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; course packs from 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 Tools to Support Teaching and Learning 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: Software available at McGill.

☑️ 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.

The following may also apply:

• If you are scheduled to teach in an Active Learning Classroom, take a look at these teaching strategies, which can be implemented in ALCs.

• 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.

*Typical myCourses sites availability: fall courses - mid-May; winter courses - mid-October; summer courses - mid-March

☑️ 4 weeks to 1 week

• Meet with your Teaching Assistants, if applicable, to discuss their roles and responsibilities.

• Course location:

  • If you are teaching in a classroom(s), view the room and the equipment instructions using the Classroom AV Instructions tool. 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 If you are teaching online, review how to use Zoom.

If you plan to use your own laptop in class, take note of whether the room supports VGA and / or HDMI video connectors, and bring the appropriate adapters.

• If you plan to record your classes, either on your own or using one of McGill’s automated recording systems, 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.

• Consult the Get Ready: Teaching with Zoom 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

• 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.

☑️ End of term

• Submit grades.

• Review course evaluation results; check interpretation guidelines.