Addressing Informal Accommodation Requests
This resource identifies measures instructors may take to share course content, maintain connections, and address assessments with students who request accommodations for short-term absences.
Each topic is presented as an expandable toggle item below, so you can select each one to see more information.
1. Sharing Course Content
Synchronous Recordings
- Record classes using Webex or Online Rooms in Brightspace.
- If using Webex, integrate it with your Brightspace site. This allows for the recordings to be posted directly to the course site within 24 hours of the scheduled class.
- Record on-campus classes using Lecture Capture technology, available in specific classrooms. Recordings are published to the Brightspace site within 24 hours of the scheduled class time.
Tips
- Instructors recording on-campus in a classroom should contact CITL’s Classroom Support team for audio/visual assistance.
- When recording live classes, it is important to consider student privacy. Students must be notified when the class is being recorded. In some cases, editing could be required so that any sensitive information from the class can be omitted.
Asynchronous Materials
- Reuse appropriate material or copy components from a previous course offering. Contact CITL’s Support Centre for assistance.
- Post your class notes to Brightspace. You can post text, images, or PowerPoints presentations that you use to teach, or you can create a recording of your class notes and presentations using any Do-it Yourself recording options.
- Apply a flipped approach. Use pre-recorded lectures for the at-home work and in-person time for question and answer periods, application activities, tutorials, or team work.
Tips
- Avoid having students download large video files. Use a streaming service, such as using CITL’s Self-Service Video Uploader, to share video recordings.
- Chunk material into manageable segments versus long text segments and recordings.
Other Measures
- Have students who attend class engage in collaborative note-taking. To help ensure accuracy, notes can be reviewed by instructional staff (Instructor and/or TA) before being published in the Brightspace course site.
- Encourage peer sharing by creating a Class Notes discussion topic in Brightspace for students to share their notes or other study aides with their classmates.
Ensuring Accessibility
Regardless of how content is shared, instructors should ensure the content is accessible for all. Activating closed captioning and/or providing transcripts must be considered when using recorded material. The Blundon Centre has prepared a number of resources for helping faculty create accessible materials.
2. Maintaining Connections
Communication
- Clearly communicate, in your Brightspace course site, the best ways for students to contact you.
- Establish online office hours to help students connect with you.
- Use Brightspace announcements to maintain presence and send key messages.
Collaborative Supports
- Use the discussion area in your course site for students to connect with each other and remain part of the community while absent.
- Encourage students to avail of the support services and tools offered through Memorial’s Academic Success Centre.
- Learning resources such as: Tutorial help; Study Buddies to connect and form a study group with other students in their courses; and, tips for Learning from Videos can be accessed through their website.
Tips
Additional suggestions and resources to guide creation of community in your course are available through CITL’s Instructional Continuity page.
MUNmail accounts give students access to tools such as Google Drive and Google Meet, which they can use to share and collaborate on documents and host online meetings.
3. Addressing Assessments
Online Assignments
- Use the Assignment tool in Brightspace as a central repository for student submissions.
- Use the Video Assignment tool in Brightspace to allow absent students to submit an in-class assessment, such as a presentation. Instructors and peers can provide feedback.
Course Deadlines
- Consider flexible deadlines. Monitor timing of submissions to ensure students are current with class work.
- Adjust deadlines so the student can plan for their work and to give you time to grade it and provide feedback.
- Use the Special Access tool in Brightspace to extend access for those who are permitted to make late submissions.
Evaluation of Student Work
- Review university regulation 6.7 Evaluation of Student Work before adjusting your methods of evaluation.
- The method of evaluation presented in the course syllabus may be changed, provided university regulation 6.7.4, Changing the Method of Evaluation, is followed.
Tips
If your assessment approach is impacted because of student absences, consult your academic unit before presenting alternatives. If alternative assessments are needed CITL has prepared a number of resources to help.
Page created on January 27, 2022.