Comic Transcript: Panel 1: In a Zoom meeting, Patrick McEachern says: "Good news, everyone! Starting today, eLearning will be embarking on a long-term training program based on Color Personality Theory. Everyone has a personality color, and that color determines their sleep schedule, work style, and salary. It's the hottest new thing in organizational management. I'm a total teal!
Panel 2: Karen Sandall says: "Could we... not do that? I just don't feel like I have the mental bandwidth for a new thing right now. It's been about a year since I was actually in our office. The most exciting social interaction I've had in months was when a neighborhood cat looked through my window.
Panel 3: Rick Suhr holds up a coffee mug and says: "Whenever I start missing the office, I just microwave a cup of three-day-old Folgers coffee."
Panel 4: Patrick shakes a disapproving finger and says: "You're all being very magenta right now."
Hello all, and welcome to the April eLearning newsletter, and the start of Spring quarter! While you're here, consider self-enrolling in this course for easy access to past newsletters and to our monthly professional development modules. Spring Quarter can bring a new burst of energy for some, however for others it can be pretty exhausting. We feel you. Reach out if there's anyway we can make this quarter a little easier or more efficient. We'll be excited to share more information about the Fall eLearning Academy soon, and to spearhead some exciting projects over the summer.
We're planning on (virtually) attending the 2021 Virtual ConferenceLinks to an external site., April 7-9, a joint conference of NW eLearn, NWMET, and eLearning Consortium of Colorado. The session descriptions sound excellent, registration is free, and still open. Maybe we'll see you there!
Instructor Written Presence, Tone, and Voice
In an in-person course, it’s usually easy for students to quickly get a sense of your personality; your sense of humor; your enthusiasm for the subject matter; your willingness to offer support and answer questions. In an asynchronous online course that relies on text, it’s more challenging. The way we think we’re presenting ourselves is not always the way students are receiving us. Click on the Professional Development tab below to get the details!
Tech Talks for April
Don't miss our professional development videocast, Tech Talks! Every Tuesday at 1:00pm we host short (15-20 minute) demonstrations on a helpful eLearning technology, Canvas tool, or teaching technique. Our goal for Tech Talks is that you can quickly learn about something of interest and be able to apply to your courses right away. Click on the Professional Development tab below to see more about this month's Tech Talks topics!
Quick Tip: Validate Canvas Links
External webpages and links sometimes change addresses, get deleted, or just stop working over time. If you've been using and copying course content for a few years now, it might be a good idea to validate all of your internal and external links to make sure everything is still active.
In a Canvas course, go to Settings and then click "Validate Links in Content" in the right-hand column. Canvas will automatically validate all of the active links in your course. This includes internal links direct to other content items within the course, and external links that send students to other websites or resources outside of Canvas.
The validation report will identify links that may no longer be working, or links that may not be accessible to students. You'll still need to manually check and repair each link for yourself, contact Caleb, Ben, or Jerry if you have any questions about this process!
Tuesdays at 1:00pm we host a short (15-20 minute) discussion of an eLearning technology or technique. We will be hosting the training on Zoom while also live streaming on YouTube. If you'd like to be part of the recording, join the Zoom session. If you'd like to view the presentation and interact on chat, visit the live YouTube broadcast. You'll also be able to watch the YouTube recordings at any time after the broadcast.
April 20 @ 1pm: Presence and Written Tone with Jared Anthony
Join us for a special conversation with Jared Anthony, the new director of the SFCC Teaching and Learning Center! Jared and the eLearning IDs will share their thoughts on creating a welcoming and inclusive environment in your online courses. Join the April 20 conversation on ZoomLinks to an external site. View the April 20 conversation on YouTubeLinks to an external site. Download an April 20 Calendar event April 27 @ 1pm:
Social Annotations with Perusall
Come learn about Perusall, a social annotation tool that can integrate in Canvas. Students collaboratively work together to markup and discuss uploaded files to Canvas directly on the file itself. Experienced Perusall user and CCS faculty member, Larry Brunt, will join us to share his experiences.
Faculty Development Course: Instructor Presence, Voice, and Written Tone
In an in-person course, it’s usually easy for students to quickly get a sense of your personality; your sense of humor; your enthusiasm for the subject matter; your willingness to offer support and answer questions. In an asynchronous online course that relies on text, it’s more challenging. The way we think we’re presenting ourselves is not always the way students are receiving us. In this Faculty Development module, we'll explore the importance of written tone and voice as it relates to student engagement and equity.
Faculty who complete the objectives will also qualify to receive a $25 monthly stipend for their work. Interested in signing up for the eLearning Professional Development Course? All are welcome! Enroll todayLinks to an external site..
Save the date for eLearning Academy!
Be sure to save the date for the 2021 eLearning Academy Virtual Conference! The Academy will take place September 8 and 9. We'll be sharing more information about themes, speakers, and calls for proposals in the near future.
Users are allowed to change their display name in Canvas, without restriction. Currently, the display name will only show up in Discussions, Announcements, and Conversations (in-box). The full user name still displays on the Gradebook, Course Roster, and in Student Groups.
Instructure is aware of the disparity in display locations, but has not made any moves to resolve the issue. In an effort to bring more visibility to this issue and to push Instructure to take a close look at the cause, a Canvas Ideas Conversation was created, and faculty and staff are welcome to share their comments. View the Display Names Idea Conversation hereLinks to an external site..
eLearning Services
What kind of eLearning support is available?
eLearning Tools & Support Services
We provide support for:
Canvas Learning Management System (LMS), which is used to deliver instructional content to students. This can take the form of information, assignments, quizzes, discussions, and videos.
Panopto, a video capture application that runs from within Canvas and allows you torecord, edit and distribute video content.
Respondus Lockdown Browser & Monitor, a tool that is used to reduce the incidence of cheating while taking quizzes in Canvas, through the use of a locked down browser that prevents the student from accessing unauthorized web-based content and unauthorized resources on their computer. It also includes a “monitor” component that records video of the student while they take the exam, for later examination by the instructor.
Zoom, which is used outside of Canvas and is a synchronous video communication tool. You can use it to communicate with your students in real time. This is a very helpful tool for office hours and when a student cannot come to you.
Additional Support Services
Instructional design support for course development, modality transitions, course reviews, anddesign and delivery consultations.
Media production support for beginning-to-end video production, professional production studio, offsite filming, aerial drone filming, video conversion and close captioning of videos.
Professional development in the areas of course design and delivery, eLearning Technology, monthly faculty development modules, on-demand on-line training, live workshops and presentation and Quality Matters.
Note: Support for publisher content is limited to ensuring that the correct integration tool is installed in Canvas. Support for the content itself is provided by the publisher, although we are available to work with you and the publisher to install and troubleshoot content.
CCS Instructional Designers
What can we help you with?
Services
Full online course development
Course transitions
Face-to-Face to Web Enhanced
Web Enhanced to Hybrid
Hybrid to Online
Quality Matters online course review
Open Education resources assistance
Accessibility consultations
Assistance with developing multimedia
Assessment consultations
Course navigation design
Office365 and Canvas integration
Departmental or group training
Trainings
Panopto/ Lecture capture
Zoom/ synchronous online learning
Transparency in Learning & Teaching (TILT)
Canvas basic training
Instructor presence
Accessibility
Online groupwork
Digging deeper into Canvas tools
Quizzes
Assignments
Calendar
Question banks
Discussion boards
Syllabus
Course alignment
Groups
Homepage and Announcements
eLearning Media Production
What media production services are available at CCS?
Video Services
Beginning-to-end instructional video production
Professional-grade studio with backdrops
On-location filming available
High-end picture quality
Robust lighting options
Dynamic sound quality
Aerial footage from FAA certified drone pilot
Conversion of DVD, VHS, and other media into online files
Panopto Trainings
Create webcam videos for your course
Edit and manipulate videos for an enhanced learning experience
Add quizzes and links to your Panopto videos
Connect videos to Canvas
View Panopto Analytics
Closed Captioning
Many turn-around times available
Captions are directly delivered into your Panopto or YouTube recordings
eLearning Faculty Innovation Studios
eLearning has created a dedicated space at each college designed to help faculty easily create eLearning content for courses in any modality. In the Faculty Innovation Studios, you can record lectures, host synchronous class sessions, and explore new technologies. Best of all, an eLearning team member is only steps away should you need assistance.
Each Faculty Innovation Studio is equipped with acoustic panels, professional-grade lighting, a dual-monitor touchscreen PC, premium audio & video recording equipment, and a document camera. You’ll also find the latest and greatest in eLearning authoring software including Adobe Creative Suite, Adobe Captivate, Articulate Storyline, and Camtasia 9. Come record a lecture at the touch of a button or dig deeper to create simulations and learning games!
Contact Rick Suhr to reserve an Innovation Studio session
The SCC Faculty Innovation Studio is located in the Teaching and Learning Center in Building 1, Room 1-1220B.
The SFCC Faculty Innovation Studio is located in the Library in Building 2, Room 2-005C.
Online Student Support
What support services are available to online students?
The Success Coach Model
Students that are enrolled entirely online are partnered with an eLearning Student Success Coach to aid with navigating online learning and accessing student services remotely. The role of coaches is to:
Provide Canvas-based support using non-academic course shell
Offer personalized assistance via direct phone and email customer service
Provide regular communication utilizing a rhetorical style that combines wit, warmth, and useful information
Student Services Supplemental Support
Admissions and Enrollment:
Navigating from point of initial inquiry to registration
Priority registration to help with online course availabilities
Concurrent enrollment assistance
Troubleshooting ctcLink registration issues, and registering/overriding when appropriate (i.e. confirmed requisites, permission, etc.)
Advising Support:
How to figure out degree progression / self-advising
Preparing for appointments and communicating with Advisors
Narrowing outstanding requirement choices to only those available online
Financial Aid Support:
Deadline and timeline reminders
Helping to understand common FA processes and regulations
Helping to avoid common missteps and miscommunications
Activating IDs and talking about how to use their ctcLink Student Homepage
Teaching students to use online and ctcLink course catalogs
Academic Supplemental Support
Organization and Time Management
Referrals to counseling, tutoring centers, and DSS when appropriate
Coaching students through confusing instructions, technological difficulties, and logistical problems
Teaching self-advocacy
eLearning Department Contacts
Instructional Technology Support
Rick Suhr
Instructional Media Specialist
I can help you create video and other
media for your courses and projects
Rick.Suhr@ccs.spokane.edu 509-533-3443
Jerry Troupe
LMS Administrator
I can help with eLearning technical
support and software training
Jerry.Troupe@ccs.spokane.edu 509-723-6241
Instructional Design Support
We can help faculty with course design and instructional strategies