The Faculty Resource Bulletin is one of many steps we’re taking to improve communication about local and statewide faculty professional development information and opportunities. Please visit our Faculty Resources sites (see links in the header of this blog) for more information as well as past Bulletins.
Highlights of this week’s Bulletin include:
- From Your Colleagues: Three Examples for Student Engagement and Retention
- Community of Practice: Transparent Design in Teaching
- Academic Technology Innovation Funds Available
- Events and Development Opportunities
- On Campus (Workshops and Drop-in Webinars)
- Other Opportunities (System and State)
From Your Colleagues: Three Examples for Student Engagement and Retention
During an IHCC AD Day session on retention strategies, LeAnne Schmidt, Amanda Barklind, and I showcased the efforts of three faculty: Mary Petrie, Scott Sandok, and Shane Stroup. Mary incorporates principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) into the design of her online courses. Scott also does this, and during the session shared other ways he engages students online. Shane live streams his on-campus class sessions so students who need to attend remotely can do so interactively – instead of passively. This practice also allows him to bring other perspectives into his classes.
If you missed this session, or would like more on these three faculty members and others, visit Faculty Success Stories page.
Community of Practice: Transparent Design in Teaching
As part of AD Days at IHCC, Mary-Ann Winkelmes, author of “Transparent Design in Higher Education Teaching and Leadership”, facilitated a workshop on applying transparent design do instructional materials. This workshop featured a panel of faculty from both IHCC and DCTC who participated in a community of practice on this topic all of fall semester. These faculty graciously shared edits they had made to assignments and will use in their courses this semester.
We will be continuing these communities at both colleges this semester. If you are interested in participating, just send an email to mspringborg@ihcc.edu or martin.springborg@dctc.edu by Friday, January 24. I’ll then send out a scheduling poll to determine three meeting times throughout the semester. You’ll find more information about this community of practice on the Faculty Resources page.
If you missed Mary-Ann’s workshop, you can watch the recording here: https://minnstate.zoom.us/rec/share/w-V8L7_v231JRJ3hslrWdo8dNNi8aaa8hyYfr_cInUsPL1KDV09ar-hH_DZFi08A.
Academic Technology Innovation Funds Available
In collaboration with Todd Jagerson and ITS, the Teaching and Technology Committee at IHCC and Faculty Development Committee at DCTC are pleased to announce new funding to support faculty innovation in the use of technology in teaching and learning contexts.
Both committees have set processes for requesting these funds, with a focus on ease of faculty access, accountability for their use (for teaching and learning), and obtaining information required to make purchases.
Guidelines
Please send requests for funding to ttc@inverhills.edu (IHCC) martin.springborg@dctc.edu (DCTC). Requests should include a brief introduction as well as the following:
- Basic information about the technology being requested, including manufacturer, cost, and subscription information or quote if applicable.
- A connection to at least one learning outcome from your course(s) that will benefit from the technology being requested.
- Some information about where you found the technology (through a colleague, at a conference, etc.).
DCTC Only:
- Note any matching funds for the request, from a department or program.
Events and Development Opportunities
On Campus
We have a lot planned this semester! We kicked things off with a half-day “Brightspace Refresher Camp” at DCTC. This training covered basic and advance tools, as well as recent updates made to email and other functions. If you couldn’t join us, you can access slides and handouts from the Faculty Resources site: https://www.inverhills.edu/FacultyResources/EventsandNews.aspx. Click on the dropdown menu for “Brightspace Refresher Camp”.
We’re introducing “First Friday Workshops” – workshops offered at a standing, predictable time throughout the academic year. This semester, we will be focusing on student engagement in online courses. Series workshops will address the following topics:
- Humanizing Your Online Course (Feb 7)
- Engaging Students with Alternative Forms of Feedback (March 6)
- Creating Videos and Using Them Effectively (April 3)
- Online Course Design for Student Engagement (May 1)
See our Events Calendar for times and locations of all First Friday Workshops.
We will also continue to offer “Drop-in Webinars” – opportunities to participate in live webinars with your faculty colleagues and have discussions afterwards. We host most online opportunities/webinars in our space (Fine Arts 270 at IHCC and 2-141C at DCTC). Consider participating with your faculty colleagues and join a discussion afterwards. . See our Events Calendar for a full Drop-in Webinar schedule and watch for announcements of these opportunities in your campus email.
Recordings
Unable to participate in webinars we host on campus? We’re sad you can’t join us, but you can also RSVP from the Events Calendar and participate on your own. Recordings for most webinars can be accessed from the Minnesota State D2L Support SharePoint site. Use your StarID@minnstate.edu credentials to login. Contact Martin Springborg if you can’t find a recording you’re looking for.
Other Opportunities
See posts under college categories (above and in right navigation) for information on campus Brightspace and course design sessions. View our Events Calendar to see details on these and other campus professional development opportunities.
Jan. 13th 12:00 – 1:00 pm – What’s New in D2L 20.20.01? | Webinar >>>
Jan. 15th 10:00 – 11:15 am – Accessibility Webinar – “Zoom: Striving for Functional Accessibility” | Webinar >>>
Jan. 16th 3:00 – 4:00 pm – Best of the Minnesota Summit Webinars “Are We Doing Enough to Help Faculty Teach Online?” | Webinar >>>
Jan. 20th – Improving Instructor-to-Student Interaction using D2L Brightspace Tools | 3 Week Short Course >>>
Jan. 22nd 10:00 – 11:00 am – Rubrics to Save Time Evaluating Student Work | Webinar >>>
Jan. 27th – Creating Accessible Documents | 3 Week Short Course >>>
Jan. 27th 2:30 – 4:00 pm – Open Textbook Network Webinar | Webinar >>>
Jan. 29th 3:00 – 4:15 pm – Accessibility Webinar – Making Websites Usable, Not Just Accessible Part 1 | Webinar >>>
Continuous – Philosophy of Community and Technical College Education | Short Course >>>
Search more Minnesota State system events at www.asanewsletter.org/events.