Teaching
Penn State Harrisburg’s Center for Teaching Excellence has learning designers and multimedia specialists available to support your teaching. They are available to consult with you on your teaching practice, Canvas, video and multimedia assets, teaching observations, syllabi review and more. Email [email protected] with a question or to request a consultation. More information can be found at the Center for Teaching Excellence website.
Canvas
Penn State University's learning management system is called Canvas and is online at canvas.psu.edu.
Canvas is software that enables faculty, instructors, and teaching assistants to use the Web to enhance their courses without any knowledge of HTML. It is designed to be used in any academic discipline without imposing a particular teaching methodology on instructors and students.
If you teach a class at Penn State as a faculty member, instructor, or teaching assistant, you can use Canvas to:
- Make course materials such as syllabi, schedules, announcements, lecture notes, quizzes, and multimedia resources available on the web from one location.
- Manage the administrative aspects of your courses more efficiently by automating repetitive tasks.
- Introduce exciting new learning opportunities to your students using its communication features.
Class Rosters
Class Rosters are available from the Faculty Center in LionPATH and a tutorial is available.
To access a Class Roster in LionPATH, you must be recorded as the instructor of record, have an active Penn State Access Account, and be enrolled in Two-Factor Authentication (2FA).
If you are unable to obtain your class roster from LionPATH, please contact the campus Registrar’s Office.
Syllabus
A written syllabus must be distributed to students in each course within the first five calendar days of a semester or its equivalent. Changes to the syllabus shall also be given to the student in writing.
The syllabus should include the class name and number, your name, campus phone number, email address and, as appropriate, voice mailbox number and webpage address. It should also include your office hours or manner in which an appointment can be arranged, a list of required books and other necessary materials which the student must acquire independently. There should be a calendar with dates of class meetings and exams and the due dates for written, oral, and reading assignments.
In addition to course content and expectations, the syllabus must include the course examination policy, basis for grades, and six mandatory statements regarding Academic Integrity, Non-Discriminatory/Disability Statement, Mandated Reporting and Veteran Statement, Emergency Procedures, Educational Equity Statement.
A syllabus template including the Penn State Harrisburg syllabus language for required elements is available from the Center for Teaching Excellence Syllabus Support page.
Classroom Technology
For assistance with classroom technology or to request specific technology, please contact ITS for an orientation to your classroom or to request support.