Preparing Students for the First Day of Class
Dear Faculty,

As we approach the first day of classes, our students have questions about their learning environment and faculty expectations for their classes this semester. 

The University has provided a number of communications to students, but it is also important for faculty to contact their students to make sure that they understand attendance policies, class schedules, and the new instructional methods they will see this fall. 

If you have not been in contact with the students enrolled in your classes, please consider reaching out to them, and releasing your Moodle course before the first day of class so students can prepare. By default, all Moodle courses will be released on the first day of class. If you have questions about how to release your Moodle courses early, please contact the ITRC (208) 282-5880 or read this instructional article.

The Roaring Back Instructional Group has compiled a number of items to consider communicating. 

Students in HyFlex or Zoom-Only Courses
  • Zoom links, instructions, and classroom etiquette on who should attend in-person on what days. Maybe create a Zoom activity for them.
  • Do the students plan to attend face-to-face or are they planning to participate exclusively from a distance? This can help you set the schedule on who can attend face-to-face on which days for a HyFlex course.

Online Courses
  • What kind of orientation do you want the students to have for your class? What do they need to know before they jump in and start going through the material?

All Courses
  • Moodle ISU Course link: Send your message in your Moodle ISU Course Announcements forum
  • Expectations for face coverings and distancing within the classroom - this has been communicated in other ways but it would be good to hear from their faculty member. 
  • What are your attendance policies going to be?
  • What room will the class be held in? This may have changed and the student may not have seen that in their schedule.
  • What are the testing expectations? Will there be online proctored tests?
  • Class Schedule: Describe what the first day of the class looks like and what will the rest of the semester look like.
  • Reassure students that you and other University resources will help them navigate through this unusual first week of class. If they cannot attend due to quarantine or other reasons, we will communicate clearly what they need to do so that they do not fall behind in class.

We appreciate everything you are doing to support our educational mission during these difficult circumstances. If you have questions, the Roaring Back website is regularly updated with the University’s operational plans, case reporting, classroom capacity, FAQs, and health guidelines. All University emails and communications related to COVID-19 are also archived online.

––Roaring Back Instructional Group
Idaho State
This email was sent to all Idaho State University faculty.
Send comments, feedback, and questions to communications@isu.edu.