Outside In
The virtual classroom environment can be confining. It can be exciting and educational to expand beyond this and bring the outside world into your virtual classroom.
Guests
- Call or email professionals, experts, those who work in your field, other instructors, or those who have had personal experiences with your course content.
- Be sure to explain to your guest how online works (login instructions, time frame for the visit, how to use technology, what to expect).
- For adding guest lecturers or others to your Canvas containers, fill out the form on the Canvas Forms page.
- Consider using Zoom online conferencing for a rich experience.
Interviews
- Have students interview someone related to course material (in person, by phone, by email).
- Post their interview (or a recording or video) to a Canvas discussion.
Observations
- Have students observe people or a situation that relates to course material
Field Trips
- Have students visit a course-related location and report (prepare assignment instructions and questions)
- Examples: a church for religious studies, court for law, planetarium for astronomy
Cross-Cultural Assignment
- Explore other countries by Web search
- Google has a language translator
- You might even set up correspondence through similar online courses in other countries (perfect for history, languages, political science)
- Google has a text translator
Movies
- Have students view a movie (theater or rented) that relates to class material
Share
- Exchange material with other instructors here or across the world (search for schools)
- Share video, animations, presentations
Labs
- Simulate laboratory experiments using household items
- See the sidebar in Choosing Materials