Tips for a smooth start Fall '21

Here are some quick tips and resources to help you get a (somewhat) smooth start to teaching in fall '21.

1. Get your Canvas course organized to start on the right foot. Canvas can help you and your students stay connected and organized this semester. Here are some resources to help:

• Check out our Canvas Course Readiness Checklist; Download Canvas Course Readiness Checklist; view a bite-sized Canvas video guides Links to an external site. for help on specific topics
• Visit our "Setting up a Canvas Course" page for help with things like editing a homepage or managing your left-side menu; use the student view Links to an external site. feature to check what is (and isn't!) visible to students
• Learn how to integrate Zoom and Canvas
• Reach out for to an instructional designer for customized, confidential help or visit our self-guided Canvas resources on our portal
• And, last but not least, don't forget to publish your course Links to an external site. before the first day of classes!

2.  Once your course is set up, connect with students. Send them a pre-course Canvas Announcement Links to an external site., a survey to learn about their need, or even a brief imperfect, warm video welcoming them to the course. Get more ideas on our Connecting with Students in Week One page.  

4. Looking for teaching ideas? Check out our resources on boosting student engagement, including suggestions on assessment, increasing engagement in Zoom, active learning while physically distancing, and community-building in asynchronous courses. If you are a confident tech user, you can also check out our Digital Tools resources for new ideas. 

5. Think about the mental aspects of teaching. This post from "Tips for Teaching Professors" Links to an external site. has some suggestions and resources around managing student and faculty burnout, as well as ideas around course design and syllabus creation Links to an external site..