The OWI’s October professional development (PD) session discussed converting face-to-face courses for hybrid and online courses. The lively conversations in both meetings led to some interesting ideas around hybrid and online course set up. 

Two main ideas came out of PD: consistency and use of modules.

Consistency: We know that students want the same due dates each week. They also want a reliable way to interact with the class. Some suggestions to make the class more consistent are: 

• Consistent use of Modules throughout the term.
• Weekly announcements scheduled for the same time each week (say, Monday at 9 a.m.) that provide an overview of what students are doing that week, why they are doing it, and how it connects to the course or project. 
• Regular due dates; regardless of how many due dates you choose per week, be consistent on the day and time. For example, an instructor may choose to have work due each week by Wednesday and Sunday by 11:59 p.m. Using the same days and times allows students to better plan their work over the term.

Modules: It became clear that instructors use modules differently. The list below provides an overview of the different ways instructors are setting up courses:

1. Using the modules to gather and group assignment pages (as seen in Figure 1). 

Figure 1: Modules of Assignments 

2. Using the modules approach in 1, but also adding an “About” page (also shown in Figure 1). This way, students have the option to read the “About Week 1” page to see what they are required to do that week or bypass it and click on each item individually.
    
3. Using the “Modules” tab in Canvas as a way to organize weekly pages that explain what needs to be done (see Figure 2). When used this way, instructors link the assignments into the page (see Figure 3).

Figure 2: Modules as Weekly Pages

Figure 3: Modules Pages Explanation

Key Takeaways: Instructors are free to set up their Canvas shell and modules in a way that works best for them. Regardless of Canvas set up, remember that consistency is important! Instructors should choose a system that works for them and keep it consistent throughout the term. 

Additionally, it’s good practice to explain to students how they should interact with the modules and course set up. Do not assume they will know to read the “About Week 1” page unless you direct them to it. Remember that students are interacting with Canvas in different ways for different courses across campus. Be open and transparent by explaining how you want them to interact with your course.