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Semester Timeline

Stay on track with the Semester Timeline.

The Timeline is designed to guide you through each phase of the semester with key teaching ‘touch points’ and planning tips, just-in-time resources, and professional learning opportunities.

On this page

Image: Mockaroon on Unsplash

We hope you will find this useful to:

  • Stay organised – track important dates and milestones
  • Access a wide range of support – from engaging students at the start to preparing exam questions and gearing up for final marking, all aimed at supporting your growth as a teacher.
  • Utilise just-in-time resources – access what you need when you need it.

Feel free to pick and choose what resonates with you.

Disclaimer: This timeline is a general guide and may not suit all teaching schedules, such as those on a quarter system, in Teacher Education Programme, UoA Online, and others. It is intended to be helpful but not exhaustive.

Semester One

6–19 January 2025
Plan and prepare

Pre-semester

  • Set up Canvas course template
  • Review and update course content
  • Update Talis reading lists
  • Design assessments

Resources

Canvas Course Import tool

Canvas: Copy a page to another course

Canvas guide for teachers

Talis support

Additional resources

Canvas Essentials (facilitated sessions)

Course design (self-paced session)

Blended learning (self-paced session)

Assessment for learning (self-paced session)

TeachWell Consult service

20 January–21 February 2025
Fine-tune

Early semester prep

  • Prepare Canvas assignment groups and Gradebook settings
  • Create welcome message (a brief video or text)
  • Check that your course is aligned with Canvas Baseline Practices
  • Publish your Canvas course
  • Check teaching spaces and acquaint yourself with the equipment

Resources

Assessment checklist for Canvas

Welcome to the course (template)

Canvas Baseline Practices

Check, fix and publish your Canvas course

Additional resources

Canvas Assessment (facilitated sessions)

Lecture theatre equipment familiarisation sessions

Teaching Well: Foundations of Learning and Teaching (PLS) (facilitated sessions)

Change One Thing Challenge (teaching award)

Teaching-related policies and frameworks esp. Assessment of Courses Policy

Assessment of Courses Procedures (§23)

24 February–2 March 2025
Set the tone

Orientation Week

  • Set up introductory activities
  • Check which students have learning and teaching adjustments
  • Post a welcome announcement (a brief video or text)

Resources

Faculty Access Portal (disability case management system)

Personal introduction (template)

Additional resources

Universal Design for Learning

Neurodiverse students

Semester One begins
3 March 2025
3–21 March 2025
Welcome and get to know your students

Weeks 1–3

  • Focus on creating a safe and inclusive classroom environment
  • Consider students requiring special conditions in tests and exams
  • Facilitate election for class reps and add contact details to Canvas (weeks 1–2)
  • Monitor student engagement
  • Invite informal student feedback (week 3)
  • Refresh knowledge on teaching and course engagement

Resources

Towards a sense of belonging (curated resources)

Special conditions and aegrotats

Canvas Analytics

Formative evaluations of teaching and courses

Relational learning in practice

Ideas to promote student engagement

Additional resources

Student Voice Policy

Class Representation Policy

Class Reps (Auckland University Students Association)

24 March–11 April 2025
Think about early feedback

Weeks 4–6

  • Conduct first assessments
  • Monitor participation
  • Look for ‘at risk’ students
  • Provide early progress feedback to students

Resources

Canvas Analytics

Messaging individual students via Canvas Analytics

Providing feedback

Additional resources

Student support services

Mid-semester break
14–25 April 2025
14–25 April 2025
Reset, recharge, and refine
  • Review course progress
  • Prepare upcoming materials
  • Start curating exam questions
  • Engage in professional development

Resources

Inspera exam process for teachers

TeachWell Professional Learning Series

28 April–16 May 2025
Gather feedback and adjust

Weeks 7–9

  • Gather mid-semester feedback
  • Request a peer teaching observation
  • Adjust teaching strategies as needed
  • Submit exam questions

Resources

Peer review of teaching

Reminder: Exam questions are due

Additional resources

Canvas Marking and Grading (facilitated sessions)

New Special Conditions in Tests and Examinations Procedures

19 May–6 June 2025
Gear-up for marking

Weeks 10–12

  • Prepare for exams
  • Review key concepts and answer student queries
  • Finish marking coursework and academic term tests
  • Set up marking teams for the final exam
  • Dedicate class time for SET

Resources

Exam preparation checklist

Announcements to students

Inspera exam process for teachers

Reminder: SET evaluations

Study break
9–11 June 2025
Additional resources

Aegrotat and compassionate consideration

12–30 June 2025
Exam period
  • Complete marking
  • Submit final grades
  • Share SET feedback with students on Canvas

Resources

During the exam (assessor responsibilities)

Reminder: Final results are due

Grade submission procedures

Using your SET reports and closing the loop

Inter-semester break
1–18 July 2025
1–6 July 2025
Reflect, refresh and look ahead
  • Document teaching activities for ADPR
  • Reflect on SET results and other course feedback
  • Reflect on student learning outcomes
  • Coordinate a course review (course directors)
  • Plan for Semester Two (if teaching)

Resources

Course reviews

Additional resources

Teaching Well: Foundations of Learning and Teaching (PLS) (facilitated sessions)

TeachWell Consult service

Scroll to top

Semester Two

7–13 July 2025
Refine teaching strategies

Pre-semester

  • Review and adjust course content (consider feedback from last run)
  • Create welcome message (a brief video or text)
  • Refine assessments as needed
  • Update Talis reading lists
  • Prepare Canvas assignment groups and Gradebook settings
  • Publish your Canvas course

Resources

Canvas Course Import tool

Canvas – copy one page at a time

Canvas guide for teachers

Welcome to the course (template)

Assessment checklist for Canvas

Talis support

Check, fix and publish your Canvas course

Additional resources

Canvas Essentials (facilitated sessions)

Course design (self-paced session)

Blended learning (self-paced session)

Assessment for learning (self-paced session)

TeachWell Consult service

Assessment of Courses Procedures (§23)

14–20 July 2025
Prepare for teaching

Orientation Week

  • Set up introductory activities
  • Post a welcome announcement (a brief video or text)
  • Check that your course is aligned with Canvas Baseline Practices
  • Check teaching spaces and acquaint yourself with the equipment
  • Check which students have learning and teaching adjustments

Resources

Canvas Baseline Practices

Welcome to the course (template)

Personal introduction (template)

Faculty Access Portal (disability case management system)

Additional resources

Lecture theatre equipment familiarisation sessions

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Grants (start writing your application)

Teaching Excellence Awards (September deadline)

Semester Two begins
20 July 2025
21 July – 8 August 2025
Welcome and get to know your students

Weeks 1–3

  • Focus on creating a safe and inclusive classroom environment
  • Consider students requiring special conditions in tests and exams
  • Facilitate election for class reps and add contact details to Canvas (weeks 1–2)
  • Monitor student engagement
  • Invite informal student feedback
  • Refresh knowledge on teaching and course engagement

Resources

Towards a sense of belonging (curated resources)

Special conditions and aegrotats

Canvas Analytics

Formative evaluations of teaching and courses

Relational learning in practice

Ideas to promote student engagement

Additional resources

Student Voice Policy

Class Representation Policy

Class Reps (Auckland University Students Association)

9–29 August 2025
Think about early feedback

Weeks 4–6

  • Conduct first assessments
  • Monitor participation
  • Look for ‘at risk’ students
  • Provide early progress feedback to students

Resources

Canvas Analytics

Messaging individual students via Canvas Analytics

Providing feedback

Student support services

Additional resources
Canvas Assessment workshop (facilitated sessions)
Mid-semester break
1–12 September 2025
Reset, recharge, and refine
  • Review course progress
  • Prepare upcoming materials
  • Start curating exam questions
  • Engage in professional development

Resources

Inspera exam process for teachers

TeachWell Professional Learning Series

Teaching Well: Foundations of Learning and Teaching (PLS) (facilitated sessions)

15 September–3 October 2025
Gather feedback and adjust

Weeks 7–9

  • Gather mid-semester feedback
  • Request a peer teaching observation
  • Adjust teaching strategies as needed
  • Submit exam questions

Resources

Peer review of teaching

Reminder: Exam questions are due

Additional resources
Canvas Marking and Grading (facilitated sessions)

New Special Conditions in Tests and Examinations Procedures

6–24 October 2025
Gear-up for marking

Weeks 10–12

  • Prepare for exams
  • Review key concepts and answer student queries
  • Finish marking coursework and academic term tests
  • Set up marking teams for the final assessment
  • Dedicate class time for SET

Resources

Exam preparation checklist

Announcements to students

Inspera exam process for teachers

Reminder: SET evaluations

Study break
28–29 October 2025
Additional resources

Aegrotat and compassionate consideration

30 October–17 November 2025
Exam period
  • Complete marking
  • Submit final grades
  • Share SET feedback with students on Canvas
  • Revise Digital Course Outlines (course directors)

Resources

During the exam (assessor responsibilities)

Reminder: Final results are due

Grade submission procedures

Using your SET reports and closing the loop

Reminder: Digital Course Outlines (DCOs)

18 November–19 December 2025
Reflect and unwind

In the last weeks

  • Document teaching activities for ADPR
  • Reflect on SET results and other course feedback
  • Reflect on student learning outcomes
  • Coordinate a course review (course directors)
  • Plan for Summer School (if teaching)

Resources

Course reviews

Additional resources

TeachWell Consult service

Scroll to top

Summer School

24 November–19 December 2025
Plan and prepare

Pre-semester

  • Copy and update your Summer School Canvas site
  • Create a welcome message (a brief video or text)
  • Update Talis reading lists
  • Prepare Canvas assignment groups and Gradebook settings

Resources

Canvas Course Import tool

Canvas: Copy a page to another course

Canvas guide for teachers

Welcome to the course (template)

Personal introduction (template)

Assessment checklist for Canvas

Talis support

Check, fix and publish your Canvas course

Additional resources

TeachWell Consult service (bookable until mid-Dec)

Assessment of Courses Procedures (§23)

University closed
22 December 2025–2 January 2026
Summer School starts
5 January 2026
5–11 January 2026
Welcome and get started quickly

Week 1

  • Deliver initial lectures and set course expectations
  • Facilitate introductory activities to build community
  • Facilitate election for class reps and add contact details to Canvas
  • Monitor student engagement

Resources

Canvas Analytics

Ideas to promote student engagement

Additional resources

Student Voice Policy

Class Representation Policy

Class Reps (Auckland University Students Association)

12–18 January 2026
Build momentum and provide feedback

Week 2

  • Begin formative assessments
  • Provide timely feedback on initial assignments
  • Look for ‘at risk’ students

Resources

Canvas Analytics

Providing feedback

Additional resources

Student support services

19–25 January 2026
Strengthen engagement and learning

Week 3

  • Continue with course content delivery
  • Encourage peer collaboration and discussions
  • Prepare students for upcoming assessments
26 January–1 February 2026
Check in and adjust

Week 4

  • Gather mid-semester feedback
  • Adjust teaching strategies based on feedback
  • Ensure all students are on track with course requirements
  • Submit exam questions

Resources

Formative evaluations of teaching and courses

Reminder: Exam questions are due

2–13 February 2026
Prepare for final assessments

Weeks 5–6

  • Prepare for exams
  • Review key concepts and answer student queries
  • Finish marking coursework
  • Dedicate class time for SET

Resources

Exam preparation checklist

Announcements to students

Inspera exam process for teachers

Reminder: SET evaluations

Study break
14 February 2026
14–18 February 2026
Final assessments and reflection

Exam period

  • Complete marking
  • Submit final grades
  • Share SET feedback with students on Canvas

Resources

During the exam (assessor responsibilities)

Reminder: Final results are due

Grade submission procedures

Using your SET reports and closing the loop

Reflect, refresh and look ahead
  • Document teaching activities for ADPR
  • Reflect on SET results and other course feedback
  • Reflect on student learning outcomes
  • Coordinate a course review (course directors)
  • Plan for Semester One (if teaching)

Resources

Course reviews

Additional resources

TeachWell Consult service

Scroll to top

Page updated 24/06/2025 (added link to AUSA’s Class Reps page)

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