Below are steps to help instructors through the process of preparing to teaching a course remotely in case of emergency, natural disaster, illness, or travel. Learning Environments is here to help as well. You can email us at teaching@rice.edu.

Step 1: Contact your students

Even if you don't have a plan in place yet, inform your students as soon as possible that changes are coming and what your expectations are for checking email or Canvas. Please use the Contact your Students page for further assistance.

All courses have a Canvas Learning Management System site. So even if you don’t use Canvas regularly, it can help you in the event of class cancellations by providing a secure, easily-accessible place for your students to access materials. Please use the Remote Teaching Resources Canvas site to assist you with this.

Step 2: Consider realistic goals for continuing instruction

What do you think you can realistically accomplish during this time period? Identify your priorities during the disruption—providing lectures, structuring new opportunities for discussion or group work, collecting assignments, etc.

Step 3: Review your course schedule and syllabus to determine new expectations

You will have to reconsider some of your expectations for students, including participation, communication, and deadlines. As you think through those changes, keep in mind the impact this situation may have on students' ability to meet those expectations. Be ready to handle requests for extensions or accommodations.

Step 4: Create Content

If you do not currently have materials that can be distributed online, you will need to create them; you can find assistance in the Create Your Materials Module.

Step 5: Distribute Content

Once your content is created, you will need to distribute it to students; ideas can be found in the Distribute your Materials Module.

Step 6: Communicate with Students

You will want to be communicating where and how to access materials throughout this process; you can find resources in the Communicate with Students Module.

What Would You Like To Do?

For Further Assistance