Current research suggests that in the classroom, whether online or in person, students want to be appreciated and recognized as individuals, exposed to real life examples and experiences, and treated with respect and trust. To help:

• Orient students to Canvas. Help students maximize UTSA’s new learning management system by easily sharing the Canvas Commons: Getting Students Started with Canvas slideshow into a lesson and sharing the Canvas+ Student Resources website to help them find tools, trainings and support designed for students.
• Create a sense of community. Share the UTSA Student Success resource page, keep accessibility in mind (review Receiving A Student Accommodation Letter Quick Tips and visit the Caption Support Services page to easily add video captions), require group work, and provide opportunities for student-to-student interaction to contribute to a sense of community.
• Connect your course to career-engaged learning opportunities. Invite professionals to speak to your class, help students find internships, and include real-world projects to give your students an edge in the job market. Visit Career Engaged Learning at UTSA for current opportunities.
• Provide opportunities for practice.
  • Give frequent low-stakes assessments,
  • allow students to revise assignments,
  • introduce students to Brainfuse, a free online tutoring service accessed through Canvas with live academic support,
  • view the Developing a Growth Mindset with Carol Dweck video for tips on how to foster a growth mindset in your course,
  • give frequent and thorough feedback using the Canvas comment library. Review How do I use the Comment Library in SpeedGrader for more and
  • review the following to learn how to use Canvas to track struggling students.
  • How do I use the Gradebook,
  • Canvas Analytics, and
  • How do I use the icons and colors in the Gradebook?
• Include opportunities for metacognition. Require journal reflections and participation in class discussions with reflective questions to help students think about what they are learning and why it is important to their future.
• Be transparent and clear about course expectations. Talk about your course objectives, provide detailed instructions, and provide a place for anonymous questions to give students a feeling of ownership. Review this Padlet page and consider incorporating it in your course to create interactive boards inside your Canvas course or for interaction in the classroom.