Technology Considerations for Academic Continuity
Since each classroom environment, topic and teaching style is unique for all classes, CSULB instructors will decide the best course of action for a given specific scenario. In the event of a prolonged absence or campus closure, Academic Technology Services (ATS) will provide tools and methods to faculty for them to continue their curriculum online. The instructor will then communicate any alternate ways students can access their class lectures, notes and exams online. The goal for these solutions is to provide continued academic progress for our students.
Online Camera Guidelines
Guidelines for Virtual Privacy Rights and Copyright from the California State University
- CSU Virtual Learning and Privacy Rights Guidelines, April 9, 2020 (PDF)
- CSU Copyright Guidance (PDF)
BeachBoard should be considered the central, virtual meeting place for the most up-to-date communication for all class information.
For Instructors looking to enable live online viewing and remote participation (synchronous) in your classroom session - Zoom is a video conferencing tool for remote meetings, online courses, and webinars. Zoom can be used on desktop computers and mobile devices.
- Access - all CSULB students, faculty and staff have access to Zoom.Image
- Students are eligible for the Zoom Basic account which allows users to host meetings up to 40 minutes. To host longer meetings, students must purchase the Pro account directly from the Zoom website or choose other options. We recommend no cost alternatives such as Skype, Google Hangouts or Facebook Group Chat.
- Faculty and staff are eligible for Zoom Pro accounts which allows users to host group meetings for larger audiences and record meetings for future playback.
- A Zoom Pro account is not required to attend and participate in a Zoom meeting.
- How to login to Zoom, create a meeting and send an invite:
- Login to Zoom by accessing CSULB Single-Sign-On and clicking the Zoom chiclet.
- After logging in, find and click the 'Host a Meeting Link'. This will start the session and provide you with a URL you can distribute to your class.
- If it's your first time using Zoom, you may need to download the application.
- For faculty, Zoom sessions are limited to 300 participants. If more is necessary to account for a large lecture, please contact the ATS Software Depot.
- What sort of equipment is necessary for a Zoom conference?
- At a minimum a microphone is necessary to communicate with participants in a Zoom meeting. Most hosts traditionally lead discussion with a simple USB headset plugged into their workstation.
- Video is not required in a Zoom conference. Screensharing is available for hosts whether a camera is available or not.
- If an instructor is looking to procure equipment for a Zoom session, they should discuss with their college techs or check in with ATS Classroom Support Services.
- How to record a live classroom session for online delivery outside of class time (asynchronous):
- Zoom web conferences can be recorded and saved to the cloud. Note: it is important for the host to properly toggle the video conferencing to record from the Zoom interface. Zoom sends an email with a download link to the host after a meeting ends.
- There are both on-campus and at-home for lecture capture at CSULB through Academic Technology Services Instructional Design and Media teams.
Our goal is to provide a seamless experience for our students so they can complete their courses and maintain progress toward their degree. If, however, a student does wish to withdraw, they can. The CSULB Enrollment Services Dropping and Withdrawing site covers how this action can be taken.
Support Links
-
How to make a pre-recorded presentation available to your students:
-
Recording your lectures will certainly help students in the event of an extended leave, but is also a helpful practice to personally review lecture content, delivery style and comprehension. Various lecture capture options are available, including:
-
Kaltura Capture records your screen and/or a webcam view of yourself (or both at once), along with audio. Advanced features like live drawing and editing give you additional ways to enhance the content. Recordings are automatically saved in BeachBoard.
-
Camtasia is a powerful, yet simple desktop or iOS screen recording software for those who want more editing flexibility and options. With Camtasia, you can also import images, audio files, and other video files to create a rich, multimedia experience. Camtasia is available on a complimentary basis through the campus Software Depot.
-
-
Recordings can be hosted and distributed via BeachBoard
-
-
How to deliver digital course materials or supplemental activities:
-
BeachBoard is the central delivery system for academic content. See the Academic Technology Services guide on uploading and organizing materials in the BeachBoard Course Content Module
-
Day 1 Digital Access (D1DA) allows students FREE access to the required course materials in a digital format on the first day of classes through BeachBoard. Discounted pricing has been negotiated with publishers.
-
Freely available to all CSULB constituents is the LinkedIn Learning Library (formerly Lynda.com). Using third party, but professionally-curated web courses on content is a good way to supplement digital instruction. While most courses center around business practices and software tutorials, the service has expanded to include learning pathways related to career development
-
Support Links
It is important for instructors to know how to reach all of their students outside of the classroom (and for the students to be able to reach them). Both prior-to, and during the academic semester, it could help to:
-
Create and save a local list of each class roster, with names and email addresses. Let your class know that you will reach out to them via their CSULB address in case of emergency.
-
Access the course via BeachBoard routinely. Communications can be shared in multiple areas, including the news and announcements module.
-
Consider synchronous virtual sessions (such as a Zoom Web Conference) as well as asynchronous discussions threads (via BeachBoard) to reach all learners in case face-to-face sessions are not possible.
For instructors who are making the move to an online-only format for the first time, it's important to craft clear and direct communications, clearly laying out intended goals and academic expectations. It is also important to not assume all students are digital native technology experts. They may benefit from modern technology learning resources (such as those learning videos found on LinkedIn Learning) or need extra training/advising on certain software or application features.
BeachBoard is designed to administer assessments remotely. ATS Guides are available for instructors on how to:
CSULB instructors can manage their voicemails and mailbox settings in several ways:
- Through the telephone
- On-Campus: Dial 51234 and enter your telephone security code (for digital and VoIP phones, press the steady or flashing “voice mail” button).
- Off-Campus: Dial (562) 985-1234 and enter your telephone number followed by your security code when prompted.
- Online using the Web PhoneManager Portal
- Through any csulb.edu email account. Be sure to set up the account via the Web PhoneManager Portal first in order to receive notifications with downloaded voicemail files.
Support Links
Campus faculty looking for support should first consult within their department. Additional campus support teams and sites are available in assisting with technological and pedagogical questions.
- Faculty Center - Serving as a central resource to campus instructors, the CSULB Faculty Center that enable faculty to thrive in teaching, scholarship and service.
- Technology Help Desk (THD) - The central tech support team for students, faculty and staff. From their site users can open a ticket, see listings of current technology-outages and see knowledge based articles related to topics such as BeachID, Email Accounts, and Accessing Campus Networks.
- Keep Teaching and Learning - Academic Technology Services - Support on digital tools, the learning management system and web conferencing.
- Accessibility - The Bob Murphy Access Center (BMAC), formerly Disabled Student Services, assists students with disabilities as they pursue their university degrees. Services include a multi-faceted instructional materials center, autism services, deaf & hard of hearing support, learning disability programs, and academic/career advising.
