Remote Teaching and Learning
Frequently Asked Questions
Effective Monday, March 23, 2020, all Emory University classes will transition to remote instruction.
The Emory Digital and Online team has provided links to resources for students, faculty, and staff that support remote teaching, learning, and working.
We recommend that teaching assistants, teaching associates, and faculty explore the use of tools such as Canvas and Zoom. These tools are equipped with built-in features that support a quick shift to remote instruction. The Emory College of Arts and Sciences has produced a useful recorded workshop to help instructors get to know these tools.
Student Technology Support will offer virtual support services for the fall term. Students needing assistance may schedule a live Zoom meeting or call the University Service Desk to connect with a technician.
LGS students serving as Teaching Assistants/Associates (TA) and Graduate faculty can access instructional support by connecting with the contacts below.
Candler School of Theology
Contact: candlercanvas@emory.edu
Link: http://pitts.emory.edu/research/faculty-support/facultysupport_instructional.cfm
Emory College
Contact: oue.facultysupport@emory.edu
Link: http://college.emory.edu/oisp/remoteteaching/
Goizueta Business School
Contact: GBSITHELP@emory.edu
Law School
Contact: Serena Holley, Academic Technology Specialist: serena.holley@emory.edu
Link: http://library.law.emory.edu/research/faculty-research.html
Neil Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing
Contact: son-help@listserv.cc.emory.edu
Link: http://www.nursing.emory.edu/technology/index.html
Oxford College
Contact: Scott Foster, Director of Academic Technology: scott.foster@emory.edu
Link: https://guides.libraries.emory.edu/faculty-resources/teaching-support
Rollins School of Public Health
Contact: Susan Dietrie, Instructional Designer: susan.detrie@emory.edu
School of Medicine
Contact: Jess Bowling, Manager, Curricular Support: jbowlin@emory.edu
Link: https://inside.med.emory.edu/administration/its/index.html
Laney Graduate School Teaching Assistants and Associates who have reached out to Emory schools and college instructional support contacts and still require support are invited to contact Rob Pearson, Assistant Dean of Professional Development and Career Planning at rdpears@emory.edu.
Below is a list of helpful resources from Emory’s campus and other institutions.
Emory Teaching Resources:
- The LITS Office of Teaching and Learning Technologies has assembled a guide for the remote delivery of instruction. See: Keep Teaching with Canvas
- Emory College provides some resources maintaining academic continuity during times of instructional disruptions. See: Academic Continuity & Remote Teaching Resources
- The Center for Faculty Development and Excellence has created a helpful guide to assist faculty in transitioning their courses to a remote format.
- Numerous trainings in essential tools such as Canvas and Zoom are ongoing. You can see a complete list of upcoming training here.
Other Teaching Resources:
- The Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning (CIRTL) is a network of 46 institutions committed to implementing and advancing evidence-based teaching practices for diverse learners in STEM education. By creating an account, you can access resources and recordings of past topics that will be of use in transitioning your course to a remote format. Navigate to Events à Past Events to see past workshops and programs, some of which are accompanied by recordings, slides, and other resources. See a recording of a recent CIRTL workshop titled, “Going Online? Applying Evidence-Based and Inclusive Practices to the Online Synchronous Classroom."
- University of Michigan’s Remote Resource Guide: Technology for remote teaching, learning, research, and work.
- Harvard University’s website Teach Remotely
- View a crowdsourced list of resources from various universities across North America about transitioning to a remote environment.
- As a member of the Emory community, you have access to the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity. Once you make an account and verify your Emory affiliation, you will be able to see the full range of their resources. In particular, navigate to their NCFDD COVID-19: Resources page for resources that are relevant to instructors during this turbulent time.
It is a good idea to ask students to indicate if they require accommodations due to the new remote learning environment. Students needing accommodations are encouraged to stay in touch with the Emory University Department of Accessibility Services (DAS). DAS will remain open Monday-Friday, 8am to 5pm. All student appointments will be conducted via phone or virtually (i.e. Zoom) until further notice. DAS will not be proctoring exams, while virtual instruction is in place. If you have any questions or concerns, please email accessibility@emory.edu. Please visit Accommodate for more information.
DAS has provided a helpful FAQ document for instructors that explains accommodations during the transition to remote teaching and learning.
It is important to ensure that your classes are accessible and inclusive of all of your students. Canvas and Zoom have several features to assist instructors in creating accessible remote classes. Emory’s Library and Information Technology Services has created a website that summarizes best practices for accessibility when using these tools.
The Center for Faculty Development and Excellence provides instructors with guidance on how to ensure their courses are inclusive. The CFDE’s page on inclusive pedagogy includes a list of resources to explore as well as a white paper with helpful tips and many other articles on the topic.
We also suggest the following resources, which may help you think more broadly about inclusive pedagogy in your courses:
- Inclusion, Equity, and Access While Teaching Remotely, from the Rice University Center for Teaching Excellence.
- Maintaining Equity and Inclusion in Virtual Learning Environments, from San Diego State’s University Division of Diversity and Innovation.
Zoombombing is a form of internet trolling in which an unwanted participant uses Zoom’s screen sharing feature to disrupt classes or meetings. It is important for meeting hosts to ensure that their meeting’s preferences are set to protect against unauthorized screen sharing and unauthorized access to Zoom meetings.
See this post from Zoom for advice on how to maintain control over your meetings in Zoom. See also this guide from the Emory University LITS Messaging and Collaboration Team for how to protect your meetings against unwanted users.
According to an agreement with the FCC, Wi-Fi providers will waive late fees, not cutoff service for lack of payment, and open hot-spots. In addition, some providers have announced special support in response to COVID-19. Existing internet at home may gain access in one of three ways:
- Using carrier-provided hot-spots wherever available (Xfinity, AT&T, etc.)
- Some internet providers have announced special support in response to COVID-19. For example, Comcast and Charter have offered wi-fi at no charge for 60 days for some individuals. A list of other providers’ special offers can be found here.
- Enabling hot-spot functionality on a mobile phone (T-Mobile, Spring have offered this at no additional charge; other providers may charge a fee).