Statistics Online

The following document describes some best practices, general wisdom, and various resources for teaching online courses for the Department of Statistics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

• If you have additional information you would like added, please submit a pull request, create an issue, or just email David Dalpiaz.
• This document can be accessed at https://go.illinois.edu/stat-online

This document is now, and will likely always be a work in progress.

• Note: Minor edits were performed in Fall 2022, but beware that information from Spring 2020 remains that is now likely out-of-date, for example references to Compass, Piazza, etc.

General Wisdom

• Organization! + Communication! + Engagement!
• Don't panic!
• KISS!
• Perfect is the enemy of good.
• You're probably already 50% of the way there.
• Ask questions!

Quick Start

• Do you have the necessary computer hardware, software, and internet connection?
• Is your class in a Learning Management System?
• Can you distribute files to students?
• Do students have the ability to submit assignments to you?
• Are you able to make announcements to your (up-to-date) class roster?
• Can your students communicate with you? With each other?
• Do you have a system for creating and distributing asynchronous video lectures?
• Do you have a system for synchronous office hours and other meetings?
• Do you have an assignment strategy?
• Do you have a plan for administering identity verified assignments?

Hardware

In addition to access to a computer and an internet connection, you will need to be able to:

• Listen to audio
• Record audio
• Record video

Hardware components that may be necessary:

• Laptop (or desktop)
  • ATLAS Share
• iPad or Tablet
  • Department Surface Tablets are available
• High-speed internet connection
• Webcam
  • Example: Logitech C920 PRO
• Microphone (could be built into webcam)
  • Example: Tonor TC-777
• Headphones
  • Ever been annoyed by background noise in a web meeting?
  • Otherwise, speakers
• Document camera
  • Example: Longjoy LV-1010

If in need of hardware that you do not currently have, contact Melissa.

Software

Key Software

In addition to an LMS (and Piazza if your chosen LMS does not have a forum), a course could probably be taken online with only these three tools.

• Illinois Zoom
  • Web conferencing software.
  • University wide "Pro" license.
  • Generally user friendly.
• Illinois Media Space
  • A YouTube-like service maintained by the University.
  • Includes a built-in web-based recording tool.
• Illinois Box
  • Free unlimited storage!
  • Web interface and desktop apps.
  • Naive version control.
  • Does not require VPN.

Additional Software

This list is far from exhaustive and should grow over time.

• UIUC VPN
  • Avoid if possible. For example, use Box instead of the network drive.
• Remote Desktop
  • Generally requires a VPN.
• GoodNotes
  • Excellent app for notes and annotation on iPad
• PrairieLearn
  • Excellent quizzing tool developed at UIUC.
• Screencast-O-Matic
  • Simple video recording and editing.
• Slack and Discord
  • Neither should be used as an official course technology, but students like them and will likely use them anyway.
  • Discord, is a messaging platform particular popular among computer game players, thus popular among students.
• OBS
  • Free and open source software for video recording and live streaming.
  • Like Discord, OBS is popular among those who stream computer game play, giving it a large user base.
• GitHub Classroom
• RStudio Cloud

Learning Management Systems

• Compass (Blackboard)
• Canvas
• Moodle
• Others

Course Communications

Since you won't be seeing your students three times a week, alternative communication methods become extremely important.

• Weekly announcements!
  • Introduce week's topics, note deadlines.
  • Roster access? Use to send copies of announcements via email to insure receipt.
    • Via LMS automatic rosters
    • Via DMI
    • Via Self-Serice
    • Via ATLAS Photo Roster
• Piazza
  • Highly recommended!
  • Encourage posting on Piazza to reduce email.
• Campuswire
  • FERPA compliant and University recommended discussion forum.
• Ed Discussion
  • Potential Campuswire alternative.

Office Hours

Zoom will likely be the key to holding online office hours.

• Illinois Zoom
  • Be sure to use this link to create and use your account. Free accounts do not have the same capacities.
  • Be aware of general settings and meeting settings.
    • Consider disabling email notifications when users join.
    • Consider enabling "Mute participants upon entry."
  • Be aware of Screen Sharing and "Whiteboard."
  • As "host" you have the ability to mute other users. Use this!
  • Can be recorded.

"Lecture"

• Synchronous versus Asynchronous?
  • Don't be afraid of asynchronous
  • Use Zoom for synchronous. But this is strongly discouraged, especially for "large" classes.
    • "Any synchronous course sessions (such as Zoom, Skype for Business, Blackboard Collaborate) must be held during regularly scheduled class times."
    • "Do not use Zoom for classes of greater than 150 students. Use video, audio or text options for lecture delivery whenever possible."

Video Recording

• Illinois Media Space: Express Capture
• Illinois Media Space: Kaltura Capture Desktop Recorder
• Illinois Zoom
• Screencast-O-Matic
• Windows 10: Screen Recorder
• OSX: Screen Recorder
• iOS: Screen Recorder
• OBS

Many of these options have some simple editing tools built in. Generally, it is probably best to not worry too much about editing. As long as the content exists, that's a win.

Video Distribution

• Illinois Media Space
  • A YouTube-like service maintained by the University.
  • Most official University video distribution service.
• Illinois Box
  • Store videos in Box. Linking to the video will allow the video to be played in a web browser.
• YouTube
  • Potentially inaccessible in various regions. Technically not recommended. Could be used as a backup to Illini Media Space.
• ClassTranscribe
  • Open source alternative to Media Space with excellent captioning support.

Be aware of audio captioning. You may have received an email from DRES noting that you have a student that requires captioning. YouTube does auto-captioning fairly well, but work with DRES to determine what is appropriate and legally required. Kaltura also has auto-captioning abilities now. ClassTranscribe has excellent auto-caption and caption editing support.

Exams

Securely administering exams online is extremely difficult. This is a topic that will need to be given thought. Unless you are already using a quizzing tool such as PrairieLearn or LON-CAPA, it would probably be very difficult to transition quickly. Even with these tools, proctoring will be an issue. We may need to relax some of our expectations around security of exams.

• Illinois ProctorU
  • Note: The Provost will be prohibiting additional fees incurred by students. (More information to come on this. As of 3/13, this is official, with a specific mention of proctoring services.)
• Zoom "DIY Proctoring"
  • Now "officially" supported thanks to PrairieTest.
• Make alternative assessments!
• ???

Faculty "Advisors"

The following are experienced online instructors and support staff. Reach out if you have questions!

• David Dalpiaz (STAT 420, STAT 432)
• David Unger (STAT 420, STAT 440)
• Dirk Eddelbuettel (STAT 430 DSPM)
• Feng Liang (STAT 542)
• Trevor Park (STAT 578)
• Yuk Yung Liu (E-Learning Specialist, STAT 100, STAT 200)
• All members of the "Online Task Force."
• As of Fall 2022: All members of the department.

Additional Resources

• COVID-19 @ Illinois
• Engineering IT: Keep Teaching
• CITL: Instructional Continuity

Miscelaneous Best Practices

• Short versus long videos.
  • Pros and cons to both, but engaging videos are what really matters.
  • Be yourself! Make mistakes!
• Course organization: Week or modular structure.
• Clear messaging is necessary, especially for assignments and deadlines.
• Instructor presence is critical. (Answer questions on the discussion forum!)

Miscelaneous Notes

This section tracks additional items that are not currently noted anywhere above.

• Discuss accessibility. (PDF and HTML versus other formats.)
• Webtools
  • Short URLs, other tools.
• FERPA
• https://citl.illinois.edu/about-citl/news/2020/04/28/citl-summer-2020-workshops---moving-your-course-online
• https://atlas.illinois.edu/teaching-online
• https://ops.citl.illinois.edu/
• https://ops.citl.illinois.edu/for-students
• https://www.lasonline.illinois.edu/faculty/policy/
• gradescope
• information about blended learning
  • list of lecture capture enabled rooms: http://go.illinois.edu/LectureCapture
  • schedule a one time recording: http://go.illinois.edu/LectureCaptureScheduling
• notes about audio best practices (use headphones! speak close to the microphone.)
• notes about video best practices (lighting for video.)
• https://go.citl.illinois.edu/keepteachingtutorials
• https://citl.illinois.edu/citl-101/teaching-learning/resources/instructor-resources
• If you are recording or transmitting audio while also listening to audio (for example, Zoom meetings) wear headphones!
• Given the most frequently used devices for accessing course content, consider using slides with a 16x9 aspect ratio rather than the sometimes common 4x3.
• provide examples of identity verified assignment solutions
• notes about accessibility issues
• notes about copyright issues
• video distribution practices: Variable bitrate options, Download options, Captioning
• If you are recording or transmitting audio while also listening to audio (for example, Zoom meetings), wear headphones!