Virtual Teaching Support Hub (Faculty)

Purpose

This guide helps Chatham instructors teach virtually with confidence by sharing recommended tools, common teaching workflows, and practical pedagogy tips.

Table of Contents:

Quick Start Checklist

Chatham Supported Tools

Virtual Teaching Workflow

Virtual Teaching Pedagogical Tips

Support and Help

 

Quick Start Checklist 

1) Confirm your access

  • Log into your Chatham email and Microsoft 365 account

  • Confirm you can access Brightspace and your course shell

  • Make sure you can log into any tools you plan to use (Zoom, Teams, YuJa, etc.)

Helpful reference:

2) Check your technology readiness

Recommended baseline:

  • High-speed internet connection (minimum 8 Mbps up/down recommended)

  • A reliable computer (8 GB RAM and ~120 GB free space recommended)

  • A headset or earbuds with microphone (improves audio quality)

  • Webcam (built-in or external)

3) Decide how you will meet with students

Choose one primary live tool:

4) Decide how you will share recorded content

Use YuJa to record and share course videos (and connect them to Brightspace when needed).

5) Build engagement

  • Discussion board activity

  • Collaborative Padlet board

  • Short quiz/check-for-understanding

  • Reflection prompt

6) Add a “Help & Support” area in your course

Include:

  • Who to contact for technical help

  • What to do if students can’t access Brightspace, Zoom, or course materials

  • Links to required tools

Chatham-Supported Tools for Virtual Teaching

Brightspace (LMS)

Best for: Course organization, content, assignments, grades
Use it to:

  • Post weekly modules and checklists

  • Collect assignments and give feedback

  • Host discussions and quizzes

Link:

Microsoft Teams - Preferred

Best for: Collaboration and communication
Use it to:

  • Host meetings and quick check-ins

  • Create chat-based student support spaces

  • Support group work

Link:

Zoom - 40-minute limit

Best for: Live class sessions and office hours
Use it to:

  • Teach live with screen sharing

  • Use chat, polls, breakout rooms

  • Record sessions (when appropriate)

Link:

YuJa

Best for: Recording and sharing instructional video
Use it to:

  • Record lectures or demonstrations

  • Share videos inside Brightspace

  • Support captioning and accessibility

Link:

H5P

Best for: Interactive learning content
Use it to:

  • Build interactive videos, flashcards, practice activities

  • Create short self-check learning tasks

Link:

Edpuzzle

Best for: Video with embedded questions and participation tracking
Use it to:

  • Embed checks for understanding directly into videos

  • Monitor student engagement and responses

Link:

Padlet

Best for: Collaborative boards and visual sharing
Use it to:

  • Brainstorming and idea collection

  • Peer feedback galleries

  • Muddiest point / quick reflection

Link:

VoiceThread

Best for: Multimedia discussions (audio/video/text)
Use it to:

  • Student presentations with peer feedback

  • Discussion alternatives for students who prefer speaking

Link:

  • VoiceThread
    must be accessed via Brightspace link

Turnitin

Best for: Originality checking and feedback support
Use it to:

  • Teach citation and academic writing practices

  • Support drafting and revision workflows

Link:

  • Turnitin
    must be accessed via Brightspace link

Respondus LockDown Browser / Monitor

Best for: Online testing security (when needed)
Use it to:

  • Secure quiz environments

  • Remote proctoring (if required)

Link:

  • Respondus
    must be accessed via Brightspace

 

Thinglink

Best for: Interactive images and learning experiences
Use it to:

  • Create interactive walkthroughs, diagrams, or virtual tours

  • Add hotspots to visuals with resources and explanations

Link:

Common Virtual Teaching Workflows

A simple weekly structure students can follow

A reliable pattern reduces confusion and increases participation:

  1. Preview: what we’re learning this week

  2. Learn: short video/readings

  3. Practice: low-stakes activity

  4. Discuss/Collaborate: discussion, Padlet, VoiceThread, group work

  5. Submit: assignment or quiz

  6. Reflect: short wrap-up or self-check

Live session structure (Teams or Zoom)

A strong 45–75 minute virtual session often includes:

  • Opening (5 min): welcome + quick prompt in chat

  • Teach (10–15 min): short chunk of instruction

  • Engage (5–10 min): poll, breakout, or quick share

  • Repeat: 2–3 short cycles

  • Wrap-up (5 min): recap + what’s due + where to find it

Video + engagement workflow

Online Discussions Best Practices

To improve participation and quality:

  • Give students 2–3 prompt options (choice helps engagement)

  • Require evidence (quote, timestamp, data point, example)

  • Provide a short rubric or checklist

  • Grade lightly but consistently

Pedagogical Tips for Virtual Teaching

Design for attention, not endurance

Students learn better with variety and interaction than with long lectures.
Try this: short content + frequent student actions (polls, chat prompts, quick writing)

Make expectations visible

Students do better when they know exactly what “good work” looks like.
Try this: weekly checklists, examples, and rubrics

Increase instructor presence without increasing workload

Presence doesn’t require long meetings.
Try this: weekly announcements, short recap videos, “top misconceptions” posts

Build belonging early

Online learning improves when students feel connected.
Try this: intro activity + small groups that stay together for a few weeks

Plan for flexibility and access

Not all students have the same tech or environment.
Try this: captions/transcripts, mobile-friendly content, clear alternatives to live attendance

Use frequent, low-stakes assessment

This helps students stay on track and reduces anxiety.
Try this: short quizzes, reflections, exit tickets, practice assignments

Support & Help

IT Support Services

For accounts, software, Wi-Fi, and device issues:

Helpful reference

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