Get ready: Teaching Checklist

☑️ 6 months

• Consult the Course Outline Template and Guide to prepare your course outline. Consult previous course outlines as appropriate.

  • Write an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement to put in your course outline and/or on myCourses.

• Develop / revise course pack content.

• Order course materials, e.g., books from the bookstore; reserves at the Library; teaching lab materials from vendors.

• Consult with the program director / co-instructors to inform course content. For courses that have pre-, co- or post-requisites, consult with the other instructors.

• Review the Library checklist.

• Consult McGill’s list of learning technologies to be sure you are using tools that have been vetted to protect students' privacy and intellectual property.

• Download or purchase software, including tools and applications for teaching and research.

☑️ 3 months to 1 month

• Make arrangements for midterm exams if applicable (e.g., room booking, invigilation).

• Be sure to Check for Accessibility of Learning Materials.

• Begin preparing your myCourses course site, for example:

  • upload course content,

  • organize online discussions,

  • set up your grade book,

  • create online assignments and quizzes. 

• Check Viewing class lists, photos, schedules in Minerva and FAQs for Minerva for Faculty & Staff.

• If you will use a SMART Board interactive whiteboard or an interactive touch screen display (Sympodium), consult Classrooms equipped with SMART Board interactive whiteboards and Sympodiums and download the SMART Notebook software to your laptop if needed.

• If you wish to use polling, view the Index of documentation for Polling @ McGill with Vevox.

☑️ 4 weeks to 1 week

• Meet with your Teaching Assistants, if applicable, to discuss their roles and responsibilities. See also: Get ready: Teaching Assistant (TA) checklist.

• Course location:

  • If you are teaching in a classroom(s), view the room and the equipment instructions using the Classroom AV Knowledge Base. You can also visit your classroom(s) to see the equipment and operations firsthand. Request support, if necessary. 

  • If you are teaching online, review how to use Zoom.

  • Consult the Get Ready: Teaching with Zoom Checklist

• If you plan to record your classes, check out these resources:

  • What is the Lecture Recording System - automated, full-term recordings, for LRS-equipped rooms

  • Signing up for lecture recordings

  • Manage lecture recordings in myCourses

  • Record in-person activities in rooms without the Lecture Recording System

• If needed, borrow AV equipment (e.g., wireless microphones, VGA / HDMI adapters).

  • Borrow a laptop

  • Reserve equipment

• Revisit the Library checklist.

☑️ First day of class

• Remember to take any cables / adapters you may need for laptops and other devices.

• If you have problems using equipment in your classroom, press the Audiovisual Systems Help button on the telephone for immediate support.

☑️ End of first week of classes

• Submit the Method of Evaluation (MOE) for each course: The Exam Office sends an email to instructors in mid‑August for December final exams and in mid‑December for April final exams. Each email includes a link to the MOE webform and the respective early‑September or early‑January submission deadline. Learn more about final exams.

• Review grading procedures and rubrics with Teaching Assistants and / or Graders.

☑️ After add/drop date (approx. 2 weeks after classes begin)

• Check Minerva to view your final class list and class photos.

☑️ End of first month

• Consider offering mid-course evaluations.

• Consider adding up to three questions to your end-of course evaluation (Mercury) questionnaire.

☑️ By Exam Office deadline

• If you have opted to have a final exam administered by the Exam Office, submit your exam by the deadline communicated to you by the Exam Office. NB: Deadlines vary based on scheduled exam dates. Learn more about final exams.

☑️ End of term

• Submit final grades.

• Review course evaluation results; check interpretation guidelines.