Course-in-a-box for New CU Educators

CTL’s Fall Intensive

Mapping your course using backwards design 

Creating and using course learning outcomes 

Choosing materials and methods to deliver course content 

Designing assessments 

Adopting textbooks, iClickers, and other course materials via the CU Book Store 

Finding syllabi from past courses at CU via the Syllabus Archive

Designing an inclusive and accessible syllabus 

Getting to know CU’s academic calendar 

Getting to know CU’s final exam schedule 

Creating attendance policies 

Learning about Flex Plans and other accommodations offered through CU Disability Services 

Including required university statements in your syllabus

Getting started with Canvas. Canvas is CU’s Learning Management System (LMS). This site includes links to resources for creating a Canvas site; posting documents, media, and other content to your Canvas site; creating graded assignments, quizzes, and discussions; publishing your Canvas course; and other helpful information from CU’s Office of Information Technology (OIT).

Note: If you need to add eBooks or other digital resources to your Canvas site, you may need direct assistance from the publisher of those digital resources (e.g., Norton).

Grading in Canvas. This site includes links to resources for setting up a grading scheme and grade cutoffs in Canvas, setting up assignment groups and weights in your Canvas gradebook, setting up assignment drop policies and other grading policies in your Canvas gradebook, hiding and posting grades, etc. 

Adding people (TAs, graders, etc.) to your Canvas site

Signing up for Canvas trainings through CU’s Office of Information Technology (OIT)

Additional Canvas resources and support from Instructure, the developer and publisher of Canvas

Getting to know instructional technologies like Canvas, iClickers, VoiceThread, and Zoom

Setting up and using iClickers (for classroom polling, attendance, quizzes, etc.)

Capturing high-quality video recordings of your lectures with Classroom Capture. (Note that only certain classrooms are eligible)

Deciding where and when to hold your office hours: Consider asking your colleagues what office hours modality (in-person, remote over Zoom, or hybrid) and days and times they recommend. You can also ask your colleagues where to find guidance on department- or program-specific requirements regarding office hours (e.g., required number of office hours per week). 

Note: If you do not have a campus office and wish to hold in-person office hours, you may need to talk with your department about reserving a physical space for your office hours. 

Scheduling a recurring meeting in Zoom (for remote or hybrid office hours).

Establishing TA responsibilities and expectations via an Instructor/TA agreement 

Sending out a welcome email: Consider sending out a welcome email to welcome your students to your course. It is recommended that instructors send out welcome emails at least a week before the first day of class and include when and where your class will meet, required textbooks or other course materials or technology (e.g., clickers), and any other information that will help students prepare for your course. The welcome email is also a great opportunity to begin building rapport with your students by introducing yourself and sharing why you are excited to teach this course!

Using a pre-semester survey (e.g., to learn more about your students’ identities and backgrounds or needs or concerns they have heading into the semester)