Teaching online during inclement weather
Even through technology disruptions, you still have options. We have created this list of resources to guide you through completing your semester.
If you need support, please contact the ITS Help Desk, and they will connect you with staff from the Office of Teaching, Learning, and Technology who can help with your questions.
Communicate
Instructors who wish to email their class can find a roster in their "My Courses" option within MAUI if the MAUI in ICON connection is not working.
Send an email as soon as you know what changes may be happening to your class and let students know when they can expect to hear from you again with more details. Consider attaching files of readings or other resources your students might need in the short term. Keep attachment file sizes small, as some email systems may block large files.
Tell your students whether class will meet online and how. If you're adjusting assignment due dates, spell out the new deadlines clearly. Let them know what you expect for attendance and participation during this period. If you're modifying assignments to work better in an online format, provide updated instructions. Share your office hours schedule and whether you'll hold them virtually.
Screenshots
Final Grades and Quizzes
Instructors will need to enter final grades for courses in MAUI. The Canvas integration with MAUI is currently unavailable.
We encourage you to:
Meet Online
The university provides two ways to meet online: Teams Meetings and Zoom. Both platforms allow you to meet with your class synchronously when in-person instruction is not possible. Be mindful that live video participation may not be feasible for all students, depending on their internet access, device constraints, or competing responsibilities. When possible, consider flexible participation expectations and provide asynchronous access to course materials, such as recordings or posted content.
Teams
Online portions of a class can be pivoted to Microsoft Teams, an Office 365 tool that includes video conferencing, file sharing, Office applications, instant messaging, screen sharing and recording. The “Class” team type also includes the ability for students to complete assignments and take quizzes.
- Start by logging in to Microsoft Teams: Open the Teams client on your desktop or mobile device (app available from Apple App Store or Google Play Store) or log in to Office 365 in a web browser (Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge is recommended).
- If necessary, login: At sign in, enter your email address. When you are redirected to a University of Iowa login screen, enter your HawkID and password.
- Navigating Teams: Review the Microsoft Teams training videos for tips on using Teams.
- How to use Microsoft Teams Meetings
Zoom
Zoom allows users to meet in online meetings, share audio and video information, and much more. All faculty, staff, and students are licensed to use Zoom to host meetings with up to 300 participants. Meetings can last for up to 30 hours or 40 minutes of being idle (1 person remains in the meeting for 40 minutes).
Administer Final Exams and Assessments
There are multiple options for administering final assessments. Instructors should choose according to their individual course needs. Colleges may provide specific suggestions.
Multiple choice/Bubble Sheets
- Printable Gradescope Bubble Sheets for automatic grading.
- Print paper versions and have students circle answers
All Instructional Technology Centers (ITCs) have at least one printer capable of both black and white and color printing. ITCs location on campus.
Essays and other written assessments
- Create a OneDrive folder for students to deposit submissions.
- Accept email submissions.
- Accept printed hard copies.
- Use Gradescope to collect and grade submissions.
All Instructional Technology Centers (ITCs) have at least one printer capable of both black and white and color printing. ITCs location on campus.
Hard copy options
- Students write out the exam. Blue books are available from the Hawkshop. Instructors should email the Hawkshop for details.
- Gradescope “Homework” style assignments with online grading.
Online options with multiple question types
- Gradescope Exam for online completion and automatic grading.
- Top Hat Tests can be used for a variety of online question types with automatic grading.
- Microsoft Forms for automatic grading, available as part of Teams or as a standalone solution.
Oral exams and presentations
- Panopto recordings can be created in Panopto (UICapture) by students.