Emergency closures due to severe weather or other causes are often unexpected and frequently disruptive to teaching and learning, especially for instructors teaching face-to-face (F2F) courses. Following this year’s E-Learning Day, Clemson Online has compiled some resources to help instructors be prepared in an unpredictable switch to remote instruction.
Research about teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic shows that “[w]hen educators integrate a learning management system or use online and other tools from the beginning, they may be more prepared for a sudden shift to remote instruction.” So, the more you practice with Canvas now, the easier future transitions will be.
Use Canvas to Facilitate Quick Changes, Updates, or Corrections
If you are only using documents (whether paper or digital) to disseminate information to your class, making changes can be a bit of a hassle: take down the old document, make changes, upload the new document, make sure students all know about the change.
By using Canvas to house your information, you can be responsive and make changes quickly and easily. If you are using these tools and are suddenly required to shift to an online modality, you can make fast adjustments to your Syllabus and course schedule without having to worry about uploading new documents and whether your students are using old copies or new copies.
Link Your Resources
Whenever possible, provide electronic resources to your learners that you can link or house within Canvas. For example, can you use an e-text or compile a LibGuide with your subject-area librarian? Are your exam review notes available in a digital format? The more learning content that is located within – or at least linked from – Canvas, the better. Your students will already be used to using electronic resources and if you have to shift to online instruction, they won’t miss a step.
Make Your Grading Life Easier
Use the tools provided in Canvas to help you grade quickly and accurately. The SpeedGrader helps you grade electronic assignment submissions in Canvas, and lets you leave detailed feedback and comments. (This can be especially helpful when you aren’t seeing your students regularly.) Rubrics help you set criteria that are clear for your students and easy to use in grading; you can set them up to grade submissions in as little as one click. The Grades tool contains your gradebook, which your students can use to track their progress. The SpeedGrader automatically passes assignment grades to the gradebook, which can also save you some time.
Canvas quizzes can also be used for graded or ungraded check-ins to monitor learner progress and help you plan remote instruction.
What if there are power outages?
Canvas has two mobile apps, one for teachers and one for students, which can be downloaded from your phone’s app store. Encourage your students to download the app so they can at least communicate with you during a power outage (this assumes cell phone data networks are up and running), using the Inbox or Discussions tools.
One Day Ideas
- Hold a synchronous Zoom meeting in place of the usual F2F class meeting. This is a reasonable substitute for both lectures and discussions. Small group discussions can be held in Zoom breakout rooms.
- Have students prepare a reflection on that day’s reading/topic/content and upload it to Canvas; you can assign peer review or small discussions.
- Require students to fulfill any of the activities approved for participation confirmation and your class will not be considered canceled for that day.
Multi-Day/One Week Ideas
- As early in the closing period as possible (ideally, the first day of remote instruction), host a synchronous Zoom meeting or upload a video outlining your expectations for the rest of the closure. This helps learners by managing expectations.
- In addition to any ideas from the “one day” list, setting up a Canvas discussion board (or boards) can be a good way to keep up with learners over multiple closing days. Boards can be devoted to current readings/concepts, lecture questions, and general conversation. Requiring learners to post throughout the week and then responding to them is an effective way to stay connected beyond Zoom meetings.
- If labs or demos cannot be attended in person, recording a short demo video and embedding it in your Canvas course can help learners engage with visuals and processes while on remote learning. Be sure to provide captions/transcripts and descriptions of what is being demonstrated.
- Further lab, performance, and/or studio ideas for emergency remote instruction:
- Websites such as PhET Interactive Simulations (via UC Boulder) can offer active learning and demonstration activities for STEM topics. Learners can submit screenshots or screen recordings of their activities if desired.
- Performance-based assessments/activities (drama, speech, movement, etc) can be recorded easily via laptop camera or smartphone and submitted via Canvas for critique or peer review using the Groups tool.
- A “scavenger hunt” or other locally-focused activity can require learners to make use of their environment. They can look for examples of physical geography, landmarks, historical markers, flora/fauna, etc, and record their findings with a camera and/or field notes and submit via Canvas.
If you would like help setting up Canvas for your course, implementing any of these ideas, or brainstorming possibilities for your specific course, schedule a consult with one of our Digital Learning Strategists!
Upcoming Events
Workshop Wednesday: Fostering Student Engagement and Community in the Online Classroom
November 5th, 1:30-2:30 PM
Join this training to learn more about the Community of Inquiry Framework, and how to increase student engagement by building learning communities in online spaces.
This training session will be held over Zoom. After completing the registration form, you will receive an Outlook calendar invitation, including the Zoom link. All registrants will be sent a copy of the recorded training.
Click here to register and receive the Zoom link!
Facilitated by Leslie Fuller, PhD, Digital Learning Strategist.
Designing Effective Assessments in an AI World
November 12th, 1:30-2:30 PM
Whether you are integrating AI into your students’ learning or trying to encourage students to leave AI out of class assessments, this training will help you learn more about designing effective assignments with Generative AI in mind.
This training session will be held over Zoom. After completing the registration form, you will receive an Outlook calendar invitation, including the Zoom link. All registrants will be sent a copy of the recorded training.
Click here to register and receive the Zoom link!
Facilitated by ‘dara Abimbade, Digital Learning Strategist.
Clemson Online Fall 2025 Events Calendar
Review our Fall 2025 Events Calendar to see what Online Instruction Development opportunities await!
We have a robust lineup of topics and live training formats to support your use of Canvas and other e-learning tools. Topics cover demonstrations of using Kaltura, engaging your students, and workshops to get your Canvas site ready to teach!
All of our live training is recorded. Registrants will automatically receive a link to that day’s video after it has been processed.
Contact Millie Tullis with any questions regarding these sessions.
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