Below you will find a variety of options that will assist you in teaching remotely in a professional and user friendly manner.
In the event that you cannot find a suitable tool for your curriculum needs, please let us know.
Moodle
The first tool you have at your disposal is Moodle. Moodle is Wagner's learning management system. If you are teaching a course, you automatically have a Moodle page created for you with all of your students automatically enrolled. See below for a series of tutorial videos that will walk you through the features that Moodle offers. This particular series of videos were recorded for a summer online training course, but the information on them is still applicable:
Logging into Moodle
Navigating Moodle
Building Your Course
Resources on Moodle
Creating a Moodle Gradebook
Course Activities
Backup and Restore
Good to Know
- Moodle works best when using Firefox or Chrome
Additional Moodle Resources
Adding User Overrides in Moodle
If you have a participant in your course who requires more time on an exam or who needs to access an item at a different time than everyone else, this video will show you how you can make those changes on so it works for everyone. Click here to view the video
Importing Quiz Questions from a Word Document into Moodle Quizzes
This video will show you how you can compile a quiz in Microsoft Word and then import it into your Moodle quiz bank. The formatting in this process is very specific so please pay close attention to this in the video for the best chance of success. Click here to view the video
Creating Groups in Moodle to Assign Different Assignments to Students
This video shows you how you can create a quiz or assignment in Moodle and restrict access to it based on groups. It specifically focuses on what to do if you are interested in giving different versions of an item to students, but want to make sure they don't know about it.
Creating Groups in Moodle to Assign Different Assignments to Students
Webex
The second tool that you might find helpful when teaching remotely is Webex. Webex is an application that will allow you to take your courses and meetings online. It is seamless, easy to use, and really useful if you want to have a live discussion with participants outside of the classroom. Check out the following videos that will walk you through the basics of setting up and facilitating a Webex session:
Logging in and Setting up a Webex Meeting
Starting and Facilitating a Webex Meeting
Good to Know
- Webex works best when using Firefox or Chrome.
- Webex uses VOIP. This means you and your participants will need access to a working speaker and microphone to effectively communicate. Webcam is always helpful, but not necessary to have a productive meeting.
- Webex requires users who have never participated in a webex conference before to download the webex client on their computer. This can be done ahead of time by logging into webex and downloading the Cisco Webex Meetings App.
- Have too many participants to invite? No problem. Use your Webex Personal Room to easily send a permanent link to partipants so they can easily get to the Webex meeting. Check out the following tech tip that will give you more insight on using your personal room: Using Webex Personal Room
Additional Webex Resources
How to Optimize Shared Content for Video and Audio on Webex
This quick video will show you how to share audio and video files effectively on Webex. By default, Webex automatically assumes you will be sharing document files for your participants. There are a few small changes you must make in order to share these materials during your Webex session. Always remember, after sharing your audio or video file, you will have to change back to the default setting to continue sharing document files.
Dial in Option Now Available on Webex
If you don't have the capability to connect to audio during a Webex session, you now have the ability to dial in from your phone. When you schedule a meeting, dial in information will automatically be generated for you. If you would like to set up a dial in option for your personal room, check out the following article:
Using Dial In Option on Webex in your Personal Room
Generating an Attendance Report in Webex
If you would like a report of who attended your class, you can do so by following the steps in the following article:
Generating an Attendance Report in Webex
How to Remove the 'Anyone Can Share' Option in Webex
Recent upgrades in Webex have enabled an 'Anyone Can Share' option. This gives all participants the same privileges as someone who has been granted the presenter role during a meeting. This feature can be manually shut off by following the instructions in the following link. Please keep in mind this feature will need to be disabled at the start of each meeting. It is also present in both the personal rooms and those created in the Webex scheduler.
Removing 'Anyone Can Share' Option in Webex
How to Record and Share Your Webex Session
This video will walk you through how to record your Webex session. It will also show you where to access your recordings if you've saved it on the Webex cloud, and how to share it via Moodle.
How to Record and Share Your Webex Session
How to Cancel Recurring Meetings on Webex
This video will go over how to easily cancel a single recurring meeting or an entire meeting series on Webex.How to Cancel Recurring Meetings on Webex
How to Create Breakout Groups in Webex Training Center
Using breakout groups in Webex allows you to take the participants in your session and separate them into smaller groups so they can discuss a particular topic. Participants can share files and ideas in groups separate from the main session and then when everyone is called back, they can present what was discussed. How to Create Breakout Groups in Webex Training Center
Google Hangouts Meet
Hangouts Meet is a video conferencing tool by Google that allows you to join or start a meeting with colleagues. You can join or facilitate these meetings from your computer, mobile phone, or by landline with a provided phone number to dial in with. These meetings are easily facilitated by sharing your microphone and screen. With the ability to share your screen, chat with participants, and integrate with Google Calendar, this tool make video conferencing a cinch!
Good to Know
- Hangouts Meet works best with Google Chrome
Google Classroom
Another great tool that you have access to is Google Classroom. Google Classroom introduces you to a paperless classroom with its ability to create and facilitate assignments using an online portal. Teachers are also able to grade students' work submitted via the portal. It works seamlessly with other G Suite for Education applications such as Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Calendar.
Check out the following Knowledge Base article that will give you more information on getting set up with Google Classroom: Setting Up Google Classroom
Here is a basic video on getting your course up and running with Google Classroom:
Net Drive
Net Drive gives you the ability to easily connect to your P and W drives while off campus. Check out the following Knowledge Base article that will explain everything you need to get started. Click here!
VoiceThread
VoiceThread is a great application that will allow you to share different types of media with students. They can view the media and collaborate in an asynchronous discussion via voice, text, or webcam. Utilizing VoiceThread will enhance your course especially if you are teaching online. It also integrates seamlessly with Moodle.
Check out the following video series on getting started with VoiceThread: VoiceThread Overview
Remote Learning Tech Tips
I have created a playlist of all of the tech tips in each category that have been created that have to do with remote learning. These aren't full tutorials, but little snippets of information that may give you just the answer that you are looking for
Click here to view the playlist!
Free Tools for a limited time
Adobe Connect (free 90 day access)
Webconferencing+
https://www.adobe.com/products/adobeconnect/trial.html
Explain Everything (free period extended, unsure how long)
Mixed media tools.
https://explaineverything.com/
Wagner site code: VWYZFRDDFDLX
SnagIT and Video Review (free until June 30, 2020)
SnagIT records video and screen captures with limited editing ability.
https://discover.techsmith.com/software-access/
https://www.techsmith.com/video-review.html
Loom
Loom enables you to create videos and screen captures very easily through a desktop application or a browser extension. These videos would be very effective in delivering content asynchronously. Loom has announced that their Pro version will be free to educators forever. Ensure that you sign up with your @wagner.edu email address in order to activate the free Pro version.
https://www.loom.com
Here is a tutorial video on getting started with Loom: Getting Started with Loom
Additional Resources
Chronicle of Higher Education - Going Online in a Hurry: What to Do and Where to Start
Inside Higher Ed - So You Want to Temporarily Teach Online
Home internet offers
- FCC agreement stating that providers will waive late fees, not cutoff service for lack of payment, and open hot-spots.
- Comcast COVID-19 response: offers free WiFi for 2 months to low income families plus all Xfinity hot-spots are free to the public during this time
- Charter Free Internet offer for 2 months
- AT&T COVID-19 response: offers open hot-spots, unlimited data to existing customers, and $10/month plans to low income families
- Verizon COVID-19 response: no special offers, but following the FCC agreement.
- Sprint COVID-19 response: follows FCC agreement, provides unlimited data to existing customers, and, starting Tuesday, 3/17/2020, will allow all handsets to enable hot-spots for 60 days at no extra charge (I expect others will follow).
- T-Mobile COVID-19 response: follows FCC agreement, plus unlimited data to existing customers, and, coming soon, will allow all handsets to enable hot-spots for 60 days at no extra charge (I expect others will follow).