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!
Highlights of this week’s Bulletin include:
- Save the Dates
- Upcoming educational development events
- In Case You Missed It
- Resources from recent campus communications
- Mentoring Groups
- New in the Faculty Resources Section
- Events and Development Opportunities
- Campus
- Minnesota State
- National and Vendor-Sponsored
Save the Dates
There are some exciting campus events coming in the next few weeks and into the summer. Save these dates and see full details and registration information for these events in Events and Development Opportunities below.
- Adult Learner Institute: May 18
- Brightspace and Beyond: May 20-21
- Summer Course Design Institute: June 8-26
- D2L Fusion conference: date TBD (summer)
In Case You Missed It
Teaching Continuity Page
The Teaching Continuity page contains information on important resources for transitioning your course(s) from an in-person to an online environment. Some of the topics covered here are:
| Academic Technology User Guides & Tutorials | Individual Consultations | Accessibility |
| Getting Started Guides for Students | Peer Support | Articles, Tips, and Teaching Continuity FAQ |
| Open Educational Resources | Minnesota State Resources | Zoom Trainings & Open Lab for Online Instruction |
To access Teaching Continuity pages:
Academic Technology Innovation Funds Still Available
In collaboration with Todd Jagerson and ITS, the Teaching and Technology Committee at IHCC and Faculty Development Committee at DCTC are pleased to continue to support faculty innovation in the use of technology in teaching and learning contexts.
Please send requests for funding to ttc@inverhills.edu (IHCC) martin.springborg@dctc.edu (DCTC). Please note the technology you hope to purchase as well as courses that will benefit from it.
Mentoring Groups
Mentoring Groups are comprised of a novice and two or more faculty experts who have agreed to serve as mentors on a specific topic. Mentoring groups have proven to be effective at other institutions, do not rely on or place all pressure on a single mentor, and, like Communities of Practice, draw on the strengths and perspectives of a group in the teaching and learning process.
Contact Martin Springborg to request the help of a mentor group. Currently, we have groups of mentors ready to assist in the following areas:
| D2L Brightspace Tools | Zoom | MediaSpace: Video Production and Closed Captioning |
| Course Design | Time Management | Fostering Study Skills for Students |
New in the Faculty Resources Section
We’ve been busy updating the Faculty Resources pages of our website with the content you need to teach online. The following topics are examples of what we’ve added or updated in the last few weeks alone. If you haven’t visited the Faculty Resources area in a while, check it out!
| Zoom Desktop App | Community College Consortium for Open Educational Resources | Copy Course Materials between D2L Brightspace Courses |
| Online Quiz Converter for D2L Brightspace | Creating Custom Widgets in D2L Brightspace | Create Assignments in D2L Brightspace |
| Gradebook Assignment Associations in D2L Brightspace | Respondus Quiz Generator | Creating Intelligent Agents in D2L Brightspace |
| MediaSpace Captioning | Zoom and Intellectual Property | Files and Playlists in D2L Brightspace |
Events and Development Opportunities
On Campus
Future Focus 2020: Supporting the Adult Learner
May 18, 2020
8:30-5:00
Online via Zoom
This event is virtual! Once you register, you’ll receive information for logging in using Zoom.
Adults have different needs and expectations than “traditional” students who are enrolling right after high school. What are those needs? How do we as faculty and staff meet those needs? More adults are coming to college to get started, finish their degrees, change careers and more. Explore proven methods to increase access, facilitate success, and remove barriers so your students can achieve their goals!
The day will include a keynote from Malissa Adams from The Diversity Institute, two student panels, several breakout sessions, plus informal networking time to round out the day.
See full program and more information at Future Focus 20/20.
Brightspace and Beyond
May 20-21, 2020
9:00-1:00
Online via Zoom
This workshop is designed for faculty who currently use or will be using D2L Brightspace for online or hybrid courses. The two-day webinar is split to offer beginning content on the first day and training on more advanced tools and course design on the second day.
The second day will also include guided instruction on MediaSpace, Zoom, and several other tools used to increase engagement in courses housed in Brightspace.
Learning Outcomes:
- Participants will describe the key elements of a well-designed online or hybrid course (consistency, logical organization, clarity of expectations, and accessibility).
- Participants will demonstrate the use of best practices in the design of their online or hybrid course.
- Participants will describe the relationship of student learning outcomes, learning activities, and assessments in a well-designed online or hybrid course.
- Participants will use the D2L tools and components effectively and appropriately to deliver their online or hybrid courses.
- Participants will use a variety of technology to make their online or hybrid courses more engaging.
Summer Course Design Institute
June 8-26, 2020
Arranged: synchronous and asynchronous
Online via D2L and Zoom
Registration coming soon!
This 3-week online teaching institute draws upon the book Designing Effective Teaching and Significant Learning to assist faculty who are creating a new course, improving a current course, or modifying a course to deliver it online.
Expert facilitators will lead participants through the elements of course design utilizing Zoom for synchronous sessions and D2L Brightspace for course content and asynchronous discussions. Online pedagogy will be emphasized to help faculty build effective online courses and provide significant learning for students.
A Note about FlexTrack and Mastery-Based Learning
All of the above events will feature guidance from faculty and staff on the redesign of online courses to a flexible, mastery-based model. Read more information about IHCC’s and DCTC’s use of this course design here: https://www.dctc.edu/academics/adultlearners/flextrack.
From Minnesota State
Visit www.asanewsletter.org/academic-continuity to find resources for faculty who are moving their courses online.
Also see resources on the NED Resource Site focused on course design, assessment, and instructional strategies.
In addition, our System Educational Innovations Office maintains a page of resources for students at www.asanewsletter.org/academic-continuity-students.
Recordings
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.
National and Vendor-Sponsored
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. We have expanded our training calendar to provide recurring training throughout the rest of the academic year.
More information and registration at https://www.turnitin.com/resources/training-webinars.
D2L Fusion Conference
For the safety and well-being of our guests, we’ve determined that it is necessary to move Fusion 2020 entirely online with an all-new virtual experience that will launch this summer. While we can’t all be together in person this year, we’re fully committed to bringing you the absolute best Fusion experience possible.
Conference dates are to be determined. Registration at: https://www.d2l.com/events/fusion/register.