Course Modality Spring 2022

Course Modality Spring 2022

Dear Faculty and Students,

In light of the recent announcement that all Spring 2022 courses will begin remotely through Jan 30, 2022, the Department of Online Learning has prepared the following information and resources.  

Faculty Information:

  • All courses for the Spring 2022 term have Blackboard shells.  They will appear in your “Current Courses” view when you login to Blackboard (at blackboard.njcu.edu). Students have already been added to these Blackboard course shells so you can begin communicating with them right away.
  • You can find your course shells in GothicNet.   If you are having difficulty accessing your course shells, you should email helpdesk@njcu.edu. During evenings and weekends, you may call Blackboard Support at 1-844-807-0165. 
  • All faculty have been enrolled in the “Fundamentals of Online Teaching” Blackboard course which provides helpful pedagogical and technical resources for online teaching and course design.  (Once you login Blackboard, search under “courses) 
  • NJCU’s Knowledge Base provides faculty and students with answers to frequently asked questions:  https://njcu.info/help/.   Please encourage your students to visit this valuable resource. 
  • You can learn how to make your courses available to your students by clicking on the Knowledge Base article.  
  • The instructional continuity tip page has recommendations and resources for delivering courses in an online modality.
  • The Fundamentals of Online Teaching (FOT) course (located in your Blackboard course listing page) has a Zoom schedule of open-office hour and topic-based sessions.   You can also review recorded training sessions in the FOT course for the following topics:
    • VoiceThread
    • Using Rubrics
    • Engaging Online Learners
    • Integrating Third-Part Tools
    • Using Groups in Blackboard
    • Respondus (LockDown Browser and Monitor)

Student Information:

Students enrolled in at least one course in the Spring 2022 term (no matter the modality) have been enrolled in the Fundamentals of Online Learning course in Blackboard. (Once login Blackboard, search under “courses”) 

Students who complete this tutorial will be able to:

  • Explain the common challenges and myths about online learning and how to approach them.
  • Apply time management methods to improve their online learning experience.
  • Develop a personal plan to become a fully self-directed learner.
  • Identify and apply methods of quality communication in the online environment.
  • Distill and achieve digital competencies to ensure digital literacy and fluency.
  • Access Blackboard Tool Training Videos.

Additional resources for students: 

If you are in need of any assistance as you prepare your classes or encounter problems during the start of the term (related to delivery or design of your courses), please do not hesitate to the Department of Online Learning by emailing helpdesk@njcu.edu.

Thank you,

Department of Online Learning