Teaching an online summer course as an adjunct instructor can be both exciting and fast-paced—especially if you’re stepping in with limited prep time. With shorter terms, accelerated schedules, and students who are often juggling jobs or travel, setting yourself (and your students) up for success from the start is key. Here are a few essential steps to take before your course goes live:

1. Get Familiar with Your LMS Early

Log in as soon as you have access to Canvas. Join the Clemson Hub for Adjunct Instructors in Canvas (CHAI) for basics on course building, Canvas tools, and Clemson resources for instructors and students.

2. Set the Tone with a Welcoming Message

A short, friendly welcome email or announcement goes a long way in humanizing your online presence. Let students know who you are, what to expect, and how to reach you. This can ease anxieties and create a more connected class environment—even if you never meet in person.

3. Review (and Possibly Revise) the Schedule

Summer courses move fast, and students will appreciate a well-paced, predictable schedule. If you’re inheriting a course, double-check the due dates and make sure the workload is realistic for the compressed timeline. Review how the course is structured, check for broken links or outdated materials, and make sure your navigation is clear. Consider spacing out larger assignments and giving students frequent touchpoints.

4. Prioritize Clarity and Accessibility

Your materials should be easy to navigate, clearly labeled, and accessible to all learners. Use descriptive text for links and images, offer multiple formats for key content (e.g., captions for videos), and avoid cluttered design. Accessibility isn’t just about compliance—it’s about good teaching.

5. Join Our Adjunct Meet Up at 2:30pm on 6/3

Connect with others across Clemson to share experiences and either reflect on the beginning of the Summer I session or look ahead to the start of Summer II. Register here for the Zoom link to join in!

Bonus: Make It Your Own (Where You Can)

Even if the course was designed by someone else, look for small ways to add your voice—through announcements, video intros, discussion prompts, or assignment feedback. Your presence can make a big difference in how students experience the course.

Summer courses move quickly, but with a little upfront preparation, you can build a meaningful, manageable learning experience—for your students and yourself.

Need help getting started? Check out your institution’s instructional development resources or summer teaching calendar for workshops, office hours, and support sessions designed just for you. All grad students and instructors are welcome at any of our training events! If you are teaching adjunct with Clemson University and have questions about Canvas, digital accessibility, or anything in between, please know you can contact us at Clemson Online and schedule a one-on-one consult!

Upcoming Events 

Kaltura Training Series

Click here to register for one session or the full series!

Getting Started with Kaltura: Tuesday, May 5th, 3-4 PM

This training will cover how to access Kaltura, upload videos into Kaltura, create videos with Kaltura Express Capture and Kaltura Capture, and embed Kaltura videos into your Canvas courses. When registering, please include any questions you have about this training topic

Facilitated by Gray Jackson, Sr. Learning Tech Specialist.

Editing Kaltura Videos: Wednesday, May 6th, 3-4 PM

This training will cover trimming, clipping, adding hotspots, editing captions, and creating interactive video quizzes.

Facilitated by John Dickinson, IT Services Specialist.

Kaltura Video Quizzes: Thursday, May 7th, 3-4 PM

This training will cover everything you need to know about using Kaltura to make your video quiz, including utilizing various question types, adding a video quiz as a Canvas assignment, and viewing quiz results.

Facilitated by Gray Jackson, Sr. Learning Tech Specialist.

Clemson Online Summer 2026 Events Calendar

Review our Summer 2026 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.

Clemson Online – Where Tech and Teaching Meet