eLearning Newsletter for Fall 2024
Comic Transcript
The eLearning team members are shown as dolls packaged in pink boxes, each with their own catchphrase and accessories.
A text bubble reads, "You've seen the classic eLearning collection of dolls..."
Nick (Top Left Box):
- Name/Title: Nick, Instructional Designer.
- Tagline: "Open Educational Action!"
- Quote: "We could put that lab online, you know!"
- Nick is wearing a tie-dye t-shirt, and comes with a water bottle, a smartphone, and a Lisa Frank sticker of a tiger.
Caleb (Top Right Box):
- Name/Title: Caleb, Instructional Designer.
- Tagline: "Coffee not included"
- Quote: "Hmm, let's brainstorm that idea!"
- Caleb is posed with a hand on his chin, wearing a blue t-shirt, and comes with a coffee cup, smartphone, and glasses.
A text bubble reads, "Now, get ready for the new line from eLearning! Introducing, Cassy and Tom!"
Cassy (Bottom Left Box):- Name/Title: Cassy, Instructional Designer.
- Tagline: "Additional cats sold separately"
- Quote: "Let's clean up that module!"
- Cassy is wearing a pink power suit and a red top, and comes with two cat figurines and a smartphone.
Tom (Bottom Right Box):
- Name/Title: Tom, Canvas Admin.
- Tagline: "With Google-Fu Grip! (Requires 2-factor authentication)"
- Quote: "Have you tried a different browser?"
- Tom is wearing a black hoodie and comes a laptop and a smartphone.
Welcome Tom and Cassy to the eLearning Team!
If you haven't already met our new eLearning team members, now's the time!
Tom Gibbons is our new Learning Management System Administrator (Canvas Wizard). Tom has been teaching with technology since 1997. He has taught a wide range of undergraduate composition, literature and humanities courses, as well as graduate courses in Educational Technology. He began using Canvas as a teacher and admin in 2012 and transitioned to instructional design and faculty development roles in 2013. Since then, he has worked for a number of organizations, including Seattle Central and South Seattle Colleges, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Colorado State University-Global and Instructure. He holds a BA and an MFA in Theatre and just completed a certificate in Data Science. He lives in Lincoln, Nebraska with a dog, a cat, and a husband, though not necessarily in that order.
Cassy Dame-Griff, PhD is a former professor of Race and Ethnic Studies whose interest in equitable learning design for marginalized and underserved learners led her to a career shift into Instructional Design. Her work focuses on creating in-person workshops and online tools for instructors who share her commitment to breaking down both technological and pedagogical barriers in teaching and learning. She is a former first-generation student, born and raised in Southwest Florida, which explains her love of manatees (no really, just ask her) and inability to navigate any town that does not have a beach. In her free time, Cassy plays cello, bakes, and inadvertently collects cats.
Tom is a fully remote employee, so your best chance for contacting him is via email. Cassy splits her time between the TLC at SCC (Building 1, G208) and the CETL at SFCC (Building 2, 212), or you can reach her via email. Stop by and say hi!
Project funding opportunities at Spokane Colleges
For SCC folks, you may have seen President Martin's email that the Innovation Fund is open for applications for the 24-25 academic year, with a deadline of Oct. 11.
For SFCC folks, you may have seen an email from VP McEachern announcing the new cycle of SFCC Resource Request funding, with a deadline of Oct. 31.
And for both campuses, eLearning is available to help you take advantage of these opportunities! Got an idea for an academic initiative, department project, or classroom innovation? We can help you brainstorm and refine your idea, find specific equipment or software, and provide input on your proposal. Don't leave money on the table, come chat with us!
Introducing eLearning Drop-In Faculty Hours!
Looking for some hands-on help with Canvas, Panopto, or a pressing pedagogical problem? Drop in to our Faculty Hours, no appointment required!
SFCC: Mondays 3-4 pm, Building 2, room 212
SCC: Thursday, 1-2 pm, Building 1, room G208
Tech Talks for Fall 2024
We've got a full slate of tech talks planned for this quarter, with some great topics! First up is a three-part series on practical, actionable tools and techniques to increase the accessibility of your Canvas courses and content. Then, by popular request, we'll look at some alternatives and replacements for the late, great, Google Jamboard. Then we'll wrap up with two episodes on incorporating iterative student feedback into your courses. You can find session descriptions, dates, and links under the Professional Development tab below!
Faculty Development Module: Foundations of AI in Education
Last quarter, we created a comprehensive FacDev module exploring foundational concepts and skills for dealing with the disruption and potential of AI in education. We developed it in conjunction with the TLC and CETL, to run concurrently with their Gen AI Policy Statement Community of Practice. This was the single most popular, most shared, most completed FacDev module that we've created in eight years of modules. Angela in the TLC and Jess in the CETL will be running another AI CoP this fall Links to an external site., so we're keeping the AI FacDev module active for another quarter. If you haven't taken a look, we're extremely proud of this content. And if you complete the activities by the end of Fall quarter, you'll be eligible for a $75 stipend!
Tech Talks
October 8 @ 1:05pm: "Assign To" for Accommodations
How can we be responsive to our student’s disability accommodations directly in Canvas? “Assign To,” that’s how! In this session, we’ll explore how we can use the “Assign To” feature to build student accommodations into not only assignments and quizzes, but pages and modules as well.
Join the Oct. 8 conversation on Zoom
Links to an external site.
Watch the Oct. 8 conversation on YouTube
Links to an external site.
October 15 @ 1:05pm: The Devil is in the Details (Tag)
Designing materials for an online environment can rely heavily on written content, especially if we want to ensure adequate transparency. However, too much information at once can be counter productive. In Canvas we can try to build around this issue by creating toggle-able blocks of information using a Details tag. Join us as we talk through a quick primer of what this can look like and how you might leverage this approach to content in your course.
Join the Oct. 15 conversation on Zoom
Links to an external site.
Watch the Oct. 15 conversation on YouTube
Links to an external site.
October 29 @ 1:05pm: Using AI for On-the-Spot Accessibility
Creating alt-text for complex images and scanned text can be a daunting task. But generative AI tools like Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT can help streamline this process dramatically! In this session we'll demonstrate how to use AI to create descriptive text, alt-text, and other on-the-spot accessibility needs.
Join the Oct, 29 conversation on Zoom
Links to an external site.
Watch the Oct. 29 conversation on YouTube
Links to an external site.
November 5 @ 1:05pm: Jamboard is Dead, Here are Some Alternatives!
Google Jamboard was a great, low-barrier tool for collaboration, brainstorming, mind-mapping, and classroom engagement both online and on-ground. But as of Fall 2024, Jamboard is no longer available. In this session, we'll share some alternative tools to fill the Jamboard-shaped hole in your classroom!n
Join the Nov. 5 conversation on Zoom
Links to an external site.
Watch the Nov. 5 conversation on YouTube
Links to an external site.
November 12 @ 1:05pm: Incorporating Iterative Feedback, Part 1: Mid-Semester Surveys
It’s nice to know how things are going for students in your class, but instructors often don’t get student feedback until after the course is over. In this session, we’ll discuss the design and implementation of a mid-term survey you can use right now to learn more about the student experience in your class and make any tweaks or changes to help your students finish strong!
Join the Nov. 12 conversation on Zoom
Links to an external site.
Watch the Nov. 12 conversation on YouTube
Links to an external site.
November 19 @ 1:05pm: Incorporating Iterative Feedback, Part 2: Start-of-Term and Unit Surveys
Want to get to know your students better before they start your course? Wondering how that new reading, assignment, or unit design went for students? Awesome! In this session, we’ll discuss the design and implementation both Start-of-Term and regular surveys to help you learn more about your students, how they experience your course, and how you can respond to regular feedback in real-time to improve the student experience.
Join the Nov. 19 conversation on Zoom
Links to an external site.
Watch the Nov. 19 conversation on YouTube
Links to an external site.