Connect classes are taught from a classroom to other classrooms around the state and surrounding region. Students come to a USU Regional Campus or Center or join from home via Zoom to participate in the class on a set day and time every week. This delivery format is a great option for live instruction when interaction with other students is beneficial. The more structured classroom environment can be helpful for students who don’t have a quiet place at home to attend a virtual class.
Key Principles for Success
- Address students by name, when possible.
- Look at the camera as often as you would look at a section of the classroom, if you were teaching in person.
- Have online office hours or a Canvas discussion board where you regularly check for student questions and provide answers.
- When asking questions during class, wait until students answer (it might take students a little longer to answer while they come up with an answer and turn on their microphones).
- Videos may be played during class, but you will want to test any commercially prepared videos in advance as copyright protections may scramble the video when trying to broadcast it.
- Use Canvas for materials distribution and homework collection. Physical objects (like kits or manipulatives) may be mailed to the Regional Campuses and Centers where students will be attending class.
- You might choose to flip your classroom by having students watch videos or complete readings before class and spend class time working on projects or doing class presentations. See the Content Delivery section below for additional support information.
- Leverage the time in class to have students work with each other, practice and demonstrate skills, and actively participate in class discussions. For group work, use Zoom breakout groups so students have an opportunity to work with various subsets of students within the class.
- Encourage students to add a good headshot photo to Canvas. This will help you become familiar with what they look like so that you can more easily recognize them on camera. (They can refer to http://guides.instructure.com/m/4152/l/41467 for assistance in doing so.) You might want to make this an assignment and give points for individuals who have added a photo.
FAQs
Can I teach from an alternative location?
Faculty are expected to teach from a university classroom because students may choose to attend in-person. This delivery method is intended to be primarily in-person with a virtual option.
Are there equipment standards for students?
If students choose to attend virtually, they will need to have a camera and microphone to participate.
Will I have students out of state?
Yes. Students who live out of state may register for your class. You will need to use virtual proctoring or work with Academic Testing Services to arrange proctoring for exams.
Under the new definitions, can a Connect (IVC) class have reduced synchronous meeting times, like a Hyrid class?
Yes, with qualifications. The schedule needs to be set prior to student registration. If there will be reduced class time, students need to know when they register so they can plan their schedules accordingly.
Preparation
Learning Foundations
Engagement Strategies
Assessment
FAQs
Can I teach from an alternative location?
Faculty are expected to teach from a university classroom because students may choose to attend in-person. This delivery method is intended to be primarily in-person with a virtual option.
Are there equipment standards for students?
If students choose to attend virtually, they will need to have a camera and microphone to participate.
Will I have students out of state?
Yes. Students who live out of state may register for your class. You will need to use virtual proctoring or work with Academic Testing Services to arrange proctoring for exams.
Under the new definitions, can a Connect (IVC) class have reduced synchronous meeting times, like a Hyrid class?
Yes, with qualifications. The schedule needs to be set prior to student registration. If there will be reduced class time, students need to know when they register so they can plan their schedules accordingly.