Addressing Informal Accommodation Requests

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.