Prepare to Teach Online or Hybrid Courses

Teaching online requires the right tools. These are items that you may want to collect for your home office:

• Computer
• Computer Power Cord
• External Webcam (if your computer doesn't come with an internal webcam)
• Headphones
• Microphone (if your computer doesn't come with an internal microphone)
• Adapters
• Mouse
• Copies of texts used in class
• Any other tools specific to your course or practice

Transfer Files from Desktop to Online

• Materials that are stored only on an office desktop will need to be transferred online. Adhere to FERPA as needed.
• Ensure you have remote access to files from other locations (e.g., team folders on the NAS).

Connect to Bethel Off-Campus

• Some secure tools require the use of VPN 

What technology will facilitate your online instruction?

• Moodle is an online learning management system (LMS) that allows assignments, discussions, and course content to live in an online course site. 
• All courses at Bethel have a Moodle site at moodle.bethel.edu; also found on the student and faculty tabs at my.bethel.edu.
• Google Hangouts is an application connected to your Bethel email account. It allows multiple participants to communicate through video and audio or audio only.
  • Be aware of the risk: As more schools and businesses move to remote operations, telecommunication networks may struggle to keep up with demand. This could result in connectivity issues for students and faculty using web-conferencing tools.
• Bethel Email is also an important tool for communication when teaching online. 

Will you teach online with or without Moodle?

Consider using Moodle if:

• The course has activities that require student-to-student interaction
• The course has a large number of assignments that might be difficult to manage by email
• You want to use Turnitin to reduce the risk of plagiarism
• You have quizzes or exams that can be graded by a computer
• You have some familiarity with Moodle or are willing to try it

Consider using Email and Google Hangouts without Moodle if:

• The course has a relatively small number of straightforward assignments
• You are unfamiliar with Moodle

New Moodle Users

• Review How to Get Started with Moodle.
• Consider referencing this Exemplar Online Course in Moodle. 
• Go to bethel.moodle.edu or my.bethel.edu and login, then navigate to your the Moodle site(s) for your current course(s).
• As appropriate, enroll your teaching assistant in your course site(s).
• Email teaching assistants and students with your plan for the course, actions students need to take, and your expectations. 
• Provide students with Moodle support materials.
• Review these short videos on How to Instruct Online.
• Contact ed-tech@bethel.edu for support.

Experienced Moodle Users

• Consider referencing this Exemplar Online Course in Moodle. 
• Email teaching assistants and students with your plan for the course, actions students need to take, and your expectations. 
• Provide students with Moodle support materials.
• Review these short videos on How to Instruct Online.
• Contact ed-tech@bethel.edu for support.

Teaching online without Moodle

• Establish communication schedules and class norms.
• Designate what email addresses are to be used for correspondence.
• Describe the frequency of emails to be used for the course.
• Detail how assignments are to be turned in.
• Establish feedback channels and grading norms.
• Email teaching assistants and students with your plan for the course, actions students need to take. and your expectations. 
• Review these short videos on How to Instruct Online.
• Contact ed-tech@bethel.edu for support.

Learning, Teaching and Working Remotely for Students, Faculty, and Staff

• Remote Classes and Meetings
• Computer Lab Remote Alternatives
• Virtial Private Network Application (VPN)
• Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) Applications
• Network Attached Storage (NAS or commonly referred to as Department Folders)
• Argos
• Office Phones