Virtual Instruction for Dummies

by David Tománek at Michigan State University

There are times, such as during a contagious virus pandemic, when students may no longer see the instructor and each other face-to-face. Here is a minimalist way to provide instruction under such conditions.

1. What You Need to Have

A computer with (broadband) access to the internet
Space on the internet to store on-line material (lectures, quizzes, exams). The University typically provides such space.
A webcam. (Go for a device with zoom capability. The typical cost may be US$ 30-40.)
A program/app to record a *.mp4 video with audio from your webcam. (WIN10 Camera app works. Superior free software is Debut Video Capture and click "Get it Free". This software allows you to access webcam features including zoom that Camera does not. Click on Options to select the proper webcam and Device Settings to increase your choices.)
A blackboard/whiteboard, where what you write may be recorded. (It may be in your office.)

2. How to Manage Lectures, Quizzes, Exams

Segment your course material into lectures that are well identified. (e.g. PHY801-L20 is material in Lecture 20 of the PHY801 course.)
Record your lectures, one-by-one, into video files. (e.g. the file PHY801-L20.mp4 contains Lecture 20 of PHY801.)
Post the video files of your lectures on the web. (Upload time may be substantial for videos of 1GB or more.) Inform students of the URLs of posted lectures by email.
If you have powerpoint or other support files, organize them in a separate subdirectory (e.g. PHY801/support) and post them in this subdirectory. (E.g. PHY801/support/L20.ppt file may contain support for Lecture L20.)
Inform students of the URLs of support material by email.
If you offer quizzes, prepare a dedicated subdirectory (e.g. PHY801/quiz)
Prepare a text file with the name index.html (you can create the file index.txt and rename it to index.html). The file has the single input: "Get out." Post the file PHY801/quiz/index.html on the web for everyone to access.
Prepare your quiz and post it in the same directory on the web. (The file containing your Quiz #15 may be called PHY801-Q15-cz4f3.html.) Part of the file name, e.g. "-cz4f3", is your "secret code". (With the file PHY801/quiz/index.html in place, anybody trying to list the files in your directory will be told to "Get out.")
Inform students by email when the quiz will be given.
At the time of the quiz, email all students in the course the URL of the quiz (e.g. https://myuniversity.edu/myname/PHY801/quiz/PHY801-Q15-cz4f3.html) and ask the students to return solutions by a certain time as email attachments.
Students will solve the quiz on a sheet of paper, take a snap shot with their cell phone and return the snap shot by email by the due time. (Ask students to write down their name.)
Exams may be given in the same way: Create a directory "exams", post the same index.html file as well as the exam file there. Make sure nobody can guess the filename of the exam. Email everybody to be ready for the URL of the exam. Email the URL and the deadline to return solutions as smart-phone pics.

3. Make Your Own Whiteboard

The size of a decent whiteboard is 4' wide x 2' high. Use a thin white-coated 4' x 2' panel from your lumber store.
Buy three wooden 8' long beams. They should cost about US$5.00 altogether.
One of the wooden beams has to be cut in half. The other two beams have to be cut into 6' and 2' long pieces. (You can get it done in the lumber store.)
Glue or screw them together to have a stand.
Mount the while panel. Place screws below and on the sides of the panel to fix it in place, while making it interachangeable.

4. Make Your Own TV Studio