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Severe weather may impact learning due to travel restrictions, loss of internet access and/or power, and additional responsibilties for staff and students. Canceling classes entirely can also disrupt the learning process. However, with careful planning, faculty can transition to online learning while providing flexibility to support students.
ESTABLISH A PLAN
To prepare for potential shifts to remote learning due to inclement weather it is essential to establish clear expectations for your students and develop a realistic plan for how instruction will continue, and any impact on deadlines.
There are two primary approaches for online instruction: synchronous and asynchronous. Below are a few questions to consider whether you want to meet synchronously or teach a class asynchronously. If you opt to teach synchronously online, some basic instructions for using Microsoft Teams are also included.
Microsoft (MS) Teams
Microsoft (MS) Teams
Microsoft (MS) Teams is available via web browser or can be downloaded to your desktop. It's also available as an iOS or Android app through the app store. You can login online, on your desktop, or through the mobile app by using your Centre email address.
MS Teams is a self-service application and you can learn more about different features through MS's help and learning resources or video tutorials. Training and support provided by ITS are limited to account access questions.
Please visit the Information Technology Services MS Teams page for more information including record retention policies and additional training.
NOTE: These pages preference teaching on MS Teams which Centre College has adopted for video conferencing. If you prefer to try another platform such as Zoom or Google hangout, some sources for these platforms are listed in the resources.
Steps to Set up a Teams Meeting (use for a single class meeting)
Steps to Set up a Teams Meeting (use for a single class meeting)
Open Microsoft Teams (desktop app or web) and sign in.
Go to Calendar (left sidebar).
Click New meeting (or Meet now if it’s immediate).
Add a title for the meeting.
Add attendees (names or email addresses).
Set the date/time (and recurrence if needed).
Add channel (optional) and/or location (optional).
Add an agenda/notes in the details box (optional but helpful).
Click Send to schedule it and email the invite with the meeting link.
Steps to Set up/Use Breakout Rooms
Steps to Set up/Use Breakout Rooms
Start the meeting (or join it) and make sure you’re the organizer (or a breakout rooms manager).
In the meeting controls, click Rooms (breakout rooms icon).
If you don’t see it: More (… ) → Breakout rooms.
Choose Number of rooms you want.
Choose how to assign people:
- Automatically (Teams distributes participants), or
- Manually (you pick who goes where).If assigning manually: select participants → Assign → choose a room.
(Optional) Click Room settings to adjust options like:
set a time limit
allow people to return to the main meeting
automatically move people into rooms (if available in your version)
Click Open rooms (or Start rooms) to send participants into their breakout rooms.
During the activity: use Broadcast to send a message to all rooms, and Join to pop into any room.
When finished: click Close rooms to bring everyone back to the main meeting.
Steps to Record a Teams Meeting
Steps to Record a Teams Meeting
Join or start the Teams meeting.
Click More actions (… ) in the meeting controls.
Select Record and transcribe (or Record) → Start recording.
If prompted, choose whether to also Start transcription (optional).
Continue the meeting as normal (participants may see a recording indicator).
To stop: More actions (… ) → Record and transcribe → Stop recording (or Stop transcription if needed).
After the meeting ends, Teams processes the recording and posts a link in the meeting chat (and/or the channel conversation).
Additional Resources and Links
Article fron Inside Higher Ed about hybrid teaching (some are online and some are in person)
Flip is a technology that allows interactive learning in virtual teaching spaces.
Replicating in-person experiences. Videos from Centre's Covid pivot. (link)
Google Sites
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