Blog

Highlights of this week’s bulletin include: 

• A Note from Fran Kennedy  
• A Message from the Information Technology Department  
• CTL Open Labs and Consultations 
• Tech Training – Upcoming sessions 

• Discipline-Specific Learning Communities
• DCTC Lunch n Learn 
• Accessing Articles from The Chronicle of Higher Education  
• CTL Resources to Support Students   
• Digital Learning Labs 
• Minnesota State Network for Educational Development    
• In Case You Missed It: Incorporating Guided Learning Pathways into Teaching Practices – Diverse Perspectives  

• Course Design Resources 

Other Opportunities: 

• From Minnesota State 
• From National Vendors  
• From The Chronicle of Higher Education  

A Note from Fran Kennedy  

Hi everyone! It has been such a pleasure meeting with those of you who have reached out! As part of my ongoing effort to meet with you all, I will be holding weekly office hours for the remainder of the fall semester every Thursday from 3-4 pm. 

These drop-in hours are designed for faculty to drop in and hold community with other faculty members or to ask questions as they relate to teaching and technology. Really, this time is for faculty to connect and engage. The Zoom link for these drop-in office hours and the passcode are listed below. I hope to see you there! 

Zoom link: https://minnstate.zoom.us/j/92566386896
Passcode: 703266 

A Message from the Information Technology (IT) Department 

DCTC and Inver Hills students, faculty, and staff now have access to the LinkedIn Learning online platform, providing access to thousands of self-paced courses led by professional instructors.  

Courses consist of a series of short videos designed to help you develop your creative, technical, and business skills. LinkedIn Learning provides continuous, self-service access to videos via multiple devices, at home or on the go, online or offline. 

You can download a certificate of completion and share it through social media plus post to your online resume, where employers can identify your skills and professional interests.  

• Access LinkedIn Learning here  
• Students: Sign in using YourStarID@go.minnstate.edu plus your StarID password 
• Staff and faculty: Sign in using YourStarID@minnstate.edu plus your StarID password 

CTL Open Labs and Consultations 

Every Tuesday from 12:30-1:30 pm, the Center for Teaching and Learning holds CTL Open Lab sessions for faculty to attend. These open lab sessions are to provide faculty with just-in-time assistance depending on their needs. Feel free to attend even if you do not have any questions and know that you do not need to stay the full hour. 

We also provide one-on-one assistance to faculty. If you are interested in this option, please schedule a consultation with CTL staff for a time that fits your schedule: https://facultyresources.oneboldfuture.com/faculty-resources/programs-services/consultations. 

Tech Training  

Staff and faculty are invited to attend the CTL’s Tech Trainings, which take place every Monday and Wednesday from 12-12:30 pm. During this time, the CTL provides technical training to help support faculty and staff in their use of technology.   

Upcoming topics include: 

• Wednesday, November 9th: Flipgrid 
• Monday, November 14th: D2L Rubrics 
• Wednesday, November 16th: OWL Cameras and Zoom  
• Monday, November 21st: D2L Checklists  

Discipline-Specific Learning Communities 

MinnState faculty are invited to join Discipline-Specific Faculty Learning Communities. This is a great chance for colleagues to re-engage with others in their discipline or those they met at previous Teach Together Minnesota! conferences, and to explore evidence-based strategies that could reduce equity gaps that exist within our programs. Faculty will be compensated for their participation.  

Participating disciplines for Spring 2023 include: 

• Accounting 
• Economics 
• Math 
• Health and Exercise Science 

More information can be found here: https://asanewsletter.org/event/ds-flc-spring-2023/  

DCTC Lunch n Learn

This time with Lunch n Learn, we will be exploring the importance of Core Learning objectives in all of our courses.  Our students need to be able to read, write and use math well to be successful in any course.  How can we help them strengthen those skills in real time if our students are underprepared?  What tools have you implemented, or how have you encouraged students to pursue tutoring and other supports available at DCTC?  If any of this sounds interesting to you, please join us!

This session will take place on Wednesday, Nov 30^th from 11:30-1 pm in 2-106. Catering service from Chipotle will be provided (it’s a build-your-own bar, so vegetarian and vegan diets can be accommodated). Please register before, a link will be provided soon.

Accessing Articles from The Chronicle of Higher Education 

Did you know that you have free access to articles in The Chronicle of Higher Education? It’s true! To enjoy free reading, visit https://www.chronicle.com/ and select the “sign in” option located at the top right of the webpage. After you select this option, a webform will appear for you to sign in. Within the form will be an option to “sign up”. Select this option and use your .edu email address to create the account. This will grant you access to most articles available on the Chronicle’s website. Happy reading to you!  

CTL Resources to Support Students 

Services for faculty:   Options for you to use and book yourself!	Services for students:  Options for you to recommend to students!
Course Review – Student Perspective:   This service is available to faculty who want their course reviewed from a student perspective. After booking, you’ll meet with a member of the CTL team about your course. They will then view the course as a student and compile feedback and suggestions designed to increase student success in the course. Please allow at least one week for feedback to be compiled.	Tutorials available 24/7 on the CTL Student Resources Website:   Tutorials (both written and video) are available on topics including D2L, Outlook and Office 365, Zoom, and other academic technologies.
Class Visits:   This service is available to faculty members who want a member of the CTL to come to their class and engage students in their academic technology. Potential topics could include using Outlook Email, navigating D2L, using and downloading O365 to student devices, or simply an introduction and explanation of technology support on campus for students. This booking is available for both in-person and virtual meetings. Please specify the location, desired topic, and any other important details in the description of this form.	Available for One-on-One Appointments on Starfish:   Students can book appointments through Starfish using this link.
Starfish Referrals:   Do you have students who are struggling with their academic technology? Advisors, Coaches, and Instructors can now make a “Learning Technology Support” referral in Starfish. After making the referral, students will get an email encouraging them to set up an appointment, and members of the CTL team will get a flag to reach out to the student to offer guidance and support on the technology need.	Open Lab Hours at both DCTC and Inver Hills: Available throughout the semester, both for appointments and walk-in questions. Please refer to the linked page for the most up-to-date times, dates, and locations for Open Lab Hours.
	In-Person and Virtual Programs throughout the semester:   Topics can include An Introduction to Students’ Digital Tools on Campus, Online Learning Tips and Tricks, D2L Navigation Help, and more. Up-to-date event information can be found here:  ·  DCTC’s Events  ·  Inver Hills Events

 

Digital Learning Labs 

You know that cool classroom with all the instructional gadgets and technological stuff? You are invited to play with these gadgets and technologies whenever you have the time and interest.  

Just reserve the Digital Learning Lab in Outlook! To do this, create a new meeting and invite Room2104@dctc.edu or fa250@inverhills.edu to that meeting depending on your college. Add Jamie Zukic (IHCC), Chad Anderson (DCTC), or Fran Kennedy (both colleges) to the meeting invitation if you would like a CTL staff member to assist you. CTL staff will receive the meeting invitation and accept the room reservation. Read more about Digital Learning Labs here. 

Minnesota State Network for Educational Development 

The Network for Educational Development (NED) has programming to support faculty, including short courses and webinars. These opportunities are designed by Minnesota State faculty and staff for Minnesota State faculty and staff and help build awareness, develop knowledge, skills, and abilities, and provide space for reflecting and revising. If you are interested, see the NED flyer for more information. 

In Case You Missed It: Incorporating Guided Learning Pathways into Teaching Practices – Diverse Perspectives 

What it is and why it’s important: 

The students we serve at DCTC and IHCC are diverse. Some students are adult learners, some are first-generation college students, some are immigrants, some are veterans, some are parents, and some come from low-income backgrounds; because of students’ heterogeneity and varied lived experiences, it is important to incorporate perspectives and learning opportunities that resonate with these various experiences so that all students have an opportunity to not only understand the content, but also to feel represented within it.  

Some suggestions to effectively achieve this include: 

• Reviewing viewpoints represented within the course materials and incorporating counternarratives to ensure the materials provide a complete and accurate representation of the content being explored 
• Using varied course materials such as videos, readings, podcasts, etc. that are representative of diverse perspectives  
• Providing students with a variety of learning opportunities throughout the semester like working with partners, in groups, or independently depending on the activity 
• Allowing students to submit assignments in multiple formats; for instance, giving students the option to type or record a video for a discussion post assignment 
• Verbally lecturing while also using a visual aid to guide the lecture 

• Ensuring that the curriculum includes diverse, underrepresented voices  

Representation matters and so does students’ sense of belonging. Incorporating diverse voices, as well as multimodality and choice, allows students to feel connected and represented within the course rather than being on the periphery. John Dewey suggested that educators use students’ experiences to connect them to the curriculum and this is still true today; the more we can recognize our students’ lived experiences and welcome their whole selves into our classrooms, the more successful they will be due to their increased sense of belonging.  

How instructors at DCTC and IHCC incorporate diverse perspectives into their classrooms: 

At DCTC: Harold Torrence, Business Management Faculty 

“I have the joy of teaching at Dakota County Technical College for more than 17 years, and throughout this time, my practices have evolved. Teaching is a craft that requires flexibility and adaptability to every classroom experience which represents a new phenomenon and beginning.  

“As a constructivist, it is wonderful to experience the process of social construction of knowledge and the power of learning together with the goal to truly activate the students’ desired to be present, to be self-aware, and to authentically reflect on the relationship between knowledge and application.  

“This is possible by incorporating a balanced approach between oral and print culture. Underserved students tend to learn better by expressing their experiences via social interactions in conversation, so it is critical to open classroom spaces for intimate and large group discussions synchronously.  

“The inputs to these social interactions are always a mixture of readings, videos and pre-recorded lectures. Then, the learning process is centered on connecting the students’ voices to learning objectives in ZOOM breakout rooms or small round tables. This is where students are activated by providing their unique and diverse perspectives, while weaving together a new tapestry of shared experiences. At the end, we come to synthesize together as a learning community. Finally, reflecting on this process is fundamental to anchoring knowledge, and this is completed via online discussion forums, reflection papers, and projects. Students then demonstrate their progression in their individual development of practical knowledge, skills and abilities.” 

At IHCC: Ellen Lansky, English Faculty 

“I’ve been teaching works by indigenous writers, writers of color, and LGBTQIA writers since the 90s. When I was teaching Comp I at North Hennepin Community College, I used an anthology called Multicultural Literacy, published by Greywolf Press (from Minneapolis). Students (mostly but not all white) were largely interested in the reading assignments, though I will not soon forget the older white male-presenting student who sent me a note at the end of class suggesting that I ‘teach Hemingway and Steinbeck’ and call him at his office to discuss the matter further. 

“Currently, in the sections of Eng 1108 (and other courses) I teach at Inver Hills, choosing reading assignments that provide “representation” or a way for students to recognize themselves and connect in significant ways, has enhanced the learning experience for all the students/teachers in the class.” 

Where to learn more: 

Article: Improving Diversity in the Classroom 

Article: How to Make Teaching More Inclusive, Interactive, Equitable and Participatory 

Guide: Learning Activity Types Resource Page  

Website: UMN Teaching Resources Page 

NED Short Course: Equity and Technology 

Podcast: How to Create a Learning Environment Where Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are Valued  

The next topic will be “The Impact of Co-Curricular Activities” which will cover the value of students’ involvement in co-curricular activities. If you incorporate co-curricular activities within your classroom and would like to have your experience featured in the next newsletter, please email me at fran.kennedy@inverhills.edu. 

Course Design Resources 

If you are seeking resources that will help you grow in your teaching practices, the Faculty Resources site contains a collection of resources to assist faculty with the design of online courses. The Course Design page has instructions for accessing the Course Design Template and archives of past Course Design Institutes. The 2021 Course Design Institute, for example, was focused on Universal Design for Learning and contains many helpful guides for faculty. There is also a new semester checklist available.  

More Events and Development Opportunities 

From Minnesota State 

There are always so many great events happening through MinnState! See https://asanewsletter.org/events for a full list of upcoming webinars and other opportunities. Also be sure to check out the NED Resource Site which has sources related to course design, assessment, and instructional strategies. 

In addition, the Minnesota State Educational Innovations Office maintains a page of resources for students. The Minnesota State Learning Technologies Team also offers a variety of D2L Brightspace resources for faculty to review. 

National and Vendor-Sponsored 

VoiceThread Workshops 

Access VoiceThread’s full workshop archive and schedule of upcoming workshops. These workshops are completely free and are led by our instructional designer and online educator George Haines. George will share his expertise to help you get the most from VoiceThread. 

Quality Matters 

Elements of Quality Matters: Deliver on Your Online Promise — discover QM’s tools and resources in this one-hour, self-paced course 

Online Learning Consortium 

The Online Learning Consortium (OLC) is a collaborative community of higher education leaders and innovators, dedicated to advancing quality digital teaching and learning experiences designed to reach and engage the modern learner – anyone, anywhere, anytime. OLC inspires innovation and quality through an extensive set of resources, including best-practice publications, quality benchmarking, leading-edge instruction, community-driven conferences, practitioner-based and empirical research, and expert guidance. The growing OLC community includes faculty members, administrators, trainers, instructional designers, and other learning professionals, as well as educational institutions, professional societies, and corporate enterprises. OLC resources are available to all Minnesota State faculty. Learn more here. 

Turnitin 

Whether you’re a new user or need a refresh, join our training sessions to learn how to get started with Feedback Studio and Originality Check Plus, or how to enable remote learning and assessment with Gradescope. 

More information and registration at https://www.turnitin.com/resources/training-webinars. 

The Chronicle of Higher Education 

The Chronicle of Higher Education provides faculty and staff with relevant online webinars that can help to impact their practices. Some upcoming virtual events through the Chronicle include:  

• Virtual forum: “How to Design Learning for Student Success” on November 16th at 1 pm CST. Register here 

• Virtual forum: “How to ‘Flip’ the Classroom” – Register to watch On-Demand  
• Virtual forum: “How to Reach the Disengaged Student” – Register to watch On-Demand 

 

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 and resources to support teaching and learning!