Register for the final “Poll Everywhere” workshop of the semester

Posted on October 22, 2018 by Aaron Axelsen

There is still some time to learn how to use Poll Everywhere this semester!

Poll Everywhere allows students to submit answers on the Poll Everywhere website, the mobile app, or even through text messages to close or open-ended polls that you create. In the video below, Assistant Professor of Political Science Eric Loepp discusses how he used Poll Everywhere in his course.

If you are interested in learning more, register for the LTC’s workshop at noon on Thursday, Novermber 15th!

If you have any questions about Poll Everywhere or any other learning technology, feel free to contact the UW-Whitewater Learning Technology Center.

Fall 2018 “Teaching with Webex Teams Bootcamp” Begins Next Week!

Posted on October 3, 2018 by Aaron Axelsen

The LTC’s Fall 2018 “Teaching with Webex Teams Bootcamp” begins next week in McGraw 19A. The three sessions take place on a series of Wednesday afternoons (10/10, 10/17, 10/24) from 3:00 pm to 3:45 pm. Any instructor interested in using Webex Teams is welcome; registrations are encouraged. You do not need to attend all sessions, but session two and session three build upon the knowledge of the first session.

Wednesday, October 10, 2018: Why Should I Use Webex Teams?

Registration Link: http://my.uww.edu/signup/Registration/Details/15660

This first session introduces participants to Cisco Webex Teams, and why instructors and students might benefit from incorporating it. Participants will be introduced to the concepts of “Teams” and “Spaces.” Facilitators will provide examples to help participants understand what Webex Teams is (and is not), how Webex Teams works, and the purpose in using Webex Teams.

Wednesday, October 17, 2018: How Do I Use Webex Teams?

Registration Link: http://my.uww.edu/signup/Registration/Details/15661

This second session provides participants with a hands-on technical training with Cisco Webex Teams. Participants will practice creating “Teams” and “Spaces,” as well using Webex Teams to communicate and collaborate with others.

Wednesday, October 24, 2018: Now What Do I Do With Webex Teams?

Registration Link: http://my.uww.edu/signup/Registration/Details/15662

This third, and final, session provides participants with a forum to discuss potential applications of Webex Teams in their teaching. Facilitators will provide participants with “best practices” for using Webex Teams based on recent pilots at UW-Whitewater.

Please note: There is no stipend associated with attending the “Teaching with Webex Teams Bootcamp.” However, if you complete all three sessions, you will receive a badge. The “Teaching with Webex Teams Bootcamp” is the same program as Spring 2018’s “Teaching with Spark Bootcamp.”

If you have any questions about the “Teaching with Webex Teams Bootcamp,” or any other LTC training or workshop, feel free to contact the UW-Whitewater Learning Technology Center.

Still Time to Apply for the LTC’s Spring 2019 Adaptive Learning Project!

Posted on October 1, 2018 by Aaron Axelsen

Cerego
Adaptive Learning Platform

There is still time to apply for the LTC’s Spring 2019 Adaptive Learning Project using Cerego!

Instructors participating in the adaptive learning project will receive a stipend to compensate the work they put into their course redesign. If all required components are completed, participating instructors can expect to receive a stipend of $1000.

Instructors have flexibility in determining the course in which to implement the adaptive learning platform. By taking part in the project, instructors agree to fully participate in, and complete, all project requirements. The following semester-by-semester breakdown conveys the expectations for participating instructors:

Fall 2018

Attend faculty development sessions with LTC staff (dates TBD); and
Create, and present, a detailed plan for use that specifies how adaptive learning will be used in one Spring 2019 course.

Winterim 2018-2019

Revise detailed plan for use, and submit revised plan to LTC.

Spring 2019

Conduct at least one course using adaptive learning (as described in your plan for use); and
Complete early semester “check-in” form for LTC staff; and
Attend faculty development session focused on sharing experiences using adaptive learning (date TBD); and
Support the LTC in administering an end-of-semester (IRB approved) survey about the course to students.

Summer 2019

Complete video reflection on using adaptive learning in the course. This video reflection will be scheduled during late Spring semester or Summer 2019, at your convenience. The purpose of the video reflection is to share what was learned with other instructors who may be interested in using adaptive learning in the future.

Ready to get started? See the full call for participants, and apply here.

Need more information on the project? Attend an information session or contact the Learning Technology Center.

Need more information on Cerego and student learning? Read about how instructors at Western Idaho transformed their Microbiology course using Cerego.

Spring 2019 Adaptive Learning Project – Call for Participants

Posted on September 6, 2018 by Aaron Axelsen

The UW-Whitewater Learning Technology Center (LTC) is currently looking for instructors to explore the use of adaptive learning during the Spring 2019 semester.

About Adaptive Learning

Adaptive learning platforms employ an online learning system personalized to each student. Content and/or assessments adapt based on student performance, providing feedback (including additional learning material) so students can better understand, and master, the course material.

Project Purpose

Participants in this project will utilize the adaptive learning platform Cerego, which is designed to comprise roughly between 7 and 10% of the learning activities/assessments in a course. The purpose of this project is to explore the impact of an adaptive learning platform on student success. Initial guiding questions for this exploration are:

How does adaptive learning influence student learning?
How does adaptive learning influence course attrition?
How does adaptive learning influence student satisfaction?

Project Requirements

Instructors have flexibility in determining the course in which to implement the adaptive learning platform. By taking part in the project, instructors agree to fully participate in, and complete, all project requirements. These requirements include a series of scaffolded, interactive, face-to-face instructional development sessions. These sessions are designed to assist instructors in successfully implementing adaptive learning in one of their courses.

The following semester-by-semester breakdown conveys the expectations for participating instructors:

Fall 2018

Attend faculty development sessions with LTC staff (dates TBD); and
Create, and present, a detailed plan for use that specifies how adaptive learning will be used in one Spring 2018 course.

Winterim 2018-2019

Revise detailed plan for use, and submit revised plan to LTC.

Spring 2019

Conduct at least one course using adaptive learning (as described in your plan for use); and
Complete early semester “check-in” form for LTC staff; and
Attend faculty development session focused on sharing experiences using adaptive learning (date TBD); and
Support the LTC in administering an end-of-semester (IRB approved) survey about the course to students.

Summer 2019

Complete video reflection on using adaptive learning in the course. This video reflection will be scheduled during late Spring semester or Summer 2019, at your convenience. The purpose of the video reflection is to share what was learned with other instructors who may be interested in using adaptive learning in the future.

Project Compensation

Interested?

The Qualtrics application form is available here. After you submit an application, LTC staff will be in contact with you to discuss the next steps.

Need Additional Information?

Consider attending one of the LTC’s adaptive learning information sessions.

If you have any additional questions about the adaptive learning project, feel free to contact the UW-W Learning Technology Center.

Fall 2018 Teaching with Webex Teams Bootcamp!

Posted on September 6, 2018 by Aaron Axelsen

Are you looking for a tool to facilitate communication and collaboration between you and your students this semester? If so, you might be interested in learning how to use Cisco Webex Teams in your teaching at the Learning Technology Center’s (LTC) “Teaching with Webex Teams Bootcamp!”

This fall’s bootcamp will take place in McGraw 19A on a series of Wednesday afternoons this October (10/10, 10/17, 10/24) from 3:00 pm to 3:45 pm.

Please see the testimonial below from a UW-Whitewater faculty member who piloted Webex Teams last fall (when it was called “Cisco Spark”).

UW-Whitewater has a campus license for Webex Teams, so feel free to bring your computer or mobile device to the bootcamp sessions and log into Webex Teams. Be sure to bring your device if you attend the “hands-on” session on October 17th! You can install Webex Teams on a desktop device, or on a mobile device. All faculty and instructional staff are welcome to attend the “Teaching with Webex Teams Bootcamp.” Registration is recommended, but walk-ins are also welcome.

Bootcamp Summary:

Wednesday, October 10, 2018: Why Should I Use Webex Teams?

Registration Link: http://my.uww.edu/signup/Registration/Details/15660

Wednesday, October 17, 2018: How Do I Use Webex Teams?

Registration Link: http://my.uww.edu/signup/Registration/Details/15661

Wednesday, October 24, 2018: Now What Do I Do With Webex Teams?

Registration Link: http://my.uww.edu/signup/Registration/Details/15662

If you have any questions about the “Teaching with Webex Teams Bootcamp,” or any other LTC training or workshop, feel free to contact the UW-Whitewater Learning Technology Center.

Poll Everywhere

Posted on August 30, 2018 by Aaron Axelsen

Poll Everywhere is an interactive tool that is newly adopted on the UW-Whitewater campus this fall. It allows you to create poll questions and prompts, which students can respond to in “real-time” through mobile apps, text messages, or the Poll Everywhere website. You can then display the responses live to the class, and incorporate what you find out into class discussion, group activities, and more.

Poll Everywhere allows you many different options for poll questions, including word clouds. If you are unfamiliar with Poll Everywhere, you might find this introduction video helpful.

This fall the LTC will be offering a few information sessions which can help you get started with using Poll Everywhere. The sign-up links are below (please note you will need to log in with your UWW credentials to register):

Wednesday September 26th, 2018 at 3:00 PM in McGraw 19A

Friday October 5th, 2018 at 10:00 am in McGraw 19A

You do not have to wait until one of these sessions to get started! Feel free to try it out, and let the LTC know if you need any assistance! Poll Everywhere also provides a detailed online instructor guide and a student guide.

If you have questions regarding Poll Everywhere, please contact the UW-W Learning Technology Center.

Fall Adaptive Learning Information Sessions

Posted on August 27, 2018 by Aaron Axelsen

The 2018 NMC Horizon Report lists “adaptive learning technologies” as one of the Important Developments in Technology for Higher Education. The report lists adaptive learning with a projected 2-3 year “time to adoption” (for more on the Horizon Report, see the last “TED Tips“).

To keep on top of this development, the Learning Technology Center (LTC) is currently exploring adaptive learning technologies. If you are potentially interested in incorporating an adaptive learning element into your course but do not know where or how to get started (or even really understand what exactly adaptive learning is), consider attending one of the LTC’s adaptive learning information sessions this September.

In these information sessions, we will discuss the nature of adaptive learning as well as detail some current adaptive learning projects on campus. Even if you do not want to participate in one of these projects, please feel free to attend and learn more about the possibilities of adaptive learning.

Upcoming Session Dates and Times:

Monday, September 17th at 2:00 PM

Wednesday, September 19th at 1:00 PM

Friday, September 21st at 8:15 AM

Tuesday, September 25th at 11:00 AM

(Please note that you will need to log in with your UW-Whitewater credentials to register for these sessions)

If you are interested in adaptive learning, you can also attend the ICIT Tech Open House on Wednesday, August 29th from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM in UC275, and stop by the adaptive learning table!

If you have any questions about adaptive learning, please feel free to contact the UW-Whitewater Learning Technology Center.

TED Tips – Issue 7: Upcoming Training Opportunities

Posted on August 17, 2018 by Ted WITT

Last week, I introduced the idea of “learning technologies” as the broad range of communication, information, and related technologies that support learning, teaching, and assessment. This week, I want to explore a few upcoming Learning Technology Center (LTC) activities where you can learn more about various “learning technologies”.

training

Welcome Back Week

One of the most important events at the start of the academic year is Welcome Back Week. Each year, ICIT hosts a Technology Open House where faculty, staff, and students explore new campus technology and technology related initiatives. This year’s Tech Open House is Wednesday, August 29 from 1:30 – 4:30 pm in UC 275. You will find hands-on interactive demonstrations, information from vendors, and can participate in a “GooseChase” scavenger hunt. There will be free food and door prizes. Complete scavenger hunt missions to win additional door prize entries. See the resources section at the end of this TED Tip for more information on how to get started on the GooseChase.

In addition to the Technology Open House, there are several Canvas workshops throughout “Welcome Back Week”. These workshops cover a variety of topics from getting started in Canvas, a look at building content, and a more hands-on approach to features like “SpeedGrader” and other ways to expedite grading and provide feedback. These workshops will are all held in Hyland 3101.

Introduction to Canvas — Friday, August 24 from 8:30 – noon
Using Canvas for Grading and Feedback – Friday, August 24 from 2:00 – 3:00 pm
How to Build Content in Canvas – Tuesday, August 28 from 3:30 – 4:30 pm

LEARN Center/LTC Collaborative Workshop Series

The LTC/LEARN Center collaborative series for the 2018-2019 is on the theme of “Back to Basics to Balance Workload” and will focus on strategies to improve your teaching practice and student learning without adding to your workload. The first session “Efficient and Effective Communication Strategies,” will be Thursday, September 20 from 12:30 until 1:45 pm in UC259A. Heather Pelzel, Biological Sciences and LEARN Center and Ted Witt from the LTC will present communications strategies to help you:

Establish expectations and boundaries for communications between instructor and students.
Evaluate strategies for determining academic “at-risk” students and tips for how and when to facilitate academic interventions.
Explore methods to use CANVAS for additional ways to communicate with students.

The other workshops in the fall series will be on October 18th “Best practices on providing effective feedback using low-tech and high-tech options” and November 27th “Using groups to engage students and maximize your class time”.

Teaching with Technology

Searching for ways to build community with students in your online class? Looking for a way to facilitate communication and collaboration between your students in your face-to-face class? You may benefit from the Learning Technology Center’s (LTC) “Teaching with WebEx Teams Bootcamp!” Webex Teams is an app for continuous teamwork with video meetings, group messaging, file sharing and white boarding. This three part series is on Wednesdays at 3:00 pm in October.

Why Should I Use WebEx Teams? October 10
How Do I Use WebEx Teams? October 17
Now What Do I Do With WebEx Teams? October 24

Additionally, there are two upcoming “Poll Everywhere” information sessions. Poll Everywhere is a polling application that can enhance live interactive audience participation in class in real time. You can learn more about “Using Poll Everywhere to Engage Students” through two upcoming workshops:

September 26 at 3:00pm
October 4 at 11:00 am

Institute for Online / Blended Teaching

If you are new to teaching online or blended courses, or are interested in revitalizing a current course, the Institute for Online/Blended Teaching provides instructors the opportunity to collaborate on course design strategies and teaching best practices. This intensive and interactive series of workshops simulates taking a blended course and integrates a variety of different methods and technologies. The structure of the Institute allows participants to explore new instructional and course design methods, and participate in learning activities similar to what a student would experience. Look for registration for the Winter 2018 program early this fall.

For a complete list of upcoming events or to sign up for these events, use the ICIT signup web page using your Net-ID! https://my.uww.edu/signup/Home Find more about these and other activities on the LTC’s blog page: http://blogs.uww.edu/instructional/

Next week I want to peer into the future and explore the innovative practices, trends, and technologies for higher education as presented by the 2018 Horizon Report.

– Ted Witt
Teaching, Learning, and Technology Consultant

RESOURCES:
http://blogs.uww.edu/instructional/

Welcome Back Week GooseChase notes:

Play our Interactive Scavenger Hunt, GooseChase.
Download the GooseChase iPhone or Android app.
Register for an account with your “uww” email address.
Create a password that IS NOT THE SAME as your Net-ID password.
Search for and join one of the two “ICIT Tech Open House” games.
The missions will go live on Wednesday, August 29 at 1pm.

Looking for Ways to Get Immediate Feedback from Students?

Posted on July 23, 2018 by Aaron Axelsen

If you are interested in a tool that can allow you to receive immediate (and potentially anonymous) feedback from your students this fall, you might benefit from using “Poll Everywhere.” Poll Everywhere allows students to text answers from their mobile phones or submit answers via the Poll Everywhere website (for free) to prompts that you create. Though there is an app available, neither you or your students need to download an app to use Poll Everywhere.

In the video below, Juk Bhattacaryya (a UW-Whitewater faculty member who piloted the use of Poll Everywhere in Spring 2018) discusses using Poll Everywhere.

If you think you might be interested in using Poll Everywhere, consider attending one of the LTC’s “Using Poll Everywhere to Engage Students” sessions to learn more. Attending one of these sessions will provide you with more information on Poll Everywhere, and help get you started with your own account.

The dates/times for upcoming “Using Poll Everywhere to Engage Students” sessions are below (just click on the session to sign up; you will need to log in to register):

Tuesday July 24th, 2018 at 9:00 AM in McGraw 19A

Thursday August 2nd, 2018 at 2:00 PM in McGraw 19A

Wednesday September 26th, 2018 at 3:00 PM in McGraw 19A

Friday October 5th, 2018 at 10:00 am in McGraw 19A

If you have any questions about these sessions, please contact the UW-W Learning Technology Center.

Interested in Adaptive Learning?

Posted on July 18, 2018 by Aaron Axelsen

You may have heard recently about adaptive learning, but might not be sure exactly what it is. Adaptive learning is a general term that describes a variety of ways that course content and assessments can be aligned to student progress throughout a course.

If you are potentially interested in adaptive learning but do not know where or how to get started, consider attending one of the LTC’s adaptive learning information sessions. We will discuss what adaptive learning is, as well as some different ways that you could utilize adaptive learning in your courses.