Teaching Online

Check out Flipgrid (tutorial at https://help.flipgrid.com/hc/en-us/articles/360007460474-Getting-Started-Educators) and Padlet (tutorial at https://www.coolcatteacher.com/how-to-use-padlet-fantastic-tool-teaching/). I’m using both platforms in my online class right now, and they offer a creative way for students to engage with course materials and concepts.

VoiceThread at https://voicethread.com/ has been approved for use and is CANVAS ready. Holly Soboroff, an instructional technology consultant at the office of Teaching and Learning, can help at holly-soboroff@uiowa.edu   You can create student accounts, limit access to social media sites, set up a distinct website address for class projects, customize the class page, and more. Once you or your students choose to create a new project, the site walks you through the process of uploading or importing images and videos. Kids can use the microphone to add in voice, or they can use a phone-in option if they don't have audio recording capabilities. If you have access, a webcam can also be used to add video narration to project pages. Take a look at https://voicethread.com/products/highered for some more information.

Teaching online

In preparation for the assignment, I opened a discussion board where students could ask me questions about how to record in Zoom, how to include the commercial they were analyzing in their Zoom recording, and how to work with UICapture.  I've also attached a screen shot of what I posted on that preparatory discussion board.

To record visuals alongside yourself speaking, use UI Capture/Panopto. Similarly, you can use the “Screen Share” feature in Zoom to record a PowerPoint or visual as you deliver your presentation orally. You will appear in a small box in one part of the screen, and your visuals will make up the main display.

Dress like you would for any in-person presentation. Avoid tank tops, oversized sweatshirts, and other overly informal clothing.

Speak clearly and slowly. Your tone, pacing, volume, and minimal use of filler words will be even more important when you cannot rely on body language to communicate.
Avoid placing hand-written notes on your desk in front of you, as you’ll inevitably spend a lot of time looking down, which is distracting.

Make sure your PowerPoint, visuals, or any text you present is carefully proofread. Your audience will likely focus more on your visuals since they will be front and center, and you don’t want textual errors to diminish your credibility.

Consider actively interacting with your visuals using your mouse or another method to guide us along, if this is an option. You might think of your mouse as a laser pointer, if that’s something that helps you get information across clearly to an audience.  

Practice selecting the “record” button and know where it is on your screen. Viewers don’t want to watch you fumble at the end of your speech as you look for how to stop your recording.

If available, take advantage of your software’s video editor to fix errors or add additional content. 

Check your work like you would for any assignment. Watch your finished recording more than once to ensure all the necessary components, such as video and audio, have been properly captured.

Don’t forget that you can reach out to ITS if you have technological issues.