Author Archives: Aaron Axelsen

Lynda.com Info Sessions – Wednesday, April 25th

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The Learning Technology Center and Lynda.com would like to invite you to signup for some great Lynda events we have planned for Wednesday, April 25th. Our Lynda.com representatives will be on campus and will be offering the following presentations. Registration is required.

Closing the Skills Gap with Lynda.com – Register Now
Time: 10:00AM – 10:45AM
Audience: Instructors and Staff
From Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite applications to time management, leadership fundamentals, and more, our vast online library of instructional videos offers training on hundreds of topics.  In this session, representatives from Lynda.com will go over ways Lynda can help improve softcore skills and build professional relationships.

Informational Table in the University Center – No Registration Required
Time: 11:00AM – 1:00PM
Audience: Everyone
Stop by and ask your questions!

How to Incorporate Lynda.com in the Classroom – Register Now
Time: 2:00PM – 2:45PM
Audience: Instructors
We all know about how Lynda.com has tons of software videos, but as an instructor you may be asking, “What does that matter to me? I already go over that content.” In this Session, we will go over different ways to incorporate Lynda in the classroom in a way that helps reinforce learning for the student and gives you, the instructor, more in-class time.

Get the “Scoop” on Learning with Lynda.com – Ice Cream Social – Register Now
Time: 3:00PM – 3:45PM
Audiences: Everyone
 Trying to learn a new skill? Lynda can help! In this afternoon session, students, faculty and staff are welcome to stop by and learn all about what Lynda has to offer. Spoiler Alert, it’s not just for class. Lynda can teach you about different skills for your small business. It can also help you become the EDM Producer that you day dream about in your 8:00am Marketing Class. Come for the Ice Cream, stay to start learning online, on your time!

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this event, please contact the Learning Technology Center.

Canvas Hands-On Introduction & Deep Dive Workshops – April 2018

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During the month of April, the Learning Technology Center (LTC) will be offering a series of workshops to help instructors start diving into Canvas and preparing their courses.  We will continue to offer workshops throughout the summer.

Canvas Hands-On Introduction (2 Hours)

We will cover the basic function of the core tools in the Canvas platform.  There will be time to ask questions along the way.  If this is your first time touching Canvas, this workshop is the one for you!

Date/Time Location Register
Tuesday, April 10th 1:00pm – 3:00pm McGraw 19c Signup Now!
Monday, April 16th 10:00am – 12:00pm Williams Center 187 Signup Now!
Tuesday, April 24th 8:00am – 10:00am Center for the Arts 2059 Signup Now!

Canvas Hands-On Introduction – Beyond the Basics (2 Hours)

This Hands-On Introduction workshop is designed for the power user. We will move at a faster pace, and dive a little deeper into the advanced functions of the core tools in the Canvas Platform.  Have you used Canvas before?  Are you eager to talk about some advanced topics in each of the core tools?  If so, then this workshop is the one for you!

Date/Time Location Register
Thursday, April 12th 1:00pm – 3:00pm McGraw 19c Signup Now!
Wednesday, April 18th 10:00am – 12:00pm Williams Center 187 Signup Now!
Thursday, April 26th 8:00am – 10:00am Center for the Arts 2059 Signup Now!

Canvas Deep Dives – Tool Specific (1 Hour)

We will focus on a single tool, and dive deep into various options and use cases for how that tool works.

Tool Date/Time Location Register
Content Friday, April 13th 1:00pm – 2:00pm McGraw 115 Signup Now!
Assignments Wednesday, April 18th 2:00pm – 3:00pm Williams Center 187 Signup Now!
Grades Thursday, April 26th 3:00pm – 4:00pm Center for the Arts 2051 Signup Now!

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

Adaptive Learning Project – Call for Participants

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The UW-Whitewater Learning Technology Center (LTC) is currently looking for instructors to take part in the Fall 2018 emerging technology exploration project on adaptive learning.

About Adaptive Learning

Adaptive learning offers a customizable way to structure student learning activities and assessments. Adaptive learning platforms employ an online, mastery-based learning system that is individualized to each student. In adaptive learning, content and/or assessments continuously adapt based on how a student performs, providing customizable feedback and additional learning material so the student can better understand, and master, the course material.

Project Purpose

The UW-Whitewater LTC’s Emerging Technology Exploration Project on adaptive learning 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:

  1. How does adaptive learning influence student learning?
  2. How does adaptive learning influence course attrition?
  3. 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:

Spring 2018

  • Attend faculty development session(s) with LTC staff (dates TBD); and
  • Create, and present, a detailed plan for use that specifies how adaptive learning will be used in one Fall 2018 course (this may move to Summer 2018, depending on project timing).

Summer 2018

  • Attend faculty development session with LTC staff; and
  • Revise detailed plan for use, and submit revised plan to LTC.

Fall 2018

  • Conduct one Fall 2018 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.

 Winterim/Spring 2019

  • Complete video reflection on using adaptive learning in the course. This video reflection will be scheduled during Winterim or Spring 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

Instructors participating in the LTC’s Fall 2018 Emerging Technology Exploration Project on adaptive learning 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.

 Interested?

The Qualtrics application form is available at this link: http://uwwhitewater.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5teUlIYuMm9PZD7

 Need Additional Information?

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

Teaching with Spark Bootcamp – Why Should I Use Spark?

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If you are interested in learning more about using technology to aid in communicating and collaborating with your students, you might want to attend the LTC’s first ever “Teaching with Spark Bootcamp” series. This series of three workshops kicks off on Tuesday, April 10th with the first session: Why Should I Use Spark?

This first session introduces participants to Cisco Spark, focusing on the concepts of “Teams” and “Spaces.” This first session is primarily an overview, intended to introduce participants to Spark. The hope is that by the end of the session, you’ll be able to see some ways that you could use Spark in your teaching. Follow up sessions will be more focused on how to use Spark.  Additional details about each session in this series are available.

You can register for this first session at the following link: http://my.uww.edu/signup/Registration/Details/15513

You do not need to attend all three sessions in order to gain value, and use Spark in your teaching. However, if you attend all three, you will earn a digital badge.

Please be on the lookout for future blog posts on the second and third sessions. If you have any questions about the “Teaching with Spark Bootcamp” feel free to contact the UW-W Learning Technology Center.

Canvas – Start Your Transition Today!

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Over the last few months, teams across the UW-System have been working on getting the new Learning Management System ready for access.  We are happy to announce that all instructors now have access to the Canvas platform!  Instructors have access to start trying things out, migrating their course materials and mocking up content.  Here are a few important things to keep in mind:

  • Setup and Configuration Ongoing.  We are still working on configuring and testing integrations such as TurnItIn, Respondus Lockdown Browser, Redshelf, textbook publisher integrations, and more. These will be made available as they are tested and implemented by UW-System.
  • User roles are not yet determined.  There is a team at UW-System that is working on finalizing the roles (Student, Graduate Assistant, Grader, Reviewers, Guest Lecturers, etc) that will be available to our campus.  As soon as we receive that information, we will pass it along.
  • Course Complexity Analysis.  UW-Whitewater and UW-Superior were part of a team to develop a tool to help you analyze your existing Desire2Learn course. The goal of the tool is to provide some estimates on what areas of your existing course will require the most focus and time for migration.  This tool is available at http://dl.uwsa.edu
  • We have 24/7/365 Email, Phone and Chat support included with the new Canvas platform.  This is available today!  As you are testing things out, please reach out via those channels as a first line of defense. Questions that they cannot answer will be escalated to the Canvas Support Team here at UW-Whitewater.
  • Blank Courses for Migration.  All users who have taught in the last year have been setup with 3 blank courses in Canvas. These courses are there for testing, or starting to migrate and setup your actual courses. Just like in Desire2Learn, these courses would be copied into the actual timetable course once those are available. If you need more test courses, please reach out to Canvas Support.

The official login page and support channels for Canvas are located at http://uww.edu/canvas.

What’s next?
We are currently in the process of meeting with each college to discuss the overall migration and training plans.  Once those plans are set, they will be published on the Canvas Transition Website. In the meantime, you can start reviewing the FAQs and training resources on the website.   Access the Canvas Transition Website here: http://go.uww.edu/canvas-transition

When can I start using Canvas for my courses?
The first opportunity for courses in the Canvas platform will be the Fall 2018 semester.  We are targeting to have all course migrations completed before Summer 2019.

If you have any questions or concerns about the transition, please reach out to the UW-W Learning Technology Center.

2018 UW System Learning Technology Development Council Virtual Showcase

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Conference attendance without conference travel time and expense! Changes: Moving Forward, 2018 UW System Learning Technology Development Council Virtual Showcase is a FREE education technology conference that you can attend anywhere you have an Internet-connected computer.  The conference will be held on Tuesday, April 3rd & Wednesday, April 4th, 2018.

On Tuesday, April 3, at 8:45 AM, keynote speaker Leah Chuchran-Davis will give her talk “On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! How Digital Learning Skills are Shaping the 21st-Century.” Jamie Seger and Paul Hill will present on “Change…The Spark of Innovation” on Wednesday, April 4, 2018.

In addition, there are 30 sessions presented by instructors, instructional designers, and instructional technologists from all over the state of Wisconsin on a wide variety of topics.

More information: https://tinyurl.com/ltdcvs2018

If you have any questions about the event feel free to contact the UW-W Learning Technology Center.

Teaching with Spark Bootcamp: April 10th, April 17th, April 24th

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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 using Cisco Spark, and the Learning Technology Center’s (LTC) first ever “Teaching with Spark Bootcamp!”

The bootcamp will take place in McGraw 19A on a series of Tuesday afternoons this April (4/10, 4/17, 4/24) from 3:30 pm to 4:20 pm. The bootcamp will offer demonstrations, hands-on practice, and discussion of applications in Spark. Even though there is no expectation for outside work between sessions, for the sake of time, the second and third sessions will build on the prior session(s).

All faculty and instructional staff are welcome to attend the “Teaching with Spark Bootcamp.” Registration is recommended, but walk-ins are also welcome. UW-Whitewater now has a campus license for Spark, so, even if you’ve never logged into Spark before, you will not need anything beyond a computer and/or mobile device for this bootcamp.

Please note: There is no stipend associated with attending the “Teaching with Spark Bootcamp.” However, if you complete all three sessions, you will receive a badge.

Bootcamp Summary:

April 10th, 2018: Why Should I Use Spark?

Registration Link: http://my.uww.edu/signup/Registration/Details/15513

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

April 17th, 2018: How Do I Use Spark?

Registration Link: http://my.uww.edu/signup/Registration/Details/15514

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

April 24th, 2018: Now What Do I Do With Spark?

Registration Link: http://my.uww.edu/signup/Registration/Details/15515

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

If you have any questions about the “Teaching with Spark Bootcamp,” or any other LTC training or workshop, feel free to contact the LTC: ltc@uww.edu

Summer 2018 Institute for Online and Blended Teaching Applications Open

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The Learning Technology Center is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the 2018 Summer Institute for Online/Blended Teaching.

If you are new to teaching online or blended, or want to revitalize a current online or blended course, please consider participating in this unique program. The Institute for Online/Blended Teaching provides online and blended instructors the opportunity to collaborate with other instructors around campus 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.

The Institute consists of required online and face-to-face meetings. Face-to-face meetings are held on the UW-Whitewater campus, and online meetings are held via web conferencing technology.

Dates and Requirements:

The Institute focuses primarily on pedagogy, and using technology to support student and instructor success (not just for the purposes of using technology). The Institute will only briefly address specific tools (such as learning management systems).

There are five mandatory meetings for the Summer Institute: three face-to-face meetings held on the UW-Whitewater campus, and two online meetings held via web conferencing. All meetings require some degree of pre-work. The first meeting is a half-day, face-to-face meeting on Thursday, May 31st. The second meeting is a half-day online meeting on Thursday, June 14th. The third meeting is a full-day, face-to-face meeting on Thursday, June 28th. The fourth meeting is a half-day online meeting on Thursday, July 12th. The Institute concludes with a final half-day, face-to-face, meeting on Thursday, July 26th. Specific times will be provided to accepted participants.

Applications:

All faculty and teaching academic staff who will be teaching at UW-Whitewater during the 2018-2019 academic year are eligible to apply. However, participation in the Institute is competitive, as typically more applications are received than can be accepted. Expect that incomplete application forms will be rejected. Accepted participants will be notified following confirmation from their respective college. Applications are due Friday, March 23rd, 2018.

The application form is available at this link: http://uwwhitewater.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_88kmxIUlheavzyR

Questions?

If you have any questions about the 2018 Summer Institute for Online/Blended Teaching, please contact the UW-W Learning Technology Center.

Institute for Online/Blended Teaching Alumni Spark Team

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Twice a year, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Learning Technology Center (LTC) offers an Institute for Online/Blended Teaching. One area of interest for many instructors that complete the Institute for Online/Blended Teaching has been continuing a community of practice around online and blended teaching, that extends beyond the end of the Institute.

Recently, UW-Whitewater began using Cisco Spark, as a tool for communication and collaboration. Spark allows users to share files, hold discussions, and place video calls (among other features). Spark can be accessed through a web browser, or downloaded onto a computer or mobile device.

The LTC has created a Spark team for alumni of the Institute for Online/Blended Teaching, as a way to extend the community of practice for instructors in a virtual space outside and beyond the conclusion of the formal Institute. Instructors teaching online and/or blended courses are invited to join the team so that they can discuss challenges, ask questions, share “best practices,” and contribute any and all other ideas within this Spark team.

If you have completed the LTC’s Institute for Online/Blended Teaching, and would like to be added to this Spark team, please contact Andrew Cole at ltc@uww.edu.

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