Course-in-a-Box for New CU Educators

Participate in the CTL’s Fall Intensive

Create and use

Map your course using

Choose materials and

Consider these factors before deciding whether or how students will be permitted to use generative AI in your course

via the CU Book StoreÌý

Explore syllabi from past courses at CU via the

Create

Create (or co-create with your students) an AI course policy and AI syllabus statement

Include in your syllabus

Get to know Ìý

Look ahead to

Get informed about Flex Plans and other accommodations offered through CU Disability ServicesÌý

: Canvas isÌýCU’sÌýLearning Management SystemÌý(LMS). This site includes links to resources for creating a Canvas site; posting documents, media, and other content to your Canvas site; creating graded assignments, quizzes, and discussions; publishing your Canvas course; and other helpful information from CU’s Office of Information Technology (OIT).

Note: If you need to add eBooks or other digital resources to your Canvas site, you may need direct assistance from the publisher of those digital resources (e.g., Norton).

Canvas Course Template: With resources like a start-of-semester survey, campus resources page, and fillable student-centered syllabus, the Canvas course template aims to reduce the time spent building out your courses, while promoting promising practices in teaching and learning, digital accessibility, and design. Ìý

Grade for Student Success Faculty Guide to Student-centered Grading in Canvas: This guide presents 16 straightforward practices to enhance transparency around grading practices, policies, and student grades and feedback in Canvas. Each practice is paired with a video, written tutorial, or other resources to assist you with implementing it in your own courses.Ìý

: This site includes links to resources for setting up a grading scheme and grade cutoffs in Canvas, setting up assignment groups and weights in your Canvas gradebook, setting up assignment drop policies and other grading policies in your Canvas gradebook, hiding and posting grades, etc.Ìý

(TAs, graders, etc.) to your Canvas site.

through CU’s Office of Information Technology (OIT).

, the developer and publisher of Canvas.

Get to know instructional technologies like Canvas, iClickers, VoiceThread, and Zoom.

Learn now to (for classroom polling, attendance, quizzes, etc.).

Capture high-quality video recordings of your lectures with . (Available in .)

Decide where and when to hold your office hours: For guidance, consider asking your colleagues what office hours modality (in-person, Zoom, or hybrid) and days and times they recommend, as well as department- or program-specific requirements regarding office hours (e.g., required number of office hours per week).Ìý

Note: If you do not have a campus office and wish to hold in-person office hours, you may need to talk with your department about reserving a physical space for your office hours.Ìý

(for remote or hybrid office hours).

Establish TA responsibilities and expectations via an Instructor/TA agreementÌý

Welcome email: Consider sending out an email to welcome your students to your course. We recommend doing this at least a week before the first day of class. Include when and where your class will meet, required textbooks or other course materials or technology (e.g., clickers), and any other information that will help students prepare for your course. The welcome email is also a great opportunity to begin building rapport with your students by introducing yourself and sharing why you are excited to teach this course!

Consider using a start-of-semester survey to begin learning about your students’ goals, interests, and lives; interests in the course; and needs or concerns heading into the semester.Ìý