- Las Positas College
- Instructional Transition
- FAQ Questions Related to Instructional Faculty and Staff
Instructional Transition
- Instructional Transition Home
- Questions Related to Instructional Faculty & Staff
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Students
- LPC Campus Resources for Students
- Supporting Students with WiFi/Tech
- OEI - How to keep teaching during an emergency
- OEI - Canvas Basics for Instructional Continuity
- OEI - Resource Videos for Faculty Learning shared by CCCs
- ACUE
- Emergency Blanket Distance Education Addendum
FAQ Questions Related to Instructional Faculty and Staff
- Is Las Positas College closed?
- Are we coming back in-person this Spring?
- Are we coming back in-person this Summer?
- Do I need formal Distance Education (DE) training to teach online in summer?
- Are we coming back in-person this Fall?
- May I come to Campus?
- When is the Canvas Training?
- I have never used Canvas or taught online. How to I build my capacity to teach online?
- Are we allowed to convert in-person classes to online without going through the usual approval process?
- Can I use a platform other than Canvas?
- How will I know if my class is being moved online?
- Will the Child Development Center be open?
- If my class is online, can I still hold exams in person? If not, how will I administer exams?
- How do I proctor an online exam and ensure academic integrity?
- How are we supporting students who need computer or internet access?
- Can we still travel to our field trip/conference/off-site meeting?
- Are committee meetings taking place?
- What if I don't have a camera on my computer for ConferZoom?
- What is Regular and Substantive Interaction?
Questions Related to Faculty Work
- What should I do for my students immediately?
- I am concerned about the first day and week of classes. Can you give me some suggestions for getting used to online delivery as easily as possible?
- I would like to use the technology (computer web cam, document camera, etc.) that is available in my regular classroom to run my classes synchronously or to build online content. May I use my regular classroom?
- I missed Canvas and ConferZoom training. What do I do?
- Where can I get additional technology assistance?
- When can I get Proctorio training for online test proctoring?
- Will Division Meeting meet?
Questions Related to Supporting Students
- Will Tutoring on campus still be available for students next week? Will online tutoring be available?
- Can I have office hours with students? Do I have to have office hours with students? May I meet with small groups of students?
- My student needs DSPS accommodations. How do I support them in the online environment (e.g., captioning for audio impairments, Alt text for images for visual impairments)? What other resources are available?
- What if a student does not want to use Proctorio?
- What about ADA (American with Disabilities Act)?
- When is the bookstore open?
Is Las Positas College closed?
Yes. The campus is closed in response to the Alameda County and the Governor’s "shelter in place" order. Only essential employees are on campus. Instructors may need to gather materials from offices. If so, they should contact Campus Safety and the instructor will be escorted to the building by staff. Buildings cannot be accessed through key cards. All personnel entering the buildings will need to go to Campus Safety. This will also ensure that Campus Safety knows where people are in case of an emergency.
Classes that were designated as limited in-person classes will resume online after Spring Break.
Are we coming back in-person this Spring?
No. We will not resume face-to-face instruction during the regularly scheduled Spring semester. We are reviewing recent guidelines provided by the State Chancellor’s Office about the possibility of extending the Spring semester to provide an opportunity for a very limited number of classes linked to essential service to resume instruction for content that cannot be moved online. Final decisions and details are forthcoming.
Are we coming back in-person this Summer?
No. The summer schedule and assignments built before Spring Break were recalled and a summer, distance education only, summer is being built. Program coordinators and deans have until April 8th to convert the summer schedule to an online modality.
Do I need formal Distance Education (DE) training to teach online in summer?
There are significant differences and complexities that come with teaching online (and regulations too!). The emergency Canvas Training is not sufficient. We are highly encouraging faculty that have taught exclusively face-to-face and have requested a summer assignment to sign up for the Online Course Development Program offered at LPC. Email Scott Vigallon to enroll (svigallon@laspositascollege.edu). We know that some faculty may have completed training elsewhere. If that is the case, please share that information with the division dean. Some professors have been self-trained and have taught, been evaluated, and received a satisfactory evaluation. Please share that information with the division dean. To meet the needs of the program, deans will be using the instructional assignments under their direction to assign classes to trained faculty.
Are we coming back in-person this Fall?
We have not made any decision about moving Fall 2020 to an online only format.
May I come to Campus?
You may come to campus to retrieve items from your office or instruct virtually in your classroom at the time it was scheduled. Alert Campus safety when you arrive and they will unlock building and room for you. Alert Campus Safety when you leave so they can have M&O clean the room.
When is the Canvas Training?
Ongoing online: Visit the Instructional Transition Website
Ideas are being shared everywhere. Check out the LPC Facebook Group: LPC-COVIDBITEME Support Group.
I have never used Canvas or taught online. How to I build my capacity to teach online?
There are available resources at the Instructional Transition page. There are faculty mentors listed on this website who are willing to help you through the transition.
Are we allowed to convert in-person classes to online without going through the usual approval process?
Yes.We have filed a Blanket Distance Education Addendum for Emergencies with the State Chancellor’s Office. We have received confirmation that the Distance Education Addendum has been accepted.
Can I use a platform other than Canvas?
No. You need to use Canvas so that we can support your instruction and have a consistent platform for students. Please note, this platform does have ConferZoom capabilities.
How will I know if my class is being moved online?
All classes are moving online through the end of the Spring Semester.
Will the Child Development Center be open?
The Las Positas College Child Development Center will close from Monday, March 16, 2020 through Tuesday, May 5, 2020.
If my class is online, can I still hold exams in person? If not, how will I administer exams?
You may not come to campus to administer exams with students or require students to come to campus. Shelter-in-place is a legal order.
How do I proctor an online exam and ensure academic integrity?
Canvas has Proctorio which allows for online test proctoring. Visit the Instructional Transition page for more information.
How are we supporting students who need computer or internet access?
Please communicate with your dean if you have a student in need. You may also fill out the Outreach and Retention Form and the Outreach Specialists will contact the students and schedule a pick-up. We have created a referral system for checking out computers, webcams and hotspots for students.
Technology loans began on Thursday, March 26. Scheduled students may pick up laptops between 10-3 at the Library. A system, following social distancing, has been established just inside the double doors. Students should arrive with student ID, or government issued ID, and a class schedule. They will fill out contract and receive tech in plastic bag.
At this time, students need a referral to receive a laptop. They may receive this referral in three ways:
Tier 1. Class identified need. Faculty have identified student need for tech and/or tech & software that is hosted on site at LPC for a particular class. Student name and need is forwarded to dean, dean compiles list daily and sends to Steve. Steve will send progress sheet daily. When tech is ready, faculty or dean will reach out to students to schedule time for pick up. Forward name/date/time, via dean, to lpccircdesk@laspositascollege.edu.
Tier 2. Outreach identified need. Faculty have referred students for outreach. When reached student need has been identified. Student name and need is forwarded by program manager to Steve. Steve will send progress sheet daily. When tech is ready, outreach specialist or program manager will reach out to students to schedule time for pick up. Forward name/date/time, via manager, to lpccircdesk@laspositascollege.edu.
Tier 3. Director identified need. Coordinators of Umoja, Puente, EOPS, Engineering Tech, Veterans First have identified student need. Student name and need is forwarded by program manager to Steve. Steve will send progress sheet daily. When tech is ready, coordinators will reach out to students to schedule time for pick up. Forward name/date/time, via coordinator, to lpccircdesk@laspositascollege.edu.
Several District employees are mobilizing to get LPC laptops and donated laptops to needy students.
Can we still travel to our field trip/conference/off-site meeting?
The District has suspended travel through April, inclusive of field trips and conference travel to areas that are not sheltering-in-place.
Are committee meetings taking place?
Some College Governance committees are meeting virtually. Check in with the committee chair if you are unsure.
What if I don't have a camera on my computer for ConferZoom?
Contact Stephen Gunderson. He has is working to provide cameras for faculty computers that do not have them.
What is Regular and Substantive Interaction?
View definition and information on Regular and Substantive Interaction.
What should I do for my students immediately?
- Send an informative email about the approved format of the class this week.
- A sample template is available here. Please be sure to modify based on how your section is approved to be offered.
I am concerned about the first day and week of classes. Can you give me some suggestions for getting used to online delivery as easily as possible?
- Consider running your first online class synchronously, by setting up a ConferZoom meeting (inside your Canvas shell) that meets at the same time as your class.
- Students will have a predictable structure, and you can help students learn how to access the class, and troubleshoot technical issues such as how to mute, share screen, use chat features, manage small groups, etc.
I would like to use the technology (computer web cam, document camera, etc.) that is available in my regular classroom to run my classes synchronously or to build online content. May I use my regular classroom?
The District and the FA have agreed that instructors may come to campus and use their instructional classroom. Please use the classroom that is normally used at the time scheduled for face-to-face instruction to avoid using a room another professor is planning to use. Instructor should check in with Campus Safety and be escorted to the classroom and then alert Campus Safety when exiting the campus. Social Distancing protocols must be followed while on campus.
I missed Canvas and ConferZoom training. What do I do?
- Keep checking the Instructional Transition page for updates.
Where can I get additional technology assistance?
- Please refer to comprehensive list of resources on this website.
- If you need help with classroom technology, computers, document cameras, projectors, AV support, call x1660 (925-424-1660).
When can I get Proctorio training for online test proctoring?
See the instructional video on Proctorio on the Teaching and Learning website.
If you need additional help, visit the Teaching and Learning Center.
Will Division Meeting meet?
- Check with your dean. Most are providing the option to check in but are not requiring faculty to attend the virtual Division Meeting.
Will Tutoring on campus still be available for students next week? Will online tutoring be available?
The RAW Center will also have in-person and online tutoring. Check the RAW Center website for updated information.
Please expect to see a link named LPC Tutoring/RAW pop up on the Canvas course navigation menu. This interactive platform will lead students to the following:
- Tutoring Center (students can receive one-on-one or small-group online tutoring in a variety of subjects; staffed by LPC student tutors or LPC instructors holding their office hours)
- RAW Center (one-one-one reading and writing help for ANY class which requires either reading or writing; staffed by LPC English/ESL faculty)
- Smart Shop Workshop Series (students will also be able to access the series via the workshop series page)
- Online study rooms (instructors will be able to hold office hours or students will be able to study with each other using online whiteboard capabilities.)
LPC student tutor schedules will be uploaded once tutors are trained. Similarly, RAW Center and SmartShop schedules will be uploaded as soon as possible. Stay tuned for scheduling updates and descriptions of additional features from the vendor; such as a virtual “locker” where students can watch recordings of their tutoring sessions and a whiteboard Math Tool of commonly used math notations.
As always, NetTutor will remain a separate link in Canvas courses because it provides online tutoring in more subjects than are offered through the Tutoring Center and is available during the summer when the Tutoring Center is closed.
Can I have office hours with students? Do I have to have office hours with students? May I meet with small groups of students?
You are encouraged to hold virtual office hours to support students and to hold them at a regularly scheduled and publicized time.
My student needs DSPS accommodations. How do I support them in the online environment (e.g., captioning for audio impairments, Alt text for images for visual impairments)? What other resources are available?
- DSPS can work with students and faculty as usual. Please work through DSPS.
What if a student does not want to use Proctorio?
- Procotorio is the college mode for proctored online exams.
- There is no campus proctoring resource.
What about ADA (American with Disabilities Act)?
- Please refer to http://www.laspositascollege.edu/instructional-transition/ and http://www.laspositascollege.edu/onlinelearning/faculty/accessibility/index.php.
- Online materials online need to be accessible. Avoid using PDFs unless you have already made them accessible.
- Live, synchronous online classes will not be close-captioned.
When is the bookstore open?
The Bookstore website: is open 24 hours. In person hours are suspended.