Preparing Your Virtual Course

ICON Course Design  

Designing ICON course sites with logical, consistent layouts helps provide a clear learning path for students. The resources in this section can help you prepare your course by defining a modular course structure that works for you and your students.   

• Create an Effective Virtual Course Structure. This guide explains the key components to include in an ICON course. 
• Keep Teaching ICON Course Template. Self-enroll in this ICON course to gain access to basic template components that you can download and use in your own course site. 
• ICON (Canvas) Instructor Guides. Full suite of searchable how-to documents to help you complete practical tasks in ICON. 

Post Your Syllabus  

• Use this Syllabus Template to provide additional information and support for your students. 
• Post your syllabus on ICON either as a file, a page, or a module item. 
• Add course-specific technology recommendations to the syllabus and be prepared to address student questions.  

Share Course Content    

• Post your course content on ICON either as a file, a page, or a module item. 
• ICON Course Design resources can help you structure course content. 
• Add links to library resources using the Proxy Server. 
• The University of Iowa Libraries can connect you to a subject liaison who can provide departmental research support, teaching services, and other resources. 

Plan Learning Activities and Assignments 

Assessing students’ learning in a virtual course means implementing strategies that capture students’ learning and preserve academic integrity. Effective assessment strategies support students in developing their learning experience and include frequent, low-stakes formative assessment. Review the following resources as you plan virtual assessments. 

• Assessments in Virtual Instruction. Find information on exam integrity and links to supported tools for project and question-based learning activities. 
• Alternative Assessment Chart. Find links to supported tools for common learning activities and assessments. 
• Find additional Keep Teaching resources on Administering High-Stakes Assessments.

Assignments  

Use formats that require personal responses, such as argument papers, videos, or brief online presentations. Consider using open book/source options where students work individually or in groups to answer questions.  

• Collect student submissions and evaluate student learning with ICON Assignments. 
  • Plagiarism detection with Turnitin 
• Provide students with grades and feedback. 
  • ICON SpeedGrader
  • ICON Gradebook

Quizzes and Exams 

• ICON Quizzes for formative assessment and summative exams. 
• Proctoring options:  
  • Respondus Lockdown Browser and Respondus Monitor 
  • Proctorio. Access this self-enroll training site to determine if Proctorio is a good solution for your course. 

Discussions 

The best discussion questions promote continued conversation and deepen engagement. Real-world scenarios, case studies, and practical application help facilitate meaningful learning.   

• Create ICON Discussions. Online forums differ from in-person discussions, so it’s important to be transparent regarding expectations for interaction and grading.    
• Use Zoom to host live discussions.  

Polling  

• Zoom Polling. Use the integrated polling tool to quickly check understanding. 
• Top Hat responses can be shared via screen-share in a live Zoom session. There may be a display delay to students, depending on internet bandwidth.  

Peer Review  

The UI has three tools for online peer view:  

• Peerceptiv. Contact the ITS Help Desk to set up.  
• Turnitin PeerMark  
• ICON Peer Review 

Student Projects and Presentations 

• Students can schedule virtual meetings and presentations and deliver performances in Zoom.  
• Groups can record a Zoom meeting and share/submit to ICON, UICapture, or YouTube.   
• SharePoint and Microsoft Office 365 allow students to share files and collaborate.   
• Instructors can set up groups in an ICON course site or a Wiki to provide space for students to collaborate.  
• Students can use UICapture to record individual presentations or portions of a group presentation and post recordings in ICON, if meeting synchronously is not an option.  

Record Lectures 

Before selecting one of the available recording tools, review these tips on Recording Content at Home. 

Record with UICapture 

• UI Capture allows you to record your voice, face, and screen from a laptop or tablet and post the recordings to ICON.  
  • UICapture Guides 

Record with Zoom 

• Zoom allows you to record a/synchronous lectures. If you select Record to Cloud, your recordings will automatically transfer to UICapture after you leave the session.
  • Zoom Guides
  • Record with Zoom 
• Media Capture Kits and Green Screen Kits are available to assist with lecture recording. 

Publish Your ICON Course 

• Access ICON at icon.uiowa.edu 
• Publish an ICON Course 
• ICON Getting Started. Instructor guide to ICON basics. 
• ICON (Canvas) Instructor Guides. Full suite of searchable how-to documents to help you complete practical tasks in ICON. 

Technology Solutions 

Not sure which tool will best fit your needs? Get help using technology for your classes. Contact the ITS Help Desk or the Office of Teaching, Learning & Technology.