Remote Asynchronous Instruction

In the remote asynchronous instructional mode, students and faculty use communication and collaboration tools at no scheduled meeting time.

Place: Room is not assigned. Communication and collaboration tools provided (Canvas, Kaltura, or other).
Time: Days and times are not assigned.
LionPATH Code: CW – COVID Web

Why It Works

• accounts for COVID-19-related scheduling challenges many students face (e.g., family, work requirements)
• no backup plan needed if the pandemic worsens
• can work for students regardless of time zone — offers a flexible schedule
• student engagement is possible through threaded discussion boards, email, and other technologies that aren’t time-bound

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Policies, Guidelines, and Documents

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Resources for Enhancing Your Teaching

The following instructional resources have been curated by educational developers and instructional designers and reviewed by faculty throughout the University. They are offered in the spirit of support for instructors who need to learn teaching in new modalities or who want to enhance their teaching effectiveness in familiar modalities.

On-Demand Resources

These resources are for faculty who prefer to learn on their own, with a “give me the information and I’ll apply what works for me” approach.

• Teaching Guide for Faculty for Remote Asynchronous InstructionA comprehensive guide to asynchronous course design and management in Canvas, including how to integrate Zoom and Kaltura when designing for remote asynchronous instruction
• Remote Teaching and Assessment StrategiesSupport and guidance for remote teaching and assessment
• Faculty Self-Assessment for Online TeachingA quick assessment for faculty to reflect on their current preparedness to teach online with feedback to direct them to the best resources to meet individual needs
• Best Practices for Online Teaching13 best practices for remote asynchronous teaching
• How to Manage Your Online CourseA timeline for effective remote asynchronous course management
• Remote Teaching and Assessment StrategiesSupport and guidance for remote teaching and assessment
• Faculty to Faculty: What Works in Remote TeachingFaculty share their pedagogical strategies and lessons learned from transitioning to remote teaching.

Collaborative Resources

These resources are for those who prefer to talk with colleagues or someone with expertise in learning or course design.

• Schedule a ConsultationIndividual consultations with course liaisons or find your college or campus instructional designer
• Tech Tutors and Tech TAs1-on-1 personalized technology support by talented Penn State students
• Engaging Students Series: Blending Asynchronous and Synchronous TeachingA series of synchronous sessions focused on student engagement for each delivery mode
• Talk with a University LibrarianA synchronous chat to engage with University librarians
• Faculty Instructional ConsultantsContact any consultant or find your College or Campus Liaison

“Explore Links and the Web” Resources

These resources are for instructors who prefer to do their own web research, exploring links and making conceptual and practical connections.

• Penn State Weblearning @ Penn State – Templates, Tools, and Resources A collection of resources for all web-based courses at Penn State
• Finding Open Educational Resources (OER)A guide to finding and using OER for your courses
• Open at Penn StateA broader guide to affordable, discoverable, and equitable access to information, scholarly research, educational resources, and research data within the University community
• Remote Resources for Penn State Library UsersOnline librarian consultations and resources for remote teaching
• Accessibility at Penn StateA site explaining how to ensure web pages and digital documents can be made accessible for users with different disabilities

“Do a Deeper Dive” Resources

These resources are for those who prefer a directed and structured learning experience, either self-guided and/or instructor-led.

• Free OL Courses at wcfd.psu.eduThe OL series from World Campus Online Faculty Development includes over 17 self-directed and instructor-led courses ranging from 2 hours to 5 weeks on a variety of topics related to online teaching, pedagogy, Canvas, and course design.
• IT Learning and DevelopmentTechnology training for Canvas, Zoom, Kaltura and more

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