Creating Your Course Syllabus
Your syllabus is one of the first impressions your students get about you and your course. It should provide a welcome invitation to learning and be a clear guide to information about the course like the course format, learning outcomes, evaluation criteria, and a schedule. The UBC Okanagan Senate has an updated template (Word doc) you can follow. It is a good idea to check with your department or school for any specific policies that should be added to your syllabus.
Think about the intended audience when you create your syllabus. For example, which of these reflects your approach to teaching?
- “In this course, we will learn about…”
- “In this course, you will learn about…”
- “In this course, students will learn about…”
- “This course will examine…”
Other items to include:
We recommend you make the syllabus available online (using the Canvas Syllabus, for example). When students know your policies, schedules, and the nature of the course, they can make informed decisions, especially when things get tough.
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Canvas Linking Requests 2019 Term 1
Please send 2019W1 Canvas merging, linking, cross-listing, and user access requests to ctl.helpdesk@ubc.ca by Wednesday, August 21. Requests received after this date will be processed to the best of our ability, but there may be a delay due to an increased volume of start-of-term requests. |
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Showing and Hiding Grades in the New Gradebook
The “mute” option in the Canvas gradebook has been replaced with the “hide” feature. This functions differently from what you may be familiar with.
Your course has a Grade Posting Policy, which we recommend changing to manual. This will ensure that grades for all assignments will be hidden until you decide to post them.
The “Hide Grades” function is for cases where you need to revise grades for an individual assignment which has already been posted, and you want to remove visibility while you do so.
Learn more about the new gradebook features.
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1 Day Digital Takeaway Workshop:
Online Student Presentations
Date: Monday, August 26, 2019
Time: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm (bring your lunch and your laptop)
Location: COM 111
Facilitators: Alwyn Spies, Brian Powell and Janine Hirtz
Session Description:
Convert existing in-class student presentations to an online format in 1 day!
In-person student presentations use valuable class time and are frequently delivered in a non-engaging way. Assigning online presentations is the perfect replacement for a face-to-face class if you need to be away for a conference or research. It can also reduce student stress and anxiety, and increase digital skills. Students are motivated to watch their peers’ online presentations as they are graded and include content used on midterms or final exams.
By 3:00 pm you will have a presentation ready to go on Canvas. It will include all instructions, student digital media resources and be set up in the gradebook. This format is useful for face-to-face, blended or fully online courses.
Click here to register (seating is limited)
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Canvas Workshops and Popups for August 2019
Course instructors and teaching assistants are invited to a series of workshops and popups scheduled to start the second week of August to help you set up and deliver your course in Canvas. While the workshops are around specific topics such as Getting Started in Canvas, Creating and Adding Content and Managing Assignments and Grades, the popups are for you to bring any questions you may have. See the UBC Okanagan Calendar for more details.
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Summer Consultations
Individual or group consultations are available over the summer for course design, learning outcomes, student assessment, and many more teaching topics. Contact the Centre to book an appointment. |
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Create a Course Introductory Video
Consider the advantages of launching your online or blended course with an introduction video:
- Entices learners to enroll or continue in your course
- Helps to establish instructor presence
- Connect with your learners in a way that is not possible with text
This self-paced online course will take place over 5 days, approximately 2 hours/day, including some time on the weekend for wrap-up. The idea is to provide a supportive environment for you to ask questions, take risks, offer advice, and have fun.
You will leave this course with:
- new ideas and skills for creating personable and informative course introductory videos
- a first prototype, with feedback
Janine Hirtz will facilitate this ONLINE course August 19th - 23rd. Upon registration you will be provided with a link to enroll in the Canvas course.
Click here to register. |
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