Category Archives: Community of Practice for Online/Blended Education

Online Teaching Institute Spring 2021 Applications Open

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Let's look forward to spring and computing
The Call for the Spring 2021 Online Teaching Institute is now open.

The UW-Whitewater Learning Technology Center (LTC) is pleased to announce that applications are now open for a Spring 2021 Online Teaching Institute. The overall goal of the institute is to align quality course design with best practices in online teaching, preparing faculty for online course development, and online/hybrid teaching in future academic terms.

This Spring Institute is designed to be fully asynchronous and completed over a ten week, work at your own pace, timeline. The course models a fully online course including readings, materials, and short homework assignments. Participants will be required to build a fully online unit of a course they could teach. There will be several optional synchronous workshops, including an orientation, student panel, and peer review session.

We will be accepting up to 25 applicants. Preference will be given to those faculty and full-time instructional academic staff in a first come, first serve basis. To ensure we can serve the entire UW-Whitewater community, we will also prioritize individuals who have not previously completed the Online / Blended teaching Institute since the summer of 2018.  Approved applicants will be emailed regarding their acceptance on Thursday, February 4th, 2021 and be enrolled in the Canvas course site.  Rolling applications will be accepted until March 1st . The Canvas course will open for participants on Monday, February 8th and final submission of work will be due April 16, 2021. 

The application takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. We recommend completing the application on a computer, as some questions involve typed responses.

For any additional information or questions, please contact the LTC.
Learning Technology Center
(262) 472-1004
ltc@uww.edu

Apply here: http://uwwhitewater.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9BQ4lxejeFD0A0C


Summer Flexible Blended Faculty Development Workshop Series Fall 2020 “Reprise”

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The Learning Technology Center’s (LTC) 2020 Summer Flexible Blended Faculty Development Workshop Series was one of the most popular offerings in LTC history!

Given the popularity of this series, we have put together a fall “reprise” of this series highlighting many of the most popular sessions in a shorter format. The “Blending Face-to-Face and Online Assessment” sessions are even all available in one day on Friday, September 11th.

Planning for Flexibility:

Using Technology for Learning in the Physical and Online Classroom (Thursday, September 10th at 9:00 am)

Blending Face-to-Face and Online Assessment:

Assignment Options (Friday, September 11th at 9:00 am)

Peer Review of Student Work (Friday, September 11th at 10:00 am)

Exams & Quizzes (Friday, September 11th at 11:00 am)

The Blended Class:

Instructor Presentation of Content Part I (Tuesday, September 15th at 9:00 am)

Instructor Presentation of Content Part II (Wednesday, September 16th at 9:00 am)

Student Presentations (Friday, September 18th at 9:00 am)

Student-Student Interaction (Monday, September 21st at 9:00 am)

These sessions are applicable to instructors teaching online, hybrid, remote, HyFlex, or even potentially traditional face-to-face.

If you have any questions, please contact icit-techpilots@uww.edu

Application Deadline Monday April 15! Summer 2019 Online/Blended Teaching Institute

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The deadline for the Summer 2019 Online/Blended Teaching Institute is quickly approaching! Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. Monday, April 15th, 2019. Apply here: http://uwwhitewater.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0fhoB4mL2bmVCRv

The Online/Blended Teaching Institute consists of a series of interactive workshops focusing on designing and teaching courses in a blended or online format. There is an emphasis on developing appropriate online or blended content, assessment, and learning activities. Additionally, the Institute teaches best practices for managing instructor workload and supporting students in an online or blended environment. The Institute accepts applications from faculty or instructional staff. Deans select participants from their respective College’s pool of applicants.

online blended institute

online learning is fun!

The Summer iteration of the Online/Blended Teaching Institute prepares for the Spring 2020 semester. The Winterim iteration prepares for teaching in the Summer and Fall terms. Ted Witt, Teaching Learning and Technology Consultant, and Eric Loepp, Assistant Professor of Political Science are your 2019 summer co-facilitators.

Dates for the 2019 Summer Online/Blended Teaching Institute:

June 14: Face-to-Face meeting: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
June 21: Face-to-Face meeting: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
June 28: Online using WebEx: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
July 12: Online using Web Ex: 9:00 am – 12:00pm

Submission of final Institute content: July 26th
For any additional information or questions, please contact the LTC.

Learning Technology Center
(262) 472-1004
ltc@uww.edu

Applications Are Now Open! Summer 2019 Online/Blended Teaching Institute

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The UW-Whitewater Learning Technology Center (LTC) is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the Summer 2019 Online/Blended Teaching Institute.

Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. Monday, April 15th, 2019. Deans will select participants from their College’s pool of applicants.

The Online and Blended Teaching Institute consists of a series of interactive workshops focusing on best practices for teaching online and blended courses. Ted Witt, Teaching Learning and Technology Consultant, and Eric Loepp, Assistant Professor of Political Science are your co-facilitators.

Dates for the 2019 Summer Online/Blended Teaching Institute:
June 14: Face-to-Face meeting: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
June 21: Face-to-Face meeting: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
June 28: Online using WebEx: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
July 12: Online using Web Ex: 9:00 am – 12:00pm
Submission of final Institute content: July 26th

Institute Objectives:

  • Develop a unit/module utilizing best practices in online/blended course design.
  • Demonstrate technological proficiency useful in facilitating online/blended courses.
  • Apply methods to facilitate assessment and evaluation.
  • Illustrate approaches to building community online.
  • Develop strategies for effective time management.

For any additional information or questions, please contact the LTC.
Learning Technology Center
(262) 472-1004
ltc@uww.edu

Apply here:
http://uwwhitewater.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0fhoB4mL2bmVCRv

Still time to apply for the 2019 Winterim Online/Blended Teaching Institute

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The UW-Whitewater Learning Technology Center (LTC) is pleased to announce that registration remains open for the Winterim 2019 Online/Blended Teaching Institute. The Online and Blended Teaching Institute is a series of interactive workshops focusing on best practices for teaching online and blended courses.  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. To apply, click here. The URL for registration is also available at the bottom of this post.  The deadline to apply is Monday, November 5. 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.

Dates for the 2019 Winterim Online and Blended Institute:
January 4: Face-to-Face meeting, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
January 11: Face-to Face meeting, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
January 18: Online using WebEx, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Submission of final Institute content February 1st

This institute provides you with a foundation in the pedagogy of online and blended instruction focusing on key terminology, principles, and practices. You will explore practical guidelines for teaching online and blended courses, designing content for online and blended courses, and utilizing technology, tools and strategies to facilitate active, participatory, and engaging online learning experiences.

By the conclusion of the institute, you will have created an online or blended learning module which will include pedagogically-appropriate assessments, discussions, and additional learning materials. This module will be developed with feedback from the institute facilitators and your colleagues, and demonstrate what you have taken away from this institute.

If you have any questions about this workshop, contact the UW-W Learning Technology Center.

Application Link: https://uwwhitewater.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3f0THo4dRBWqqm9

TED Tips – Issue 1: Introduction and Hello!

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Hi all!  Welcome to TED Tips…a weekly blog brought to you by the Learning Technology Center.   I wanted to take brief second to introduce myself, welcome you to my blog “TED” Tips, and invite you to interact with the Learning Technology Center and me.

So Hi!  My name is Ted Witt.  My official job title at the Learning and Technology Center is “Teaching Learning and Technology Consultant”.   What exactly does that mean?  It means I am a champion for the effective use of technology.  I do not believe we should use technology because it is the latest cool toy or fad, but to explore possibilities and its strategic implementation and effective use.   I do this primarily through supporting instructors through the pedagogically sound use in your teaching.  I support faculty training programs and workshops.  For example, this summer I am working with the Active Learning Academy and supporting the Online Blended Institute through the LTC.  I also administer the Quality Matters standards.

I have been an information technology teacher and have taught both on ground and online courses.  I have a BA in History and Political Science with a minor in Philosophy; a Master of Science in Information Technology with a specialization in Business Intelligence and Knowledge Management; and a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts.

Why am I calling this blog TED Tips?  Yes, I am blatantly adapting the idea from TED talks but, no I am not related to them…despite the similarity with my name!

Here TED does not just stand for the author writing the blog but the main themes I hope to explore over the coming weeks:  Technology, Education, and Design.  What do I mean by each of those?

Technology – I strongly believe it is important to know our technological environment and how to use the tools we have available to us.  What options do we have?  How do we use them?  These are the types of topics the blog will explore.

Education – with a focus on pedagogy.  Once we know how to use the technology…how do use it well.  How do we use it to enhance our teaching and improve student success?  This aspect of the blog will look at different approaches and uses and how we can apply those tools in the classroom.

Design – Once we have explored technology, looked at sound approaches, how do we design the experiences and implement them thoughtfully?  This portion of the blog will focus on “How to” practical tips with an emphasis on putting those skills to use. My goal is to help you create rich meaningful learning experiences and the purpose of the blog will help provide you with tips to do that.

The final purpose is to celebrate the good work we are doing and encourage collaboration.  I will share success stories.  I want to highlight some of the work going on in the Learning Technology Center and on campus as it relates to those TED themes!

Last thoughts:

  • I also work for Major League Baseball in their statistics department and can often be found at Miller Park. My nickname is “doc clock”.
  • I am a certified weather spotter with the national weather service.
  • My humor is dry because I am only a Half-Witt.

I am looking forward to working with you in the future and encourage you to contact me through the Learning Technology Center.  I am available for one on one consultations.

The LTC has upcoming workshops: A Teaching with WebEx Teams Boot camp, Hands on Introductions to Canvas, and Canvas Construction Zones.

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

– Ted Witt

Next week:  What is a Learning Management System?

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.

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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Community of Practice for Online/Blended Education

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DSC_3940All University of Wisconsin-Whitewater faculty and staff are invited to participate in a campus-wide community of practice for online and blended education.

The Community of Practice for Online and Blended Education began in the spring of 2015, thanks to a grant from OPID.  Its purpose is to serve as a campus-wide forum to develop, share, and document best practices in teaching online and blended (hybrid) courses at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.  In addition, it provides a support network for those teaching with technology.

The purpose of our meetings is to build community and meet others who are excited about teaching in the online and/or blended format.

Next Meeting:

Thursday December 1, 2016
2:00-3:30 pm, UC259a
Signup:  https://my.uww.edu/signup/Registration/Details/14849

In this session, the recipients of the Community of Practice project grant will share the results of their projects.  Two projects were funded:  the development of an accessibility template for the ECE4U program, and the creation of assessment videos.

If you have questions about this please contact the Learning Technology Center at ltc@uww.edu or 262.472.1004.