Continuity of Instruction

Be Prepared!

While it’s not always possible to predict an unexpected campus closing, it pays to be prepared for such circumstances. There are a number of steps that faculty can take to prepare themselves and students for possible interruptions.

The information and checklist below provides suggestions and resources available to the faculty in the event of a University closure. Be sure to complete the mandatory eLearn Basics and Accessibility Matters! training as soon as possible so that you can quickly get up to speed.

checklist

Checklist - Tools to Connect with Students & Continue Instruction

Email: University email is one of the many ways to share important & timely information.

eLearn (elearn.tnstate.edu) is the University’s learning management system. It allows for sharing robust online resources, for on-ground, hybrid and online classes. Available tools include: Discussions, Assignments/Dropbox, Quizzes, eMail, and the Gradebook. Each eLearn course shell has the following modules in the Content Area:

Information for Course Faculty - contains information for faculty only and the module is hidden from the student view.
Getting Started - use this module and layout to share topics with your students (i.e., Syllabus, Office Hours, Resource Links).

Important Note: Your TSU eLearn log-in credentials (username & password) are the same as those used to log into MyTSU. Be sure to use only the first part of your email address for the username.

The TSU Virtual Classroom (ZOOM Virtual Classroom) allows you to share recorded lectures, set virtual office hours, or hold live classes online. The TSU Virtual Classroom is available in each eLearn course shell making it easy accessible to every student in every course. Each course shell homepage has its own unique TSU ZOOM Link (do not use your personal Zoom Account). If recording your session, be sure to select the record to cloud option so that the recording is readily available to your students from the Panopto link in your course shell.

Utilize the Tennessee State University Libraries and Media Center resources to build course specific collections of digital books, videos, abstracts, and more.

Need Assistance?

Join the TSU Global Online Faculty Instructional Technology Support Team in Zoom for immediate assistance with eLearn, creating online quizzes or exams, the Respondus Lockdown Browser / Monitor, Turnitin GradeMark (a tool that allows an instructor to mark on a student’s paper right in the eLearn Dropbox) or Panopto. If you have a question about anything….pop in and see us!

https://zoom.us/j/3565004554
Monday – Friday: 9:00AM – 5:30PM

Faculty Support - Provides assistance with overall course delivery, pedagogy, teaching & learning:
Dr. Deborah Bellamy, Executive Director (dbellamy@tnstate.edu) and Paige Holmes, Instructional Designer (pholmes9@tnstate.edu)

Student Support and Faculty ZOOM Technical Support – Provides students assistance with eLearn and provides faculty support with the MEETS-ZOOM Virtual Classroom:
Carl Hunter chunter@tnstate.edu

Faculty TSU Log-in Problems - User Name/Password/Reset: 615-963-7777 (TSU HelpDesk)

Faculty Updates and Latest News

It is our goal to keep the lines of communication open with you and to continue to provide assistance with your remote teaching experience. We have found it easier to communicate directly via email, so be sure to check your tnstate email for important announcements and the latest news.

Be Proactive!

During an emergency, each instructor should establish communication with students, and if the closure is going to be long, construct alternative ways to achieve learning objectives of the course as suggested in the Checklist. Be reminded that off-campus and graduate students may be facing additional recovery challenges in their work or home lives. It is often difficult during a crisis to predict its duration, so communication with the students and a standing source of current information that they can consult (eLearn postings as well as email, perhaps) will help.

Be Prudent!

Instructors should document their course adjustments so that they and others in their discipline / academic unit can assess the effectiveness of responses to the changes in the conduct of the course.

Visit Tennessee State University for campus alerts, important contact information, and references.