School of Architecture - Online Course Delivery Guide (for faculty and teaching assistants)

This page provides consolidated information and advice for School of Architecture Faculty and Teaching Assistants on the tools and techniques available to deliver teaching and learning in the event that:

Faculty or TAs have self-isolated and need to deliver teaching remotely or
Students have self-isolated and need to be taught remotely.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Faculty and TAs can continue to teach and support students online with different methods, including through synchronous live sessions, through providing materials and activities that students can interact with asynchronously; or a blend of both. This page aims to help you decide the delivery method that can best benefit the learning experience of your students.

Tips:

Teaching and Technology Tuesdays - Syracuse University

Online Success Toolkit - Syracuse University

Rapid Online Course Development Guide - Syracuse University

Going Online in a Hurry: What to Do and Where to Start - The Chronicle of Higher Education

Remote Access using SU's Remote Desktop Services (G drive access - Use RDP Client Method)

Blackboard

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Blackboard Learn is the recommended learning management system by Syracuse University. Please let your students know which platform you are using for your class.

Note: Please review the guides below for common Blackboard tasks.

Blackboard - Course Administration
Blackboard - Adding TAs & Managing Roles
Blackboard - Grade Center
Blackboard - Add Tool Link to Course Menu (such as a link to Zoom or Collaborate sessions)
Blackboard - Use Smart Views to Organize Grade Center Sections
Blackboard - Checking a course quota

Zoom & Blackboard Collaborate Ultra

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Zoom and Blackboard Collaborate Ultra are the two popular web conference tools used by many at Syracuse University, and both are integrated into Blackboard. Please let your students know which platform you are using for your class.

Note: Please review the guides below before creating and running your first Collaborate Ultra (video conference) session.

Kaltura

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Syracuse University has implemented Kaltura for Education, a leading video platform powering any video experience for any organization.

What can Kaltura do?
The initial deployment of Kaltura at Syracuse University includes:

• Personal video capture tools to create video content
• Tools to upload, configure and share video content created with other tools
• Integration between Kaltura and the Blackboard system
• The Kaltura MediaSpace video portal

In the coming months, users also will be able to migrate existing videos from Ensemble to Kaltura and take advantage of Kaltura Lecture Capture.

Is training available?
Yes! You can register for online training sessions.

PlayPosit

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PlayPosit is a tool for adding rich content and dynamic interactions to video. It is currently configured for use through Blackboard for instructors to overlay video content hosted in YouTube, Vimeo, and Kaltura. It includes a variety of tools for understanding viewer engagement and to assess viewer learning.

Conceptboard

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Conceptboard is an intuitive digital whiteboard platform that allows students and faculty to engage and participate online in the architecture learning experience. This shared digital workspace allows communication and co-creation to continue seamlessly, regardless of location and features over 100 templates (Whiteboarding, Brain Storming, Design Collaboration, Workshop, etc.). Users can also easily share boards with external guests and critics during reviews and studios. For best results, use Conceptboard in conjunction with a meeting tool like Zoom or Teams, and get people to login to both so that you can see their faces and their contributions both at the same time.

Teaching Activities

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Note: The table below provides suggestions and alternatives (with how-tos) for different teaching activities. The Additional Support Pages section can help you find answers to other questions you may have.

Teaching activity	Suggested alternatives and links to guidance (Synchronous/Asynchronous/Blended)
Engagement	Make your course available and update your Blackboard courses regularly. How will you conduct office hours? Set up a Discussion Board to answer any FAQs, and use this to communicate with and respond to your students. If applicable, use Announcements to let students know when you will be online or alert students of alternate activities to avoid lots of individual emails.
Lecture	Deliver your lecture via Blackboard Collaborate Ultra or Zoom, using the Chat function to take questions from students. Use the Record function so that students who aren’t able to attend can watch later. Please make Video Captioning available as needed.
Seminar and tutorial	Recording synchronous session to accommodate different timezone and student availability Create a cloud recording of your Zoom meeting. Create a cloud recording of your Blackboard Collaborate Ultra meeting. Recording for asynchronous or on-demand learning. Create and edit videos and upload to Kaltura and link them to Blackboard or utilize for a more seamless integration.
Collaboration and group discussion	Set up a Group Discussion Board to promote peer reflection on that activity in Blackboard. Set up Student Groups in your Blackboard course or Create a class team in Microsoft Teams to allow smaller groups of students to work together. Share a Whiteboard using Zoom or Blackboard Collaborate Ultra to engage discussion. Use Conceptboard to enhance the design process.
Share content and files	Set up a Content Collection in Blackboard (file repository) to allow students and faculty to store, manage, and share content. Use content sources which the University provides through the Architecture Library and LinkedIn Learning (formerly Linda.com). Share files via through your class team in Microsoft Teams.
Student activity	Provide materials and create assignments for your students to complete. Create a Self and Peer Assessment.
Reviews and Studio	Create a Conceptboard board to allow interactive pin up activities as well as critics.

Digital Tools

Disclaimer: We cannot stop you from using other tools that are not supported by SU. Please use such tools at your own risk. SU's accessibility requirements still apply.

Product	Purpose	Platform	Audience	Campus Supported	Guide
Zoom	Web conferencing, screen sharing	Desktop App	Campus (NetID@syr.edu )	YES	How-to
Blackboard Collaborate	Web conferencing, screen sharing	Web App	Campus (NetID@syr.edu)	YES	How-to
Microsoft Teams	Web conferencing, screen sharing	Desktop/Web App	Campus (NetID@syr.edu)	YES	How-to
Google Hangouts	Web conferencing, screen sharing	Web App	Campus (NetID@g.syr.edu)	YES	How-to
Adobe Acrobat Pro DC	View, edit, annotate PDFs	Desktop App	Campus (NetID@syr.edu)	YES	How-to
Conceptboard	Visual Collaboration	Web App	Campus (NetID@syr.edu)	YES	How-to
Google Suite	Online Productivity	Web App	Campus (NetID@g.syr.edu)	YES	How-to
Google Drive	File-sharing	Desktop/Web App	Campus (NetID@g.syr.edu)	YES	How-to
One Drive	File-sharing	Desktop/Web App	Campus (NetID@syr.edu)	YES	How-to
Kaltura	Video Platform	Desktop/Web App	Campus (NetID@syr.edu)	YES	How-to
PlayPosit	Video Interaction	Web App	Campus (NetID@ syr.edu )	YES	How-to
Premier Rush	Video Editing	Desktop App	Campus (NetID@syr.edu)	NO	How-to
OBS Studio	Video Streaming	Desktop App		NO	How-to
Wetransfer	File-sharing	Web App		NO	How-to
Wormhole	File-sharing	Web App		NO	How-to
Modelo	3D Model Collaboration	Web App		NO	How-to

Technology Support

Online delivery and learning are dependent on individual computer set up, speed of one’s internet connection and location. Wherever possible, faculty and students are advised to use a wired, stable, high-speed internet connection.

Note: Please contact archit@syr.edu before you plan to teach remotely; it's important to make sure all of your technology are functioning correctly and up to date.

Questions regarding computing support or recommendations: email Architecture IT support at archit@syr.edu
Blackboard specific questions: email Central Blackboard support at bb@ot.syr.edu

Available Hardware

IPEVO digital document camera (can also be used as webcam; streaming capable)
Logitech headset mic
MXL tabletop conference mic
Ethernet (network) adapter/cable
Wacom drawing tablet (limited supply)
Web conference kit (for use in Slocum) - includes webcam, headset mic, conference mic, ethernet adapter, ethernet cable

Introduction

Blackboard

Zoom & Blackboard Collaborate Ultra

Kaltura

PlayPosit

Conceptboard

Teaching Activities

Digital Tools

Technology Support

Available Hardware

System Live Status

Additional Support Pages