Guidelines for attending teaching

Guidelines for attending teaching

On-site teaching will be emphasised at the University of Jyväskylä, especially at the beginning of studies. it is important, that you will be able to meet other students and participate in teaching and supervision in person. The pandemic taught us which matters are best dealt with face-to-face and which work better for everyone through remote or self-study.

Generally speaking, the forms of teaching can be read from the curriculum, where the learning objectives of specific courses are defined. A full-time student is expected to work as teachers and the course description instruct: one should attend teaching on campus whenever it is instructed. When a course is defined as an on-site course, a student cannot demand an opportunity to attend the course remotely.

Even courses taught on campus primarily use various methods and technologies to facilitate learning. Sometimes, it is recommended to find a quiet location on campus for attending online classes or for working on individual, or group assignments. Keep in mind that students can reserve university facilities for independent studying and group work.

Attending remote teaching

Before a teaching session

• Check and test beforehand that your technology is working. Take the nature of the session into account – are you just going to listen to a lecture or do you intend to actively participate in small-group discussions, for example? If possible, go to an online meeting slightly in advance and test that your equipment will work during the meeting. (Read more: Key instructions for Zoom participants)

  If you are feeling uncertain, ask the teacher/advisor if you could try the platform e.g., 15 minutes before the meeting starts.

• Choose a quiet and well-lit space and ensure that you can work without disturbance and without other people's presence in the same space.
• If you use a camera, set your camera at a proper height, considering the lighting of the room. Avoid backlight from a window, for example.
• Use a profile image and set your name visible in your profile settings – this gives your name a face. (Log in at jyufi.zoom.us, sign in and choose from the upper left corner Profile and Edit)
• Take a short transitional walk before and after the online meeting – this clarifies the boundaries between studying and free time.

During the teaching session

• Follow the teacher’s instructions regarding lectures and their technical implementation.
• Keep your microphone switched off when it is not your turn to speak. This reduces noise in the online audio environment.
• Keep the camera on for increased interaction. If the connection is weak, only use video at the beginning and then move on to a video-free discussion. If you use a camera, you can fade the background if you wish (in Zoom or Teams) or you can use a background image. Otherwise, please ensure that there is no private or improper material visible in the background. Switch off your camera, if something inappropriate appears on your camera screen.
• In addition to switching on your microphone, you can ask for a speaking turn by “raising your hand” or commenting the current issue on chat. Remember, however, that the teacher cannot always fully keep track of these signs when teaching.
• In small groups, greet the other participants firstand introduce yourself, if you do not know each other beforehand.
• In small groups, please switch on the video feed whenever possible considering the connections and group size.
• Remember to look to the camera. This creates the impression that you are actively involved in the situation. Give feedback: nod and smile when appropriate – this shows that you are listening to the speaker.
• Concentrate on the teaching session; do not do other things at the same time. The responsibility for an active and successful discussion in remote teaching is on everybody!
• During a Zoom or Teams session, you can make your material visible to others by clicking the 'Share screen' button. It is often the easiest to choose the 'Screen' option instead of a particular application, if you are switching between different applications and web pages. However, when using the Share Screen function, you should take care that there is no such private content open in your other applications that could be accidentally disclosed to the other participants.
• Turn your camera and microphone off during breaks. 
• Read more about technology-mediated collaboration.

Recording a teaching session

• Unlike in a lecture hall, the teacher may not be able to observe if their teaching is being recorded by a student. However, the simplicity of recording does not mean that it is always allowed. Moreover, a distinction must be made between the act of recording and its use.
• Teachers have the right to record their lectures. The teacher must assess the need for and the benefits of recording on a case-by-case basis. If the teacher decides to record the lectures, they will inform the participants about the recording and the use of the recording at the beginning of the session. Students have the right to decide whether they wish to use their microphone, or camera, or make written comments during the recorded lecture.
• Students have the right to record lectures to support their own learning. However, please note that such a copy may not be published online or forwarded. Publishing or distributing a copy prepared for your own use without the consent of the teacher is not only inappropriate use, but also a copyright offence or infringement. If lectures are attended by people from outside the university community, the teacher has the right to prohibit them from recording the lecture.
• Before the beginning of the lecture, the student can agree with the teacher on recording the lecture. Please note that it is not possible to record the lecture in all cases, e.g. due to equipment issues. The lecturer will inform you of this.
• Interaction between teachers and students, and among students, is based on an atmosphere of trust and open discussion. Neither the teacher nor the students may record or forward students' presentations, group work or interactive teaching without the consent of all those who appear on the recording. This also applies to discussions or comments made in the chat during interactive teaching. If the teacher wishes, the rules for recording may be specified by the teacher before the start of the lesson.

Instructions by JYULearn.