CETL and IT Services Partner to Provide On-Demand Support with Atomic Learning

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1 Nov-Dec 2015 See what is in The Spotlight this month in the CETL newsletter. We enjoy sharing teaching resources, tech tips, Blackboard advice, and offering a schedule of workshops and events. In This Issue Atomic Learning Page 1 Creating Clear Assignment Sheets and Corresponding Rubrics Page 2 Using Blackboard to Facilitate Group Work Page 3 Say Goodbye to Paper Sign Ups and Become a Sign Up Genius Page 4 Media:Scape Mini Small Group Collaboration Page 4 Workshop Schedule Pages 5-7 The mission of the CETL is to promote excellence in teaching, to assist in the pedagogical and professional development of Saint Francis University faculty, and to encourage the integration of appropriate technology to enhance teaching and learning. CETL and IT Services Partner to Provide On-Demand Support with Atomic Learning By: Theresa Wilson Timing the ability to offer precisely what is needed when it is needed. This is one of the keys to providing effective training and support. It is also a significant challenge when serving a large population with diverse work habits. And so, the CETL and IT Services are pleased to announce that they have partnered to address this challenge by providing the University community with access to a new online on-demand training and support resource called Atomic Learning. Atomic Learning provides 24/7 access to answers on common "how to" questions and step-by-step training through short video tutorials which can be used as-is or combined into longer workshops and projects. Topics range from common computer applications (Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, Windows and Mac OS) and academic skills (digital citizenship, citation methodology, online learning) to career skills (time management, goal-setting, decision-making, presentation skills) and federal compliance (HIPPA, FERPA, ACT 508). Custom content can also be created and uploaded to the site. ALL students (full-time, part-time, adult learners, undergraduate and graduate students, distance learners), staff (administrative and operational), and faculty (including adjuncts) of the University will have access to Atomic Learning via my.francis. And, a Blackboard integration will allow faculty to assign and track training for students directly through a course. Atomic Learning also includes robust reporting tools to monitor activity and track progress for all users. We are very excited to offer this resource to the University community. Training will be conducted through the CETL beginning in early December. The schedule will be announced via and posted on the CETL website. For additional information, please contact Theresa Wilson in the CETL (x2799). The Spotlight info.francis.edu/cetl 1

2 TEACHING AND LEARNING Dr. Brennan Thomas to Present Faculty Development Workshop Dr. Brennan Thomas, Associate Professor of English and Director of the University Writing Center, will present a workshop entitled Creating Clear Assignment Sheets and Corresponding Rubrics on Friday, January 8, 2016 in the CETL. Dr. Thomas s workshop, originally presented to a small group of faculty during the Fall 2015 CDW, received many positive comments and recommendations. One attendee remarked: As a result of the workshop, I changed every one of my writing assignments, and had better results than ever before! I highly recommend the workshop. Another stated: Brennan s experience working with students in the Writing Center provides a unique and relevant perspective. The workshop really helped me design better assignments. Creating Clear Assignment Sheets and Corresponding Rubrics 10:00am to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, January 8, 2016 CETL Training Room RSVP twilson@fracis.edu by Wednesday, January 6, 2016 Are you planning to assign your students one or more writing projects this spring? Do you want to clarify the connections between your assignments and your grading methods? This 90-minute workshop offers a comprehensive overview of effective teaching practices for designing assignment sheets and grading rubrics to guide students through and assess their written work. November 9-13, 2015 Celebrate National Distance Learning Week in the CETL! On Wednesday, November 11, join us at 1pm in the CETL for a webinar titled Virtual Presence: Inspire and Engage in the Virtual Classroom and Beyond. On Thursday, November 12 at 3pm, learn about the Saint Francis University instructor and course certification processes and discuss efforts to ensure quality Distance Education at Saint Francis University. On Friday, November 13 at 12pm, get ready for fun and prizes in a Quiz Bowl game about Distance Learning! #NDLW The Spotlight info.francis.edu/cetl 2

3 BLACKBOARD Using Blackboard to Facilitate Group Work By: Briana Taylor Blackboard Server Maintenance will be in December; see page 6 for details. Blackboard groups provide private areas for students to exchange files, hold discussions, and complete projects. Faculty can create a single group or group set with manual enroll or self-enrollment. The group set also has an option for random enrollment. There are a variety of group tools that faculty can enable for students. How to Edit Group Set Properties To edit properties for group sets, click Users and Groups > Groups. In the top right corner click Group Sets. Click the drop down menu next to the name of the group set and select Edit Group Set Properties. This is a quick way to make a set of groups available or not available. How to Create Group Sets with Manual Enroll 1. From the Control Panel, click Users and Groups > Groups. 2. Click Create > Group Set > Manual Enroll. 3. Type a group name. If you name it Group, Blackboard will automatically put the number after the word, such as Group 1, Group 2, etc. 4. Select which tools will be available. 5. Select allow personalization if you want students to be able to change colors and add banners on their group homepage. 6. Type the number of groups. 7. Click Submit. 8. Add users for each group. 9. Click Submit. Group Tools Blogs are for reflections and comments. If you enable grading for a group blog, all members receive the same grade. Collaboration is an online chatroom. Note: This is different than Blackboard Collaborate, which has capabilities for microphones, web cameras, and application sharing. Discussion Board allows for private group discussions, which can be graded or not. If you enable grading for a discussion board, each student is graded individually. The grading is similar to regular discussion boards except there will be a separate column for each group (see picture). File Exchange is a place for students to share documents. Journals are for sharing thoughts. Tasks can help groups distribute the workload and set deadlines. Wikis are pages that everyone in the group can contribute to and edit each other s content. How to Create a Group Assignment 1. Go to a Content Area in the course where the assignment will be placed. Click Assessments > Assignment. 2. Type the assignment Name and Instructions. 3. Type the points possible. 4. Make the assignment available. 5. Set the due date. 6. Under recipients select groups of students and the group names. 7. Click submit. Note: Only one member from each group needs to submit the assignment. Faculty will retrieve the submissions from the grade center. Each member of the group will receive the same grade, but there is an override option if the faculty needs to adjust the score for one or more members of the group. Picture of the Grade Center Columns for Graded Group Discussion Boards. The Spotlight info.francis.edu/cetl 3

4 TECHNOLOGY Say Goodbye to Paper Sign Ups and Become a Sign Up Genius By: Briana Taylor Signing up for office hours, advising meetings, class presentations, and volunteering can be made easier with Sign Up Genius. Sign Up Genius is a free website for creating sign ups and allowing people to sign up online. This means students can sign up on the computer in their dorm room or on their mobile device on the go. You can remove the paper sign up sheet taped to your door and send a link to your digital sign up sheet! Part 1: Create a Sign Up Create a free account and then click create a sign up. Title the sign up and add directions. Select a theme. Add the dates, times, and number of slots. Part 2: Invite Participants The easiest way to share your sign up sheet is by copying the link and pasting the link in an or in Blackboard. Part 3: View Sign Ups Online In the settings there is an option to be notified by when people sign up and to send reminders to people x number of days before the date they signed up. Click the link to view who has signed up or login to your Sign Up Genius account and click Sign Ups from the menu on the left. For more information visit or contact the CETL. Equipment Lending Need to record a video or attend a webinar? The CETL has the following tools that you can borrow from our office: Logitech headset with microphone and Logitech webcam with a built in microphone. Both of these devices use a USB port. Media:scape Mini Small Group Collaboration By Theresa Wilson Imagine a meeting where individuals come together to work on a proposal. The individuals might be students preparing a project for a business class, faculty working on a special grant proposal, or even IT personnel discussing a new technology initiative. As they gather for the meeting, each sits down at the table and plugs a video cable into his/her laptop or tablet. The video cable is connected to a switching device which controls a large screen display at one end of the conference table. Nolan, who has formalized the project description and objectives, presses a button on his cable to display the Word document for the group to review. Next, Marci displays three budget options for group consideration. Annalea then follows, presenting a timeline and discussing potential hurdles. Finally, Ted displays his ideas for branding and a colorful marketing campaign. This scenario depicts an environment where group members can readily see and interact with one another s content. In this case, the capability is provided by a screensharing system called a media:scape Mini which allows up to 4 people to connect and share their mobile devices. Through a generous donation by McCartney s Office Supply in Altoona, the University has acquired a media:scape Mini. The unit has been installed in Library 110, the CETL Common Room. Interested individuals are invited to stop by for a hands-on demonstration. The Spotlight info.francis.edu/cetl 4

5 CETL WORKSHOP SCHEDULE FOR FACULTY AND STAFF January 2016 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri pm (CETL) Preparing Your Blackboard Course for the New Semester December 2015 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Last Day of Classes 7 8 3:10-4pm (CETL) Blackboard End of Semester Checklist :50am (CETL) Archiving GroupWise (Bring Your Laptop) November 2015 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri pm (CETL) Virtual Presence: Inspire and Engage in the Virtual Classroom and Beyond 9 12:10-1pm (CETL) Archiving GroupWise (Bring Your Laptop) 3:10-4pm (CETL) Working with Video Files in Blackboard 7 5:00pm (CETL) Adjunct Academy :50pm (CETL) Ensuring Quality Distance Education at Saint Francis University 10 2:10-3pm(CETL) Using Technology to Enhance Formative Assessments 8 9:00-9:50am (CETL) POGIL (Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning) by Dr. Samantha Radford 10:00-11:30am (CETL) Creating Clear Assignment Sheets and Corresponding Rubrics by Dr. Brennan Thomas Please register at least 1 day before the workshop to btaylor@francis.edu or twilson@francis.edu. Online workshops will be hosted using Blackboard Collaborate. You will need computer speakers and a microphone or to call in via telephone. After you register for an online workshop you will receive an with the meeting link :50pm (CETL) Distance Learning Quiz Bowl :50pm (CETL) Practical Tips for a More Productive Day :50pm (CETL) Practical Tips for a More Productive Day Happy Thanksgiving 11 12:10-1pm (CETL) Let s Talk About Teaching: Should We Consider Using Social Media Tools in Our Classroom? Blackboard Server Maintenance in December (see page 6 for details) Merry Christmas The Spotlight info.francis.edu/cetl 5

6 WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS November Ensuring Quality Distance Education Saint Francis University If you are thinking about teaching online or want to know more about the Distance Education policies and processes at Saint Francis University, join us for this informational session. You will learn about instructor and course certifications, the Distance Education Policy Manual, and other efforts to ensure quality. Practical Tips for a More Productive Day Do you ever end the work day feeling like your to do list is still a mile long? In this workshop we will discuss ways to get organized, manage your time, stay focused, and get more done. December Blackboard End of the Semester Checklist As the semester comes to a close it is important to double check your Blackboard course and save anything you will need. In this session you will review your grade center and download a copy. You will learn how to print discussion board posts and download work submitted by students. We will discuss what exporting and archiving a course means. Lastly, you will reflection on your course design and note potential revisions for future offerings of the course. Archiving GroupWise Don't let your GroupWise Mailbox get 75% full or even 100% full. Learn how to archive your . You do not have to delete messages to clean out your mail. Archiving your will preserve messages and allow you to view them whenever you need to. It also saves network space and keeps your mailbox uncluttered. Working with Video Files in Blackboard More and more instructors are using video files in their instructional practice. These types of files are typically very large. When they are uploaded to a Blackboard course, the course size increases dramatically, causing issues with server processes such as course archiving. One simple solution is to use YouTube to house and stream the files. Participants in this workshop will create their own secure YouTube channel, will upload video to the channel, and learn how to link it seamlessly into Blackboard using the Video Everywhere tool. Solutions for students who need to submit video files as assignments will also be provided. Using Technology to Enhance Formative Assessments Assessments are important for measuring learning and providing feedback to both students and instructors. Technology tools can be used to facilitate assessments, provide instant feedback, and make data analysis easier. This session will examine free technology tools that can be used to enhance formative assessments and increase student engagement. Participants will explore student response tools: Poll Everywhere and Socrative, and a back channeling tool called TodaysMeet. Let s Talk About Teaching: Should We Consider Using Social Media Tools in Our Classroom? In 2015, 72% of college students were reported as Facebook users, 31% used Pinterest, and 28% Instagram (Pew Research Center). Should we take advantage of these tools to communicate with our students? Many instructors worry about the conflicts that may arise from connecting with students on social media. In this session we will discuss if social media tools can enhance a student s educational experience and what tools might be viable for classroom use. Blackboard Server Maintenance in December The Blackboard server will be taken offline on Wednesday, December 16 at noon in order to perform maintenance and updates to the system. Our target date for completion is December 22, but it is very possible that service may be restored sooner. We will notify user via as soon as regular service is restored. The updates include small enhancements to the calendar, the introduction of a mobile grading app, and some minor bug fixes. There will be no significant changes to the user interface for either instructors or students. Winter Intermission courses will be conducted on an alternate server. Faculty and students affected will be contacted directly regarding timetables and the process for accessing the alternate system. Questions regarding the server maintenance should be directed to Theresa Wilson at x2799. Please register at least 1 day before the workshop to btaylor@francis.edu or twilson@francis.edu. Online workshops will be hosted using Blackboard Collaborate. You will need computer speakers and a microphone or to call in via telephone. After you register for an online workshop you will receive an with the meeting link. The Spotlight info.francis.edu/cetl 6

7 WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS January Preparing Your Blackboard Course for the New Semester If you are like many instructors, you have most likely been leveraging your investment in Blackboard by reusing courses from one semester to another for several years. Over time, this can lead to an accumulation of outdated links and documents, grade center issues, multiple versions of the same files, and a less than organized course structure. This workshop will provide guidance in cleaning up the virtual mess just in time for the spring semester. Adjunct Academy The CETL invites adjunct instructors to campus for a day devoted to workshops about teaching, technology, and discussion with fellow colleagues. Save the Date Adjunct Academy Thursday, January 7 at 5:00pm POGIL (Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning) by Dr. Samantha Radford We all want our students to learn the material we present and to retain it for their future coursework and jobs. Regardless of the discipline you teach, would you also like your students to: Improve their oral and written communication? Be able to think critically? Have the skills to process information presented in graph, tabular, and text form? Learn how to work as a team? Gain confidence in their ability to problem solve and stand up for their conclusions? Develop self-assessment skills? If so, POGIL (Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning) might be for you! According to its director, Dr. Richard Moog, "The POGIL Project is a donor-funded team made up of thousands of educators across the country" whose mission "is to connect and support educators from all disciplines interested in implementing, improving, and studying studentcentered pedagogies." POGIL has been shown to increase student retention rates in classes and to increase student retention of course content, as well as to build the "soft skills" listed above. Samantha Radford will host a 50-minute information session about her experience with POGIL. Come learn more about how POGIL works and see if you might be interested in trying it out yourself! Creating Clear Assignment Sheets and Corresponding Rubrics by Dr. Brennan Thomas Are you planning to assign your students one or more writing projects this spring? Do you want to clarify the connections between your assignments and your grading methods? This 90-minute workshop offers a comprehensive overview of effective teaching practices for designing assignment sheets and grading rubrics to guide students through and assess their written work. To our participants in the Faculty Book Club. Please register at least 1 day before the workshop to btaylor@francis.edu or twilson@francis.edu. Online workshops will be hosted using Blackboard Collaborate. You will need computer speakers and a microphone or to call in via telephone. After you register for an online workshop you will receive an with the meeting link. The Spotlight info.francis.edu/cetl 7