Text A Suggested Timeline to Complete Course Prep Before Instruction Begins

The return to work before each term is exciting...and hectic! All departments and faculty are abuzz with time-sensitive work on their to-do lists. We all want to present the best impression to our students when courses begin so let's design our to-do lists with the Student Preview Period as our endpoint. What can we do in the lead up to that day so we can be ready for course publication deadlines? Below are some suggestions.

Fall Semester Lead Up Work

In the Fall, there are about 7 days of time to work between faculty return/Convocation Day and the start of instruction. Consider the major work you need to do to be ready for the course publication deadline for the Student Preview Period, and schedule accordingly. Below are some suggestions to help you.

Day 1

Convocation Day

Meetings and various sessions may take up most of your day. Do what you can such as making your to-do lists.

Part-time faculty are not required to attend Convocation so if you're able to adjust work timelines to start today, consider doing so. Consider emailing the TLC to schedule trainings on Canvas, ed tech, or curriculum and instructional methods you'd like to implement.

Day 2

Make sure your assigned courses are in your Canvas Dashboard.
Review the Start of Term Canvas Checklist
Review or create your syllabus with updated template items, syllabus statements, and curriculum.
Work in your sandboxes and blueprint shells to get your course template elements, structure, and curriculum set as you'd like it..
Schedule your one-on-one trainings with TLC staff.

Day 3

Reach out Library Services to collect any curriculum resources you need for the start of term.
Continue to edit your sandbox or blueprint shell.
Run UDOIT Cloud scans and repair critical accessibility items for the first weeks of class.
Start training with TLC staff on Canvas functionality, ed tech tools, or curriculum and assessment methods you'd like to implement for the term.

Day 4

Import your sandbox content into your live shell.
Set up your Canvas Gradebook in alignment with your syllabus evaluation and late work policies. AKA, set your Assignment Groups Weight if you choose to use them.
Select and edit your course home page.
Add in the requested items for the Student Preview Period (bio and where is class page).

Day 5

Edit your due dates with the Multi-Tool Due Date Modifier or Canvas Assignment Dates.
Set up your course office hours in the Canvas Calendar and your Outlook Calendar.
Create any course Zoom meetings with the Zoom Class tool located in your Course Navigation.
Blueprint users should continue to edit content in their blueprint shell then request association to other sections when complete.

Day 6

Review and set your Course Navigation Menu in your Course Settings.
Use the Link Validator in your Canvas course(s) to make sure links are working.
Publish required and desired items for the Student Preview Period and any week 1 content students need (syllabus, start of class reading or instructions).
View your course with the View as Student button to identify any items that are unpublished or not functioning as expected.
Publish your course by Thursday at 11:59pm/Friday at midnight.

Day 7

Send your students a welcome message through Banner.
Be ready to check your Canvas Inbox and CCC email for student communication.
Continue to refine and plan future curriculum.
Make sure due date are correct for the semester.
Set student groups if you plan to use Groups, Collaborations, or Google LTI 1.3.

Now go relax, gather with your colleagues and get some snacks, and enjoy the weekend!

Spring Semester Lead Up Work

The Spring term allows about 4 work days before the start of instruction. Consider the major work you need to do to be ready for the course publication deadline for the Student Preview Period, and schedule accordingly. Below are some suggestions to help you.

Day 1

Make sure your assigned courses are in your Canvas Dashboard.
Review the Start of Term Canvas Checklist
Review or create your syllabus with updated template items, syllabus statements, and curriculum.
Work in your sandboxes and blueprint shells to get your course template elements, structure, and curriculum set as you'd like it.
Reach out Library Services to collect any curriculum resources you need for the start of term.
Review and set your Course Navigation Menu in your Course Settings.
Use the Link Validator in your Canvas course(s) to make sure links are working.
Schedule your trainings with TLC staff.

Day 2

Continue to edit your sandbox or blueprint shell
Run UDOIT Cloud scan and repair critical accessibility items for the first weeks of class
Set up your Canvas Gradebook in alignment with your syllabus evaluation and late work policies. AKA, set your Assignment Groups Weight if you choose to use them.
Select and edit your course home page
Add in the requested items for the Student Preview Period (bio and where is class page)
Import your sandbox content into your live shell
Edit your due dates with the Multi-Tool Due Date Modifier or Canvas Assignment Dates tool

Day 3

Set up your course office hours in the Canvas Calendar and your Outlook Calendar
Create any course Zoom meetings with the Zoom Class tool located in your Course Navigation
Blueprint users should continue to edit content in their blueprint shell then request association to other sections when complete
Publish required and desired items for the Student Preview Period and any week 1 content students need (syllabus, start of class reading or instructions)
View your course with the View as Student button to identify any items that are unpublished or not functioning as expected
Publish your course by Thursday at 11:59pm/Friday at midnight.

Day 4

Send your students a welcome message through Banner
Be ready to check your Canvas Inbox and CCC email for student communication
Continue to refine and plan future curriculum
Make sure due date are correct for the semester
Set student groups if you plan to use Groups, Collaborations, or Google LTI 1.3

You did it! Enjoy yourself before courses start.