Thread by @emilymbender

@robiupui I totally get that this is the most difficult option in many ways, but also I might be able to help because I have been teaching in this format since 2007, in order to accommodate both distance & local students in the MS program that I run. >>

@robiupui The problems to solve are:

1 Instructor audible to remote & local students
2 Slides visible to remote & local students
3 Instructor gestures visible to remote & local students
4 All students can ask questions/answer questions/comment
5 All students can hear student contributions

@robiupui 6 Remote students can turn in homework/take exams
7 Remote students can connect with out of class help (office hours, bulletin boards)
8 Remote students can collaborate with others (local or not).

6-8 are easy though and I imagine not what you're asking about. >>

@robiupui We've been using Zoom for a few years (prior to that: AdobeConnect). My basic set up is:

Log in to Zoom with both my laptop & the classroom computer. Project classroom computer to display in class. This way, local students can see what remote students see & alert me to problems.

@robiupui I stay near my computer (using my laptop mic). My instructional style already involves slides rather than freehand whiteboarding, so that change was minimal. Gesture with mouse/annotate slides with whiteboard overlay (including typing instead of handwriting -- yay!).

@robiupui I encourage remote students to ask questions via the chat function & ask local students to keep an eye out in case I miss incoming chats. When I ask for questions or other input from students, I often read off the remote students' names from the participants' pane >>

@robiupui so they know I know they're there :)

Can also use two way audio for when remote students have a contribution that is longer than what would make sense to type. Key point: the same machine has to control audio in & audio out or you get feedback. >>

@robiupui Pre-pandemic, we came to a great solution for making local students audible to remote students: a CatchBox. catchbox.com

I have the classroom computer driving this one. >>

@robiupui However, we'd have to know that it couldn't carry the virus to deploy it this year. Alternate solution: instructor repeats student questions before answering them. Works for short questions, not long contributions. >>

@robiupui Finally, of course, record the class meetings for students who can't attend live. Though reports from students are that this type of class is much more compelling live than as a recording. >>

@robiupui Even pre-pandemic, this set up let us expand the reach of our program beyond those who could relocate to Seattle, accommodate those with full-time jobs who could carve out time for class but not commute, those with care-giving responsibilities, and people w/ certain disabilities.

@robiupui It's somewhat more overhead for the instructor, and easier for certain kinds of content than others, but definitely has been worthwhile for us. A few more thoughts on that here:

medium.com/@emilymenonben…

/fin