For many years, a customary practice in online classes has been to provide students access to course materials one week before it officially begins in order to help orient them to the course. More recently, recommendations for leveraging the week before classes start—also referred to as preview week or week zero—have expanded to hybrid, remote, and in-person courses to give learners time they need to familiarize themselves with the course, prepare their schedule for important deadlines, and purchase or access course materials.
During the uncertainty of the past few years, instructors have been asked to be flexible and accommodating to our students. In many ways, this has made us more understanding, more approachable, and more willing to think about the structure of our classes, assignments, and support for students.
