Hybrid COVID Toolkit

	FREQUENT UPDATES: This article contains guidance related to COVID-19 that is subject to change. Check the COVID-19 Response at WSU site for the latest information and direct all questions about this article to TLT (tlt@winona.edu).

This Hybrid COVID Toolkit is intended for instructors preparing fall courses for hybrid delivery under conditions necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes links to checklists, planning guides, sample syllabus statements, frequently asked questions, and other helpful resources for managing new, COVID-related tasks and responsibilities. This is not a guide to designing and teaching effective hybrid courses. It only includes COVID-related guidance to help you prepare for the fall semester.

Official guidance

This toolkit is based on the following official sources of guidance adopted by Winona State University and is not intended to replace them:

Impact of COVID-19 impact on hybrid instruction

As a blend of in-person and online instruction, hybrid courses present all the same COVID-related challenges. Consult the In-person COVID Toolkit and the Online COVID Toolkit for guidance specific to the in-person and online components of your hybrid course. Meeting in-person safely is often easier in hybrid courses because students meet less frequently and in smaller groups. However, accommodating students who miss in-person meetings because they need to isolate or quarantine can be more difficult. In-person activities in hybrid courses are selected because they are well-suited for physical interaction and less effective online. This toolkit focuses on issues that are not included in the other two toolkits and reside at the intersection of in-person and online engagement.

Checklists

Title	Description
Course Readiness Checklist	Determine whether you have accomplished all of your COVID-related course preparation tasks.
Student Readiness Checklist	Determine whether you have prepared your students for the COVID-related changes to your course.

Guides

Title	Description
Your New Classroom Floor Plan	Describes how to access classroom floor plans and review new building, floor, and room layouts.
Interacting with Students Outside of Class Time	Includes guidance for managing student office hours, advising sessions, and informal interactions with students before and after class.
Taking Precautions During Class Meetings	Includes guidance for maintaining social distance and engaging in preventative public health measures during class time.
Teaching and Face Coverings	Includes links to specific guidance on the use of face coverings during in-person class meetings and information about voice amplification.
Holding Class Meetings Outdoors	Includes information about reserving and using outdoor spaces for teaching in-person class sessions.
Supporting Students in Isolation or Quarantine	Includes guidance for supporting students in isolation or quarantine who cannot attend in-person class meetings.
Managing Your Own Isolation or Quarantine	Includes options for handling the instructor's absence from in-person class meetings due to isolation or quarantine.
Switching to Online Delivery	Includes suggestions for preparing for a sudden switch to fully online delivery if needed.

Sample syllabus statements

Title	Description
General Expectations	General statements about accommodation, flexibility, face coverings, and physical distancing.
Unscheduled Absences	Statements about accommodating students who miss class meeting for COVID-related reasons.
Classroom Face Covering	Statements about face coverings for students and instructor.
Classroom Physical Distancing	Statements about maintaining proper physical distance in class meetings.
Outside Interactions	Statements about managing interactions outside class time.
Moving Online	Statements about switching delivery modes if necessary.

FAQ

Can I remove my mask when I teach?

The guidance followed by WSU allows instructors to remove their face covering temporarily while lecturing if they can maintain at least 12' of physical distance between themselves and their students. Faculty can also use transparent face shields or clear masks if that helps facilitate instruction and at least six feet of physical distance can be maintained.

Will WSU provide me with a face shield?

Yes. Contact TLT (tlt@winona.edu) to request one. There are two different types of face shields, each recommended for a different situation.

What if one of my students has to isolate or quarantine?

Faculty decide how to manage unscheduled absences due to COVID-19 in their own courses. Options include streaming or recording the live classroom activity and providing alternative activities that meet the same learning objectives.

Can I live-stream my classroom activities?

Yes. Some WSU classrooms support streaming already using in-room systems. You could also use your laptop's built-in camera and microphone or TLT (tlt@winona.edu) can provide an external camera and microphone that connects to your laptop. Before deciding to stream your class meetings, please consider whether the stream will be an effective learning experience for your remote students.

External links

COVID-19 Information for Minnesota State Students, Faculty, and Staff

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