Teaching and Learning Services News

September Newsletter

Call for Applications: Carleton University Experiential Learning Fund

The Carleton University Experiential Learning Fund (CUELF) is once again available for the 2023-24 academic year. Funding is available to support course or program-level projects. Two rounds of applications are available. For questions or to discuss your proposal, please email Teaching and Learning Services (TLS) at tls@carleton.ca.

Competition 1: Applications are due October 13, 2023. Applicants will be notified on November 3.
Competition 2: Applications are due January 19, 2024. Applicants will be notified on February 9.

For full details and to apply, please visit the TLS website. If you have questions or would like to discuss your proposal, please email tls@carleton.ca.

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Preparing for Fall Term: Resources and Supports for Instructors

Teaching and Learning Services (TLS) provides comprehensive support for the university’s teaching and learning activities, including course design, teaching and assessment strategies, digital learning (online, blended and HyFlex), and learning spaces and technology. We oversee the Future Learning Lab, the Students as Partners Program, I-CUREUS (an undergraduate research initiative), and FUSION (a skills development program). Whether you have a simple question about technology or need in-depth support on pedagogical matters, TLS can help. Set up a one-on-one consultation or email tls@carleton.ca.
Collaborative Indigenous Learning Bundles have been designed as both a resource for instructors and a learning tool for students to use in the classroom. The Bundles share necessary factual and theoretical bases for understanding Indigenous history, politics, and related issues in Canada, while also prompting students to consider how this knowledge may be applied in their area of study. In these Bundles, you will learn from Indigenous academics and Knowledge Keepers discussing topics that may relate to your coursework.
The Centre for Indigenous Support and Community Engagement assists students, staff, and faculty at Carleton by providing culturally safe spaces for dialogue and learning and is available for individual curricular consultations with faculty. The Centre also provides one-off facilitation opportunities and mediation support as well. Contact Lane Bourbonnière, the Indigenous Curricula Learning Specialist, for more information.
The Department of Equity and Inclusive Communities supports implementation and/or enhancement of equity-driven curricula and pedagogy. Contact Krista Craven, the EDI Learning Specialist, for more information.

For more important updates, please read the latest message from the Provost and Vice-President (Academic).

Support for Your Teaching Assistants This Term

Are you working with a teaching assistant (TA) this fall? We have several resources to assist you in supporting your TAs, including:

Training: TA pedagogical training workshops are offered online with the exception of a couple of in-person TA Basics 101 sessions (check Carleton Central for dates and details). TAs can register for workshops through the Carleton Central—TA Management System.
TA Central Hub: Training & resources: The TA Central Hub is our Brightspace learning portal for TAs to watch pre-recorded training videos, access resource materials and share resources related to teaching. If you have a new TA who wants to enroll in the hub, please email TASupport@cunet.carleton.ca. We highly recommend that all undergraduate and graduate TAs enroll.
TA Basics 101: We encourage all new TAs (undergraduate and graduate) to register and attend one of these sessions. This workshop session is offered several times throughout September and will provide a firm foundation for being a successful teaching assistant. Spread the word with your TAs!
Brightspace support: We have a Brightspace support site to assist your TAs in navigating and using Carleton’s learning management system.

For more information about the services TLS offers for your TAs, visit our TA Support page.

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Scantron Processing at TLS

Scantron Processing at TLS Paper-based multiple-choice Scantron services (scanning and processing) are available at Teaching and Learning Services this fall term.

Drop off and pick up of completed Scantron exam sheets is available in room 410 Dunton Tower, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m., and unavailable from noon to 1 p.m. while the office is closed.

Instructors requiring Scantron processing are encouraged to complete the Scanning Request Form prior to dropping off exams. Results will be provided within three business days.

For additional Scantron and assessment resources, please visit our support pages below:

Teaching in a Classroom at Carleton this Term?

TLS’ Learning Spaces and Production Services team is ready to support your classroom technology needs. If you require immediate assistance in your classroom, call our help desk at 613-520-3815 (or simply dial 3815 from the phone located in the classroom teaching console). Support is available Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If you would like an orientation to the classroom, complete this form and a team member will coordinate a time to meet with you in your classroom and walk you through the room’s technology.

Finally – review the Learning Spaces and Production Services web resources to see the configuration of your room, learn more about the Future Learning Lab, and our equipment loan program for instructors and teaching assistants.

Reminder: Audio Amplification in a Classroom

Most of Carleton’s classrooms include an instructor wireless microphone and speaker system. While our classrooms in general have good acoustics, a full class can make it hard for an instructor’s voice to be heard everywhere in the class. We encourage you to use the microphone to ensure that you are heard by all students.

Check out the following resource on how to use the classroom microphone. You can also reach out to Learning Spaces and Production Services at cts@carleton.ca for guidance and support.

Spotlight on FUSION: Collaboration

COLLABORATION

Why are collaboration skills important? When you understand how to value others, manage difficult interactions, and contribute to the team’s work, well-developed collaboration skills allow you to perform better and support other team members in a meaningful way.

Use this FUSION skill module to teach students about group planning, group behaviour, and group processes, and how these elements combine to form effective and efficient collaboration and teamwork skills.

If you are an instructor or university service provider interested in embedding FUSION skills into your course, complete the FUSION consultation form or contact fusion@carleton.ca.

Sign Your Class up for Learning & Writing Support Workshops

The Centre for Student Academic Support's online Learning and Writing Support Workshops on Brightspace are a great resource for instructors wishing to to help students develop effective academic skills and study strategies for use in their respective disciplines and earn incentive credit. If you'd like to register your course(s) with the program, please complete the faculty request form. If you have any questions, please email the Centre for Student Academic Support at csas@carleton.ca.

Educational Technology Updates and Reminders for Fall

Brightspace Updates: Find summaries of all of the summer updates for Brightspace on the "What's New with Brightspace?" support page. New features roll out every month!

Tips for a great start this fall in Brightspace:
- Activate your course so students can access it and receive course communications
- Review the Course Setup Guide with links to support pages for key course components
- Consult with us! The TLS Support Team is ready to assist with your course setup. Let us know what you need and we'll find the right person to assist!
Zoom reminders:
- Required Zoom minimum version update: Remember to update to the newest version of the Zoom desktop client and mobile app. Updates ensure the newest features, good performance, and privacy/security enhancements. Check out the latest Zoom features on the TLS Zoom Support Site.
- Zoom training is online: TLS has curated a playlist of Zoom support videos to assist instructors with using Zoom for online teaching. From Carleton University specific topics to general Zoom topics, this playlist is a great starting point for Zoom users looking to build their web conferencing skills.
Get involved in these exciting Digital Learning initiatives and events!
- EON-XR Early Adopters program: Explore Carleton's VR eLearning Tool in your course this fall! TLS will be soft-launching EON-XR, our new accessible code-free solution for creating immersive experiences. Become an Early Adopter and join other enthusiastic instructors interested in using EON-XR in their fall-term courses. For more information, visit the TLS EON-XR support page.
- Immersive Learning course support: Have an Immersive Learning project in mind for your course? Want help implementing Virtual Reality experiences? The TLS Immersive Learning team is ready to brainstorm with you about your projects and help you get started. Come visit the team at the Experiential Learning Hub XR Drop-In event this fall.
Learn more about the student accommodation process! Register for our Classroom Accessibility collaborative panel discussion with SLALS instructor, Masako Hirotani, and partners from the Paul Menton Centre. Learn more about the student accommodation process and Ventus portal and how Ventus is your one stop platform for accommodation management. Ventus is conveniently located directly from the Brightspace JumpTo menu of your Brightspace course.

Don't Forget!

Apply for the Future Learning Innovation Fellowship: Do you have a teaching and learning problem you think could be solved with technology? Apply for the Future Learning Innovation Fellowship by September 15 for the opportunity to receive $10,000 to support your project.
Fall I-CUREUS and SaPP Applications Are Now Open: Help provide Carleton students with the opportunity to participate in undergraduate research or to partner on course design. Applications for Teaching and Learning Services’ I-CUREUS and Students as Partners Program (SaPP) are now open for the fall term.
Apply for the Certificate in University Teaching: Registration for the Fall cohort of TLS’s Certificate in University Teaching (CUT) is now open! Register for the program today.
Registration for the Fall cohort of TLS’s Preparing to Teach (PTT) certificate is now open: Available to doctoral and post-doctoral students with little or no experience designing and teaching a course of their own, PTT is a blended 10-week program designed to help you prepare for the teaching components of a career in academia. Learn more.