Using ICON in a Large Lecture Classroom

icon-logo   ICON (Iowa Courses Online) is the course management system at The University of Iowa. ICON is supported within Information Technology Services.

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How can I use Discussion Forums in ICON more efficiently if I'm teaching a large class?

  • Cover important topics before class
  • Gather student feedback from previous lectures
  • Engage students outside of the classroom
  • Require discussion board postings and assign a credit weighting to them to ensure students are posting
  • Delegate grading or responding to discussion board responses to TAs

How can I use the Content tool in ICON to disperse materials to my students in a more effective and organized manner?

  • Use the Content tool to post files in one accessible location (PowerPoints, Readings) for students to view or download
  • Organize by week, course topics, or project categories
  • If you show YouTube clips or use other materials in class, post the links in the appropriate ICON section so that students who miss class can access class materials easily

How can use ICON Quizzes to efficiently assess student understanding?

  • Develop questions to probe student comprehension
  • Quizzes can be linked to grade book so that when students complete a quiz attempt their score is automatically sent to the grade book
  • Offer weekly quizzes online to determiner trouble spots in the readings

How can the ICON drop box feature help me?

It can help you collect, and return student work so that you don’t cut into class time.  You can offer feedback in the comments section.  It’s also useful for keeping track of in-class and extra credit assignments.  You can see at a glance who has not turned in an assignment.

Course Mapping? Should I combine my course in ICON?

Normally, each section gets its own ICON site, so 000:101:001, 000:101:002, and 000:101:003 would all get their own site.  Instructors can combine the students in section 001, 002, and 003 into one ICON site.


Combining course gives the instructor only one site to mange (creating quizzes, uploading syllabus, etc)

This is recommended only if:

      • All content is the same between the three sections
      • The students are graded on the same assignments
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