Teaching a Course

Consider starting with these key steps, presented in a recommended order, along with essential resources and links.

Have time to dive deeper? Explore the full pathway guide.

1. Communicate course expectations
   1. Syllabus Guidelines: Review the basic information on what to include in your syllabus to set clear expectations from the start.
   2. Definitions and Glossary: Familiarize yourself with key vocabulary related to courses and curriculum to ensure alignment with institutional standards.
   3. Grading Policies: Access the reference guide on grading policies to establish fair and consistent evaluation methods.
   4. Semester Schedule: Check the academic calendar for sessions A, B, and C to plan your course activities and assessments effectively.
   5. Academic Integrity: Integrate comprehensive guidelines for academic integrity into your course to uphold the highest standards.
   6. Final Exam Schedule: Ensure your final exams are scheduled in accordance with university guidelines to minimize conflicts.
2. Explore essential teaching tools
   1. Canvas: Leverage ASU’s main platform for managing course content, assessments, and student engagement, providing essential tools for a seamless teaching and learning experience.
   2. Google Workspace: Collaborate in real-time with tools like Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive. Integrated with Canvas, it streamlines group projects and course management, enhancing both in-person and online learning.
   3. Zoom: Conduct live, interactive sessions and office hours to maintain direct student engagement.
3. Create an inclusive learning environment
   1. Student Accessibility and Inclusive Learning Services (SAILS): Partner with SAILS to ensure your course materials meet accessibility standards.
   2. ASU Web Accessibility: Leverage ASU’s resources to make your online content accessible to all students.
   3. Ally: Utilize the Ally tool in Canvas to evaluate and enhance the accessibility of your course materials, ensuring all students can fully participate.
   4. Accessibility within Canvas: Follow best practices to ensure your course meets or exceeds accessibility requirements.
4. Cultivate engaging learning experiences
   1. Slack: Facilitate real-time communication and collaboration among students, fostering an interactive learning environment.
   2. EdDiscussion: Promote active discussions and problem-solving with this interactive discussion tool.
   3. InScribe: Support peer-to-peer learning and build a growing library of course resources.
   4. Yellowdig: Engage students with a gradable discussion forum integrated with the Canvas Gradebook.
   5. iClicker: Promote active learning through Student Response Systems (SRS) with tools for polling, quizzing, and grading.
      1. Key Resources: Running a practice session, Running a poll, Grading and viewing polling results, Running a quiz, Creating a quiz before class, Grading and viewing quiz results, Creating and managing assignments 
   6. X-Kit: Save time with editable plug-and-play Canvas assessment templates for engaging learning activities
5. Maximize multimedia tools
   1. Screenpal: Create narrated screencasts to guide students through complex concepts or course materials, providing a valuable reference.
   2. PlayPosit: Make your videos interactive by embedding quizzes, polls, and other activities to promote active engagement.
   3. Digital Portfolio: Showcase your projects, achievements, and skills in a dynamic and engaging way! 
      1. Key resources: Faculty Portfolios, ASU Digital Portfolio Help Resources
   4. MediaPlus: Manage and embed multimedia content—videos, audio, and more—directly in Canvas to enrich the learning experience.
6. Academic Integrity Unlocked
   1. HonorLock: Monitor academic integrity for online assessments. Best for fully-online ASU iCourses and oCourses.
   2. Respondus: Deter cheating by restricting access to other programs during the assessment.
      1. Questions about proctoring services? Connect with [email protected].
7. Library Guides
   1. Library Tutorials: Provide students with guides on navigating the research process, from finding sources to citations.
   2. Library Guides: Access over 700 guides for discipline-specific resources to support your teaching.
   3. Ask a Librarian: Get quick, expert help via chat, email, or text for research or library-related questions.

Want to know more about everything above? Check out the full pathway!