Computer and cell phone

Online Class Format Resources

Below you will find FAQs for students and instructors, links to resources to familiarize students and instructors with online learning platforms, and mental health and wellness resources. This section of the website is a work in progress. It will be updated as information and suggestions for additions are received.

An important feature on these pages is the “Concerns and Needs” form that allows visitors to the website to contact the School and to suggest not only what resources could be added to these web pages but, what other resources are needed to support instructors and students.

You are encouraged to take advantage of the information and resources presented here and to contact the School, using the “Concerns and Needs” form to let us know how we can support you during this time. I would also like to hear about specific needs or challenges at kusswdo@ku.edu.

If you have specific questions as it relates to COVID-19, please visit the official university webpage Protect KU that provides up-to-date information on reopening campus and curbing the spread of COVID-19. 

Thank you,

Michelle Mohr Carney, PhD, MSSA
Dean & Professor
School of Social Welfare
University of Kansas
1545 Lilac Ln
Twente Hall
Lawrence, KS 66045-3129
 

This webpage is a work in progress and will be continually updated as materials and resources become available. Please check back frequently for updates.

Online Learning

5 Minute Pedagogy Videos

Online, hybrid, flipped, and web-enhanced course formats

Real-Time vs Asynchronous Instruction: A Reflection

Videoconferencing Alternatives: How Low-Bandwidth Teaching Will Save Us All

Video Walk Through of a Completely Online Course Template - SW220
Developed by Dr. Kepple

CTE, CODL and Others

The KU Center for Online and Distance Learning

The KU Center for Teaching Excellence

Wichita State Provides Examples

Workshop with CDL and School of Social Welfare - May 29, 2020

Blackboard

You can get help to start online adaptation of courses by contacting KU IT Educational Technology Support, itedtech@ku.edu, 785-864-2600. The team will assess each faculty member’s situation and either assist with Blackboard migration or refer instructors to more specialized consulting available through the Center for Online and Distance Learning.

To assist with this endeavor, we have developed a “master template” that any instructor can modify to make pertinent to their course material. This Blackboard template can be employed with ALL courses (i.e., BSW, MSW, and PhD). Should additional assistance be desired or to be added to the master template, you may contact Dana Shafer (at: dshafer@ku.edu). 

Edwards Campus: For instructors needing assistance, Steve Werninger, swerninger@ku.edu, is available to meet virtually or face to face to provide desk side coaching on Zoom, lecture recording, and Blackboard. We also are currently working on reference and how-to materials that will soon be available on the Faculty and Staff Support Services website.

Kaltura

Kaltura; a video streaming solution, so that KU Faculty, Students, and Staff can create and deliver multimedia content.  KU’s learning management system (Blackboard) integrates with Kaltura.  Also available, is MediaHub, where KU users have a private YouTube-like repository to post and share video content.

Kaltura Uploads (Share Audio and Video Files)

Kaltura Express Capture (Webcam Recordings)

  • Create a webcam recording (video); Good for brief updates using your webcam, like weekly announcements and check-ins. Used often for student recording of speeches, assignment content and demonstrations. Can be accessed from text editor, so instructors could use for video feedback on assignments.

Kaltura Capture (Record Presentation from Your Computer)

Additional Kaltura Features

  • Kaltura's Video Editor (video); Edit your video online, after recording and/or uploading.
  • Captioning in Kaltura;  All videos in Kaltura are have machine-generated captions automatically added.  Those captions will include errors and are not considered accessible until you edit them for accuracy.  You can edit your captions with an online captions interface.

Zoom

KU no longer uses Blackboard Collaborate for online meetings. KU is now using Zoom. A link to a Zoom meeting can be posted in a Blackboard site or emailed to students.

“Zoombombing” – a practice in which uninvited attendees disrupt a meeting by sharing inappropriate or offensive material.

Those hosting Zoom meetings and webinars should take steps to prevent such incidents.

Key recommendations include:

KU Zoom; Download the Zoom App, Join or Host a Meeting, Sign In

Zoom Video Tutorials

Recorded Training Sessions

  • Getting Started with Zoom - This 30-minute training session with live Q&A will provide a high-level tour of Zoom and cover the basics you need to get up and running.
  • Zoom Meetings Training - This 60-minute training session with live Q&A will review features applicable to Zoom Meetings and using the Zoom Client software. We will discuss scheduling and hosting your meetings.
  • Zoom Meetings for Education Training - This 45-minute training session with live Q&A will cover the power of virtual teaching and learning in the Zoom classroom for students and teachers.
  • Zoom Rooms Training - This 60-minute training session will cover the basics of setup and devices, scheduling with Zoom Rooms as well as hosting and participating in Zoom Room Meetings
  • Zoom Webinar Training - This 60-minute training session with live Q&A will review Zoom features applicable to Zoom Video Webinar. We will discuss scheduling, customizing and hosting your events.
  • Zoom Administrator Training - This 60-minute training session with live Q&A will review the Zoom Administrator Portal and how to manage your Zoom account. Topics include deployment, account, user and group management.
  • Zoom Phone Administrator Training - This 60-minute training session with live Q&A will review the Zoom Phone Administrator Portal. Topics include phone numbers, auto receptionists, call queues, and more.

VoiceThread

VoiceThread is a cloud-based application that allows users to upload, share and discuss documents, presentations, images, audio files and videos. Over 50 different types of media can be shared in VoiceThread. Users can comment on VoiceThread slides using one of five commenting options: microphone, webcam, text, phone and audio-file upload. Additionally, using VoiceThread's "doodle" tool, you can markup or annotate the multimedia you have uploaded when leaving a typed, video or audio comment. Users can keep a VoiceThread private, share it with specific people, or open it to all.

You can use VoiceThread which can be enabled in Blackboard to upload slides and add narration, or just create a short video or audio recording. Students can comment and engage directly with the VoiceThread lecture you created. The VoiceThread webpage (see Support tab) contains tutorials on what it is, how to add and enable it in your Blackboard course site, and information for your students.

Other Methods for Instruction

General Tips & FAQs for Faculty Going Online in a Hurry

  • Accommodations. Students who qualify for accommodations may need specific revisions, such as enlarged font or spacing on exams. For questions regarding accommodations to coursework for students who presented a letter of accommodation, please AAAC. 
  • Consider virtual office hours. You can use Zoom to video conference with students to keep your same hours, or encourage students to email you during those hours. If you or your students are willing to meet face to face, the college is open. Here is more information on virtual office hours from the University of Washington.

From American University:  

  • When at all possible, opt for an asynchronous class (occurring independently but with specific due dates/times) rather than synchronous (occurring at the same time). Requiring students to meet online at a certain time will likely lead to the need to create a contingency plan for student absences due to poor internet, loss of power, or children also staying home due to inclement weather.
  • Keep videos to 6 minutes or less.    
  • Use Open Educational Resources (OER) in your courses whenever possible. You don’t want students traveling to retrieve materials if class is cancelled so materials accessible online through the library or other open source are preferable.
  • Caption video content for accessibility.    
  • Before you use any files you find, check that resources are labeled as ‘copyright free’ and are from a trustworthy source.

From Arizona State:

Please do:

  • Maintain the scheduled time and day that your class meets. This ensures that students who attend your class do not need to adjust their schedules to participate (Note that this point does not agree with the first point above from American University. There are pros and cons with both approach).
  • Contact your students prior to the campus closure date at least twice. Be clear with your instructions on how you will use Zoom, Canvas or Slack to manage your class. On the day prior to the official closure, send a reminder email or message to ensure that all students received the instructions. 
  • Download all platforms you plan to use on multiple devices in case one of your devices malfunctions during instruction. 
  • Test out your equipment and your hosting location with colleagues and solicit their feedback on your setup. Be open to ideas and be willing to share tips with colleagues who are seeking advice.
  • Reach out individually to students who were previously attending on-campus classes but are missing virtual classes. This may be a sign they are experiencing accessibility or other challenges. 
  • Ask your students how you can help them during the transition. Students may have additional challenges that amplify during times of stress or uncertainty. Be helpful and direct them to advising, counseling or any other student support services if needed. 

Please do not:

FAQs

What is the best way for me to communicate electronically with my students?

It is best for you to use Blackboard to communicate with students and to share course materials. 

Students would receive an email to the account associated with that tool, note that it might not be their KU email address. Ask students to check and confirm their email is updated and correct in Blackboard and other systems.

How do I access Blackboard?

If you have not logged into Blackboard recently, please use these step-by-step instructions on how to access your courses in Blackboard.

I am not very familiar with Blackboard. How can I quickly prepare myself?

If you are not familiar with basic Blackboard instructor functions, or have forgotten how to use specific tools in Blackboard, we recommend that you review the resources linked to above.

How do I make my course available to students?

To make your course available, please follow these steps listed here. There is also a video to guide you through this process. The instructor needs to make the course available to students. If the course is not available, students will not be able to access your course materials. 

How can I let my students know that I have activated the Blackboard class site and that we will continue the class via Blackboard?

  • After activating your Blackboard class site with the minimum content enabled, let your students know by sending an email from within Blackboard and let them know that you will be emailing them announcements from the Blackboard course site to keep them up to date on the class activities.
  • Revise the syllabus and schedule as needed to account for how and when you will continue assignments, discussion, tests, etc. during the expected time period you will not meet on campus. 

How can I continue my usual lectures?

You have many choices for presenting or lecturing online, whether you want to use slides, or just create an audio or video presentation. The following are all relatively easy to learn:  

  • You can present your lecture, with or without slides via Zoom with students attending in real time or you can record it beforehand and make it available for students to access later, then create a discussion forum to engage with students. You can also record a live session and share with students who were not able to attend live.   
  • You can use VoiceThread which can be enabled in Blackboard to upload slides and add narration, or just create a short video or audio recording. Students can comment and engage directly with the VoiceThread lecture you created. This page (see Support tab) contains tutorials on what it is, how to add and enable it in your Blackboard course site, and information for your students.

How can I have students submit written assignments?

You can arrange for students to submit their assignments via an assignment link in Blackboard. This guide can help you set up assignments for your class assignments in Blackboard. You can use the various tools available there for providing feedback via text, audio, or video, writing in comments directly on papers via the in-line grading function, or grading by means of a rubric. Additionally, you can use SafeAssign, which is also available in Blackboard. If you don’t want to use Blackboard for assignments, you can also explore making use of OneDrive for Business to which KU faculty and students now both have access.

How can I create quizzes/tests/exams in Blackboard?

You can create many types of quizzes or exams in Blackboard and there are many options available such as timed or not timed, multiple attempts, or automated feedback. Learn how to set it up by reviewing guidance on the Blackboard test and quizzes webpage and the tests pools survey page. 

How can I ensure academic integrity when offering tests and quizzes, or essays, discussion posts, and papers online?

  • For tests and quizzes offered online in Blackboard, help ensure academic integrity by creating a large question pool from which you draw your test, randomizing the questions for the test taker, and add other test options like no backtracking, time limits, or password enabling, depending on the nature of the test. To review these options and find those most appropriate for your tests, see Test and Survey Options. 
  • Plagiarism in writing assignments occur no more frequently for students in online classes than those who attend only in-person classes, because all students have access to the internet. For writing assignments submitted online, consider using SafeAssign in Blackboard. This may allow you to reduce the chances of plagiarism by noting similarities of content submitted with other content. You can also use Google to search for specific odd phrases and vocabulary that don’t seem to fall into the student’s usual writing patterns. Consider asking students to review the originality report and resubmit after revising, if need be.
  • To discourage students in online discussion from simply repeating or copying what other classmates have said, use the “Post first” settings option in Blackboard discussion. This will prevent students from reading others’ responses before they have posted their own.

How can I meet for class or office hours in real-time with my students?

From California State University, East Bay:

  • Phone, zoom, skype or other means where students can access you in real time is encouraged. Here are some tips for Zoom office hours:   
  • Login to your zoom room, mute the mic, turn off the camera, and just work as you normally would.    
  • Let people know that your zoom room is similar to a “real” office in that when they stop by, it is possible other visitors will be there. If all visitors have the same question and are comfortable continuing to talk, then the conversation can just continue with the new visitor(s) there. If people need to have 1:1 conversations, just ask the new visitor(s) to come back in a few minutes, as you would in a “real” office.
  • You’ll hear a chime when people enter the room and then you can unmute yourself and say hello. 
  • If you need to step away from your computer, make a quick word doc, ppt slide, or google slide that says, “Back in 5 min.” Then screen share that and take your little break.

How can I enable students to work or meet in small groups when they are not on campus?

There are a number of options available.

Who do I contact for support?

Additional instructor support can be found on the KU Learning Online webpage.

Preparing for online instruction

Be prepared to use these devices and services while off-campus:

  • Laptop or desktop computer
  • Webcam with microphone
  • Secure Internet connection
  • Smartphone, tablet, or telephone (for Duo - Student Employees)
  • Please communicate with your course instructors if any of these devices are inaccessible to you. Also, you can let us know if you need assistance locating such devices by completing the form located here.

Get setup with these tools and services:

Blackboard

Blackboard Resources for Students; KU resource page

Blackboard Learn Videos for Students; directly from Blackboard

Blackboard mobile app; This app replaces the original Blackboard Learn mobile app, which Blackboard no longer supports. Please uninstall the Mobile Learn app and download this vendor-supported version.

Kaltura

Kaltura; a video streaming solution, so that KU Faculty, Students, and Staff can create and deliver multimedia content.  KU’s learning management system (Blackboard) integrates with Kaltura.  Also available is MediaHub, where KU users have a private YouTube-like repository to post and share video content.

Kaltura Uploads (Share Audio and Video Files)

Kaltura Express Capture (Webcam Recordings)

  • Create a webcam recording (video); Good for brief updates using your webcam, like weekly announcements and check-ins. Used often for student recording of speeches, assignment content and demonstrations. Can be accessed from text editor, so instructors could use for video feedback on assignments.

Kaltura Capture (Record Presentation from Your Computer)

Additional Kaltura Features

  • Kaltura's Video Editor (video); Edit your video online, after recording and/or uploading.
  • Captioning in Kaltura;  All videos in Kaltura are have machine-generated captions automatically added.  Those captions will include errors and are not considered accessible until you edit them for accuracy.  You can edit your captions with an online captions interface.

Zoom

KU Zoom; Download the Zoom App, Join or Host a Meeting, Sign In

Zoom Video Tutorials

Recorded Training Sessions

  • Getting Started with Zoom - This 30-minute training session with live Q&A will provide a high-level tour of Zoom and cover the basics you need to get up and running.
  • Zoom Meetings Training - This 60-minute training session with live Q&A will review features applicable to Zoom Meetings and using the Zoom Client software. We will discuss scheduling and hosting your meetings.
  • Zoom Meetings for Education Training - This 45-minute training session with live Q&A will cover the power of virtual teaching and learning in the Zoom classroom for students and teachers.
  • Zoom Rooms Training - This 60-minute training session will cover the basics of setup and devices, scheduling with Zoom Rooms as well as hosting and participating in Zoom Room Meetings.
  • Zoom Webinar Training - This 60-minute training session with live Q&A will review Zoom features applicable to Zoom Video Webinar. We will discuss scheduling, customizing and hosting your events.

Telephonic Communication

On-campus Wi-Fi

Students who want to get into the libraries to use computer terminals or Wi-Fi should call the front desk of the libraries.  The library doors are locked, but they will allow faculty or students in upon request.  Here are the numbers:

  • Watson 785-864-8983
  • Anschutz 785-864-4928

Being prepared to use devices and services while off-campus:

  • Laptop or desktop computer
  • Webcam with microphone
  • Secure Internet connection
  • Smartphone, tablet, or telephone (for Duo - Student Employees)
  • Please communicate with your course instructors if any of these devices are inaccessible to you. Also, you can let us know if you need assistance locating such devices by completing the Concerns and Needs form.

Get setup with these tools and services:

Staying Engaged While Working Remote; ideas for engaging and encouraging community during remote work opportunities.

How to Transition Your Team to Remote Work; Here’s what to keep in mind for a successful transition to remote work.

5 Ways to Transition to Remote Work, Smoothly; Read on for five proven strategies for working productively from home and making the leap into telecommuting.

Zoom

KU Zoom; Download the Zoom App, Join or Host a Meeting, Sign In

Zoom Video Tutorials

Recorded Training Sessions

  • Getting Started with Zoom - This 30-minute training session with live Q&A will provide a high-level tour of Zoom and cover the basics you need to get up and running.
  • Zoom Meetings Training - This 60-minute training session with live Q&A will review features applicable to Zoom Meetings and using the Zoom Client software. We will discuss scheduling and hosting your meetings.
  • Zoom Meetings for Education Training - This 45-minute training session with live Q&A will cover the power of virtual teaching and learning in the Zoom classroom for students and teachers.
  • Zoom Rooms Training - This 60-minute training session will cover the basics of setup and devices, scheduling with Zoom Rooms as well as hosting and participating in Zoom Room Meetings.
  • Zoom Webinar Training - This 60-minute training session with live Q&A will review Zoom features applicable to Zoom Video Webinar. We will discuss scheduling, customizing and hosting your events.

Telephonic Communication

VPN and Network Mapping

Call Forwarding

If you experience respiratory symptoms within 14 days of travel or have had contact with someone who is suspected to have COVID-19, please do the following:

To promote the safest possible conditions on our campus, we strongly encourage preventive practices to prevent illness.

Stress and Mental Health

  • KU Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS); Assists students in improving decision-making; identifying and using resources; and achieving academic, social and personal success.
  • Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19; from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Client Resources In Response to Coronavirus. A list of client resources developed by one of Bert Nash’s Adult Outpatient Program therapists in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Bert Nash is the Community Mental Health Center serving, Lawrence, Douglas County, KS.
  • Why Social Distancing Can Help Colleges Stem the Spread of Coronavirus
  • From the JED Foundation:
    • News of a widespread public health concern like COVID-19 (Coronavirus) can cause feelings of uncertainty and anxiety. Many students across the nation are dealing with sudden changes to their regular schedules and some are faced with having to quickly leave their campuses without contingency plans yet in place. These developments can be stressful. At the same time, families and school leaders are working to provide the necessary support to their loved ones and students.
    • It’s completely expected and appropriate to experience fear during situations like these. It’s also important to know how to manage overwhelming anxiety and keep perspective as the situation unfolds.
  • Here are some resources and tips that may be helpful:
  • We know this situation is challenging. In addition to utilizing these resources, JED’s self-care experts recommend getting adequate sleep, eating well, and engaging in exercise, among other tips for practicing good self-care.
  • People who already are managing existing mental health conditions should prioritize self-care during difficult times and should contact their clinicians if they have questions or concerns. To reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Text “START” to 741-741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.
  • How to Cope with Anxiety about Coronavirus (COVID-19); Learn strategies for managing stress during a pandemic
  • How to Help Someone with Anxiety; from mental health first aid
  • COVID-19: What do Older Adults and People with Disabilities Need to Know? from the Administration for Community Living
  • Shareable Resources on Coping with COVID-19; a collection of helplines, news stories, radio interviews, informational pages and videos from the National Institute of Mental Health

Important Links