Online teaching at FF MU
From the student's point of view
What can online teaching at FF MU look like?
At the Faculty of Arts you can encounter various forms of online teaching. On this page you will find basic information about frequently used tools and forms of online teaching and testing.
Synchronous teaching
Synchronous teaching tries to be as close as possible to contact teaching. Lectures and seminars are held at times according to the schedule. Classes are most often delivered on MS Teams or Zoom platforms.
MS Teams
The online learning, which is synchronous with the schedule and therefore "live", is largely conducted on the MS Teams platform. The call can be accessed via a web browser, but we recommend downloading the desktop and possibly the mobile app.
You will log into MS Teams using your university email učo@muni.cz and a primary password. You can then access the lectures via the link or team code provided by the lecturer.
If the class is taught in a team, the instructor will sign you up for the team and you can then access the video call via a calendar event or directly in the conversation channel of the appropriate team. You can also join the meeting via the schedule in IS (if the teacher sets it up that way).
More detailed instructions for MS Teams can be found here.
Zoom
Zoom is another platform used for lectures or seminars. This again offers the possibility of downloading a desktop or mobile application, but it is also possible to connect to the meeting via a web browser.
You connect to the Zoom video call via a link or ID code provided by the lecturer in advance. Next, you just need to fill in your name and, if applicable, the access code found in the email from the instructor, and you are in the lecture. In the case of using the app, you need to register via email and then rejoin the call using the access details provided by the lecturer.
You can also log into Zoom via CESNET in addition to your email. In this case, when logging in, click on SSO, fill in "cesnet" in the Company Domain field and select Masaryk University and confirm.
Less frequently used options you may encounter are Skype and Google Meet. Both services offer both a web browser connection and a mobile connection and, in the case of Skype, desktop application.
Asynchronous teaching
In asynchronous teaching, you don't meet regularly, instead you work independently according to the teacher's instructions. The teacher will make the learning materials available to you on the platform of your choice. The most used platform is ELF (Moodle) and the study materials in IS.
ELF
For "offline" teaching, teachers often use the ELF platform (Moodle). ELF allows teachers to create an e-course for a given subject. As students, you go through the course during the semester and complete the assigned activities. These activities may be different in each course, but you will often encounter lectures, required readings, tests, hand-ins, forums, etc.
The ELF can be accessed using a web browser. To log into the system, use your UČO and primary password. Once logged in, you will see a list of the courses you are enrolled in.
For more information about ELF, please see the Student Help.
Information system
Another frequently used platform is the MU Information System. In the browser, log in using your UČO and primary password as standard.
Then click on E-learning in the Student section. You will be redirected to a page where you will find all the study materials for the courses you are enrolled in or their interactive syllabi. The interactive syllabus allows you to browse through the study materials by week and records your progress in your studies.
The second way to access the study materials is through the course information. Find the course you want in IS and scroll down to study materials in the course information. Here you will find the materials sorted into folders, you will recognize the interactive syllabus by the green list icon.
More information about e-learning in IS MU can be found here.
MS Teams
Study materials can also be stored in MS Teams. The platform is accessible via a web browser, but we recommend downloading the desktop application.
Once downloaded, you will log in using your university email as učo@muni.cz and your primary password. In teams, select the desired subject. Study materials can be found in the General channel under the Files tab. Instructors can also use the Course Notebook, Assignments, and Grades tabs to teach the course.
More information about MS Teams can be found here.
Teachers can also use other applications such as Google Classroom. Contact your teacher for more information about alternative platforms.
Verification of knowledge
You may encounter knowledge testing not only during the exam period, but also during the semester. It may take the form of a test, an oral examination or a colloquium, or the submission of a final paper. You may also encounter various combinations. You will always be given information on how to finish by the course tutor. For all types of exams, make a note of the date.
Test
- It takes place online, mostly in the IS environment or in ELF.
- You may also find that you will have a video call with the teacher during the testing, where he/she can check you continuously.
- Make sure you have a good internet connection before taking the test.
- You should prefer to write the test on a PC, some functions in ELF do not work in mobile view.
Oral examination
- It takes place as a video call via the MS Teams platform.
- The teacher may ask you to show him/her if you have any unwanted tools on your desk.
- Again, make sure you have a good internet connection and choose a quiet place to talk.
Colloquium
- It can look like an oral exam in a group, which again is done as a video call in MS Teams.
- It can also take the form of an answer sheet in IS, submission of an essay or a test.
Final thesis
- It is usually a term paper or essay.
- The teacher usually gives instructions on how to proceed and where to deposit or send the final project.
- This could be an email, a submission in IS or ELF.
The knowledge check is described in more detail on this page.
Tips
In this section, we've put together some tips to help you get to grips with online learning and find your way around more quickly.
How to stay in the loop?
- Follow the schedule in IS.
- Check calendars in MS Teams.
- Regularly check email in IS and O365.
How to make a successful video call?
- Log in using the UČO, do not enter the call as a guest.
- If you are not speaking, turn off your microphone.
- Raise your hand.
- Respond with emoticons to give the teacher feedback.
- Try to secure a space where you won't be disturbed.
- Turn on your camera unless the teacher says otherwise.
- Be present in the lecture and listen, the teacher may require you to respond.
- Ask the lecturer if you can record the lecture, do not do this yourself without their permission.
How to adapt note-taking to online learning?
- Try a platform that offers online note-taking.
- Access your notes from any device.
- Download free OneNote, Notion or use Docs in your Google account.
