Teaching Students with Limited or No Internet Connection

By Rob Caldwell
5 min

This guide was created for teachers at NCSSM using Canvas LMS and Zoom videoconferencing, but can be adjusted for teachers at other schools using other technology. Much of the guidance is universal.

When teaching online or Connect students during natural disasters, the challenges of unreliable or no internet connectivity require flexibility and creativity. Here are some practical tips to maintain learning continuity during these disruptions:

1. Prepare Offline Resources in Advance

  • Downloadable Materials: Ensure students have access to important resources (textbooks, readings, assignments) allowing them to work offline. Provide downloadable PDF versions of critical materials.

  • Add files to Canvas: Canvas allows students to download all published material in a Canvas course to their computer and work offline. The Canvas Student mobile app also features an offline mode students can use to download all materials in a course and work offline. This allows students to view and read materials, but not to submit assignments. Submitting assignments requires an internet connection.

    • In Canvas, ensure all course content is organized in modules and modules are visible to students. The offline functionality only works from within the modules page in Canvas.

    • Ensure all files students may need are uploaded to Canvas as pdfs, Word files, and other downloadable file formats. If you use Google slides to share slides, do not embed the slides, but instead download them from Google Drive as a pdf and upload the pdf to Canvas.

    • Upload shared files to Canvas directly instead of sharing links to files. For example, do not share a link to a file in Google drive; instead, download the file from Google drive and upload it to the Canvas course.

    • Remember, without internet, any links, video embeds, or other embedded web material you share will be inaccessible.

Other LMSs may also feature an offline mode similar to Canvas. Even if you are unsure of offline mode with the LMS you are using, following these tips will make downloading content much easier for students.

  • Prepare lectures or video recordings for offline: If you lecture or have a regularly scheduled zoom meeting, record these sessions. But keep in mind, when students are cut off from internet access, it may be impossible for them to view the recordings in a timely manner. We recommend enabling the Zoom AI Companion for any zoom meeting, and using it to generate a meeting summary. You can then create a page in Canvas where you can paste in the meeting summary and share a pdf file of the slides you shared. This will allow students to read the summary and download the files to view offline.

    • To enable AI summaries in Zoom:

      • Go to https://ncssm.zoom.us

      • Go to Settings

      • Click the AI Companion tab

      • Enable Meeting Summary with AI Companion

        • set the Meeting Summary with AI Companion settings to suit your needs and preferences

      • Then, anytime you are meeting, click the AI Companion button in zoom to start the summary. Zoom will email you a summary of the meeting after the meeting has concluded.

If you are not using Zoom, you may still be able to use a similar AI summary such as that generated by Otter.ai. Check with your school whether you may use such AI tools. If not, the next best option is to record your videoconference session, wait until the machine captions are generated, and then download the captions as a text file. While not perfect, it can still allow a student to read the transcript rather than watch the video, which requires more bandwidth.

Another option, though more time-consuming, is to type out detailed teachers notes in the slide deck and ask students to download the file and read the teacher notes. You can add thought questions, clarifying information, and things you wish your students to do at home in the teacher notes.

  • USB Drives: For areas where internet may be an issue, pre-load USB drives with essential course materials and distribute them as needed.

    • For class recordings, you can download recordings from Panopto and add them to a flash drive once a week or so and mail it to the student alongside any pdfs or other files they may need. Keep in mind, they may not be able to print assignments.

2. Flexible Deadlines

  • Extended Deadlines: Acknowledge the unpredictability of natural disasters and allow for flexible deadlines. Clearly communicate that you understand students may need more time.

  • Completion Windows: Instead of hard deadlines, offer a window for completing tasks, making it easier for students to engage when they have access to power and internet.

3. Alternate Communication Channels

  • SMS/Text Messaging: If internet access is limited, use SMS or messaging apps (e.g., WhatsApp) to share updates, assignments, or lesson summaries.

  • Phone Calls/Voicemail: In extreme cases, maintain communication through phone calls. Set up a hotline or voicemail box where students can leave messages and get important updates.

4. Encourage Paper-Based Activities

  • Journaling and Note-Taking: Encourage students to keep a learning journal where they can document their thoughts, reflections, and questions as they read or complete tasks offline.

  • Handwritten Assignments: Allow students to complete assignments on paper and submit photos or scans when they regain access.

5. Leverage Asynchronous Learning

  • Pre-Recorded Lessons: Record and send out short video/audio lectures or tutorials that students can download when they have connectivity, to view later offline.

  • Reading Assignments & Worksheets: Focus on reading-based assignments or problem sets that can be completed without real-time interaction.

6. Encourage Peer Collaboration

  • Buddy Systems: Pair students up so they can support each other, sharing resources and updates via phone calls or text messaging when they can’t connect online.

  • Local Study Groups: Encourage students in the same geographic area to form local study groups if safety allows. They can collaborate offline and support each other in completing assignments.

7. Set Clear Expectations Early

  • Disaster Protocols: Provide students with clear guidelines for what to do in the event of a natural disaster. Include expectations around communication, offline work, and flexibility so everyone knows how to proceed.

  • Emergency Plans: Encourage students to have a backup plan in case they lose access, such as identifying local libraries, community centers, or friends’ houses where they might connect in an emergency.

8. Alternative Submission Methods

  • Postal Mail: As a last resort, allow students to submit assignments via postal mail if other means of digital submission aren’t feasible.

  • Phone Submissions: Accept verbal reports, summaries, or presentations over the phone if submitting online is impossible.

9. Use Low-Bandwidth Platforms

  • If students have some connectivity, use platforms that are low-bandwidth friendly. For example, instead of video conferencing, use discussion boards, email, or even audio messages that require less data.

10. Maintain Emotional and Mental Health Support

  • Check-ins: Keep in mind that during natural disasters, students may be dealing with personal challenges. Create a safe space for students to share their concerns and offer empathy. Let them know you’re available for support and flexible with their academic needs.

11. Collaborate with Local Resources

  • Work with local schools, libraries, or community centers to create partnerships that allow students to access internet and power if their own homes are impacted.

By prioritizing flexibility, communication, and preparation, you can help students navigate the challenges of learning during a natural disaster. These strategies ensure that learning can continue, even in difficult circumstances.

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