Outside In

The virtual classroom environment can be confining. It can be exciting and educational to expand beyond this and bring the outside world into your virtual classroom.

Guests

Call or email professionals, experts, those who work in your field, other instructors, or those who have had personal experiences with your course content.
Be sure to explain to your guest how online works (login instructions, time frame for the visit, how to use technology, what to expect).
For adding guest lecturers or others to your Canvas containers, fill out the form on the Canvas Forms page.
Consider using Zoom online conferencing for a rich experience.

Interviews

Have students interview someone related to course material (in person, by phone, by email).
Post their interview (or a recording or video) to a Canvas discussion.

Observations

Have students observe people or a situation that relates to course material

Field Trips

Have students visit a course-related location and report (prepare assignment instructions and questions)
Examples: a church for religious studies, court for law, planetarium for astronomy

Cross-Cultural Assignment

Explore other countries by Web search
Google has a language translator
You might even set up correspondence through similar online courses in other countries (perfect for history, languages, political science)
Google has a text translator