Leveling Up Your Tech

Another way to engage our students is by integrating technology into our teaching practices. While online instructors may already be using various technological tools, both online and face-to-face faculty can benefit from exploring new technologies to enhance student engagement. By leveraging these tools, we can create more interactive and dynamic learning experiences for all students.

Using Canvas
Using Video
Using Zoom
Mobile Access

Using Canvas

Canvas is our learning management system (LMS) at SDCCD; all students and faculty have access to it. For those of you teaching online, you're already familiar with Canvas and the several ways to engage students with announcements and assignments online. If you are teaching on campus courses, these same tools are available to you.

Ways to use Canvas to engage students

Send out a weekly Canvas announcement letting students know why they won't want to miss class this week. Or highlighting the awesome contributions of particular students to last week's discussion.
Use Canvas to share important resources with students so that they can stay engaged with the classwork even when they do need to be absent.
Allow students to submit assignments through Canvas to reduce the barriers to participation.
Provide feedback videos through Canvas allowing students to rewatch as many times as they need.
Encourage students to post questions to a Canvas Q&A discussion board.

Leveling Up

Want to elevate your learning further? Here are some more resources to checkout:

TBD
TBD
TBD

Using Video

Students are constantly consuming videos these days. Why not meet them where they're at by recording instructional videos of your own? We have free access to Canvas Studio, which is our recommended tool for anyone just starting with instructional video.

Ways to use video to engage students

Record a welcome video to provide a friendly message to your students prior to class.
Record a course tour video that tours students through your Canvas course
Record module overview videos to kick off each week/module/chapter, etc.
Record micro-lecture videos that explain concepts from your course in short (3-6 min.) videos

Leveling Up

Want to elevate your learning further? Here are some more resources to checkout:

Using Zoom

Whether you are teaching an Online Live class or not, Zoom is a practical tool for increasing student engagement in our courses. It increases access for our students who cannot make it to campus and gives them a way to engage when they otherwise wouldn't be able to. There are multiple features in Zoom that can be provided to students to support their engagement throughout the semester.

Ways to use Zoom to engage students

Use Zoom for your office hours to allow students to meet with you remotely.
Encourage students to use Zoom to work collaboratively on projects, etc.
Invite guest speakers to join via Zoom.
Provide live demonstrations via Zoom that can be recorded for those who can't attend.
Use breakout rooms for small group interactions such as think-pair-share and feedback discussions.

Leveling Up

Want to elevate your learning further? Here are some more resources to checkout:

TBD
TBD
TBD

Mobile Access

Mobile access empowers students to engage with coursework anytime, anywhere. It allows flexibility for accessing materials, submitting assignments, and participating in discussions on the go. Real-time notifications keep them informed and connected to the interaction and communications happening online. This continuous access helps maintain motivation and involvement, enhancing the overall learning experience.

Ways Mobile Access can engage students

Encourage students to download the Canvas for students mobile app if they haven't already
Have students update their notification settings for your course by telling them which Canvas tools you plan to use most heavily.
Front-load the important content so that less scrolling is required by the student.
Use Canvas pages for your content rather than Word, PDF, or PowerPoint. Canvas pages are the most mobile-friendly.
If you record videos for your students, provide the audio file (MP4) separately for them to listen to on the go.
Navigate your own course through the Canvas mobile app to identify areas for improvement.

Leveling Up

Want to elevate your learning further? Here are some more resources to checkout:

Tips for Mobile-Friendly Design in Canvas- A page from the St. Edwards University Teaching and Learning Center.
Mobile Friendly Canvas Course Design Tips - A page from The University of British Columbia's Learning Design and Digital Innovation program
Mobility and Accessibility: The Canvas Mobile App