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Welcome to the Instructor Guidebook

This Instructor Guidebook: Teaching & Learning at Clarkson University was created by the Teaching & Learning Corner (TLC) team to help Clarkson instructors successfully design, teach, manage, and improve their courses. The guidebook includes practical resources, teaching strategies, technology support, Moodle help, policies, and frequently asked questions. Whether you teach fully online, hybrid, synchronous, or in-person courses, this guidebook is designed to support you throughout the semester.

What You Will Find in the Guidebook

The guidebook is organized into chapters that follow the natural lifecycle of teaching a course. Topics include:

    Course delivery modes and syllabus preparation

    Getting started with Moodle

    Course design and quality standards

    Communication and student engagement

    Online teaching best practices

      Educational technology tools and support

      Assessment, grading, and feedback

      Policies, procedures, and accessibility resources

      Frequently asked questions

      Sample templates, rubrics, and teaching resources

      The guidebook also contains appendices with practical materials instructors can adapt for their own courses.

      Chapter:

      Topics:

      1. What is Teaching & Learning

      Course Delivery Modes

      Syllabus Preparation

      Getting Started with Moodle

      2. Preparing Your Course for Students

      Course design and quality standards

       

      3. Communication and Student Engagement

      Communication is Key

      7 C's of Effective Communication

      4. Effective Online Teaching Practices

      10 Effective Practices Checklist

      Accessibility & Universal Design for Learning

      Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI)

      5. Technology Tools and Support

      EdTech Toolkit: Basic Tech Tools

      Apps Anywhere

      Faculty Toolkit for Moodle

      6. Assessment and Grading

      Assessment, grading and feedback

      7. Policies and Procedures

      Policies, procedures, and accessibility resources

      8. Frequently Asked Questions

      FAQs

      Appendices

      Sample templates, rubrics and teaching resources

      How to Navigate the Guidebook

      Use the Left Navigation Menu

      The menu on the left side of the page displays all chapters and pages within the guidebook.

      • Click a chapter title to expand it

      • Select any page to open its content

      • Use the arrows beside chapter names to collapse or expand sections

      This makes it easy to move between topics without losing your place.

      Use the Search Feature

      At the top left of the Instructor Guidebook window, use the search bar to quickly locate topics in the guide such as:

      • Moodle toolsThe search tool can help you quickly find answers without browsing through multiple chapters.

      • Zoom

      • Gradebook

      • Attendance

      • Accessibility

      • Quality Matters

      • AI tools

      • Rubrics

      • Assessments

      Follow the Chapter Sequence

      New instructors may benefit from reading the guidebook in order:

      1. Start with Chapter 1: What is Teaching & Learning

      2. Move to Preparing Your Course for Students

      3. Explore communication, engagement, and technology tools

      4. Review assessment and grading practices

      5. Bookmark the FAQ and Appendix sections for future reference

      Experienced instructors may prefer to use the guidebook as a searchable reference tool instead.

      Recommended Ways to Use the Guidebook

      Before the Semester Begins

      Use the guidebook to:

      • Build or revise your syllabus

      • Prepare your Moodle course

      • Review course quality recommendations

      • Set up communication plans

      • Explore technology tools available at Clarkson

      During the Semester

      Use the guidebook to:

      • Find answers to Moodle questions

      • Review grading and assessment practices

      • Locate communication templates

      • Explore engagement ideas and discussion activities

      • Access support resources for students

      When You Need Help

      Many pages include links to additional Clarkson resources, tutorials, and support materials.

      If you cannot find what you need:

      • Contact the Teaching & Learning Corner

      • Reach out to your instructional designer

      • Submit a Moodle support request

      • Explore linked technology tool documentation

      Tips for Getting the Most from the Guidebook

      • Bookmark frequently used pages

      • Use the search feature often

      • Review the FAQ chapter before submitting support requests

      • Revisit the appendices for templates and examples

      • Check back regularly for updated content and new resources

      The guidebook is continuously updated to reflect current Clarkson teaching practices, Moodle updates, and emerging instructional technologies.

      Quick Access


      -Open the Instructor Guidebook
      -Browse Clarkson Documentation Library
      -Search BookStack Documentation

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