With flu season already under way, Information Technology Services is making plans to help instructors deal with the impact of H1N1.

The Instructional Services team at Information Technology Services is developing strategies for dealing with the impact the flu would have on classes. The team has been working with instructors to develop plans that will allow classes to continue if students and instructors cannot meet face-to-face.

The team has already put together an informational Web page that provides tips and strategies for instructors to continue teaching classes in the event of cancellations due to the flu. These tips also can help instructors work with students who need to miss classes for an extended period of time to recover from the virus.

The main focus of this effort is preparation. With planning, there are ways to continue classes with limited interruption using alternative content delivery methods like recorded lectures or creating an online classroom with Wimba audio/video conferencing.

“It is more likely that we will experience increased absenteeism than actual cancellation of classes. These resources can help faculty save time when dealing with sick students who miss course content,” said Nancy Lilleberg, manager of instructional services.

A variety of easy-to-understand ideas are provided on the Web site including alternatives to face-to-face office hours, how to collect assignments and how to administer exams.

For more information, go to www.ndsu.edu/its/h1n1.