Remote Teaching Resources at BU
COVID-19 Notice
Boston University is continually monitoring the status of COVID-19, also called novel coronavirus, and is committed to keeping our BU Community informed. To access the latest information about COVID-19, and Boston University news and resources, visit the BU site here.
Message from Campus Leadership
In a letter to all students, faculty, and staff, Robert A. Brown, University president, and Jean Morrison, provost and chief academic officer, outlined the reasoning behind various decisions related to COVID-19 and explained how the changes would be implemented.
On March 17, 2020, in an unprecedented move reflective of these uncertain times, Boston University leadership announced extension of remote teaching and learning through the end of the spring semester. Read the BU Today story.
The following resources were created to assist our BU faculty community as we transition to remote teaching and learning.
Getting Started
Digital Learning & Innovation aims to support faculty in providing continuity in high quality learning experiences for BU’s students during times of campus closures. In support, the Center for Teaching & Learning prepared this guide to help faculty ensure educational continuity. Access the guide.
Current Guidelines for Course Completion
University Provost and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Jean Morrison highlights general principles and guidelines specific to course management, exams, grading, student attendance, and more, with emphasis on Spring 2020 course completion. Read the guidelines.
Student Guide to Learning Remotely
In the event routine academic functions are disrupted due to prolonged campus or building closures, it may be necessary to attend classes online. Learn about IS&T services available to students to help them remotely connect with faculty and fellow students. Share the IS&T Student Guide.
BU Students Receive Free Access to eTextbooks
Barnes & Noble is partnering with VitalSource, an online provider of textbooks and course material, to offer free access to eTextbooks to students and campuses affected by COVID-19 campus closures. Boston University students qualify for this free service. Share the resource with your students.
Remote Teaching Preparedness Trainings
Digital Learning & Innovation’s Educational Technology team is hosting a series of training sessions specifically for Boston University remote teaching faculty. View the training schedule.
Remote Teaching Training Recordings
If you missed a Remote Teaching Training Session or want to refer back to a session you participated in, DL&I Educational Technology team created a video library highlighting BU-sponsored technologies including Zoom, Blackboard, and more. Watch the videos.
Securing Your Zoom Session
Zoom offers several options for protecting you from unwanted participants or actions that might disrupt your meeting or instruction. This resource offers guidance to help protect your meetings—new or existing—with minimal impact on your participants. Read more.
Working & Teaching Remotely
Digital Learning & Innovation and IS&T offer a variety of services to connect you with colleagues and students remotely to ensure teaching and learning at BU can continue uninterrupted. Learn more.
Disability & Access Services Resource Guide for Remote Teaching
Disability & Access Services (DAS) is partnering with Educational Technology and BU faculty to address accommodations and access for our students during the period of remote teaching and learning. Access the DAS guide.
Assessment and Remote Teaching: Options and Opportunities
The remote-teaching period is an opportunity to evaluate how to meet your learning objectives for your class. Learn about making adjustments and get tools to help keep communication with your students transparent and clear as you make these changes. Access the CTL guide.
STEM: A Guide for Instructors
The Center for Teaching & Learning and BU Chemistry Department offer guidance specifically for STEM faculty. This resource provides strategies to plan for labs, offers tips to reproduce classroom work in an online environment, and highlights tools to address accessibility issues, and more. Access the CTL guide.
Teaching Remotely in the Arts
The Center for Teaching & Learning & BU’s College of Fine Arts offer guidance specifically for the Arts community. This resources outlines strategies to enhance the classroom experience, tips to build community, the power of online presentation, and more. Access the CTL guide.
Flipping the Class
Flipping synchronous sessions—re-purposing your usual ‘lecture time’ to address questions and do more in-class discussions using the Zoom break-out rooms feature—allows for more flexibility during class time. Read these tips for flipping your synchronous online session. Learn more.
BU Offers Online Exam Proctoring Services
In an effort to further support Boston University faculty and students during the remote teaching and learning experience, online exam proctoring services are now available to BU faculty and students. Learn more and read the FAQs.
Community FAQS
Get answers to commonly asked questions about a variety of BU-sponsored technologies including Zoom, Blackboard, and MyMedia. Read the FAQs.
Web-based Data Analysis Environment
Boston University can now deliver a variety of applications including MATLAB, R/RStudio, Python/Jupyter Notebook, SAS, and QGIS, to your desktop virtually using BU’s Web-based interface, Shared Computing Cluster (SCC) OnDemand. Learn more.
Stay Well During the COVID-19 Emergency
The health and wellness of our BU community is of the utmost importance. To further support faculty and staff during this unprecedented time, the BU Employee Wellness team created a series of guides to help keep you and your family well. Access the resource.
What We Are Reading
Digital Learning & Innovation is committed to sharing news and information important to Boston University communities. Stay connected and read news around higher education, technology, pedagogy, good deeds, and more. Read more.
Health & Wellness Resources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health
- World Health Organization
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories
- U.S. Department of State Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
Share Feedback
If you have additional questions not addressed in the FAQs, reach out Digital Learning & Innovation’s Educational Technology team at AskEdTech@bu.edu.