eLearning Newsletter for Spring, 2024
Comic Transcript
Panel 1: A hand-written title, "Nick Gets to Make a Comic"
Panel 2: A hand-drawn, muscular, glasses-wearing character with long flowing hair flexes. "There once was an ID."
Panel 3: "He was brave..." The hero answers a phone and says, "I don't know how to say this... I think you deleted it."
Panel 4: "Strong..." Hands on a keyboard, with a thought bubble that says "Do I have carpal tunnel?"
Panel 5: "And super smart..." The hero sits at a computer and says, "What if I put all this in modules?"
Panel 6: "He was super cool!" The hero stands triumphantly on a rock, holding a sword being struck by lightning.
Panel 7: Nick holds up his comic and says, "...and then in Chapter 3, the hero has to fight Gorgoroth the Foul, demon of inaccessible content..."
Panel 8: Caleb facepalms and says, "Well, I don't really have time to make a different comic, so..." Melanie excitedly says, "Don't interrupt, I want to know what happens when he gets to the Estuary of Engagement!"
Fundamentals of AI in Education
For the last year eLearning has been involved in a variety of trainings, departmental meetings, and individual conversations about generative AI and its implications in our classrooms. This is an ongoing process, but we wanted to collect some of our work so far in a foundational module that can be used as an introduction and resource as faculty begin tackling this complex topic in their own teaching practice. This self-guided training module is intended to give you a strong foundation for talking with your students about AI, developing your own teaching philosophy regarding AI. Instructors that complete the module assignments will earn a $75 professional development stipend. Fundamentals of AI is available now!
eLearning Academy Call for Proposals
Our theme for the eLearning Academy this year is Building Care and Joy into the classroom, whether that be for your students or for you as you navigate the pressures associated with our field. Our hope is that as a group we will find openings to share joy between us, our students, and our peers, finding positive reminders of why we do what we do. We welcome proposals for sessions that cover the memorable activities, strategies, and opportunities that you created to help you, your students, and/or your colleagues find and share connection, joy, and care. Proposals will be reviewed in July for approval.
Submit your presentation proposal here! Links to an external site.
Tech Talks for Spring 2024
Spring is looking like a wild time for us in eLearning, we're hard at work supporting a number of workshops, communities of practice, and Campus Development Day! Because of this, we'll be hosting a smaller number of Tech Talks this quarter. We'll be running two sessions in April, then focussing our efforts on other projects for most of May, and then hosting two more Tech Talks later in the term. You can find session descriptions, dates, and links under the Professional Development tab below!
Student Guide to New Course Modalities
The State Board of Community and Technical Colleges has updated and expanded the list of instruction modalities available, offering more flexibility and specificity in how courses are delivered to students. We'll be talking more about those options in the future, as will your departments. But to support the student experience, eLearning has developed an excellent resource page that explains — in student-friendly language — how each of the modality options works Links to an external site.. This resource is still under development, and you're welcome to share any comments or suggestions with eLearning Director Ben Whitmore!
Tech Talks
April 23 @ 1:05pm: Spaced Repetition & Canvas New Quizzes
There's strong evidence and research that one of the best methods for learning and remembering foundational knowledge is Spaced Repetition practice. Traditionally this was done with tools like flash cards, but there are some useful features and settings in Canvas New Quizzes that can support robust, automated, spaced repetition activities!
Join the April 23 conversation on Zoom
Links to an external site.
Watch the April 23 conversation on YouTube
Links to an external site.
April 30 @ 1:05pm: Engagement and Learning with Zoom Polls and Quizzes
Join us for an interactive session delving into Zoom's integrated Polling Tool. In this session we will learn how to create impactful polls that boost participation and gather instant feedback from your students. Elevate your synchronous classroom sessions with these powerful tools and transform the way you engage and assess your students.
Join the April 30 conversation on Zoom
Links to an external site.
Watch the April 30 conversation on YouTube
Links to an external site.
May 28 @ 1:05pm: Getting the Most Out of Zoom Breakout Rooms
Zoom breakout rooms enable instructors to divide student into smaller groups for active learning and collaboration during virtual and Flex class sessions. In this Tech Talks, we'll take a look at how to set up breakout rooms, explore the options and settings available for breakout rooms, and discuss some best practices for using them with your students.
Join the May 28 conversation on Zoom
Links to an external site.
Watch the May 28 conversation on YouTube
Links to an external site.
June 4 @ 1:05pm: Microsoft Teams for Department Communication
In this session we'll explore how Microsoft Teams can enhance collaboration among faculty. Learn to streamline communication, share resources, and simplify workflows. Discover the tools and best practices to support your teaching and learning!
Join the June 4 conversation on Zoom
Links to an external site.
Watch the June 4 conversation on YouTube
Links to an external site.