Category Archives: Conferences & Seminars

Conferences and seminars on education and technology

LTDC Virtual Showcase 2019 Call for Proposals

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The education session proposal deadline for the 2019 UW System Learning Technology Development Council Virtual Showcase (https://www.wisconsin.edu/learning-tech/events-conf/ltdc-virtual-showcase-2019/) has been extended to December 21, 2018.

The UW System’s annual LTDC Virtual Showcase will be held on April 2nd and 3rd, 2019. The theme for this year’s showcase is Building the New: Innovate, Integrate, Motivate.  We want to hear your tips, tricks, and tales from the trenches as it relates to teaching, learning, and technology.

LTDC Virtual Showcase April 2-3 CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Please consider submitting an education session proposal (https://uwex.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eP9Str1A4qJz2hn). It’s a great way to present at a national conference without having to leave your campus or department. Presentations during concurrent sessions will be 45 minutes: 30 minutes for presentations and 15 minutes for questions and answers. All sessions will be given via a web conferencing tool. Sessions will be recorded and available for archive viewing. The LTDC highly encourages collaboration, use of appropriate and acceptable technologies, multiple institutions, and multiple discipline proposals.

Proposals will be selected and placed into one of the conferences tracks. The tracks are:

  • Digital Learning Environment – What have you learned about the DLE that you’d like to share? Discovered interesting features that everyone should know about? 
  • Teaching & Learning – Have you used technology to prepare instructors to teach or to assist students with learning? What train-the-trainer opportunities have you created?  
  • Technology and Other Resources – Have you created a wonderful set of resources for faculty and students?  What new tool have you discovered that you want to share?
  • Student Engagement – What are you doing to promote student engagement in your classes? How are your students connecting with each other and you?
  • Library and Digital Media – How have you incorporated media or leveraged the library into your classroom? Let’s hear about your LibGuides, user guides, knowledge bases, and instructional videos.
  •  Open Educational Resources – What type of Open Educational Resources have you discovered in the public domain or introduced with an open license?

Celebrating Teaching and Learning Conference 2019

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Save the date: Wednesday, May 22, 2019 from 8:30am-3:30pm

Celebrating Teaching and Learning, May 22, 2019

This special event is meant to showcase the wide variety of ways we are all transforming the lives of our students through teaching and learning.

Themes will include:

  • Integrating Teaching and Technology
  • Student Engagement
  • High Impact Practices
  • Civil Discourse and Diversity
  • and other topics

LTC Staff Presented at the 2018 Distance Teaching and Learning Conference

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Several Learning Technology Center staff members recently gave presentations at the 2018 Distance Teaching & Learning Conference in Madison, WI. The conference ran from August 7th to August 9th, 2018.

On Tuesday August 7th, Learning Technology Specialist Andrew Cole co-facilitated a pre-conference workshop called How Can We Apply the Science of Learning to Online and Blended/Hybrid Courses?

On Wednesday August 8th, Director of Learning Technology Nicole Weber presented an information session on Extending the LMS for enhanced communication and collaboration.

On Thursday August 9th, LMS Administrator Shane Degen and Learning Technology Specialist Andrew Cole facilitated a discussion session on Maintaining Community after Online/Blended Faculty Development “Ends.”

For more on the Distance Teaching & Learning Conference, please see the conference website. For more on the individual presentations, check out the Conference Guidebook.

For more on the Learning Technology Center, please see the LTC website.

TED Tips – Issue 3:  Canvas Migration Update at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater

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Last week we started to explore the difference between an LMS (Learning Management System) and a DLE (Digital Learning Environment).  One of the key strategic observations is that the UW-System is in the process of migrating from Desire2Learn (D2L) to Canvas Instructure as the main tool “hub”.  The emphasis is on creating a seamless, consistent, and accessible student experience.   Having said that…what does that mean for the University of Wisconsin Whitewater?  What should you expect this fall and what do you need to know?   How do you get help and support to meet your instructional needs throughout this migration?  This week’s “TED Tip” hopes to answer some of those questions.

Image:  “Migration” by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Alpha Stock Images

Do we have to migrate to Canvas?

Yes.  All UW-System schools (except for Madison) are in the process of moving to the Canvas platform.  Madison has already been using Canvas.  This migration project is managed by the UW-System, with input from individuals on each of the campuses.  This does not diminish your academic freedoms; it provides a common platform for delivering content throughout the UW-System.

When does the migration affect us?

The migration process is already well underway.  Fall 2018 is the first semester that Canvas is available to use for your courses.  Spring 2019 is the last semester that Desire2Learn will be available.   Starting in Summer 2019, all courses will be required to use Canvas. Existing content stored in D2L will be accessible to instructors through Spring 2020 for migration.

For Fall 2018 and Spring 2019, you can choose what platform you want to deliver your courses.  Having said that, the choice of platform makes a lasting impact on students. As we examined last week, one of the goals of the UW-System supports a consistent Digital Learning Environment.  Because we are moving towards building this long lasting and supported environment for students, The University of Wisconsin Whitewater strongly encourages you to develop freshman-facing courses in Canvas.  This should make things easier for new students, by limiting their need to learn both Canvas and Desire2Learn.  It is possible that you will have courses in D2L and Canvas; it is possible that students will be taking courses in both D2L and Canvas.

Some courses, departments, and/or colleges may have other specific transition requirements.  If you are unsure, it is always helpful to double check.

What other help is available?

The Learning Technology Center (LTC) has been offering a variety of services to help prepare you to teach in the fall in Canvas.  Look for a series of in person, hands-on workshops.  Some are offered remotely via webinars.

If you are just getting started in Canvas, a “Canvas Hands-On Introduction” workshop is the place to start.  These introduction workshops cover the basic functions and core tools in Canvas.  These are great if you have never used Canvas.   They are interactive and provide the opportunity to ask questions along the way.

“Canvas Construction Zones” are hands-on, workshops in computer labs specifically focused on transitioning content from D2L to Canvas.  The construction zones use a course complexity application tool to help estimate the time of work you will need to put into setting up your course in Canvas.

“Canvas Deep Dives” are more in depth explorations of how to leverage specific tools or topics, often exploring various options to best meet the needs of your teaching.  These are more advanced workshops but cover fundamentals like grading in Canvas, leveraging the syllabus and calendar tool, providing feedback, and creating new content in canvas.

Colleges may also offer additional Canvas training opportunities.  For example, the College of Business and Economics, has its own Canvas Training program.  Check the University of Whitewater Event Sign up tool for additional training opportunities.  Finally, there are also a series of asynchronous recorded workshops that can help acclimate you to the environment and get address specific needs you may have.

You are not alone!

In addition to the workshops and trainings, the LTC has college-specific faculty peer mentors available to help provide assistance with the Canvas Transition.

The peer mentors are available to:

  • Help answer transition questions.
  • Provide training information and resources about the Canvas platform.
  • Work to understand different ways that Canvas can be leveraged for enriching teaching and learning.

Additional Services and Support

Canvas itself has a more robust technical support service line that includes 24 / 7 toll free hotline and live online chat interactions.  These can be reached from the Canvas 24/7/365 Support website for basic how-to questions.

This weeks TED tip covers a lot of territory regarding the status of the Canvas Migration project, the training and support opportunities available, and where to find assistance and support.  Next week we’ll focus more closely at one of these important tasks:  how exactly DO I convert my D2L course to Canvas.

– Ted Witt
Teaching, Learning, and Technology Consultant

RESOURCES:

Canvas Migration Website:  http://www.uww.edu/icit/ltc/canvas-portal

Canvas Training Videos:  http://www.uww.edu/icit/ltc/canvas-portal/training

Course Complexity App: http://dl.uwsa.edu

Want to learn more about Canvas? Join the LTC at one of our online or face-to-face workshops this summer! Signup at: http://go.uww.edu/ltc-workshop-signup

University of Wisconsin Whitewater Event Sign-up tool: https://my.uww.edu/signup/Home

Peer Mentors:  http://www.uww.edu/icit/ltc/canvas-portal/peer-mentors

In Depth UW System support for the Course Content Migration: https://www.wisconsin.edu/dle/implementation/teams/uwsa-workstreams/course-content-migration/

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.

D2L eGrading Process Available for Fall 2017

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The D2L eGrading process is now available for the Fall 2017 semester. This process allows instructors to transfer final grades from their Desire2Learn Gradebook directly to their WINS Grade Roster.

If you prefer step by step documentation, that can be found at: WINS eGrading Overview.

If you have any questions or concerns with the eGrading process, please contact UW-W Desire2Learn Support.

Registration Open: Celebrating Teaching and Learning May 18th

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Faculty and Staff: You are invited to register for the Celebrating Teaching and Learning Conference on May 18th, right here on campus in the University Center.  There are a number of interesting teaching and learning initiatives active on campus at any given time and this event will give you a chance to learn more about them. The event is FREE, and includes breakfast, lunch and snacks.  Register Now!

Don’t delay, register today! Event Registration

ePortfolio Meeting – April 7th, 10:00am

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AC7O6330Are you interested in learning more about ePortfolio use on campus? If so, please join us from 10:00–11:00am on Friday, April 7 in McGraw 19A to hear updates on the exploration and discuss benefits, challenges, and aspirations for ePortfolio use on campus.  Faculty, staff, and students are all welcome!

Background
A student’s time at UWW is much more than just grades–it’s about experiences. During their time at UWW, students participate in general education, educational experiences specific to their major (culminating signature work), honors, co-curriculars, extracurriculars, aspects related to LEAP, 21st century skills, and engage with the real world (e.g, practicums, internships, etc.) that aim to make them educated citizens and market-ready for their chosen career path. How can we enable them to capture and document their experiences in a variety of meaningful ways (e.g., papers, images, multimedia projects, blogs, etc.), reflect on them thoughtfully tracking their growth over time, and have them assessed by the institution as a way of showing evidence of meeting core learning objectives?

Why ePortfolio?
In Summer 2016, AAC&U officially endorsed ePortfolio as the 11th High Impact Practice (HIP). According to George Kuh (2016), “With the assistance of prods and comments from faculty, staff, and peers, the ePortfolio helps make learning visible to students themselves, to their peers and faculty, and to external audiences. As a result, the process induces students to develop deeper, more meaningful understandings of how and why their learning has changed how they think and how they can transfer what they have learned to different settings and circumstances.” Further, ePortfolio has been described as the “meta-HIP” as it allows for the collecting, reflecting, and showcasing the HIPs that impact student learning (e.g., writing-intensive courses, collaborative assignments and projects, global learning, community-based learning, undergraduate research, internships, etc.).

Therefore, an integrative ePortfolio approach may help students “to integrate their learning–across general education, majors, and the co-curriculum, as well as prior professional, academic, and life experiences inside and outside of the classroom” (AAC&U, 2017, para. 1). Further, ePortfolio can be a wonderful way for students to showcase their experiences to the institution, future employers, and others who support them.

Want More Information?
Contact Kelly Delaney-Klinger (delaneyk@uww.edu)  or Nicole Weber (webern@uww.edu)

UW-System Virtual Showcase: Humanizing Learning

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showcaseMake plans now to attend the 2017 University of Wisconsin Learning Technology Development Council Virtual Showcase, held April 4-5, 2017.  Attendance is free. Register today:  https://uwex.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_3a34oy0JwrAShaB 

What is the 2017 UW LTDC Virtual Conference?

The Virtual Conference is a two day event with educational sessions from instructors and professional staff from across the University of Wisconsin System. This year’s theme is Humanizing Learning.  Session tracks are Technology, Faculty Development, Hot Topics, How-to & Resources, and Student Engagement.

 Why you should attend the LTDC 2017 Virtual Showcase?

This is a two day event with 2 keynote speakers and 27 session options without any travel or lodging expenses and very little time away from your campus.  Attend right from your office or home, all you need is a computer and an internet connection.

The keynote on Tuesday is Give Every Student 20 More Minutes for Studying Every Day: Personalizing Mobile Learning with Dr. Thomas J. Tobin. The session will introduce you to Universal Design for Learning. You will discover how to implement UDL in the design of your online course environment so that it creates places for best teaching practices to take place in the classroom and beyond.

Wednesday’s keynote is [de-]Humanizing Learning with Dr. John Martin, UW-Madison. Put your kumbaya songs aside and engage in a brutally-honest session about humanizing learning. What are humans actually good at? Do we really want them poisoning learners’ minds? This session will challenge some assumptions humans tend to make about how adequate (and inadequate) they really are when it comes to teaching. Let’s look at better options.

Following the keynote each day there will be three session choices for each of the time-slots on both days. Presenters of the educational sessions are culled from instructors and professional staff from across the University of Wisconsin system representing 25 of the 26 campuses and the University of Wisconsin Extension.

Learn more about the Virtual Conference (https://www.wisconsin.edu/learning-tech/events-conf/ltdc-virtual-showcase-2017-2/) including which sessions are available on Tuesday’s Schedule and Wednesday’s Schedule.

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

Registration Open: 2017 Summer Institute for Online/Blended Teaching

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DSC_3940The Learning Technology Center is pleased to announce that registration is open for the 2017 Summer session of the Institute for Online/Blended Teaching.

If you need to design a new (or refresh an older) online or blended course, please consider participating in this unique opportunity to collaborate with other UW-Whitewater instructors and explore proven course design strategies and best practices. This intensive and highly interactive workshop demonstrates teaching best practices using a variety of teaching methods and technology tools. The structure of this course not only allows you to explore new teaching and course design methods, but it also enables you to participate in activities that provide you with experience in being an online “student.”

The session will consist of online components, face-to-face meetings on the Whitewater campus, and web conferencing sessions.

Dates and Requirements:

The focus of the institute is to learn and practice online teaching skills, and will only briefly address D2L mechanics.  Applicants must have familiarity with basic D2L features, such as creating content, discussions, and drop-box assignments.

There are 5 mandatory meetings for the Institute; three “in-person” face-to-face sessions on the UW-Whitewater campus, and two web-conferencing meetings. The institute begins with a one-half day orientation session on April 28,  a full day meeting on May 26, and a concluding half-day meeting on July 28. In addition, there are two WebEx meetings scheduled for June 2 and June 30.

All faculty and academic staff who will be teaching at UW-Whitewater during the 2017-2018 academic year are eligible to apply. However, the workshop will be limited to 15 participants. Applications are due Friday, March 31, 2017.

Apply Here:  Summer 2017 Application

If you have any questions, please contact the Learning Technology Center.