Online Learning

Need to go online fast? Hi, it’s us, Online Learning.

Join the Distance Education Support Community Team

Online Learning is utilizing Microsoft Teams as a way to quickly answer faculty questions, share information, host live events, training videos, and meetings. Teams has replaced Skype for Business and can be used in a variety of ways – for committees, departments, learning communities, even classrooms. Join us for Tuesday Tech Talks at Two! The schedule and links for these events are found in our team: 

Join our Distance Education Support Community team.

Access Instructions for online learning tools in by clicking the Files tab on the top of General channel.

Marshall University’s IT Team website

Download the app for your desktop, laptop, or mobile device (recommended) 

You can also use Teams in your browser

Update regarding Outlook web: Once you have been switched over to Teams from Skype for Business (majority of campus move begins June 12), you can no longer access your email at Outlookweb and must instead use the following site to access email: outlook.office365.com

We have the tools, resources, and experience you need to help make the transition from face-to-face to distance options easier than expected. Let’s get started talking about those resources now:

Quick Guides for Tools

• Start with the Online Readiness Guide for Faculty (Word)
• Collaborate Overview – Adding a Link and Navigating the Room (PPT)-Great for virtual office hours!
• Collaborate: Step-by-Step for Facilitating a Session as a Moderator (Word)
• Blackboard Collaborate Overview – recorded session
• Bb Assignment – Creating an assignment for students in a course (Word)
• Bb Assessment – Creating an assessment (test/exam/quiz) for students in a course (Word)
• Bb Discussion – Creating Discussion Forums for interaction (Word)
• How To Create a Video Using Notability on your iPad (Word)

Blackboard Help for Students

All information regarding help for students can be found on the Student Resources page for Blackboard on our web. The Student Resources page provides information about how to get started with Blackboard, how to login, how to access help tools, how to navigate inside courses, and contact information should issues arise.

Blackboard Quick Start LibGuide for Faculty Delivering Courses Remotely: Resources for Online Teaching

Maybe you’re familiar with LibGuides that our Librarians have created and used to help faculty and students navigate our array of Library services? Online Learning has utilized LibGuides as a way to keep you up-to-date on the most recent University communication surrounding any possible schedule changes and events.

Quality Matters Training

Quality Matters is training that is required for all faculty who teach Distance Education courses, and training must be completed within a year of beginning to teach online. In normal circumstances, faculty are required to be trained in Quality Matters prior to teaching any distance education course; however, given the uncertainty of the fall schedule, we want faculty and students to have access to teaching methods that are safe.

Sign-up page for QM Trainings

When asked to “verify that your institutions is paying for training,” check “Yes.”

Resources in Blackboard

There are resources for getting started already in Blackboard modules. When you login to Blackboard, on the My Institution page, you will see a Blackboard Quick Start module that references links to Collaborate Virtual Classroom, as well as links to instructions for adding content and graded activities. You can click on the Faculty or Students tab on the top ribbon of Blackboard to find modules that are more specifically catered to whatever user type you may be!

Blackboard Quick Start Course for Faculty in Organizations

Designers are working diligently to get a Blackboard Quick Start course completed so that faculty members will have a resource that will walk you through our shortened online course development process. We understand that you may be nervous about using technology, and there are tech equity issues that are applicable to many of our students who come from various backgrounds, but we are available to answer questions that you have via email or through any of our office hour times or Online Readiness Bootcamp programs.

Instructions for self-enrolling in the Blackboard Quick Start Course in organizations:

1. Login to Blackboard and click the Organizations link on the top ribbon of links.
2. In the Organization Search module, type Blackboard Quick Start and click Go.
3. Blackboard Quick Start course will appear in your search options. To the right of the organization I.D., there is a down arrow (or chevron). Click the arrow down to expand the options and click on Enroll.
4. You are now enrolled in the Blackboard Quick Start course and should see this under your list of My Organizations, located on the My Institution page under My Courses. The course will be listed in the My Organizations module.

Test Integrity & Proctoring Options

There are many ways to deliver student assessments that not only provide varied assessment, but can help deter students from being dishonest. Online proctoring should not be your first priority; make sure you are not reusing old test banks over the course of several terms, that assessment questions are randomized, that question answers are randomized, that you are using the timer tool (not Force Complete!), that you are using SafeAssign for your Assignments. A high-stakes assessment is one that is worth a large portion of the total grade in a course, or an assessment that is preparing or assessing students on materials they will need in order to pass licensure exams. Low-stakes assignments and assessments are items that can be repurposed into various assessments, like Discussion Boards, Assignments, Blogs, Journals, Wikis, VoiceThreads, Presentations, etc. You can find more ideas on our Proctoring website as we update it throughout the summer. 

Respondus Lockdown Browser: Software the student downloads on their personal computers. It functions as its name intends: a browser that prevents students from opening any other browser on their screen, prevents multiple tabs, or prevents access to other software. The download information for students and information on use can be found by logging into Bb and click on Tech Support on the top tab. The Assessment module contains information for Respondus.

Respondus Monitor: For use in conjunction with LockDown Browser, records students taking exams and requires microphone and webcam. The program will flag suspicious activity and allow the instructor to review the video to investigate the activity that caused the video to be flagged.

*Both tools require students to have high-speed internet access and their own device. These tools are not meant for users who have low-bandwith, or are trying to accomplish academic tasks on a mobile device.

Examity: We use Examity for live proctoring; this is not a free service. This service must be paid for by department, the student, or a mixture of both. This service requires students to schedule their exam times in advance and pay to take the exam. This option is for high-stakes exams and any cost to the student must be included in the description of the course, as well as the Syllabus. We must work with Examity far ahead of scheduled exams to make sure that your course is connected to their system, your exam is scheduled within their system, and so they can schedule the appropriate number of staff to proctor your exams. 

Information Technology Access to Tools and Help for You and Your Students

Information Technology’s Teaching Options site explains teaching options for sharing information with your students. In some cases, you and your students may need VPN access to access tools that are available on Marshall computers, but are not readily available on personal computers. Please remind students that all correspondence regarding course work and grades must be done using their Marshall email accounts, not their personal accounts, such as Gmail. The same goes for instructors; you must use your Marshall email when it comes to matters regarding coursework and students.

NEW: Webcams may be available to check-out at the Drinko Circulation Desk (3 hour time limit) and at the IT Service Desk (also in Drinko). Users may also ask the IT Service Desk for laptops, tablets, and assistance with internet service. 

Additional software, downloads, and VPN are not needed for access to Blackboard.

Online Resources to Help Students Learn and Use MATLAB

• MATLAB Online: No Downloads or Installations. Students can use MATLAB from their web browser as a quick and easy way to get started.
• MATLAB Onramps: Online courses help students learn MATLAB basics, MATLAB Onramp and Deep Learning Onramp.

Resources for Faculty to Integrate MATLAB in Online Classrooms:

• Interactive Notebooks – Live Editor: Live Editor allows you to accelerate exploratory programming, create an interactive narrative, and teach with live scripts.
• Automatically Grade MATLAB Code – MATLAB Grader: Create interactive MATLAB course problems for students. Automatically grade student work and provide feedback. Run your problems in any learning environment.

All of these can be accessed via your Marshall University MATLAB Portal: https://www.mathworks.com/academia/tah-portal/marshall-university-40640532.html

For questions regarding the use of any of these IT-related items, contact the IT Service Desk.