Skip to main content

Welcome to the UCLA Extension Support Center where you'll find articles to help answer your questions. Launched in late 2021, we are building a library of information to address your needs.

If your question is not answered here, please click Submit a request, and tell us what you need there.


Use the Instructor’s Quarterly Checklist to Prep for Launch

  • Updated

The Instructor Quarterly Checklist is designed to help you plan ahead and prepare your course for its launch and completion. It covers all the logistical steps you'll need to consider throughout your course's life cycle, including:

  • The instructional and course content readiness of your course prior to launch.
  • Steps for maintaining frequent interaction, communication, and presence while your course is live.
  • Steps for grading students' work and closing out a course.

Four Primary Stages

The checklist is broken down into the four primary stages of launching and managing your course.

To review each stage and ensure your readiness, click each tab below. 

Before Your Course Starts

  1. Review your contract to know your course's start date and end date.
  2. Four weeks before the start date, check for required course elements:
  •  
    • Ensure that all content and course elements are prepared and added to your Canvas course.
    • Use the Course Preparation Checklist as a guide to ensure all elements are present in your course.
    • Have at least the first four weeks of your course completed and ready to launch.
  1. Three days before your course's start date, check whether course content is visible to students. Remember that they will have access to all published content in your course two calendar days before its official start date, so one day prior to students gaining access to your course:

After Your Course Starts

  1. Establish and maintain your presence in the online course once it is live.
  •  
    • Stay present and active in the class throughout the quarter. This means remaining present and responsive in communicating with students, responding to discussions and messages, providing feedback, grading student work, and posting new content.
    • Use the Create a Sense of Presence Online article as a guide to ensure you maintain interaction throughout the quarter. 

Prior to Your Course Ending

  1. Two weeks prior to your course's end date, communicate final project work and due dates to students.
  •  
    • Post an announcement providing end-of-course details, such as final dates, final project or exam details, and final due dates for all work to be completed.
  1. Two weeks prior to your course's end date, make sure all grading is up to date.
  •  
    • Be sure to grade all pending assignments, including ones that students submitted late (if you're willing to accept late work).
    • Alert students of any missing assignments.
    • Provide an early warning to students if they are not expected to pass the course. (For more information on incompletes, check the Grading section of your course in the Instructor Portal.)
  1. During the final week of the course, send an announcement wrapping up the course.
  •  
    • Send a final announcement wrapping up the course and thanking students for their participation. 

After Your Course End Date

  1. One to two weeks after your course's end date, record students' final grades in the Instructor Portal.
  •  
    • Review and update final official grades in the Instructor Portal. Be sure to double-check all grades before submitting them. (Please note that it is not possible to export grades from Canvas to the Instructor Portal. You will need to manually enter final grades. For assistance, contact your Program Representative.)

Related articles