We have pulled together the resources on this page to help support faculty as they make a sudden shift to teaching English 12 or 24 online. This page is very much a work in progress. If you have other resources that you think might help your colleagues adapt to online instruction, please send them to Annie directly via campus email, and she’ll add them to this page. Nested under this page, is a separate password-protected page (Resources for KCC teachers) for personal teaching materials faculty have offered to share with colleagues.
If you’ve never used Blackboard before, you might find it beneficial to visit KCeL, and/or to review some of their materials on accessing Blackboard for the first time. In addition, BMCC has put together this useful Google site on setting up a course in Blackboard for faculty who are new to the system.
Resources from other CUNY campuses that may be of use at this time
BMCC has put together a useful page of resources on maintaining course continuity during a possible disruption. And also this page on strategies faculty can use to conduct their courses online.
The Grad Center has put up this page on maintaining continuity.
A new page from KCC’s own KCeL on Blackboard and course design.
Please check back for new additions to this section. We will update them regularly.
Resources to support key pedagogical moves in online Composition courses
During the 2018-2019 academic year, the Course Review Committee (CRC) of the Composition Program worked to develop recommendations regarding the possible expansion of online Eng 12 and 24 courses. In June 2019, the CRC voted in support of these recommendations, which include the suggestion that faculty teaching online courses:
Create learning environments that mirror the de-centered classroom typical of face-to-face composition courses. This might include key strategies such as: peer review, small group interactions, student-centered lessons, collaborative annotation of texts, collaborative writing, and collaborative assessment. (8)
In support of this recommendation that online sections strive to replicate, through different means, the interactive and collaborative structures that are the hallmark of a social constructivist approach to teaching composition, we offer useful links and other resources below organized by pedagogical moves teachers will want to make in their online courses.
Assigning and collecting student writing (both formal and informal)
Providing feedback on student writing
Conducting peer review of student writing
Discussing/annotating a reading
Conferencing/meeting with one or more students
Communicating smoothly & effectively with students
Using gradebook to tally grades/points
Staying Human
Links Sent by KCC IT to Ensure Students can Access Blackboard Sites
Online Course Access Instructions for Students
- How to Claim Your KCC Student Email Account
- Logging into Blackboard (video)
- Using the Blackboard App (video)
- Blackboard App for Students Documentation (pdf)
- Accessing Blackboard and Updating Your Email (pdf)
- CUNYfirst – Activate My Account (pdf)
- CUNYfirst – Forgot My Password (pdf)
- Reset INSIDE Account (pdf)
Useful Resources from the Composition Community
A great open-access book and site on best practices in online writing instruction.
The CCCC position statement on online writing instruction.
The Global Society of Online Literacy Educators has just put up a number of resources to support faculty around the world who find themselves suddenly moving courses online.
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- The Just In Time Hub is a gateway to various resources, including those below as well as excellent written materials to help you think through course conversion/migration; we’ll be updating with other materials on the fly: www.glosole.org/justintime.html
- Just Ask GSOLE provides a direct link to discussion forums moderated by GSOLE online writing/literacy instruction experts who can answer your specific questions: www.glosole.org/justaskgsole.html
- Walk-In Webinars is a direct link to live Zoom sessions hosted by GSOLE members; the schedule of facilitators is listed there along with specific topics: www.glosole.org/walkinwebinars.html
Humanizing Online Teaching from St. Mary’s College of CA
Basics of How to Use Google Drive
The Bedford Bibliography of Research in OWI, updated 2019
A useful page from Purdue University on teaching remotely.
Guides/Advice from Writing Programs and Writing Specialists
- University of North Carolina Teaching 105 Online
- University of Wisconsin-Madison Moving your English 201Section Online
- Virginia Tech Professional and Technical Writing Program Resources
- The Online Writing Instruction Community (not in a hurry but general principles)
- Online?…Just in Time! From the Global Society of Online Literacy Educators (including forums and webinars)
- Teaching Composition Online at Pitt
- Baruch English Department’s Distance Learning: Baruch Spring 2020
Social media discussion
- Sara Webb-Sunderhaus Tweet thread on teaching composition online
- Amy Young’s Facebook post about teaching online
- Jordynn Jack tweet on multimedia projects for writing classes via phone
- Danica Savonick’s warm-up reflection questions on what the rest of the semester will look like (freewriting or discussion with class)
- Liz Blomstedt’s WPA concerns
- Aimi Hamraie on access
- Emily Pressman on technologies for discussion
- Luke Waltzer on Minimum Viable Transitioned Courses
Lesson plans and practices
- The Hyperdoc community offers a lot of templates, resources, and processes to guide your thinking
- Syllabus and videos from Tanya Golash-Boza’s Sociology course on race (could be a good resource for media to share if your writing class is on this topic)
- Assay Journal’s collection of lesson plans for writing classes (mostly creative writing)
- Accessible Teaching in the time of COVID-19, published March 10 by Aimi Hamraie, Critical Design Lab/Mapping Access project (via a retweet by Jessie Male)
Self-Care and Managing Anxiety
- Emily Legg on Self-Care Strategies for Online Teaching and Learning
- Caring for your Mental Health Despite the Coronavirus from McLean Hospital
- Mental Health Considerations during COVID-19 Outbreak from WHO
- Taking Care of Your Mental Health in the Face of Uncertainty
General Advice about Moving Classes Online
- Global Society of Online Literacy Educators Resource Hub
- Stanford’s Teaching Effectively During Times of Disruption, for SIS and PWR – lots of great resources if you know what you’re looking for
- Indiana University’s “Keep Teaching” site
- CHR’s Going Online in a Hurry
- Hastac’s Thoughts & Resources for Those about to Start Teaching Online
- Resources for Online Meetings, Classes, and Events
- Transforming Your Online Teaching from Crisis to Community by Cathy Davidson and Christina Katopodis
- How to Be a Better Online Teacher (advice guide–some is too much for this emergency situation, but lots of practical tips and definitions for those new to online teaching)
- Gina Foster’s Prep Plan plus reassuring email
- 3 Simple Rules to Follow
- Stockpiling for COVID-19 Teaching Resource
- Please do a bad job of putting your courses online
- UW-Madison’s “Discussion Project” Tips for Online Discussions
- University of Michigan’s Access to Remote Instruction for Students and Faculty with Disabilities
- University of Arkansas-Little Rock’s Ten Steps Toward Universal Design of Online Courses
- Teaching in the Context of COVID-19
- Karl Stolley’s Moving Classes Online on Short Notice: Some Strategies
Technology and Tools
- General Overview of Screencasts and Screencasting Tools
- Beginner’s Guide to Screen-Cast-O-Matic
- Webex Transition to Virtual Learning portal
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What is Google Drive and How Does It Work? (7:50 video)Google Docs Beginners Tutorial 2020 (23:50 video)How to Use Google Drive – Beginner’s Guide (14:46 video)Google Drive Full Tutorial from Start to Finish (18:32 video)Beginner’s Guide to Google Drive for Windows (17:40 video)How to Create Shared Google Drive Folders (3:12 video)Google Drive | Sharing Settings (5:34 video)
Sample communication