additional resources can be found at SUNY: OSCQR: RSI References and Resources page.

View the Regular and Substantive Interactions Infographic

This quick, one-page read, by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, discusses the importance of, and gives examples of, the 4 main roles (Managerial, Social, Pedagogical, and Technical) that online instructors have in a course. Online Instructor Roles.

The Academy offers a Graduate Equivalency Course called, “Teaching Online Successfully – Facilitate” which prepares and supports faculty who are teaching an online or blended course in Blackboard, and any faculty who have an interest in exploring best practices in online and blended course facilitation.  To read further about this offering, and/or to register for the next section, please visit our Graduate Equivalency Courses page.

This Online resource, by J. V. Boettcher, Ph.D., covers practices that contribute to an effective, efficient and satisfying teaching and learning experience for both faculty and students. Read the article.

This useful resource will lead you through many facilitation steps (in all 4 roles!) during your semester of teaching a distance course. It is available in both English and Spanish. Feel free to print or “Save As” to have a version of your own. Visit the Assessing Online Facilitation page.

Ensuring that the learning environment welcomes and encourages diverse peoples and perspectives is imperative for reaching all students. By using the Applying Equity Matrix to your course you can continue to incorporate teaching practices that help support all students.

Delivering content in an easily accessible format can enhance all students’ success while working online. We have integrated Ally into Blackboard allowing instructors to address accessibility issues and providing access to a number of alternative formats of course content for students.  For further information on how to utilize this tool, please visit the Blackboard Ally webpage.

The Academy for Teaching Excellence’s Inclusive Teaching page provides resources you can utilize to support the learning of all students. Be sure to browse our Inclusive Teaching page.

There can be a number of positive benefits to students when OER, free, or low cost, editable learning materials are made available to students in their courses including increased rates of success and increased perceived quality of the learning experience in the OER course as well as a greater ability for students to register for an additional course. The library offers information all about finding and utilizing Open Education Resources (OER) in your course.

The Academy for Teaching Excellence also offers information about Teaching with OER including grants available for integrating OER into your course.

The U.S. Department of Education mandates that in order for institutions to receive federal financial aid for students they must include “regular and substantive interaction” opportunities in online courses. This Ohio State University resource page gives a quick description of what this could look like in your course.

The University of Colorado’s Online Design and Development blog offers some tried-and-true strategies for building social presence in online courses. They divide the strategies into three components – Affective Expression, Open Communication & Group Cohesion.

When students participate in giving feedback (while the course is actively running) their satisfaction and motivation can increase, and meaningful changes to both students’ behavior and to the course can take place. Please visit this webpage for further information on Small Group Instructional Feedback.

This study, done at Odessa College in TX, makes clear the power of connecting with students. The Academy has a short video presentation on this study, as well as a handy one-page resource that provides ideas for incorporating connection points with students in your own courses.

offeringsThe Academy for Teaching Excellence provides professional development credit opportunities for all Harper faculty (both full-time and adjunct) each semester including Graduate Equivalency Courses (GECs), workshops, and conferences. Formats include online/virtual, face-to-face, and blended. Visit our professional development opportunities and workshops page to view our archived webinars and upcoming offerings.

As a member of our campus community these Online Subscriptions and Memberships are available to you for no cost. (Note: You will need to use your Harper credentials to log-in)

The integration of technology into instructional practices can increase student learning and engagement. Learn about our campus supported technology and resources that will help you incorporate technology in your instruction.