Services and Resources for Teaching Online

Dear Faculty members teaching online,

As you prepare to teach online this upcoming term, please review the following information to help ensure you and your students will be off to a good start!

Course Setup

  • Access to online courses: Students are able to access your online course one week before the first day of classes. This is referred to as Week 0. Courses should be set up before Week 0.
  • RIT’s Learning Management System: RIT uses the Brightspace by D2L platform, but is branded as myCourses. Learn more >
  • Course Readiness: Take the following steps outlined below to prepare your online course for your students:
    • Confirm the syllabus is present and current. Policy D05.0 VIII.C
    • Update all release conditions set to automatically reveal based on the calendar.
    • Confirm dates on the schedule/calendar match with dates for the current term.
    • Ensure all materials are accessible compliant with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. You may use Ally within myCourses to automatically review course materials against accessibility standards. Learn more >
    • Check that the myCourses gradebook is up-to-date and aligned with all planned assessments. Learn more >
    • Do not upload course media videos directly to myCourses. Streaming creates a better student experience. The CTL Academic Media Services team will encode your video for streaming playback, and caption it for you!  Learn more >
    • Check all links are working as expected, and not broken.

Important Policy Reminders

  • Course Syllabus: RIT Policy states the Syllabus is to be posted before the start of the course and that it includes a breakdown of the final grade formula. Policy D05.0 VIII.C
  • Student Accommodations: Review the Class Roster in SIS for your online classes to determine the number of Supported Students listed. Be sure to ask all students to email you if they require any accommodations. If a student requests an accommodation, but you have not received a formal Accommodation Notification Letter, the student should be referred to the Disability Services Office
  • Captioning / Interpreting Services: If your course will use live web meetings (e.g., Zoom), be ready to request live captioning or interpreting with advanced notice.
  • Enter Grades: Grades must be posted within 2 weeks of assignment/test submission, unless explicitly stated. Policy D05.0 VIII.B
  • Student Identity Verification: By the end of week 3 of the scheduled online course, faculty teaching the online course need to have taken action to verify each student’s identity and assign a letter designation to indicate your findings. Administrative Policy: Student Identity Verification in Distance Education

Have Questions? Let’s Talk!

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) can help get you and your course ready for the first day of classes! Come meet with us – request a consultation.