Beginning on December 1st, 2021 all video files that are created and uploaded into Kaltura through Canvas will have caption files automatically generated. These automatic captions will appear as “English (autocaption)” to indicate that they are machine generated and are on average 90% accurate. The automatically generated captions can be edited using the following process: Reviewing / Editing Kaltura Machine Captions.
What about Kaltura videos created before December 1st, 2021?
Auto captions will only be available for videos created on or after December 1st. Machine captions can be requested for older videos: Requesting Kaltura Machine Captions.
What are Kaltura auto generated captions?
Kaltura uses automatic speech recognition (ASR) technology to automatically generated captions. ASR instantly recognized the word spoken and provides machine-based captions. Captioning is the process that converts the audio content of a video into text captions. Videos are captioned to make the content more accessible and available for users who are deaf and hard of hearing.
Are auto captions adequate for video accommodation requests in the classroom?
Auto captioning does not meet the standard for providing a reasonable accommodation, nor does it provide the level of accuracy required for public facing videos. See Captioning for Accessibility for additional information.
Earlier this year, the Learning Technology Center (LTC) relocated all existing documentation from our old site (spaces.uww.edu) to the new location within the ServiceNow Knowledge Base. Redirects that were put in place on spaces.uww.edu will be removed on December 1st, 2021. Please check to make sure your links are updated!
How can I easily check the links within my Canvas Course?
The Canvas Course Link Validator is a great way to verify links in your course! In most cases, it will be able to detect links that may still exist within your course that reference pages on the old documentation site.
Are the links already disabled – they are not loading?
Currently, links to spaces.uww.edu are only available when you are on campus or connected to the Remote Access VPN. This was a necessary change for due to security concerns.
Welcome back, Warhawks to a new academic year! Summer was a busy period for the Learning Technology Center (LTC): we welcomed new members to the team, developed new engagement opportunities, managed technology updates and rollouts, celebrated technology innovators, supported technology needs across our campus, and prepared for the start of the new academic year! This post will recap many of the most important updates and feature enhancements of commonly-used technologies across campus, as well as give you a taste of what is to come this year!
Eric Loepp assumed the role of Director of the LTC at the start of the Fall 2021 term and will maintain his faculty position in Political Science. A long-time advocate for technology-enhanced teaching and learning, Eric will continue to develop ideas and innovations that will enhance the learning experience for Warhawks across campus!
Jeffrey Thomas joined the team as Assistant Director in January 2021. Jeff’s professional background is in French Language & Literature and Second Language Acquisition (PhD, UW-Madison). He also has a wide variety of experience in instructional design, curricular development, program coordination, and technology training in administrative and instructional settings.
Honoring Campus Innovators
On May 19, 2021, UW-Whitewater colleagues gathered for a day-long discussion and series of presentations about equity, inclusion, and technological innovations in teaching and learning. The Learning Technology Center and the LEARN Center joined to host both of these events. The Celebration concluded with the announcement of this year’s Cisco/Presidio “Teaching with Technology Innovator” honorarium, awarded to Meg Waraczynski!
Next year’s “Celebrating Teaching and Learning” is scheduled for May 18, 2022 – we hope to see you there!
Webex is our campus-supported solution for video conferencing and online instruction. Webex integrations with Canvas, Microsoft Office, and other platforms have made teaching, learning, and working very successful experiences.
Over the summer, Cisco Webex was rebranded and released a new unified application. The messaging and calling features of “Webex Teams” are now included in the unified “Webex” application.
To better propel your learning, we have organized some sessions into thematic groupings. Designed to build upon baseline skills, these sessions advanced skill development and work to promote a technology-inclusive environment on campus.
The Blending My In-Person Course with Online Elements Pathway shows you how to integrate technology to enhance learning, streamline instructor workload, and maximize student engagement. Instructors will build upon previously created materials to improve face-to-face and blended courses.
The Creating Dynamic Course Content Pathway assists instructors in creating Canvas content that uses embedded video, active links to content both inside of and out of the Canvas course, and other campus supported technologies to improve student engagement.
“Next-Level Tech” for Teaching and Design Workshops
Get a look at your colleagues’ Canvas courses in these hands-on workshops filled with innovative faculty examples, step-by-step instructions on how to adapt those innovations to your own courses, and tips and tricks to take your course designs to the “Next Level.” Join the sessions that fit your needs in workshops organized along two themes: “Next-Level” Design in Canvas and “Next-Level” Multimedia. Signup Now!
Digital Transformation Workshops
Designed to illustrate how digital solutions can enable new types of innovation and creativity, these workshops will explore how the adoption of technology impacts our work. Signup Now!
Canvas Updates
Did you know Canvas receives updates every month? These updates are reviewed and tested by Canvas administrators across UW-System before their release dates. We provide regular updates and highlights on our blog. See the latest updates and recap from the summer.
Canvas has a robust technical support service that includes 24 / 7 / 365 toll-free hotline and live online chat interactions. Please use this for all Canvas Questions.
Did you know that you can get a weekly email update about what’s going on in the LTC? Every Monday morning, you will get an email that contains a summary of the latest items from our blog. To signup for these updates, just fill out the form below!
Self-Service Knowledge Base
All of our self-service documentation is now available inside of the ServiceNow Knowledge Base (KB). The KB articles can easily be searched by going to: http://uww.service-now.com/kb
New KB articles are added regularly – so check back often!
Microphone Kits
The Sennheiser microphone kits that many instructors used during the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters are now available for checkout from our ICIT AV-Checkouts center. These microphones can be checked out for the entire semester.
Requests can be made online at http://av-checkouts.uww.edu. Search of “XS Wireless” to locate the mics in the request interface. Microphone pickup and returns are done through the Andersen 1008 Media Lab.
LockDown Browser
Respondus LockDown Browser is now available on Chromebooks! Previously, we were beta testing this feature and instructors needed to adjust settings within the quiz. This feature is now generally available and no additional configuration is needed by the instructor.
Students who used it during the beta testing period may need to remove and reinstall the extension on their Chromebooks.
If you are looking for ways to increase student engagement, you might be interested in using Poll Everywhere. Capture powerful feedback instantly during virtual meetings and in-person classes using Poll Everywhere. A variety of interactive activities, which can be seamlessly integrated into PowerPoint or Google Slides, can help you take attendance, give quizzes, gauge interest, and more whether your students are near or far!
Are you looking to record professional lectures for your courses? The Learning Technology Center (LTC) Studio is available!
We have a number of unique and engaging setups including “presenter only,” “weatherman,” or using our kleerboard. Looking to do something different? Just let us know! Schedule your appointment now with our online form.
Don’t forget to Visit Us
Are you still with us? If so – great, you made it to the end! As a reminder, we are located in McGraw Hall, Suite 120 and are available between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM weekdays. We can also be reached at ltc@uww.edu or 262.472.1004. We encourage you to call ahead to schedule an appointment when possible. We’ll always be willing to help, and have plenty of treats on hand for your sweet tooth. Have a great semester!
The conference will start with an Equity in the Classroom workshop led by the LEARN Center Equity Ambassadors. The workshop will begin with a panel discussion followed by interactive breakout sessions focused on practices that you could use to create a more equitable and inclusive learning environment. For more on the Equity Ambassadors: https://www.uww.edu/learn/equityambassadors
Lunch Break Noon to 1:00 PM
Afternoon Session (Celebrating Teaching and Learning)
Teaching with Technology: Organization, Assessment, Equity, and Inclusion
Erin Bauer, Assistant Professor of Musicology
I typically teach a handful of general education courses in the online format. However, prior to the pandemic, I did not consider teaching my music history survey courses online. With the onset of COVID-19, my music history survey courses, general education offerings, and upper-division electives all shifted online. As such, I made a number of modifications to the structure and content. While these changes were initially made out of necessity, many have served my students better than anticipated and will continue in face-to-face offerings. This presentation will focus on the use of technology in my music history survey courses, but these techniques function similarly across all my offerings. In particular, we will explore the organization of materials on Canvas, alterations to learning resources in the online setting, gating of content to promote student accountability, effective assignments and assessments, and incorporation of provocative issues of racism, classism, and sexism in an inherently exclusionary online curriculum.
Presentation Description:
Organization of Course Materials: Even in my face-to-face classes, I typically rely on the LMS. However, in shifting fully online, this method of structuring each course became even more important. I break each course into content-based modules. Each module consists of a “page” providing a brief introduction to the material and learning objectives, my own lecture video, additional learning materials, and a list of assignments. I also expanded my learning materials to include supplemental readings, videos, and podcasts. These provide a variety of methods for students to access the material, but also introduce more provocative issues of racism, sexism, and classism within the Western canon. To hold students accountable, I “gate” the content. When students first log into the course at the beginning of the semester, they see only a “Welcome” module, consisting of my video introduction, the syllabus, and a discussion board with short, personal introductions. Once they view/complete these items, subsequent modules become available. The content page at the start of each module is followed by short multiple-choice quiz on the learning materials for the week. Students must complete it with 100% accuracy before subsequent assignments become available.
Effective Assignments and Assessments: Prior to the pandemic, assignments in my music history survey courses closely resembled those in my own undergraduate career. In moving the courses online, I shifted assignments to focus on critical thinking. For each module, students now listen to musical examples and write a reflection on the discussion board, respond to a more provocative discussion prompt centered on issues like the inherent whiteness and maleness of the canon, the narrative of composer as genius, and the importance of representation, and complete an examination consisting of short essay prompts.
Equity and Inclusion: The technology-based alterations to these classes have increased equity and access to the curriculum. Beyond changes to curricular content to address issues of diversity, tokenism, and power within the Western music canon, alternative learning materials, free and open-access resources, flexible synchronisms, and student choice of assessment modality allow students from diverse backgrounds to interact with their educations in ways that are most approachable, engaging, and productive for individual circumstances.
Using adaptive learning software in an introductory statistics course to improve student engagement and achievement.
Meg Waraczynski, Professor of Psychology
This presentation will introduce audience members to using Realizeit’s adaptive learning platform to support student success. Adaptive learning software allows students to achieve mastery at their own pace. In my introductory statistics course the Realizeit platform takes the place of a textbook. Students learn basic content interactively and with immediate feedback on their comprehension. Students who struggle can be directed to extra support while students with existing knowledge can skip exposition they do not need. Realizeit affords several advantages. For instance, the instructor gets information about which concepts or skills need more exposition and also about which students are struggling with what material. Students can spend more in-class time working with peers to practice new skills via the analysis and interpretation of authentic datasets. Students may work on lessons until they achieve a target mastery level. Lessons remain available for review throughout the semester, with novel questions presented at each iteration. Attendees will get a brief introduction to creating Realizeit lessons and will see what a typical lesson looks like to students.
Presentation Description:
Attendees will learn that mastering adaptive learning software for their courses need not be intimidating.
Attendees should see that adaptive learning software offers substantial and numerous advantages to them and their students.
Attendees should gain the background to start thinking about how adaptive learning software might apply to their own courses.
Technology to Engage Learners: A New Way of Teaching!
Jeannine Rowe, Professor of Social Work
Using technology has evolved significantly in the last two decades. Wherein the past technology was touted as a substitute for teaching traditional face-to-face classes, today it is viewed as a platform to transform the learning experience. This presentation will include a first-hand account of using technology in teaching over the past 20 years. As part of this account, the presenter will share her perspective as a social science educator on the evolution of technology, and share examples of how she utilizes technology to actively engage learners and transform the learning experience in an online format. Unique to this presentation will be the sharing of activities that use technology to promote positive skill growth for learners enrolled in social, behavioral, and allied health professional training programs.
Presentation Description:
This session will be of interest to instructors who want to engage students as active and creative learners using technology. Because the presentation will include examples of activities using technology in online and social and behavioral health arenas, it may be particularly attractive for instructors in similar venues. The activities to be shared will be presented within the context of PICRAT, which is a technology integration model that requires consideration of the student’s relationship to technology and the instructor’s use of it, in designing activities/lessons with technology to maximize student engagement and achievement. Sample activities to be shared include those that foster interpersonal skills, promote written and oral communication skills, and enhance group facilitation skills.
Individuals who attend this presentation will:
Recognize the value of using a framework, such as PICRAT to develop activities/lessons that integrate technology
Identify the how activities using technology can be both creative and transformative
Classify how different activities/lessons fit within the PICRAT framework
The presentation will be engaging and prompt attendees to rethink how they might develop activities/lessons using technology. There will be time for attendees to ask questions and engage with the presenter and others.
A Focus on the Good: Technology to Improve Engagement, Equity, and Best Practices in Post-COVID Learning
Steven Girard, Associate Professor of Chemistry
Our sudden move to remote learning one year ago laid bare the systemic challenges facing all institutions of higher education. While the downsides of online instruction became apparent from our sudden shift online, so did unexpected benefits. In this talk, we will focus on the good: increased flexibility in managing time and work/life balance; accessibility and communication; and the learning and leveraging of new technologies to improve student outcomes. These benefits of online instruction will persist well beyond the pandemic, and in many ways have already become ingrained. I will detail my use of a variety of technologies to improve student-student and student-instructor classroom community; linking instructors to technology best practices; and ways to improve accessibility and equity of online/remote teaching resources.
Presentation Description:
This talk will highlight:
Technology to build a sense of community and belonging in the classroom via trivia games.
Online discussion sessions to facilitate in higher order learning and “un-Google-able” exam questions.
Technology to build community and best practices amongst faculty and staff.
Adaptive learning and online textbooks: growth mindset, positive study habits while improving accessibility and equity via Cerego and Open Educational Resources (OERs).
Videos can once again be embedded into Canvas from Rev (http://streaming.uww.edu). There were a number of technical upgrades that needed to happen with the last upgrade completing on 4/22/2021. For additional information see the Embedding a Video in Canvas from Rev guide in our Knowledge Base (KB).
On Saturday April 17, 2021, Instructure made the following updates to Canvas:
Course settings – Section Date Enhancement: A visual change was made to the availability dates option for sections of a course. This update made the visuals of the date settings for the sections match those of the course.
New Quizzes – Multiple Attempts First Score Option: It is now possible to give students multiple attempts on a New Quiz, but retain their first score as their grade.
On Thursday, April 8th, Cisco will release the Webex Meetings 41.4 update. The highlights of this release are listed below. Full release notes are also available.
Zoom In and Zoom Out in Grid View. A new slider is available to zoom videos larger in grid view.
Customizable Stage View. A new “customizable stage” is available that allows you to control the layout that is available in Webex Meetings (And soon Webex Events). Hosts or Cohosts can sync the “Stage” for everyone in the meeting.
Webex Meetings for iOS
iPhone Breakout Room Host Support. Similar to desktop and Android, iOS users will now be able to host and assign breakout sessions directly from their mobile apps on their iPhone devices.
OS Support for 14.4 and 14.5 iOS. Webex Meetings on mobile now officially supports OS versions iOS 14.4 and 14.5.
Here are some of the highlights included in the 41.3 update from last month.
Q&A Added to Webex Meetings. Meeting participants can type their questions into the Q&A panel, which can be answered by the host or cohosts.
You can’t answer Q&A from the web app. In order for hosts, cohosts, and panelists to answer questions, they will need to use the desktop app.
Q&A isn’t currently supported within a breakout session. Q&A is only supported in the main session.
Edge Chromium and WebView2 Required for Facebook Live Streaming. As Microsoft has retired support for Internet Explorer, you may be required to install Microsoft Edge Chromium and Microsoft Edge WebView2 in order to sign in to Webex using your Facebook account, or when streaming to Facebook Live. Please contact the UW-W Helpdesk for installation assistance.
Media Enhancements – HD Video. The meeting application will default to this setting based on hardware capabilities. It can be adjusted in the Camera settings screen.
iOS 10 OS No Longer Supported. Webex Meetings will no longer support iOS 10 OS. OS 10 users will no longer be able to install or update their Webex Meetings app versions. No functionality will be turned off.
Here are some of the highlights from the 41.2 update in February.
Let Anyone Join Breakout Sessions. Hosts and cohosts now have the ability to let participants join any breakout, even if a participant isn’t assigned to a breakout or is assigned to a different breakout.
Improved Layout Control. Layout controls are now in single button labeled “Layout,” which includes the option to “Hide non-video participants.”
Raise Hand Improvements. A host can now raise a hand, and a host or cohost can lower a participant’s hand.
After a one-year hiatus, the Celebrating Teaching and Learning conference is back in an online format on Wednesday May 19th, 2021. The day will start with a workshop led by the UW-W Equity Ambassadors followed by presentations from the Cisco/Presidio Teaching with Technology honorarium winners.
Morning Session – 10 AM to Noon The conference will start with an Equity in the Classroom workshop led by the LEARN Center Equity Ambassadors. The workshop will begin with a panel discussion followed by interactive breakout sessions focused on practices that you could use to create a more equitable and inclusive learning environment. For more on the Equity Ambassadors: https://www.uww.edu/learn/equityambassadors
Afternoon Session – 1 PM to 4 PM The afternoon will consist of virtual presentations from the 5 finalists for the 2021 Cisco/Presidio Teaching with Technology Honorarium. The session will wrap up by announcing the individual selected as the 2021 Teaching with Technology Innovator.
All sessions will be held via Cisco Webex. Please contact us as soon as possible for any accessibility accommodations.
Resolved. Between 10:50 AM and 1:42 PM on Thursday, March 25th, users were unable to access the “Cisco Webex” link in the course navigation. The issue is now resolved and working as expected. Please reach out to Canvas 24/7 support for any additional issues.
Original Message: Starting around 10:50 AM, users may be receiving a “502 Bad Gateway” when trying to launch the “Cisco Webex” link from the navigation bar inside of a Canvas course. The vendor is aware of this issue and they are currently implementing a fix.
Instructors: Webex meetings can still be launched from the uww.webex.com site. The meeting link will need to be sent out to your students while the fix is being implemented.
On Thursday, March 25th starting at 3:00 AM Instructure will be performing maintenance on Canvas. The maintenance is expected to take no longer than 60 minutes. Canvas may be unavailable during this maintenance. Please plan your course work accordingly.
Issue Resolved. Cisco Webex support was able to correct the issue over the weekend. Joining Webex Meetings from the web browser is now working as expected.
What’s the issue?
Students joining a Webex Meeting from Canvas using the web browser are currently prompted for a meeting password. This password is not available to the student and they will not be able to join using the web browser. Students joining using the Webex Desktop App or Webex Apps on mobile devices are not impacted by this issue.
What’s the workaround?
Students using Chromebooks must use workaround 2 below. Please contact your instructor for the direct Webex meeting link.
Workaround 1: We recommend students download and join using the Webex Desktop App. This will provide the best user experience for the student during the meeting. Additional information is available at: Download the Cisco Webex Meetings Desktop App.
Cisco Webex Support has notified us that this is scheduled to be fixed on April 7th with the Webex 41.4 software release. Cisco Webex Support was able to deploy a patch on March 13th which corrected the issue. Joining Webex meetings from Canvas using your web browser is now working as expected.
