No images? Click here April 2020It has been difficult to write this month’s dispatch from the IETL for many reasons, but primarily because of the unprecedented experience of teaching in a pandemic. It is my hope that this message finds you each well, and that you are weathering the challenges–large and small–that we have all been faced with the past 5 weeks. First off, I want to commend all of you for your resilience, and the courage to continue teaching. It is no small task and I suspect that most of you have faced bouts of frustration, exhaustion, and perhaps even despair as you have had to re-imagine how to continue the community of your classroom in virtual space. Second, I want to remind you that you are not alone in this teaching endeavor and that there are many helpful folks who are just a click away if you need guidance and support. Third, I wanted to share with you a favorite quotation that has been on my mind, as I have considered what I bring to the classroom in this difficult time:
If you are like me, joining my students on Zoom and Canvas has brightened my days and enlivened the isolation of sheltering-in-place. My students’ persistence has strengthened my own resolve as we all must “reweave the fabric” of our community during this pandemic. Though I look forward to when this is all behind us, in the meantime it brings me hope to reach out and connect with my students. And finally, I wanted to leave you with some links strengthen and entertain you, as part of our campus community, over the next few weeks:
Sincerely, Jana Remy April Canvas UpdatesEach month, new updates to Canvas improve our experience. Follow our blog to learn what improvements have been made to Canvas in April. Ally is now available in your Canvas courseDo you know how accessible your documents are? Check your accessibility report and find out! Create Digital Content to Help You Teach OnlineIf you’ve been asked to teach online, it will be important for you to prepare digital content to share with your students. Here are several ideas for content creation (this information is taken from Chapman University’s Course Continuity page. Here's Some "Good News For You" From Dodge StudentsNeed some good news? Dodge students have created a “Good News For You” TikTok channel. The videos feature students showing gratitude for what they have, sharing good news stories and offering tips to stay sane in this environment. This was developed from an idea in Professor Frank Chindamo's Advanced Web Video Class. Remote Assessments - Alternatives to Face-to-Face TestsMoving to remote teaching means pen-and-paper testing is no longer available. Here are some alternatives to a proctored test. Tips to Deter ZoombombersIn this time of disruption, there has been an increased likelihood that you may have uninvited attendees show up in your meetings and deliberately try to derail it. Explore some ways to prevent Zoombombers. Incorporating a Student Needs Assessment into Your CourseTo better facilitate online learning and student support services, the IETL and Advisory Group on the Status of Disability & Accessibility has collaborated to create a student needs assessment form template that faculty can use with their own class(es). When Teaching Goes Viral: Stories from Instructors Addressing COVID-19 in their Course ContentOur next Town Hall is April 28th at 1pm where instructors will share how they have used COVID-19 to inform their remote classroom experience. Upcoming Course Continuity TrainingEducational Technology Services is offering virtual training on features in Zoom, Panopto, Blackboard, Canvas, and more to help you adapt to the online teaching environment. All trainings will be posted on our SignUpGenius page. Menu for the FutureThursday, April 30 | 11:30 am - 1 pm | Zoom Facilitated by Mackenzie Crigger. This workshop will explore the cultural, social and ecological implications of food consumption, as well as discuss food justice and food insecurity, based on varying factors. The event will examine the issue from a global and local perspective through a peer to peer learning format. Sponsored by Facilities Management. The Chapman University Working and Teaching Remotely Page is Continuously Being Updated with Course Continuity Resources and Strategies.Adobe Creative Cloud is now available for free to all Chapman faculty, staff, and students
ACUE Releases Online Teaching Resources for all FacultyThe Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) has developed an Online Teaching Toolkit with free online teaching resources to benefit both faculty and students. Eight Rules for Teaching During COVID-19Have your core teaching principles and teaching philosophies changed or have they just been challenged in this time of crisis teaching? For most of us, the answer is somewhat and for others it may be an enthusiastic no or defeated yes. The answers don’t lie in the latest technology, but in our abilities to be authentic and effective educators. What defines students success in this period of time may look completely different. Equity Resources & COVID-19Diversity officers across various higher education institutions have crowdsourced helpful equity resources in response to COVID-19. These include webinars, articles, and other resources (this blog post will be updated with resources as they become available). We hope that you find these resources useful in our communal pursuit to make remote learning, teaching, and working as inclusive and equitable as possible. |