Online Teaching Guidelines
Guideline 1: Navigation Menu
The navigation menu should have only information specific to the course enabled in settings for student view*:
Home
Announcements
Syllabus
Modules
Grades
CircleIn
VitalSource Course Materials, if relevant (formerly "Bookstore")
LTI/External Tools, if relevant
*All other elements necessary for the institution will be included in the course syllabus OR are only viewable as an instructor in the navigation menu
Support Document(s):
Guideline 2: The Home Page
Edit the RPCC template homepage (do not use another home page)
Edit the subject/number
course name
instructor name
meeting/class format,
In addition, the instructor may add “Book Appointment” (office hours) with Booking Page link as a tab between "Start or Continue" and "Contact Instructor".
Support Document(s):
Guideline 3: Course Format
Must use modules in the following format:
Introduction Module
Keep the name as “Course Introduction” or similar terminology
Edit the existing RPCC template assets built with the RPCC template WITHOUT adding more assets
Remaining Modules
There should be no modules as repositories
Define modules into predictable chunks (i.e., weeks or unit)
Avoid using long module names
Module overview must be the first item using the RPCC template asset
Pre-requisites and Requirements settings
Minimum pre-requisite for all modules should be set for intro module to be completed prior to other modules being available
Minimum requirement for all modules is set for all module items to be viewed
Support Document(s):
Add a Page, Quiz, or other Asset to a Module
Guideline 4: Accessibility
The RPCC course template assists with accessibility, but it is vital to utilize the Panorama scanner for files and content throughout a course. All courses should meet the following four requirements to meet ADA compliance and before being published to students:
Course accessibility score in Panorama dashboard should be 85% or higher
All accessibility issues labeled SEVERE and MAJOR in Panorama should be resolved
Plan of action to address issues labeled MINOR in Panorama
In addition, all links made available to students throughout the semester must be in proper working order, checked using the Canvas Course Link Validation tool.
Guideline 5: Syllabus, Outcomes, Objectives, & Alignment
All required areas of the syllabus tool must be completed
Full-time faculty are required to use Bookings and provide the link in the Office Hours syllabus block
While only full-time faculty are required to use Bookings, adjunct must still use Teams for audio or video meetings
Course Level Outcomes (CLO) should be listed in the digital syllabus tool under "Course Outline" with alignment from Module Level Objectives (MLO) and their related activities and/or assessments
Support Document(s):
Getting to the New Syllabus Tool
Link to the Bookstore for Syllabus Editing
Syllabus Faculty Responsibility Cheat Sheet
Activate New Syllabus Tool in Canvas
Setting service hours in Microsoft Bookings for Office Hours
Guideline 6: Regular & Substantive Interaction (RSI) at RPCC
In accordance with the Department of Education, guidance from higher education organizations (WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies & NC-SARA), and consultation from RPCC faculty, the following is the guidance for Regular & Substantive Interaction for distance learning at RPCC.
For 16-week courses:
A course announcement on Monday of each week OR direct instruction
More than one assessment method every two weeks
Feedback once every two weeks using a detailed rubric/text/audio/video commentary in SpeedGrader OR meaningful Discussion reply
Communication via Inbox with all students once every two weeks
Best practice should guide you to have additional communication with students who miss deadlines
For 8-week courses:
A course announcement on Monday of each week OR direct instruction
More than one assessment method per week
Feedback once a week using a detailed rubric/text/audio/video commentary in SpeedGrader OR meaningful Discussion reply
Communication via Inbox with all students once a week
Best practice should guide you to have additional communication with students who miss deadlines
Support Document(s):