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Teaching Synchronous Virtual Courses

This guide is designed to help you with the information and tools you will need to teach in the Synchronous Course Modality at Cochise College.

Classroom Needs

Synchronous Instruction

Before Class

  • Go into Zoom settings at https://www.zoom.us/profile/setting and make sure the following are enabled in Meeting Controls: File Transfer (docx., pptx. etc.), polling ON, allow host to create advance polls and quizzing ON, screen sharing (all participants), breakout rooms (allow host to assign participants), and feedback emojis.
  • Make sure chat is ON, autosaving chat is ON, allow users to save chats is checked, and send files via meeting chat ON. Suggest disabling peer to peer chat and ability for participants to rejoin room if removed.
  • Set who can share to ALL PARTICIPANTS. Set who can share when someone else is sharing to HOST ONLY. Allow saving of shared screens with annotations. 
  • Annotation ON. Whiteboard ON. Allow to save Whiteboard content checked. Automatically create local export when sharing is stopped checked. Save as PDF checked.
  • Non-verbal feedback (emojis) ON. Meeting reactions ON.
  • Breakout Room ON. Allow host to assign participants breakout rooms when scheduling checked. Allow host to broadcast message to participants checked.
  • Closed captioning ON. Allow transcription service to transcribe meeting automatically checked. Allow viewing of full transcript in the side panel checked. Save captions ON.
  • Allow use of videos as virtual backgrounds OFF.
  • Suggest disabling peer to peer chat and ability for participants to rejoin room if removed.
  • Post in-class materials such as slides, notetaking organizers, and other useful handouts in advance via email, in Moodle, or uploaded to a cloud-based collaboration folder so remote students have advance access to them.
  • Arrive early to turn on projectors, TV monitors, cameras etc. and set up any software.
  • Start the Zoom session at least 5 minutes before the scheduled class. After the first few students connect, make sure they can see and hear you. 
  • Use the software and remote controls to orient the camera so remote learners can see you or the whiteboard as needed.
  • Consider assigning a student to monitor Zoom gallery for “raised hands”, other non-verbal feedback, and for any questions or contributions that are sent by chat.
  • Use the “Share Screen” button to share the content that is on the main monitor. Put all course content that you want to share on that monitor.

During Class

  • Acknowledge and welcome your in-person and remote students, reviewing resources or links they should access during the class if relevant.
  • Remind all participants that you will be recording if you will be doing so.
  • In Zoom, click on Share Screen, select the correct monitor, and click Share.
  • Use the stylus and drawing tools to write during your lecture if desired, scrolling for additional space or adding pages as desired. Drawing tools are available in PowerPoint’s “Presenter View” window as well as Microsoft OneNote.
  • As needed, adjust the camera to face the focal point of attention (you, the whiteboard, a demonstration, etc.). Conducting a lecture using the camera on the instructor monitor will minimize the number of needed of camera adjustments.
  • Use frequent breakpoints or check-ins to provide opportunities for remote students to ask questions. Check in with volunteers that are monitoring Zoom.
  • Alternate between in-person students and remote students when soliciting input.
  • Before ending the Zoom session, check to see if any Zoom students want to stay after class for concerns or questions. If so, disable recording.

After Class

  • Some instructors post slides, materials, and video of the livestream to Moodle for review.