Office hours are a valuable part of the learning experience because learners can meet with the course instructor and fellow classmates to learn more about course topics, special topics within the field, and discuss coursework. Make sure to update the Virtual Office Hours page in the course.
Review How to Enable and Use the ZOOM Conferencing Tool in Canvas.
Watch the video on the linked page, and follow the instructions when you set up your weekly meetings.
Check the "Zoom" page in the course once you have finished scheduling your recurring meetings. If you do not see your scheduled sessions listed there, then it was not done correctly.
Note: You can skip the instructions for enabling Zoom in your course because this step has already been done for you.
When you set up your virtual office hours, follow the provided naming conventions. These naming conventions were designed to include identifying information about the upcoming event so students know what event they are joining even if they lack other contextual clues. This will also help students stay organized with other virtual office hours in their other courses.
Naming Convention: Session Year ABC 123: Virtual Office Hours with Instructor's Preferred Name
Example: Fall B 2030 ABC 123:Virtual Office Hours with Dr. Sparky
As you schedule your virtual office hours, keep these things in mind:
Your students are located all around the world, and they live in very different time zones.
Your students include adult professionals with full-time jobs and families.
Office hours should be optional for students; therefore, they should not be graded on their attendance or content shared only in those sessions if it is inequitable.
In your weekly announcements, provide virtual office hours information and the agenda for them (if you have an agenda).
Host virtual office hours weekly.
Vary not only the days, but also the time of day. This can help to accommodate students' varied time zones and work/life schedules. Different course team members selecting times that alternate morning and evening throughout the week and weekends works especially well.
If a virtual office hour session falls on an ASU day off or a personal holiday that ASU does not have off, reschedule your event for a different day/time during the same week. Check your calendars several weeks in advance, reschedule your session sooner rather than later, and communicate any changes to students so they can plan ahead.
If you are unable to host your session at the regularly scheduled time and your course team is unable to substitute for you, reschedule your event for as soon as possible during the same week.
Instructors should post an announcement regarding any schedule changes (or this task should be delegated to another member of the team), so students can stay informed.
Adding your course team as "Alternative Hosts" to your scheduled virtual office hours (i.e. via Zoom) will allow them to start and host a session if you are not able to attend for whatever reason.
If desired, other course team members can also be co-hosts for the virtual office hours to assist the instructor as needed.
The syllabus reminds students that office hour environments should remain professional at all times. Inappropriate content, visuals, language, tone, feedback, etc. should not be tolerated and should be reported. Students are expected to read and follow the Expected Behavior section of their syllabus and the Student Code of Conduct for more detailed policy information.