Creating course content can be created using screen capturing software (it will record whatever is happening on your screen) and recording hardware (a headset will work just fine for recording audio); you definitely do not need a fancy recording studio set up anymore.

Quercus has a simple but useful recording tool built into its rich text WYSIWYG editor. This can be useful for a variety of purposes (e.g. explaining assignment instructions), but in this case, you'll most likely be creating and sharing this type of unscripted content via an announcement. While this type of video is simple, it can be conversational (and imperfect - do not worry too much about small flubs) and can help create a strong connection between you and your students. In general, they like to see you, especially if you are sharing important updates and news.

Zoom and MS Teams Meetings are the institutionally-licensed webinar tools (see "What is a webinar?" for a definition). Both options now offer Quercus integrations that allow you to schedule meetings from within your Quercus course.  Useful to run courses, office hours, training sessions, seminars, etc., these tools are designed to allow you to share video, audio, and screen content with an online audience. They also include interactive tools to help facilitate engagement (including breakout rooms, whiteboards, and polls).  

In addition to its use to facilitate online class sessions, Zoom or MS Teams Meetings can also be used for drop-in or scheduled "office hour" sessions. These can be scheduled and moderated by any member of the teaching team.

If you wish to create the sessions yourself, you can designate another member of the teaching team as an alternative host (for Zoom meetings) or as a co-organizer (for MS Teams Meetings).

Rather than requiring in-person submission, presentation, or other type of formally evaluated assessment; you can allow submission of the artifact or activity to be assessed digitally (see "How do I create an assignment?"). If you had planned a quiz, you could also do this online, allowing you to continue to collect important formative feedback from your students.

SpeedGrader is built into Quercus and makes it easier to evaluate individual student assignments and group assignments quickly. The tool helps close the circle on digitally submitted assessments. Not only do you want to enable students to submit online, you want to support the ability to provide rich feedback (from yourself or your teaching team) on those assessments.

You can enable tools within your course that will allow students to meet, converse, and share their work virtually. Not all online activities have to be required or instructor-driven; you can enable and moderate a variety of tools that students can self-select to use when and as needed. Tools might resonate differently with different people, so offering multiple options could work to your advantage. In general, these activities would not be assessed.

1. Encourage the use of the open Bb Collaborate course room; students can drop in here at any time to share ideas, get feedback on work, or just talk to one another (see how to "join your course room").
2. Create Study Groups in Quercus that provide a private, online space for students within a team to collaborate (see "How do I manually create a group set?" or if the groups are less formal, "How do I create self-sign up groups in a group set?"). You can even allow students to create their own groups (see "How do I allow students to create their own student groups?") while still being able to view all the groups in your course.
3. Allow students to create their own discussion threads (see "How do I allow students to create a course discussion?").

Without an in-person reminder, it can be difficult for students to keep track of deadlines and due dates across their courses. One way to keep them on track is to use the Quercus calendar. The calendar will display all events/assessments added from each of their courses in one location. In the case of a longer absence or closure, this could be especially important as students' schedules will be less structured without formal class times.

If you will still be holding a class but you know there's an extenuating circumstance which will result in low attendance (for whatever reason), you can make a one-time-only request to have the Education Technology Office record and share your lecture. We will do our best to schedule the class, depending on resource availability. You could also make this request if you'd like us to film you lecturing, without students present. This would be a way to share content to your course without students having to physically come to campus.

When confirmed, we will bring a camera to your course, configure a wireless microphone, record your class, and then edit it and post it to your Quercus course shell on your behalf. For full details about the existing lecture capture program, please visit our Lecture Capture Program page.