Technology Resources for Faculty

Students will need a broadband internet connection. If you have questions or concerns about your internet connectivity or speeds, contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or your mobile provider.  

Requirements:

• Internet connection via DSL, Cable, WiFi, a mobile data plan, or other broadband service. 
  • Instructors requiring internet access in their place of residence during remote instruction periods should refer to our list of resources for securing an internet connection from off-campus locations.
    • Internet access resources

Recommendations:

• Please check your internet connection to ensure that it is sufficient for remote teaching. You can test your internet connection at www.speedtest.net.
  • Recommendation: Broadband internet with 25Mbps download speed, 3Mbps upload speed.
• Use a modern web browser such as Firefox, Chrome, Safari, or Edge.

Best practices and tips:

• If you are experiencing issues with slow or dropped connections while using WiFi, try a wired connection using Ethernet instead.
• Streaming content in the background may slow your connection down. When connecting to a Zoom session, it is recommended that you do not stream YouTube, Spotify or other online content providers in the background.

Related Support Documents:

• Tips to enhance your WiFi network
• Internet speed and bandwidth
• Troubleshooting your connection with your service provider

Requesting assistance with internet access

• To request assistance with internet access use this form.

Requesting laptops:
To request a laptop, please use this form.

Requirements:

• A computing device with internet access such as a desktop or laptop computer OR a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet
  • See section on connectivity and internet access for more information on internet requirements and recommendations
• A microphone (instructors may require students to participate in courses verbally)
• Speakers or headphones

Recommendations:

• Use a laptop running Windows 10 or macOS 10.13 (or above)
  • Rationale: Laptops generally have all of the necessary equipment built-in, including microphones, webcams and speakers. A laptop running a supported version of Windows or macOS will provide the best compatibility with software and websites students are required to use in courses.
• Webcam (integrated with laptop or USB accessory)
  • Rationale: If your computer does not have a camera built-in, an external USB webcam will provide camera functionality for cases when instructors may ask students to show video in live sessions or for video recorded assignments such as speeches and presentations. Many USB webcams also have microphones built-in with slightly better quality than the ones built-in to a  computer.

Best practices and tips:

• iPads and devices running ChromeOS are not recommended as a full computer replacement as they may not be compatible with software required to complete course work
• Keep your computer's operating system and the browsers and applications you use up-to-date to ensure continued access to campus resources such as iLearn and Zoom

Instructors are assigned to one of nearly 500 classrooms or instructional spaces across the University as part of the departmental and college schedule building process (typically created a few months before a given semester). Almost all classroom spaces have standardized audio-visual technologies to support presentations or other types of classroom engagements. That includes a central projector or LCD screen, speakers, and a central control system. Instructors must bring their own laptop or other device for presentations (with computer lab spaces being a notable exception).

In order to help faculty plan or review the technology available in assigned classroom spaces, Academic Technology has created the Classroom Technology Database to view available technology in almost all classrooms. When logged in, faculty can look up their specific assigned spaces, as the system is connected to the campus scheduling system. Prior to each semester, AT also uses the system to email links to assigned classrooms so that faculty can look up available technology and see what adapters or other accessories may be needed.

Instructors can promptly report issues with classroom technology to AT (call 415-405-5555) and we will dispatch a technician ASAP; or, you can contact AT with specific questions about available technology.

View Canvas Documentation via AT Help

View Canvas Guides (via Instructure)

Share feedback or ask a question - Visit the Community Help Forum to learn more.

Faculty Resources

• Canvas overview for faculty (video by Canvas)
• Course homepage customization (video by Canvas)
• Making course announcements (Canvas documentation)
• Canvas assignments (Canvas documentation)
• Canvas discussions (Canvas documentation)
• Grades and the gradebook (Canvas documentation)

Review AT's guide to essential tools for instruction and educational technology.  Learn more about getting resources, setting up courses, receiving training and more.

View essential tools

Beginning Fall 2022, faculty can begin building their courses in Canvas by Instructure, as part of a statewide initiative to standardize LMS platforms among higher education institutions in California. 

Canvas will become the default LMS for all courses starting Spring 2023; iLearn will remain available until Fall 2023.

Let your students know that you will be using Canvas for your class. Direct them to https://canvas.sfsu.edu to find your class.

Related Support Documents:

• Getting started with Canvas
• Start of semester checklist
• View all Canvas guides

iLearn has been SF State's online learning management system for almost two decades, where instructors can organize their courses and materials, and students interact with resources and participate in classes. 

Note: Our campus is adopting Canvas by Instructure as our new Learning Management System (LMS) as of Spring 2023.

For instructors uncomfortable or unable to use Canvas as a primary means of communication, campus email can be used as a method for communicating with students and sharing instructions or assignments.

• Be sure to download class rosters from Faculty Center, including students' email to ensure durable access to student email addresses.
• Campus email uses Microsoft Exchange. For best results, use the Microsoft Outlook email program or the Outlook Web App.

Box at SF State is a cloud-based, collaborative storage service used to share documents with faculty, staff and students.

Related Support Documents:

• Accessing Box at SF State 
• Adding documents to Box 
• Share documents with others

Video conferencing via Zoom can be used to conduct virtual office hours. Zoom is a video conferencing platform with a shared display area, real-time video, voice, chat and polling options. Although Zoom is often used for facilitating class sessions with larger groups, it is easily utilized for individual conference sessions such as for conducting Virtual Office Hours.

Related Support Documents:

• What is Zoom
• Downloading and using the Zoom mobile app
• Add a Zoom meeting to an iLearn course

Web conferencing (Zoom) allows instructors to meet with students online using video, voice, chat, PowerPoint and screen sharing. Web conferences are added to your iLearn class as activities.

Please note that during emergency transitions to remote instruction, especially during periods of shelter-in-place, many students do not have access to all the conditions required to share their video in real time: access to high-speed internet, a computer, webcam, and quiet, private place. To address these equity issues, faculty are encouraged to record their sessions so students can review them at a future time, and not require students to show their live camera feed at all times

Related Support Documents:

• Zoom Basics
• Downloading and using the Zoom mobile app

CourseStream allows you to record a lecture on your computer and post it in iLearn for your class. CourseStream is also available in some classrooms where your in-class lecture is automatically recorded and posted to your iLearn course.

Contact Academic Technology to get started with CourseStream on your work computer or in your classroom.

Related Support Documents:

• Video Recording with CourseStream

Students can chat with the instructor and other students while participating in a live online class session. Use breakout rooms to facilitate small group discussions between students during the class.

Related Support Documents:

• Zoom Basics
• Downloading and using the Zoom mobile app

Canvas offers two main methods to communicate with students:

• Announcements: Whole-class (or whole-section) mass communication.
• Inbox: Messaging to one, multiple, or all students in a class. 

Announcements are the preferred way of contacting your class as a whole. An announcement will both post to the announcements area of your class and send your students a notification with the contents of the announcement.

Inbox is a self-contained messaging system within Canvas. It's not directly affiliated with your course, though there are filters that allow you to select your course participants. Inbox should be used sparingly, or in situations where you only need to contact a specific student rather than the whole class.

Related Support Documents:

• Communicating with students using Canvas (via ATHelp)

• Canvas support document for announcements

• Canvas support document for inbox

Canvas has a built-in gradebook to keep track of student progress and provide them with feedback. This tool can be customized to suit your preferred grading method and calculations whether it is points-based, percentages-based or extra credit.

Related Support Documents:

• Gradebook instructional guides (via ATHelp)

Use Canvas assignments to allow students to submit a file or text typed directly into Canvas and collect student work, provide feedback and assign grades. 

Related Support Documents:

• Assignments in Canvas

Assign quizzes and exams that can be automatically graded by Canvas. Canvas quizzes allow for many different types of questions including multiple choice, matching, true/false, short answer and essay. Quiz scores are automatically added to the gradebook, saving you time.

Related Support Documents:

• Getting Started with Quizzes

Turnitin is an online teaching tool that allows students to submit a file that will be automatically checked and flagged for instances of possible plagiarism, over-reliance on cited resources and improper citation. It also provides the ability to quickly mark the papers with comments and assign grades online, eliminating the need to download students’ submissions to your computer.

Related Support Documents:

• Creating a Turnitin assignment

Emphasize Learning Over Testing

During periods of remote instruction prompted by orders to shelter-in-place, many students do not have access to all the conditions required to succeed in a remotely proctored exam: access to high-speed internet, a computer, a webcam, and a quiet, private place.

To address these equity, accessibility and privacy issues, faculty are encouraged to replace high-stakes exams with projects that promote creativity, collaboration and new ways of demonstrating knowledge that do not require remote proctoring. Visit these websites for ideas and strategies for alternative final exams: 

Remote Exams and Assessments Rutgers University
Alternatives To Traditional Testing: Center for Teaching and Learning, UC Berkeley
Alternatives To Traditional Exams and Papers: Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning, Indiana University
Moving Your Final Exams Online: Office of Teaching and Learning, University of Denver
Online Alternatives to In-Person Proctored Exams: Office of Distance Learning, University of Florida
Final Exam Options: Keep Teaching, UC Davis
A Different Kind of Final: Faculty Focus
The Final Exam Experience: Center for Teaching and Learning, Brigham Young University 
Alternatives to Exams and Finals The Ohio State University
Assessments for Virtual Instruction Cal State San Luis Obispo
What Do Final Exams Mean During a Pandemic? Chronicle of Higher Education

• Use University-approved technology tools for your classes, including approved online course platforms and document sharing tools. If you would like to use an external product such as a publisher tool, ensure it is vetted properly through SF State’s Technology Acquisition Review process or email ati@sfsu.edu.
• If you have any students with disabilities registered for and requesting DPRC services enrolled in your course, you will receive an accommodations letter from myDPRC. Instructors should familiarize themselves with myDPRC.  You can assist in timely requests and referrals by reminding all students of DPRC services early in the semester.
• Use the Syllabus Tool to create an accessible syllabus that also meets all University requirements.
• If creating documents for use in your course, apply accessibility best practices to your documents. You may also encourage the use of the Accessible Media Quick Converter to all your students, regardless of disability. This tool converts documents between accessible formats and is available to all SF State faculty, staff and students.
• If you are administering assessments in your course, review CEETL’s recommendations on how to plan online assessments designed with academic integrity in mind.  If approved by DPRC, please ensure you provide extended time for any students in alignment with any accommodation letters you received from the DPRC for any timed assessments. Review Academic Technology’s guide to changing a single student’s quiz time as needed.
• Consider incorporating guidelines of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in your course as this will helps all students learn. Some examples are below:
  • Make recordings of your class Zoom sessions available for students so that they may go back and review.
  • Always communicate a consistent class agenda and keep deadlines consistent. Ensure all instructions are clear and concise. Providing consistency and clarity up front will reduce the amount of questions and confusion on the students’ end.
  • Start class off with a review of how students are expected to engage with the Zoom class. This includes instructions and reminders about turning microphones on and off, use of cameras, etc. Flexibility is recommended to reduce impacts of directly viewing Zoom sessions for long periods.

• Additional Resources

• Supporting Students with Disabilities
• Tips for Instructors: Teaching Deaf Students Online
• Zoom Accessibility Tips

Instructors can consider assigning no-cost, open educational resources to their students as a form alternative assignment during a closure or disruption.  Learn more at the Affordable Learning website.

Faculty and students have access to a variety of resources to integrate into courses:

• SF State film and video collection
• eBooks

Reserve Teaching Space

Faculty members can now reserve one of the six group study rooms in the first floor Research Commons for use as an individual, single-occupancy teaching space. To make a reservation, use the following link: https://rooms.sfsu.edu/library/. 

Academic Scheduling Room Request Form: To request use of University controlled lecture rooms for one time events. Faculty should continue to submit their requests through their department/college office coordinator.

Visit the Academic Resources site for more information and to book

Computer Lab Room Request Form

To request use of University controlled computer labs for one time events. Faculty should continue to submit their requests through their department/college office coordinator.

Request a Computer Lab

Labspace provides students and faculty anytime, anywhere access to software applications.  For faculty, specialized software is more easily available for conducting research, training, or scholarship.

• Learn more about Labspace
• Log into Labspace

Related Support Documents:

• AT Help Center Labspace Guides

Faculty and staff at San Francisco State University are eligible for a free copy of Microsoft Office 365.

• Get Microsoft Office 365

Faculty and staff are entitled to all Adobe Creative Cloud applications, which can be installed individually but are categorized as: Acrobat Pro standalone, Creative Cloud, and Creative Cloud with video tools.

• Get Adobe Creative Cloud (CC)

Current students, faculty and staff are eligible to install MATLAB on personally owned computers.

• Getting MATLAB for students

Box.com

Box at SF State is a cloud-based, collaborative storage service used to share documents with employees, students and non-SF State individuals. The Box.com integration with iLearn also allows users to access and upload files they have stored in their University-provisioned Box account to their iLearn courses.

Box.com information and support

Turnitin

Turnitin is a plagiarism checking assignment tool with advanced grading capabilities that faculty can add directly to their iLearn courses.  Once students upload an assignment, Turnitin compares the text to other student submissions and other sources in the Turnitin database (ex: commonly used websites, journals, periodicals and publications), providing a customized originality report for instructors to compare to the matches. 

Turnitin information and support

Qualtrics

Qualtrics is an easy to use, full-featured web-based survey tool software for creating and conducting online surveys. 

Qualtrics information and support