Faculty Teaching in the Online Modality
Canvas
Our learning management system (LMS), Canvas, serves as students’ centralized hub for all course content and activities — think of Canvas as an extension of the campus. This system manages everything from asynchronous course content, course syllabi, and assignments to communication between instructors and students. Students are expected to spend six to eight hours per week per course engaging with a variety of resources (readings, articles, podcasts, and videos) and completing assignments. This document is to assist instructors with understanding our standard for faculty engagement within the online B.S.W. Program.
Faculty Expectations
Instructors teaching in the online modality have a critical role in creating a positive learning cohort, one that is engaging and respectful of community members. As such, the B.S.W. Program, just like the M.S.W. Program, has developed a set of expectations derived from the literature on online teaching.
Instructors engaging in these processes increase the probability that students will be motivated, engaged, and successful. These are all key performance indicators for faculty. Therefore, all faculty teaching in this modality are expected to do the following:
- Post weekly announcements via Canvas.
- Be available to students. Students want to engage with instructors and appreciate connecting with us. Provide your office hours to students on the homepage of your course.
- Provide feedback on assignments within two weeks of the due date. Remember, students look to us to help them develop their knowledge and skills.
- Use only your official VCU email account and the Canvas learning platform course shells when communicating electronically with students.
- Log into your Canvas course a minimum of four days per week, every week, to ensure regular course presence.
- Check and respond to student emails at least once every 24 hours during weekdays.
Online Module Schedule
Your Canvas course is divided into 10 modules. The synchronous days occur in modules 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9.
Regarding Online Grading
Students are required to upload all assignments via the Canvas course shell. Faculty members are required to return graded assignments and feedback within the Canvas learning platform course shell to support consistent practices and accountability. Faculty members are expected to review and return graded student classroom work for all coursework within two weeks after the due date. Note that grading in the final week of the course must be done sooner to meet final grade submission deadlines published on the university academic calendar.
Online Teaching Support
Micah Weedman, PhD- Term Prep Designer
Contact for course leads to transfer existing course content from blueprint courses to the appropriate online course sections in Canvas.
Stephanie Walker, MA- Interim Director of Innovative Pedagogy and Learning Design
Instructure Community Answer Guides
VCU Learning Systems: Recorded Training List (requires VCU login)