TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What is Instructional Continuity?
• Plan Ahead and Set Expectations
• Stay Informed and Communicate With Your Students
• Create Course Content and Student Activities
  • Create an Online Synchronous Meeting
  • Create and Share Content in myLesley
  • Create Student Activities and Assignments

What is Instructional Continuity?

Instructional Continuity simply means keeping your course on track during disruptions to normal teaching. Unexpected events, such as severe weather, illness, travel, etc., can interrupt scheduled class activities. But being prepared with a continuity plan helps ensure that learning continues with minimal disruption. By communicating clearly with students, adjusting schedules or assignments, and using online tools to shift activities to a virtual environment, instructors can keep courses on track. 

This guide provides practical strategies and resources to help you adapt quickly and sustain instruction during unexpected interruptions.

Plan Ahead and Set Expectations

Don't wait until the last minute! Include a clearly stated policy in your syllabus regarding remote learning days, absences, and unexpected cancellations. Let your students know what the expectations are under these circumstances and which resources may be implemented in lieu of a face-to-face class meeting. 

You may want to let students know:

• How you will communicate with them (ex email, course announcements, course messages). 
• How they can communicate with you (ex email, course messages, phone/text).
• How you will continue instruction in the event of unexpected events (ex online synchronous meeting, asynchronous work in myLesley).
• What your expectations are for completing assignments or activities (due the same day, extended due dates).

Be sure to post your syllabus in your myLesley course site so that your students can easily access it. 

Stay Informed and Communicate With Your Students

Stay up-to-date on Lesley closings and delays with the Lesley Emergency Alert System. Advise your students to do the same.

If the university has declared a remote learning day, or if you need to move your course online, communicate with your students right away. 

• Reach out to your students right away to alert them to the change in schedule.
  • If you Post an Announcement in myLesley, be sure to select the option to send an email copy to recipients.
• Let your students know about the change, how you will continue instruction, and your expectations for completing assignments or activities.
• Let your students know the best way to communicate with you.

Create Course Content and Student Activities

Consider options for making up missed class time by identifying your priorities, such as delivering content, facilitating discussion, or collecting assignments. Decide which activities can be moved online or rescheduled, and whether to make up time immediately or distribute it across the week based on your course needs.

Your approaches may vary depending on your course, content, and type of event. 

Create an Online Synchronous Meeting

Create an online meeting during your scheduled class time to support continuity and real-time engagement. Keep in mind that during severe weather events or widespread power outages, this approach may not be accessible for all students.

• Add Zoom Meetings in Your myLesley Course

Create and Share Content in myLesley

Use your myLesley course site to share content with your students. You may upload or link to different types of content, including documents and files, Library resources, media, and more.

• Upload Files: Upload files to your course, including documents, PowerPoint files, and PDFs.  
• Link to Online Resources: Create links to online content, including Lesley Library resources and journal articles.
• Record a Lecture or Narrated Presentation: Record a lecture or narrated presentation and upload it to your course via Kaltura Media.
• Share Media (Audio and Video): Easily share media with your students, including content you have created or online content from YouTube, PBS, library media databases, and more.

Create Student Activities and Assignments

Use your myLesley course site to recreate student activities and collect work online. Let your students know how these online activities will replace the in-person instruction, when the work is due, and how they will be assessed. 

• Create and Facilitate Discussions: Use the myLesley Discussion tool to replace or enhance classroom discussions.
• Collect and Grade Student Assignments: Use the myLesley Assignment tool to collect and grade papers or other written assignments.
• Create and Grade Tests: Use the myLesley Test tool to test your students' knowledge.