GSA Guide for Remote Work

GSA Guide for Remote Work

Resources:

Tips:

Here are 14 quick tips to make online teaching better, from an expert in online learning.

1. Record your lectures – don’t stream them

If students are unwell or are struggling with internet access, they will miss a live streamed lecture. Record videos instead and send them to your students so that they can watch in their own time.

2. Show your face

Research has shown that lecture videos that show instructors’ faces are more effective than simple narrated slideshows. Intersperse your slides with video of yourself.

3. Keep videos short

Videos longer than 15 minutes can cause issues of slow downloading and learner distraction. If you have more to say, record two or three short videos.

4. Test out slides

Make sure you test slides on a smartphone before shooting your lectures so all text is readable on small screens. Font sizes, colours, template designs and screen ratios can be double-checked.

5. Use existing resources …

It is unrealistic to expect that you, on your own, will produce a semester’s worth of high quality videos. You can use pre-developed resources available online and provide students with clickable links.

6. … and make sure they’re open access

Using open resources helps prevent access problems for students. If any of your suggested resources are not accessible, you will receive an inbox full of student emails and eventually waste all your time troubleshooting. Spending a few extra minutes carefully searching for fully open access materials will save you a headache later.

7. Give specific instructions

When you suggest online media which runs for longer than 15 minutes, students will be put off watching. Instead, suggest the exact parts they need (eg 13:35 to 16:28) as this can even make students more curious. When you provide more than two resources, label them in the order you want students to approach them. Simple numbering, based on the level of difficulty or importance of each resource item, can be of great help for your students.

8. Provide interactive activities

Most learning management systems, such as Moodle, Edmodo and Blackboard, include a range of functions to create interactive learning activities such as quizzes. Step-by-step guides to creating them are widely available online. Use them.

9. Set reasonable expectations

When you create quizzes, you should make sure all questions can be answered by referring to the given learning resources. When you ask students to write a summary of lecture videos, you should make it clear that this is not a serious report. Making this as a mandatory assignment but a low-stakes task will produce the best outcomes and responses from students. A set of 15 quiz questions or a 300-word limit will be sufficient to engage students for 30 minutes.

10. Use auto-checking to measure attendance

If you tell students that their attendance will be measured by their participation in a quiz, it will increase compliance. However, you won’t have time to check them all, so use the automatic checking and grading features on the learning management systems.

11. Use group communication carefully

Group communication shouldn’t be used for direct teaching. Instead, set up “virtual office hours” on a video conferencing tool like Zoom. Simply log in at the appointed time and wait for students. Focus on providing social support and checking if any issues need to be addressed immediately. This can be a great way to collect student feedback on your online teaching as well. Make meetings optional and be relaxed. No need to be frustrated when no one shows up: students are still happy to know that this option is available.

12. Let students take control

You can set up online group spaces for small groups of students and ask them to support and consult with one another before sending emails to you directly. You can post a couple of questions to help students break the ice and start conversation. Encourage students to use the communication tools they prefer. Some groups will click well and some will not, but this little tip can make students feel socially supported and reduce your inbox traffic.

13. Don’t hide your feelings

Online teachers’ emotional openness is a great instructional strategy. Tell your students that it is your first time teaching online and you are learning while teaching. Explicitly ask them to help you, reassuring them that you will do your very best to support their learning as well. They will be sympathetic since they share the same emotions, and you will be set up for success.

14. Repeat

Online students do not like frequent changes in their learning style. They are happy to repeat the same structure and activities. Once you find a teaching style working for you, feel free to repeat it each week until you are back in your classroom.

Author – Kyungmee Lee

                 Lecturer in Technology Enhanced Learning, Lancaster University

GSA INTRODUCTION SERIES: GSA PRESIDENT

GSA INTRODUCTION SERIES: GSA PRESIDENT

Hey! I’m Shawn Hercules and I am your GSA President for this academic year. I work very closely along with the GSA’s strong executive and administrative team,  to continue advocating for your needs and providing you with resources to help make grad school a little more bearable! Specifically in my role, I chair our GSA Council and Board of Director meetings, and ensure that our executive and staff are working cohesively to bring us closer to our goals within our Strategic Plan

Outside of the GSA, I’m currently wrapping up a Ph.D. in Biology under the supervision of Dr. Juliet Daniel. My doctoral work is focused on investigating the potential impact of socioeconomics and genetics on why more Black women globally are diagnosed with a very aggressive and clinically hard to treat breast cancer subtype. In this study, we currently have patients enrolled from hospitals and health centres across Nigeria, Jamaica and my hometown Barbados. I moved here from Barbados to embark on this project in 2015 and I can’t believe that time flew by so quickly and it’s almost over! I’m leaning towards pursuing an academic career path and will likely work for a few years as a Post-Doctoral Fellow after my Ph.D.

Right now, my life is pretty much balancing my duties for both the GSA and my Ph.D. but I also try to make time to relax! Watching RuPaul’s Drag Race every Friday night along with a few friends on Zoom has pretty much been my route for escapism from everything COVID-19 related as well as the rest of the world’s recent realization of anti-Black racism. 

If you have any questions for me about how you can get involved with the GSA or even about my research, feel free to e-mail me at gsapres@mcmaster.ca (GSA related), hercules@mcmaster.ca (research related). You can also find me on Instagram/Twitter using @shawnhercules! 

UPDATES FROM GSA 2020-06-19

UPDATES FROM GSA

Graduate students at McMaster, we would like to highlight the recent annual report from the President’s Advisory Committee on Building an Inclusive Community. Other resources from PACBIC can be found here. There is always more that can be done at an individual level to be an anti-racist. We hope you have taken the time to reflect what changes you are making within each of the roles you hold at McMaster University. It is important to be aware of the events currently happening at McMaster University. You can consider joining the GSA Student Actions Committee by emailing macgsa@mcmaster.ca to indicate your interest.

We are putting out a call for Faculty Representatives to the GSA Council! This role connects the GSA and each of the faculties. We currently have vacancies for the three Faculties listed below. If you are interested, email Caroline, GSA VP-Internal about how to apply! 

Your GSA

JOIN A WEEKLY CALL with GSA President, Shawn Hercules, and Andrea Cole from the School of Graduate Studies! 

When?  Wednesdays between 1:00 PM until 2:00PM.
Where? Register for the Zoom link here.
What? Bring your coffee and come for a chat!
Questions? Andrea Cole coleand@mcmaster.ca

WINNER, WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER!

WINNER, WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER!

Congratulations to the four students that won prizes for GSA Short Video Competition! Here are the videos with links, and the top two are previewed below:

1. Grand Prize: Poodle playing with a small soccer ball by Chih Ting (https://youtu.be/K1xzGLZcYR0)
2. Second Place: Choose your graduate student quarantine edition by Lauren (https://youtu.be/Uo7jPqP1d-s)
3. Third Place: When you’re a clutz stuck at home and Yoshi’s life by Sergio (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7B3uSXmLF8)
4. Fourth Place: Dog Egg Challenge by Monica (https://vm.tiktok.com/T53jGq/https://vm.tiktok.com/T53jGq/)

Thank you for participating and voting!

GSA INTRODUCTION SERIES: ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

GSA INTRODUCTION SERIES:
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Hello Graduate Students! My name is Mona Mohamed, I have been with the GSA for over 5 years, I have a B.Sc. in Chemistry and Zoology from Alexandria University in Egypt. I love administration a lot, so, I am now taking a Diploma in Management, Business Administration to add to my administrative experience. I will be able to assist with general inquires related to funding, sponsorship, clubs and specifically inquires related to Health & Dental. 

If you have ever wondered where the GSA office is, look at this picture below… We are right beside the Phoneix and across from the General Science Building and near the GO Bus. Right now, you can find me on email at macgsa@mcmaster.ca.

UPDATES FROM GSA

UPDATES FROM GSA

Each year, in accordance with a contractual agreement the GSA has with the HSR, students obtain a highly-subsidized rate to access the busing system in Hamilton. 

At the GSA, we are currently in conversation with HSR given the announcement that the Fall semester will be administered online. We are negotiating a contract that will allow graduate students to maintain HSR passes to access our various offices, labs and other essential physical spaces on campus and around Hamilton. We will keep you updated on this process and please reach out and let us know your thoughts about what you’d want our HSR pass to look like throughout the next academic year, especially the Fall semester. We will keep you updated about this and all other matters pertaining to the Fall semester and how the GSA is working on your behalf through our social media and our mailers. Also, feel free to join our weekly drop-in every Wednesday! More information below.

Your GSA

JOIN A WEEKLY CALL with GSA President, Shawn Hercules, and Andrea Cole from the School of Graduate Studies! 

When?  Wednesdays between 1:00 PM until 2:00PM.
Where? Register for the Zoom link here.
What? Bring your coffee and come for a chat!
Questions? Andrea Cole coleand@mcmaster.ca

GSA INTRODUCTION SERIES: DIRECTOR OF OPERATION

GSA INTRODUCTION SERIES: DIRECTOR OF OPERATION

Hello Graduate Students! My name is Ashley Ravenscroft and I am passionate about higher education in post-secondary institutions and student governance. My passion for higher education was sparked over a decade ago, when I attended McMaster University as an Undergraduate student. And it has continued with me through to Graduate School.

When I’m not working on the mission, mandate and vision of the organization, you can usually find me at home. I have three children, two are school-aged, and the third I am married to. I think that might be a ‘mom-joke,’ but nevertheless, I have lived in Hamilton since obtaining my first degree and love all the city has to offer – the market, trails and, of course, waterfalls! 

During my tenure with the GSA of McMaster University, I have had the pleasure of working with hundreds are graduate students. We have also had many successes during this time, such as the reinstatement of the Student Wellness Centre operations, increasing the student benefits package at no additional cost to students. And, increasing mental health supports to our Graduate Students through 24/7 supports, and an increased health reimbursement threshold.

I have also had the opportunity to participate in multiple student initiatives and advocate on their behalf. One of such of these successes was the induction of a minimum funding package at McMaster, which is $13,500.00 + supp & tuition fee.

This year I am confident that we have a strong team and we are going to accomplish more of the strategic plans goal this year.

I hope to meet you virtually or in-person at a future GSA committee, event, or the graduate student owned and operated, Phoenix Craft House and Grill.

Warm wishes,
Ashley

RESOURCES FROM THE GSA AGAINST ANTI-BLACK RACISM

RESOURCES FROM THE GSA AGAINST ANTI-BLACK RACISM

At the GSA, we believe that there is no place for anti-Black racism and violence in our community at McMaster University. The past few weeks have only made these issues more apparent, but anti-Black racism is something that many of us within our community have been facing and dealing with in all facets of our lives, even at McMaster University.  We have to realize our impact as graduate students at McMaster and support our Black community as best as we can.

We currently support a GSA club, the ACGSA (African Caribbean Graduate Students’ Association), that has made themselves available for students within this community that may have faced anti-Black racism and can be reached via email: acgsa.mac@gmail.com. Upon request, they will send further information about how to be added to their Facebook group. We will continue to stand beside them and support them as best as we can. We also echo the sentiments that were expressed by the African Caribbean Faculty Association at McMaster that can be found here.

The purpose of this section in the mailer is not to just “write a statement” but to offer resources to our community for support.

If you need further support, culturally relevant mental health and legal services can be found here:

For more resources on how to take action, visit Black Lives Matter and get involved at McMaster Equity and Inclusion Education.

You can also use the following resources to support Black-owned businesses in Hamilton.

Please collectively fight to support anti-racism because the weight of these deep-rooted issues must be burdened upon all of us. When your friend needs support, lend a hand as we evolve together. We all need to be better.

Sincerely,
Your GSA

GSA INTRODUCTION SERIES: VP-ADMIN

GSA INTRODUCTION SERIES: VP-ADMIN

Hello everyone! My name is Anthony Quarshie and I am the GSA Vice-President Administration 2020-2021. In the capacity of VP Admin, I serve as the internal auditor of our operations. In this role, I provide oversight for the financial position of both The GSA and The Phoenix. I also attend to the various finance related policies of both the GSA and Phoenix. I am the Chair of The GSA Finance Committee where we monitor the financial progress of both the GSA and Phoenix. So, if you have an interest in learning about the financial review of the GSA or just to get a peek into how The Phoenix is run, I invite you to send me an email at gsavpadmin@mcmaster.ca.
 
Outside of the GSA, I do my research at the McMaster Advanced Control Consortium on the efficient operation of Air Separation Units under the supervision of Dr Chris L. E. Swartz in the Department of Chemical Engineering.
 
The GSA has had a wonderful journey so far in terms of its financial dealings and I am excited to play a part in sustaining that journey.

LETTER FROM THE GSA

LETTER FROM THE GSA

Dear graduate students of McMaster University,

The past 3 months have not been easy as we have transitioned our work online quickly and adapted to new roadblocks in our graduate careers. Whether you are starting, in the middle, or at the end of your degree, you have undoubtedly faced unexpected challenges and had to search for answers in a time of uncertainty. We hope that the announcement of a virtual semester can provide a framework for you to structure the months ahead, as the Administration has made the right decision for the Fall term classes to be online in a recent letter. As questions come up, they should not be left unanswered, please reach out so we can support you in navigating through your unique journey. We are all facing varying levels of distress and want you to know that we are here for you as a support network and will do our best to assist you.

The return to on-campus research is expected to happen no later than June 1st for Phase 1 of this process and your first point of contact regarding this manner is your supervisor. In short, this phase allows “a limited number of research personnel to access campus for research that cannot be undertaken in a remote manner“. More information about this process can be found here

Your GSA 

Do you have immediate questions?! JOIN A WEEKLY CALL with GSA President and Andrea Cole from the School of Graduate Studies! 

When?  Wednesdays between 1:00 PM until 2:00PM.
Where? Register for the Zoom link here.
What? Bring your coffee and come for a chat!
Questions? Andrea Cole coleand@mcmaster.ca