As we prepare for fall semester, here are a few important classroom and instruction protocols to remember.
Before the first day of class
Faculty are encouraged to communicate with students as early as possible via email or Moodle, and to open their
Moodle course page
for student viewing by Wednesday, August 12. This is especially important for HyFlex classes so students know whether to attend in-person or via Zoom on the first day of class. Colleges and/or departments may notify students via social media to check their ISU email accounts and login to Moodle for instructions on where to report on the first day of class.
First day of class
Only some students will attend face-to-face on the first day of class in HyFlex (mixed in-person and online) classes. Students will need to know their individualized rotation of in-person and remote instruction so that they will not all show up to the classroom on the first day of class. Instructions should be posted on the main page of each Moodle course related to the rotation of students in HyFlex courses and include a Zoom link for class. Instructions for creating a Zoom account and scheduling Zoom meetings through Moodle are available at this
page
.
Attendance policies
Regular communication related to attendance between instructors and students is highly encouraged. Instructors should give students the opportunity to make up any missed work in the event of absence. Individuals who are ill or who have ill members of their households should be discouraged from attending class in person, without fear of any negative impact on their grade. Class recordings and distance-based learning options where feasible should be readily available for all students. Learning activities that cannot maintain all standard protocols for COVID-19 must submit a
Health Exception Form
.
Seating charts
Seating charts are not required in classrooms where strict 6-foot distancing is maintained and facial coverings are worn. Seating charts may be helpful to discourage student mixing and to assist in potential contact tracing and may be considered, if feasible, for any class. Seating charts are required for classes, labs, and recitations where strict 6 foot distancing is not always possible; these exceptions are considered as part of the Health Exception review process.
Entering and exiting classrooms. In classrooms with multiple doors, instructors may facilitate maintaining physical distances by designating entrances and exits. Facial coverings should be worn on campus, including when entering or exiting classrooms or buildings. Facilities will place entrance and exit signs in buildings and classrooms. Faculty do not need to place signage.
Faculty position in classrooms
In order to maintain appropriate physical distance from students, faculty should remain at the front of the classroom. They may move freely within a set “bubble,” but should not go down aisles that are created for maintaining six-foot distancing between students. Instructors should be aware of recording and related technology and ensure that they remain close enough to recording equipment and/or are properly microphoned to maintain high sound quality for remote learners.
Technical support for OWL, Moodle, etc.
Technical help will come primarily from System Administrators in each college. Colleges or departments that don’t have a System Administrator may call the ISU Help Desk (282-HELP) and they will connect you with technical help. Faculty teaching HyFlex classes should familiarize themselves with
resources for teaching
via Zoom, including this
training video
.
Facing coverings and enforcement with students
Faculty, staff, and students are required to wear cloth or disposable face coverings while on campus unless alone in a private office or vehicle. Disregarding this expectation risks the health and safety of our campus community and our ability to carry out our mission. Students will be provided with two face coverings at the beginning of the semester and disposable face coverings will be made available in every classroom and/or building on campus. If a student refuses to wear a face covering, they will be asked to attend class remotely or watch the recording of class at a later time. Instructors may opt to cancel class and teach remotely if there is a student who refuses to wear a facial covering. Students who refuse to comply with campus policy and expectations may be reported to Student Affairs. Please contact Craig Chatriand, Dean of Students, at
deanofstudents@isu.edu
for assistance.
Learning activities
Any activity where 6 foot distancing cannot be maintained, facial coverings cannot be worn, equipment is shared, or guests bring the number of participants in the room above the COVID capacity determined for your classroom should be approved by the University COVID-19 Health Committee using
this form
. To determine if the learning activity requires a Health Exception, review
these
guidelines.
Recording lectures
Faculty will need to record their lectures for remote viewing. This will enable students to access lectures and other critical elements of the course offline, and will enable our goal of requiring students to stay home if they are not feeling well. Please note, however, that faculty are in control of the recordings for their course, and they may choose to not to record elements that do not contain critical information or include course discussions that students do not want recorded. Instructors recording Zoom lectures in classrooms with shared computers will need
to create a YouTube channel
24 hours prior to activating an account for live streaming. The Provost’s Office is leaving the recording discretion up to faculty within their own courses, but please make every effort to record essential components.
Classroom sanitization
Classrooms will be fogged with a 72-hour disinfecting chemical every 72 hours or less, and will be cleaned in the evenings according to standard protocols. Disinfecting wipes will be available between uses for the instructor podium, microphone, keyboards, and other classroom equipment with a procedure for instructors to follow.
Hand sanitizer
Faculty and students are asked to use hand sanitizer that will be available at classroom entrances when entering and leaving the rooms.
Food in classrooms
Eating in classrooms is discouraged as facial coverings would need to be adjusted or removed in order to eat. If food is distributed in the classroom, it should be individually packaged for consumption after class. Self-serve or buffet-style food service should not occur. Shared serving utensils should not be utilized. Personal water bottles or other beverages are allowed.
Students in HyFlex classes who want to stay entirely online
Students may sign up for a HyFlex class and never attend face to face. Instructors will communicate with students prior to the first day of class to determine which students will be attending in-person and which will be attending remotely. Some students may attend entirely in-person, entirely distance-based, or some combination, according to a rotation schedule to be determined by the instructor.
What to do if a student tests positive for COVID-19
- If the student came to class, send the student home to isolate.
- The student should report their illness using this form.
- Do not notify the class or other students without direction from the health committee.
- Prepare a list of the other people in your classroom or learning environment who had close contact with the ill individual for the time period encompassing 72 hours before symptoms onset up to the last day in the classroom. The faculty member should email this information to covid@health.isu.edu. The health team will reach out to provide additional next steps and guidance.
- If the student was in class, close the workspace and contact Facilities Services for cleaning and disinfection.
- Encourage the student to contact their primary care provider via phone to determine the need for testing for COVID-19. If the student does not have a primary care provider they can contact University Health at (208) 282-2330 (Idaho Falls, Pocatello or Twin Falls) or Unity Health (208) 895-6729 (Meridian)
- The student should follow the recommendations of a medical professional for testing and treatment. If the medical professional’s advice and recommendations differ from these guidelines or if you or the student has questions, contact covid@health.isu.edu for assistance.
What to do if a student is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19
Physical distancing and facial coverings are in place to substantially lower risk of transmission, even if someone has COVID-19. However, Any COVID-19 symptoms are assumed to be due to COVID-19 and are treated as such until a medical professional determines otherwise. If you are symptomatic or test positive, you should follow the guidance provided above.
Students and/or instructors displaying other symptoms (e.g. seasonal allergies) may want to voluntarily let the instructor and others near them in the classroom know or choose to join classes remotely.
Whiteboard markers
Each faculty member should bring their own markers. Please contact your department or college for supplies.
Water fountains
Water fountains will be converted to bottle filling stations wherever possible. Any water fountain that cannot be converted will be closed.
