Step 4: Gather and Create Content
Step 4 - Gather and Create Content
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Once the modules have been added to Canvas you can begin to gather and create any items from your course schedule that you don't currently have.
Keep in mind that locating and creating content will occur throughout the course development process.
Below are several things to consider while gathering or creating materials for your course (in Step 5 we will discuss placing the content in Canvas).
Don't forget your Learning Outcomes when deciding what to assess.
Make sure to include RSI components!
Step 4-1: Create Online Lectures
OPTION 1 - Recorded Lectures
Include lectures or mini-lectures throughout your course. Ideally, you will have at least one per topic (15 or 16 per semester). Many times, you may need more than one per topic.
The lectures can be shorter videos (5-15 min each) or longer depending on the subject matter and format. Don't feel obligated to replicate what you do in a face-to-face lecture, instead consider:
- What topics do you want to dive deeper into?
- What key concepts or ideas do you want to convey?
- What topics/areas need additional attention?
- What examples or real life scenarios will make the concept(s) more tangible to students?
Remember that not all of your teaching has to occur in lectures (just like in a face-to-face course). The overviews and introductions you write (see Step 5); the content you gather and place in the course; your interactions with students through announcements, messages, and discussion posts (see Teaching Online)---all of these are ways you teach and interact with students online.
HOW TO
There are many methods for creating videos. The information below can help you decide what will work best for you and your students.
- What makes an online video effective?
- Creating Narrated PowerPoints
- Creating a Screen Recording through Zoom
- Creating a Screen Recording through OU MyMedia Kaltura (Scroll down)
- Create a video using Adobe Creative Cloud Express Links to an external site. (login with your school account using OU credentials)
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OPTION 2 - Zoom
Zoom is a great option for live video lectures and meeting with students online. Use Zoom to:
- share PowerPoints Links to an external site.
- show online videos and resources
- draw and explain concepts (whiteboarding Links to an external site.)
- break into groups (breakout rooms
Links to an external site.)
!!! BE AWARE !!! - You can use Zoom as part of a fully online asynchronous course (WEB or WEBX), but cannot require students to attend Zoom meetings at specific times or days for these course designations. If you'd like to schedule Zoom meetings as part of your WEB or WEBX course, plan to provide an alternate assignment for students who are unable to make the meeting (such as viewing the recorded meeting and writing a follow-up response).
Step 4-2: Locate Resources
There are many options available for great videos and other learning activities to add to your online course. Below are several options:
- Alexander Street and Kanopy Links to an external site. (These are both video streaming resources from OU Libraries. If videos show as unavailable they can be requested for the library. )
- TED Talks Links to an external site.
- Khan Academy Links to an external site.
- OU Open Educational Resources
- Videos from streaming services such as Netflix or Amazon Prime - Include these in "Course Materials" like you would a textbook or other content students need to access on their own
- MERLOT Links to an external site.: Access to curated online learning and support materials and content creation tools, led by an international community of educators, learners and researchers.
Step 4-3: Contact OU Libraries (Help Finding Resources)
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OU Libraries offers many resources for online courses.
- Library Liaisons: Contact your department Library Liaison for resource assistance and questions on copyright. Library Liaisons List
- NY Times: Get access to NY Time from OU libraries - Faculty and instructors have access to the New York Times in Education, a resource of teaching strategies, articles, discussion questions, case studies and more.
How to Link to Library Resources ---❗️IMPORTANT❗️
Follow this guide when linking to library resources: Linking to Library Resources
>> Next we will take a look at adding the teaching and learning content into Canvas.