Adaptive learning platforms offer a way to structure student learning activities and assessments to personalize the learning experience on how a student performs. The adaptive learning platform provides targeted feedback and additional learning material to help foster student learning. Additionally, adaptive learning platforms typically offer instructors analytics to closely monitor student progress and areas that specific students may struggle.
Learning Technology Center staff will be at the UW-Whitewater at Rock County campus (HS0027) on Monday October 21st, 2019 from 12:00 to 12:50 pm to provide an information session on adaptive learning. If you are interested in learning more about adaptive learning, and the current adaptive learning pilot, please join us at this session!
If you have any questions about the information session, or adaptive learning more generally, please feel free to contact icit-techpilots@uww.edu
Thank you for your hard work transferring your Desire2Learn courses to Canvas! Starting with the Summer 2019, 100% of our for-credit courses are on Canvas!
While the end of this giant undertaking is in sight, there are still some important things to keep in mind as we close out the Desire2Learn service:
Desire2Learn Courses will be set to Read-Only on January 17th, 2020. Are you still using Desire2Learn for a department or ongoing course? If so – now is the time to get your course migrated over to Canvas! Request your Canvas ongoing course using this form.
Desire2Learn Student Activity exports now available! We have an export report available that allows us to export student activity for: Checklists, Content, Course Files, Discussions, Dropbox, Grades, Group contribution/locker, Homepages, News, Quizzes and Release Conditions. Fill out this form to request a student activity export. Please allow 7 business days for processing. Requests must be received by March 1st, 2020.
UW-System will be removing access to Desire2Learn in June of 2020. All information you would like to keep must be exported out of D2L before June of 2020. Whether it’s an old for-credit based course, or an ongoing course – make sure all material is backed up. Once our access is removed, we will not have any way to obtain this data. Don’t delay, save your course files today!
Tell us about your Canvas support experience. Overall, we have had great success with Canvas 24/7/365 Phone/Chat/Email support. Whether you got an awesome answer from Canvas Support, or if you were wishing they would have provided more information – let us know! We review all support interactions on a regular basis – and we want to make sure you get the support and answers you need! Submit your feedback by going to http://uww.edu/icit/services/canvas and clicking on the Vendor Support Feedback button.
Now that all courses are in Canvas, we are in full swing of working on the retirement and shutdown of the Desire2Learn (D2L) service.
As we plan for the retirement of D2L, the key dates to remember are listed below.
October – December 2019
Do you have an Other or Ongoing course in D2L? Are you still using a D2L course for your department, organization, or committee? Now is the time to move those over to Canvas. Fill out this form to request your Ongoing course in Canvas.
Is there a course that you teach once a year, or once every two years? Migrate it now!Follow this guide to move your course material to Canvas.
January 17th, 2020:
To make things easier for students, the D2L link will be removed from the campus website. However, the login page will continue to be accessible by going to https://uww.edu/desire2learn
D2L will be flipped into “read-only” mode. Users will still be able to login to save and export content, but they will not be able to create any new content or participate in any courses.
January – April 2020:
Have you migrated your content from D2L to Canvas? If not – now is the time! Follow this guide to move over your material. Don’t forget about those courses that are not taught on a regular basis!
March 1st 15th, 2020:
Last day to request student interactions export.Fill out this form to request an export of the student activity (discussion posts, dropbox submissions, grades) in your course. This is meant as an export only, and it cannot be imported into Canvas or any other system. Please allow 7 business days for processing and requests must be received before March 1st 15th, 2020.
June 1st, 2020:
Desire2Learn access will be disabled. Plan to backup and export any material before this date.
Is there a way to export student activity and grades from my course? Yes! We have an export report available that allows us to export student activity for: Checklists, Content, Course Files, Discussions, Dropbox, Grades, Group contribution/locker, Homepages, News, Quizzes and Release Conditions. Fill out this form to request a student activity export. Please allow 7 business days for processing. Requests must be received by March 1st, 2020.
How can I migrate my course from D2L to Canvas? Follow the steps in this guide to export your course from D2L and import it into Canvas.
Can I create an “Ongoing” course in Canvas? Yes! Fill out this form to request the ongoing course. Please allow 2 business days for processing.
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!”
Any instructor interested in using Webex Teams is welcome. The LTC’s Fall 2019 “Teaching with Webex Teams Bootcamp” takes place on a series of Thursday afternoons in October (10/10, 10/17, 10/24) from 3:30 pm to 4:15 pm at the UW-Whitewater campus in McGraw Hall. You do not need to attend all sessions, but the second and third sessions build upon the information provided in the first session. Registrations are encouraged.
Webex Teams
Thursday, October 10, 2019: Why Should I Use Webex Teams?
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.
Thursday, October 17, 2019: How Do I Use Webex Teams?
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. We will also touch on the use of the Webex integration in Canvas. Please bring a laptop or mobile device in order to get the most of the hands-on training experience.
Thursday, October 24, 2019: Now What Do I Do With Webex Teams?
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 instructor use at UW-Whitewater.
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.
Please note: The LTC does not provide a stipend for attending the “Teaching with Webex Teams Bootcamp.” However, if you complete all three sessions, you will receive a digital badge.
During the Fall 2019 Semester, the LTC will be offering opportunities to work on and learn about Canvas features. For self guided assistance, please view the Canvas Service Page.
Canvas Open Lab
We will be available to answer your Canvas questions during the sessions below! Whether you are working on your current course, or planning for the future – stop on by!
Canvas Deep Dives (1 Hour) We will focus on a single tool, and dive deep into various options and use cases for how that tool works.
Groups: This training will discuss what the toolis, how it differs from what we are use to in D2L, when it should be used, and when it shouldn’t be used.
Webex Tools: Webex is usable through Canvas, but does take some initial setup there. If you are interested in using Webex for your classes, this is the workshop for you.
The UW-Whitewater Learning Technology Center (LTC) is currently looking for instructors to explore the use of adaptive learning during the Spring 2020 semester.
About Adaptive Learning
Adaptive learning platforms offer a personalized learning experience for students, where the content “adapts” based on how students perform. The LTC’s current adaptive learning project focuses on the use of the platform Cerego.
Cerego adaptive learning platform
Project Purpose
Participants in the LTC’s adaptive learning 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 Spring 2020 semester project is to explore the new upgrade of the Cerego adaptive learning platform.
Project Requirements
Pilot instructors have flexibility in determining the course in which to implement the Cerego adaptive learning platform. By taking part in the project, instructors agree to fully participate in, and complete, all project requirements. These requirements include attendance at instructional development sessions with LTC staff.
The following semester-by-semester breakdown conveys the expectations for participating instructors:
Fall 2019 -Attend brief (~1 hour) introductory instructional development session with LTC staff (date TBD).
Winterim 2019-2020 -Attend one-day instructional development session with LTC staff (date TBD). -Create content in Cerego adaptive learning platform to comprise roughly 10% of the course (i.e., not used as extra credit).
Spring 2020 -Conduct at least one course using Cerego adaptive learning platform. -Complete “check-ins” with LTC staff. -Support the LTC in administering an end-of-semester (IRB approved) survey about the course to students. -Present on experiences using the adaptive learning platform at a LTC workshop or event.
Project Compensation
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.
Interested?
The Qualtrics application form is available here. The deadline for applications is October 31st, 2019. After that date, LTC staff will be in contact with applicants.
You are invited to join the Learning Technology Center for a conversation about adaptive learning on campus. The meeting takes place next Friday, September 27th, from 9:30 to 10:15 am in McGraw 19A. All UW-Whitewater faculty, staff, and students are welcome to join this discussion. No registration is necessary to join the meeting, so please feel free to join us!
The UW-Whitewater Learning Technology Center Mission Statement
The UW-Whitewater Learning Technology Center (LTC) serves all staff in acquiring technology skills needed to be successful in a 21st century learning and working environment. Our enthusiastic team of experienced staff and dedicated student assistants assist: Instructional Staff to effectively use technology to support teaching and learning; and All Staff to effectively use technology to enhance communication, collaboration, and productivity related to their work.
Canvas
Canvas is the Learning Management System (LMS) for the UW-System. Canvas is capable of organizing course materials, accepting student submissions, housing online discussions, autograding quizzes, and more. Canvas offers an enhanced teaching and learning experience for you and your students, which includes a streamlined grading experience and easy to use rubrics! As of summer 2019, Desire2learn is no longer available for courses but will remain available until June 2020 to transfer materials.
Grade Posting Policy. Located in the gradebook settings, the Grade Posting Policy can be set to automatic or manual. When set to Manual, grades are automatically hidden (muted) by default which can later be released to students from within the SpeedGrader tool.
Total Grade Calculations with Missing Assignments. Any ungraded items can result in different final grades being presented to Teachers, Students, and/or the WINS, depending on the settings used by each individual. The only way to ensure grades are consistently displayed is to follow these best practices.
Course Combinations. Do you want to combine multiple sections of the same course into a single Canvas course? Follow the steps in the Cross-Listing/Merging Canvas Courses guide. If you need to combine courses that you are not the teacher for or if you have any questions please contact Canvas support.
Internet Explorer 11 Support. Canvas recently dropped support for the Internet Explorer Browser. If you have been using Internet Explorer, please switch to a supported Canvas Browser.
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.
Whether you got an awesome answer from Canvas Support, or if you were wishing they would have provided more information – let us know! We review all support interactions on a regular basis – and we want to make sure you get the support and answers you need!
The official UW-Whitewater App is now available to download. Instructors may find the App useful for communication with students, to see upcoming campus events, and to help students connect with resources. Be sure to authorize the UW-Whitewater App to interact with your course in Canvas. This will allow your students to get assignment due notifications inside of the app. For directions, visit our information page on using the UW-Whitewater App in Canvas.
During the Fall 2019 semester, the LTC will be offering opportunities to work on and learn about Canvas features. Open labs will be available to answer your Canvas questions whether you are working on your current course, or planning for the future. Deep Dives will focus on specific tools can help you in your current courses.
During the 2019-2020 academic year, the LTC is continuing to explore adaptive learning. A small group of instructors is currently exploring using adaptive learning in a variety of courses, with the goal of sharing their experiences using adaptive learning next spring or summer. Additionally, the LTC would like to invite all members of the UW-Whitewater campus community (students, staff, faculty) to two open discussions on adaptive learning this fall.
Friday September 27th from 9:30 am to 10:15 am in McGraw 19A
Friday October 25th from 9:30 am to 10:15 am in McGraw 19A
For more information on the LTC’s adaptive learning exploration, please feel free to contact us at icit-techpilots@uww.edu
Humanizing Your Courses
The 2019-2020 LTC Learn Center workshop series explores creating human-centered learning experiences. Humanized learning leverages the potential of digital technologies to connect with students, foster relationships, and build community. This process blends course design and facilitation, while engaging the cognitive and affective domains of learning.
FALL 2019
What is Humanizing? September 24th 12:00pm – 1:15pm
Facilitation: Presence, Empathy and Awareness October 21st 12:30pm – 1:45pm
Choice, Control, Constructing Meaning, Challenges, Collaboration, and Consequences: Human-centered Course Design November 12th 12:00pm – 1:15pm
Celebrating Teaching and Learning Conference – May 2020 – Save the Date!
Thank you to everyone who attended the Celebrating Teaching and Learning Conference this past may. We will be holding the next Celebrating Teaching and Learning Conference on Wednesday, May 20th, 2020!
Did you know that you can get a weekly email update about what’s going on in the LTC? Every Monday morning, you’ll 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!
Turning Point 8
Turning Point is a student response system that allows instructors to integrate polling slides into their PowerPoint presentations or to pose standalone questions. Students can respond using an app / website on a mobile device or a physical clicker. Self paced polling and Canvas gradebook integration is also available.
The cost for students has been greatly reduced for the Fall 2019 semester! The student license has been reduced from $24.99 to $14.99 for a 1 year term.
Additionally, a no-cost pilot is available for new instructors who want to try out TurningPoint in their courses.
Contact the Learning Technology Center for more details!
Poll Everywhere
Poll Everywhere offers flexible options for interaction in the classroom. Instructors choose from a large variety of poll activities, including multiple choice, open response, live word clouds, clickable images, up- and down-voting for Q & A, and rank order. Students respond on the web or via SMS texting at no cost to them.
If you think you might be interested in using Poll Everywhere but aren’t sure where to get started, consider attending one of the LTC’s information sessions this spring.
Let the learning begin! All UW-Whitewater staff, faculty and students now have access to LinkedIn Learning, which teaches the latest software, creative, and business skills through high-quality online instructional videos featuring recognized industry experts. Lynda.com was bought by LinkedIn in 2015 and this is the roll out of the same great content under the LinkedIn Learning branding.
Explore a wide range of subjects from Microsoft Office (2013 and 2016), Adobe (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Etc) photography, 3D animation, music, and video to graphic design, project management, and web development. New courses are added every week.
Access the LinkedIn Learning library 24/7 from desktops, laptops, smartphones, or tablets. Use the lynda.com app for iPhone, iPad, or Android or log in via the LinkedIn Learning mobile site. Watch entire courses or single tutorial videos as needed, share course playlists, bookmark courses you’d like to watch, or use exercise files to follow along with the instruction as you learn, and much more.
Here are just a few of the collaboration tools we have available! Looking for something else, just ask us!
Webex Teams is a collaboration tool designed for continuous teamwork with video meetings, group messaging, file sharing and white boarding. Get started at: https://www.uww.edu/icit/services/webex-teams
The Cisco Webex Education Connector is now available for use in Canvas! The Webex Connector allows you to interact with Webex Meetings and Webex Teams directly from your Canvas course. It can be accessed by clicking on “Cisco Webex” in the course navigation menu. Get started at: https://spaces.uww.edu/x/74I3AQ
Google Apps are web-based tools available to all UW-Whitewater users. They allow you to create, share and access documents from any internet-connected computer, tablet, or mobile device. Get started at: https://www.uww.edu/icit/services/google
Technology Training
Hands-on training offered focuses on productivity, communication, and collaboration tools. See the schedule at signup.uww.edu
Custom Consulting and Training Services are aimed at helping departments find software solutions to meet their needs. Small-group training sessions can be customized to cover topics relevant to your team and available schedule.
Contact the Learning Technology Center for additional information!
Media Recording Scheduling
The Learning Technology Center (LTC) offers video recording and media production services for instructional use. We now have a new web based scheduling form!
Are you still with us? If so – great, you made it to the end! Be sure
to stop by the LTC throughout the semester to visit. 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’ll always be willing to help, and have plenty of
treats on hand for your sweet tooth. Have a great semester!
Interested in incorporating polling into your classroom? TurningPoint is the campus supported student response system, that allows you to poll your class and display results instantly. Representatives from Turning Technologies will be on campus Wednesday, September 11th. Join us for one of these sessions Virtually via Webex or physically in McGraw 19a to learn more.
Introduction to Turning Technologies
This session will go over the basics of Turning Technologies and everything you need to know to get started. Don’t worry, if you are new to the software we can get you setup with a no cost pilot for your students! Light refreshments will be served.
TurningPoint web is a new, fully web based solution available for use on campus this Fall. Previously, downloading the TurningPoint application was required to run a polling session. Light refreshments will be served.
Are you looking for ways to increase student engagement in your online course? Are you not sure how to best monitor student progress when you don’t see your students in class? Would you like to be able to have resources that more specifically meet the needs of your students, while allowing them to skip things they have already learned? If so, you might be interested in joining the conversation about personalized and adaptive learning on campus! Adaptive learning platforms incorporate analytics with the aim of helping instructors monitor student progress, and use various methods to cultivate individualized pathways to better meet students’ specific needs.
Adaptive learning pathways can function similarly to nodes in a network.
Over the past year, the Learning Technology Center (LTC) has collaborated with instructors around campus to explore adaptive learning. The LTC would like to invite any UW-Whitewater faculty, staff, or student interested in adaptive and personalized learning to our two meetings discussing the state of adaptive learning on campus this fall:
Friday September 27th from 9:30 to 10:15 am in McGraw 19A Friday October 25th from 9:30 to 10:15 am in McGraw 19A
No registration is necessary! Just stop in and join the discussion!
