Math Department Instructor Resources

Resources for faculty teaching math courses

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Model Course Module part 3: Customizing your course

Module: Getting started on the OpenLab with Math Model Courses
Part 1: Before you begin
Part 2: Cloning a model course
Part 3: Customizing your course
Part 4: Updating Posts
Part 5: Updating other elements of your course

Now that you have a course site of your own, you will need to make it your own. You are the administrator of this site, which means you can make changes to just about anything. Take a look around! The site comes predesigned with pages for common information like the Syllabus, Grading Policy, and so on, which will need to updated for your section. It has some example assignments, which you can choose to use (in which case you should update them to fit your section) or delete. Finally, it has a number of built-in resources, including links to the Course Hub, Help and Support materials, and more, which you do not need to update (unless you wish).

The following steps will take you through all the places on the site that require your input and customization.

Updating Pages

Pages are for used for static information (things that are not likely to change much over the course of the semester). To make changes to a page, go to that page (use the menu) and then click the pencil-shaped button that appears in the black bar at the very top of the page (the pencil will only appear if you, the admin of the site, are logged in). If the pencil button doesn’t appear, find the word “Edit” either directly under the page title, or at the very bottom of the page content – click “Edit” to take you to the Edit screen. You can make changes by typing directly in the page. When you are finished, be sure to click the purple “Update” button in the upper right to save your changes.

Faculty: Keep an eye out for grey informational boxes like this one at the top of each page. They are intended for you, the faculty member, to help you customize your course. Be sure to delete these boxes when you are done updating a page, so your students don’t see it later. For help working with OpenLab Course sites, visit OpenLab Help.

List of pages to update

List of pages to update (these appear under “Course Info” in the dropdown menu):
  • Course Info.
  • Syllabus
  • Grading Policy
  • Schedule
  • Contact Info & Communications

Model Course Module part 1: Before you begin

Module: Getting started on the OpenLab with Math Model Courses
Part 1: Before you begin
Part 2: Cloning a model course
Part 3: Customizing your course
Part 4: Updating Posts
Part 5: Updating other elements of your course

This 5-part module is designed to take you through the steps of cloning a Math model course and customizing it for use in your own section. Note that a great deal more information about each step of the process (as well as many additional resources introducing various aspects of the OpenLab) can be found on the Teaching With The OpenLab site (links to resources will be provided throughout the module).

Resource Alert: Teaching With The OpenLab

Before you begin:

Depending on your prior experience, some or all of the following resources may be helpful.

Next, collect the following materials and information:

Essential information (you’ll need these to get started):

  • Course and Section Number

Required materials (but you can get started without them):

  • Image(s) for use as site header and/or avatar
  • Your course syllabus, grading policy, and so on
  • Any other course materials you would like to make available to your students

Online assignments: delivering, collecting, assessing and returning

Online assignments: delivering, collecting, assessing  and returning
Thu 8/13/20 and Thu 8/20/20, 2 pm – 3:30 pm
Facilitators: Samar ElHitti, Bruce Kan
In this session we cover how to use technology to distribute work to your students, as well as collecting them back and grading them. Emphasis on Blackboard, Dropbox and Notability.

Resources

Zoom Videos of Workshops (the password for these zoom videos has been distributed separately by the Math Dept):

Handout: Online Assignments: Delivering, Collecting, Assessing and Returning Handout

Video (feel free to share with students): How to convert jpegs into one PDF

Hosting your online course

Hosting your online course
Thu 8/13 and Thu 8/20, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm,
Facilitators: Samar ElHitti, Bruce Kan
In this session, we cover where to house your online course, including lecturing (synchronous vs asynchronous) and office hours, along with other technologies that support effective online instruction and communication. Emphasis on Blackboard, Blackboard Collaborate Ultra and Zoom.

Resources:

Zoom Videos of Workshops (the password for these zoom videos has been distributed separately by the Math Dept):

Hosting Your Online Course Handout (Session 1)

Online Teaching Essentials

Online teaching essentials
Wed 8/12 and Wed 8/19, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm,
Facilitators: Jonas Reitz, Samar ElHitti, Bruce Kan
This 90 minute session will cover the essential elements of an online course, drawing on examples from Blackboard and the OpenLab, and will touch on resources, tools, and trainings available to help support you.

Resources:

Best Practices for Distance Learning

Zoom Videos of Workshops (the password for these zoom videos has been distributed separately by the Math Dept):

Slides: Online Teaching Essentials Slides

Math Dept Course Hubs

A Course Hub is a central repository of resources for a course, including the course outline, online lessons, help and support materials, and more.  It is intended for both students and faculty.  Although Course Hubs are hosted on the OpenLab, they are publicly available and for use by all faculty (whether using Blackboard, OpenLab, or another platform).

NOTE: Course Hubs are designed to be a resource repository of information and are not intended for direct communication between students and faculty.  If you’re interested in using the OpenLab with your students in your own section, check out our Model Courses.

List of Course Hubs

Math Model Courses

Module: Getting started on the OpenLab with Math Model Courses

Module: Getting started on the OpenLab with Math Model Courses
Part 1: Before you begin
Part 2: Cloning a model course
Part 3: Customizing your course
Part 4: Updating Posts
Part 5: Updating other elements of your course

Welcome!  If you’re interested in using the OpenLab for your Math courses, this is a great first stop.  It can be a little daunting to get a new course site up and running.  Model Courses are designed to help you out by providing pre-built course sites for many popular Mathematics Courses (currently MAT 1275/1275CO/1372/1375/1475/1575/2680), complete with resources and sample assignments,  structured to support distance learning.

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