About the Guide

“The art of life lies in a constant readjustment to our surroundings.”

– Kakuzo Okakura: The Book of Tea

Instructors and educational professionals regularly adjust, refine and reflect on their practice based on the teaching and learning environment by which they are surrounded. Classrooms change, curriculum advances, and the learners are all unique. Sometimes we can anticipate the change in surrounding and sometimes we need to adapt with little forewarning. Whether a major readjustment is prompted by an external force, like a global health crisis, or an internal force that recognizes it is time to re-evaluate an established practice, instructors have the support of teaching and learning professionals to help guide them through the change.

This comprehensive Guide for Teaching, Learning and Assessment takes readers through everything they need to consider when planning, building and teaching a remote course – from theoretical concepts grounded in research all the way through to practical execution. Featuring Creative Commons licensed content drawn from experts across the sector, as well as original content that has been researched, written and produced by Joseph Beer along with colleagues within the university’s Teaching Excellence and Innovation unit and partner departments, the guide will support instructors as they adjust their practice to meet the distinct environmental and student learning needs present within the remote classroom.

The remote environment presents unique challenges and opportunities for both instructors and students – this guide walks readers through how to navigate them with empathy, creativity, and flexibility to keep the focus on student learning outcomes and academic success.

The content within the guide will continue to expand and evolve to reflect the changing realities of teaching and learning in higher education. If you are interested in more information about the guide, or if you would like to discuss subjects addressed in the guide, please reach out to us.

Plan, Build, Teach: A Guide for Effective Remote Teaching, Learning and Assessment by Teaching, Learning and Development at Wilfrid Laurier University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License.