Academic Continuity
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Table of Contents

Past Updates

JANUARY 7, 2021

With the Spring 2021 semester set to begin on Monday, Feb. 8, we are here to help you refine your approach to your courses from the first day of classes to your final assessments. We also want to hear from you: What went well for you last semester? In what areas would you like to improve this spring? Your feedback will inform future editions of the “Teaching Tips” email series.

For any questions you might have as you plan your semester, you can contact the faculty support team by emailing help@syr.edu or by calling 315.443.2677. The faculty support team features experts from the Center for Online and Digital Learning, the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, and ITS. 

Classroom Technology Guide

Do you remember how to share your screen on Zoom? Do you need a refresher on using a document camera? The Classroom Technology Guide covers a range of topics for Registrar classrooms, including how to start the classroom audiovisual system, how to activate the web conferencing tool and more. To learn about technology available in a specific classroom, you can consult the Classroom Resource Guide.

Learning Opportunity: ‘Teaching Tips and Strategies Based on ‘Small Teaching Online: Applying Learning Science in Online Classes”

You are invited to attend ‘Teaching Tips and Strategies Based on ‘Small Teaching Online: Applying Learning Science in Online Classes,” a Zoom-based learning opportunity. During the session, you will explore research-based strategies for teaching online in the company of your peers. Two times are available:

  • Wednesday, Jan. 20, 1-4:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, Jan. 21, 8:30 a.m.-noon

You can register online to reserve your spot.

Spotlight: Answers, Syracuse University’s Knowledge Hub

Available to all faculty, students and staff, Answers is a searchable knowledge base of teaching and technical information. The website’s content focuses on Syracuse University systems and technical services, including solutions to common problems, how-to instructions, FAQ and more. A first step is to search for “Online Success Toolkit,” which connects you with many resources to strengthen online teaching and learning.

Course Transition Services

All instructors teaching this spring are highly encouraged to use the University’s suite of Course Transition Services. Regardless of the modality (or modalities) in which you will teach, we can help you plan for a successful spring semester. Complete the brief Course Transition Assistance Form to get started.

Thank you for reading.

JANUARY 5, 2021

Happy New Year! The “Teaching Tips” team is excited to help you thrive as a teacher in 2021. Each Tuesday and Thursday, we will send you timely updates and helpful tips to support online teaching and learning.

As you likely know, Syracuse University will begin the Spring 2021 semester and residential instruction on Monday, Feb. 8, and conclude on Friday, May 21. Check the academic calendarfor important dates and deadlines to help you plan your semester. 

Course Transition Services 

All instructors teaching this spring are highly encouraged to use the University’s suite of Spring Course Transition Services. Regardless of the modality in which you will teach, we can help you plan for a successful spring semester. Complete the brief Course Transition Assistance Form to get started.

Support for Instructors

The University’s IT community is ready to help with any technology-related issues you might have. In addition to your school or college support staff, ITS offers support ranging from self-service on Answers to full-service assistance from our Help Desk, Online Learning Services, and Learning Environments and Media Production teams. Learn more about available resources.

For any teaching questions you might have as you plan for the upcoming semester (or teach during Winterlude), you can contact the faculty support team by emailing help@syr.edu or by calling 315.443.2677. The faculty support team features experts from the Center for Online and Digital Learning, the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, and ITS. 

Zoom Live Captioning

Zoom has rolled out an automatic live captioning feature called Live Transcript. This new feature provides real-time captions that users can choose to view as subtitles or as a sidebar. Meeting hosts also can give users the option of downloading the transcript. Live Transcript is not enabled by default. You can enable it by following the instructions on the Zoom Live Transcript page in Answers. Also, please remember that automated live captions might not meet University requirements for Communication Access Real-Time Translation (CART) services. More information is available on the Guidelines for CART and ASL Interpreting page.

Reminder: Ensemble Video

ITS will decommission Ensemble Video Service later this academic year. Prior to Monday, Jan. 25, 2021, Ensemble users must choose one of the following options to retain access to existing content:

  • Manually upload original media files to Kaltura
  • Prepare existing Ensemble media for bulk transfer
  • Manually download Ensemble media and upload to Kaltura

We encourage Ensemble users to follow the steps provided on our Transferring Ensemble Media to Kaltura Answers resource. You also can find instructions to manually upload media to Kaltura on the Kaltura MediaSpace and Kaltura in Blackboardpages.

In Case You Missed It

On a recent episode of “Behind the Monitor,” the ITS podcast, we spoke with Ellyn Riley, associate professor of communication sciences and disorders in the College of Arts and Sciences, about how she has enhanced her teaching with PlayPosit. An interactive online video tool, PlayPosit allows learners to explore new material at their own pace, increasing long-term retention and learning efficacy over standard video. Check out the podcast.

Thank you—and go Orange!

DECEMBER 15, 2020

Thank you for reading “Teaching Tips”! This will be our final email for 2020. We have all come a long way since this email series began nine months ago. We thank you for your efforts and determination to reach this point and hope your teaching has been strengthened by the ideas and information we have shared.

We will return to your inbox on Jan. 5, 2021. In the meantime, we hope you are able to enjoy some rest, to devote time to some recovery and to find some relaxation.

Ensemble Video

ITS will decommission Ensemble Video Service later this academic year. Prior to Monday, Jan. 25, 2021, Ensemble users must choose one of the following options to retain access to existing content:

  • Manually upload original media files to Kaltura
  • Prepare existing Ensemble media for bulk transfer
  • Manually download Ensemble media and upload to Kaltura

We encourage Ensemble users to follow the steps provided on our Transferring Ensemble Media to Kaltura Answers resource. You also can find instructions to manually upload media to Kaltura on the Kaltura MediaSpace and Kaltura in Blackboardpages.

If you are an Ensemble user, you will receive further communication from ITS about Ensemble later this week.

Extended Reality

On this week’s episode of “Behind the Monitor,” the official podcast from ITS, we talk with Online Learning Services instructional analyst Jason Webb about the growth of extended reality at Syracuse University. Extended reality is an umbrella term that encompasses three main subcategories: virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality. Webb describes several unique projects undertaken by professors in schools across campus, including the School of Architecture, the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and the College of Visual and Performing Arts. Listen on Apple Podcasts.

Faculty Support

For any questions you might have as you plan for next semester (or teach over Winterlude), you can visit the Online Success Toolkit. You also can contact the faculty support team, comprising ITS, the Center for Online and Digital Learning (CODL), and the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE), by emailing help@syr.edu or calling 315.443.2677. Please note the following regarding availability over winter break: 

  • During winter break, you can contact the ITS Help Desk by emailing help@syr.edu, calling 315.443.2677 or chatting on Answers.syr.edu. Learn about ITS Help Desk winter break support hours. The ITS Help Desk will resume regular business hours on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021.
  • CTLE and CODL will continue to be available during regular business hours until Orange Appreciation Days. CTLE and CODL will resume normal business hours Monday, Jan. 4, 2021.

In Case You Missed It

Here are some helpful links we shared in recent messages:

Thank you—and see you in 2021!

DECEMBER 8, 2020 

Congratulations on wrapping up the fall semester! Orange instructors have shown remarkable dedication to their students and their work this fall. For any tech-related questions you have as you complete your final fall checklist or plan for next semester, you can visit the Online Success Toolkit or contact the ITS Help Desk at help@syr.edu or 315.443.2677.

Submitting Grades

Final grades are due Monday, Dec. 21. You can access online grade rosters via MySlice 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Learn more about submitting grades online, including how to upload grades from Blackboard.

EvaluationKIT

EvaluationKIT is Syracuse University’s new online system for collecting course feedback from students. The platform launched for courses in all locations and delivery formats this summer. You can register for EvaluationKIT training taking place next week.

Spring Semester Planning

As you focus more energy on planning for the spring semester, please remember the following:

  • All instructors teaching this spring are highly encouraged to use the University’s suite of Spring Course Transition Services. Regardless of the modality in which you will teach, we can help you plan for a successful spring semester. Complete the brief Course Transition Assistance Form to get started.
  • Teaching is a process of continuous improvement. Contact the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE) to discuss how you can enhance your spring courses with lessons learned this semester. You also can encourage your chair, program director, school or college to invite the CTLE for a workshop or course redesign day.
  • If engaging students proved challenging this semester, you’re not alone. Instructors across the University and higher education in general struggled to connect with their students. Review these tips and techniques for infusing student engagement into your spring courses.

Thank you—and go Orange!

DECEMBER 1, 2020

We hope you enjoyed a safe, restorative Thanksgiving break. As you complete the semester online, be sure to bookmark the Online Success Toolkit if you haven’t already done so. The toolkit features course design support, training opportunities and helpful links. The toolkit also features tips for safe computing, which are especially helpful given recent phishing attempts.

Two-Factor Authentication

If you plan to access your Microsoft Office 365 account or applications away from campus, it’s a good idea to configure your two-factor authentication at msmfa.syr.edu. Two-factor authentication is an added verification step that helps to prevent the unauthorized use of University NetIDs and passwords. Learn more about Microsoft Office 365 two-factor authentication.

PlayPosit

On the latest episode of “Behind the Monitor,” the ITS podcast, we talk to Ellyn Riley, associate professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders in the College of Arts and Sciences, about how she has enhanced her teaching with PlayPosit. This interactive online video tool allows learners to explore new material at their own pace, increasing long-term retention and learning efficacy over standard video. Check out the podcast.

Course Feedback

The window for collecting student course feedback this semester closes tomorrow, Dec. 2. Please remind your students to take a moment to provide their feedback. The University’s new course feedback platform, EvaluationKIT, allows you to monitor your response rate and to access your results. Learn more here about EvaluationKIT and how you can improve student response rates and feedback quality. If you have any questions, please email coursefeedback@syr.edu. You also are welcome to consult with the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence on interpreting the feedback you receive in a private, one-on-one Zoom session.

Reminder: Spring Course Transition Services

Spring courses are now available for instructors in Blackboard. All instructors teaching this spring are highly encouraged to use the University’s suite of Spring Course Transition Services. Regardless of the modality in which you will teach, we can help you plan for a successful spring semester. Complete the brief Course Transition Assistance Form to get started. When you fill out the form, you can request assistance with building your course and decide whether to use the University’s Blackboard template.

ITS Support Hours

If you have a technology-related question or problem, you can call the ITS Service Center at 315.443.2677. If you call after hours, you will have the option to leave a message with support staff. You also are welcome to email help@syr.edu at any time.

Thank you—and go Orange!

NOVEMBER 24, 2020

As we head into the Thanksgiving break, thank you again for everything you have done to make this semester a success for our students and for the University. Thank you also for reading our “Teaching Tips” emails. Please feel free to suggest topics for future communications by sending an email to help@syr.edu.

Course Feedback Window Open Through Dec. 2

The window for collecting student course feedback this semester is open through Dec. 2. Please remind your students to take a moment to provide their feedback. The University’s new course feedback platform, EvaluationKIT, allows you to monitor your response rate and to access your results. Learn more here about EvaluationKIT and how you can improve student response rates and feedback quality. If you have any questions, please email coursefeedback@syr.edu. You also are welcome to consult with the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence on interpreting the feedback you receive in a private, one-on-one Zoom session.

Teaching and Testing Remotely

As mentioned in previous communications, please keep in mind that you do not necessarily need to have a traditional final exam if your students can demonstrate they have met your course outcomes in other ways. In addition to accessibility and academic integrity concerns, it is important to remember that students’ technology environments at home might differ from their campus technology environments. Consider these ideas for assessments to replace a traditional final exam. If you haven’t already done so, please also review these tips for teaching and working remotely, including remote desktop solutions.

Phishing Alert

It’s essential to protect yourself against phishing attempts and other cybersecurity threats, including those disguised as unexpected job offers or reminders to reset your NetID password. Be wary of any email that asks you to provide personal information or “click here now” to avoid getting locked out of your account. Regardless of the bait, these emails are designed to get you to provide personal information, including information that could enable an attacker to access your bank account. If you receive a suspicious email, please forward it to itsecurity@syr.edu.

Reminder: Spring Course Transition Services

Spring courses are now available for instructors in Blackboard. All instructors teaching this spring are highly encouraged to use the University’s suite of Spring Course Transition Services. Regardless of the modality in which you will teach, we can help you plan for a successful spring semester. Complete the brief Course Transition Assistance Form to get started. When you fill out the form, you can request assistance with building your course and decide whether to use the University’s Blackboard template.

ITS Support Hours

If you have a technology-related question or problem, you can call the ITS Service Center at 315.443.2677. If you call after hours, you will have the option to leave a message with support staff. You also are welcome to email help@syr.edu at any time.

For more information on how to make the best use of technology, be sure to bookmark the Online Success Toolkit. You also can follow ITS on Instagram and listen to “ITS Behind the Monitor” on Apple Podcasts.

We wish you a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

Spring Courses Available in Blackboard

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Submitting Final Grades—Final grades are due Dec. 21. You can access online grade rosters via MySlice 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Learn more about submitting grades online.

Reminder: Spring Course Transition Services

All instructors teaching this spring are highly encouraged to use the University’s suite of Spring Course Transition Services. Regardless of the modality in which you will teach, we can help you plan for a successful spring semester. Complete the briefCourse Transition Assistance Form to get started.

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We will continue to provide tips and reminders to ensure you have the most up-to-date information related to online teaching and learning. If you haven’t already, please bookmark the Online Success Toolkit on Answers (and suggest that your students do the same). The “Working, Teaching and Learning Remotely” page includes tips to help you get your technology ready, as well as information about web conferencing tools, remote access options, file sharing solutions and more. You can discuss any hardware or software needs with your school or college IT support personnel. Please also remember that the ITS Service Center is available by email (help@syr.edu) or phone (315.443.2677) to address any tech-related challenges you or your students might experience.

Reminder: Spring Course Transition Services

All instructors teaching this spring are highly encouraged to use the University’s suite of Spring Course Transition Services offered by the Center for Online and Digital Learning, Information Technology Services, and the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence. Regardless of the modality in which you will teach, we can help you plan for a successful spring semester. Complete the brief Course Transition Assistance Form to get started.

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While Answers is a great self-service option, the faculty support team also is here to help. Whether you have questions about teaching, technology or other related topics, you can send them to help@syr.edu.

Reminder: Spring Course Transition Services

All instructors teaching this spring are highly encouraged to use the University’s suite of Spring Course Transition Services offered by the Center for Online and Digital Learning, Information Technology Services, and the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence. Regardless of the modality in which you will teach, we can help you plan for a successful spring semester. Complete the brief Course Transition Assistance Form to get started.

...

Whether you have questions about teaching, technology or other related topics, the faculty support team is here for you. You can send your questions to help@syr.edu.

Reminder: Spring Course Transition Services

All instructors teaching this spring are highly encouraged to use the University’s suite of Spring Course Transition Services offered by the Center for Online and Digital Learning, Information Technology Services, and the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence. Regardless of the modality in which you will teach, we can help you plan for a successful spring semester. Complete the brief Course Transition Assistance Form to get started.

...

Whether you have questions about technology, assessments or any other teaching-related topics, the faculty support team is here for you. You can send your questions to help@syr.edu.

Reminder: Spring Course Transition Services

All instructors teaching this spring are highly encouraged to use the University’s suite of Spring Course Transition Services offered by the Center for Online and Digital Learning, Information Technology Services, and the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence. Regardless of the modality in which you will teach, we can help you plan for a successful spring semester. Complete the brief Course Transition Assistance Form to get started.

...

Whether you have questions about technology, assessments or any other teaching-related topics, the faculty support team is here for you. You can send your questions to help@syr.edu.

Reminder: Spring Course Transition Services

All instructors teaching this spring are highly encouraged to use the University’s suite of Spring Course Transition Services offered by the Center for Online and Digital Learning, Information Technology Services, and the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence. Regardless of the modality in which you will teach, we can help you plan for a successful spring semester now. Complete the brief Spring Course Development Form to get started.

...

Whether you have questions about technology, assessments or any other teaching-related topics, the faculty support team is here for you. You can send your questions to help@syr.edu.

Reminder: Spring Course Transition Services

All instructors teaching this spring are highly encouraged to use the University’s suite of Spring Course Transition Services offered by the Center for Online and Digital Learning, Information Technology Services, and the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence. Regardless of the modality in which you will teach, we can help you plan for a successful spring semester now. Complete the brief Spring Course Development Form to get started.

...

Comprising representatives from Information Technology Services, the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence and the Center for Online and Digital Learning, the faculty support team has created a variety of learning technology resources to help you succeed in the classroom and online. As a refresher, here is a quick summary of those resources. 

Classroom Technology Guide

Earlier this week, we shared a link to our new Classroom Technology Guide on Answers. The guide covers a range of topics, including how to start the classroom audio-visual system, how to activate the web conferencing tool and more. In addition to the full guide on Answers, a “cheat sheet” will be available at the teaching station in all registrar classrooms.

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The faculty support team is dedicated to strengthening the academic mission of Syracuse University. We look forward to working with you this fall.

AUGUST 11, 2020

Classroom Technology Guide

With the fall semester approaching, the temperature outside is anything but fall-like. We hope you are enjoying some summer sun before classes begin.

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Would you like to connect with your fellow faculty members to discuss approaches to teaching and learning? We have created a blog on Answers to facilitate conversations about topics of interest to our faculty (you will need to log in with your NetID and password). To get started, you can join this conversation about questions regarding the upcoming semester.

Classroom Technology Guide

ITS maintains detailed information about technology in registrar classrooms across campus. From Bowne to Watson, you can learn about the resources available in each space. Individual training sessions also are available for faculty and staff who need further assistance with learning to operate classroom computers.

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As we prepare for the fall semester, we are excited to offer coordinated course preparation support through a partnership among Information Technology Services, the Center for Online and Digital Learning, the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, and Blackboard. We outline the scope and process for taking advantage of these services below. As always, you can contact help@syr.edu with any questions. We look forward to working with you.

Course Transition Services

Through course transition services, instructional designers will support faculty in moving their face-to-face course content into a templated Blackboard course shell that strengthens remote teaching and learning. The instructional designer:

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