The Learning Technology Center is pleased to announce the fourth annual summer faculty development opportunity on how to “Navigate Content and Teach Online and Blended Courses.”  If you need to design a new or refresh an older online or blended course, consider participating in this unique opportunity to collaborate with other UW-Whitewater instructors and explore proven course design strategies and best practices.

This unique summer workshop demonstrates teaching best practices using a variety of teaching methods and technology tools presented in an experiential learning model format. 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.” During the course, you will learn about a variety of technologies and teaching techniques to support online instruction as well as gain a better understanding of the Quality Matters Program.

The workshop consists of an online component conducted via Desire2Learn (D2L), face-to-face meetings, and webinars. The online portion starts May 21 and ends July 31.  There are also five, “in-person” face-to-face sessions scheduled for May 31, June 25-26, and July 30-31 as well as three webinars scheduled for June 4, June 18, and July 16. For more details, to register, and to listen to what last year’s participants learned from participating, visit the Online/Blended Workshop Blog.

This workshop is sponsored by the by the UW-Whitewater College of Letters and Sciences, the LEARN Center, and the Learning Technology Center.

If you have questions or would like more information, please contact the Learning Technology Center (LTC) at ltc@uww.edu or call 262-472-1004.

The May 16-18, 2012 digital storytelling workshop has been cancelled due to conflicts with other events. This workshop will be offered again in the future. New dates will announced in the coming months.

Digital Storytelling, also referred to as a “Digital Media Narrative,” has gained momentum and visibility as a modern expression of the ancient art of storytelling. The process of digitally integrating images, music, narrative, and voice “makes meaning” through the development of characters, situations, experiences, and insights with deep dimensions and vivid colors. This form of expression has also gained credibility as an avenue to achieve course learning outcomes.

Jim Winship, Professional Storyteller and Professor of Social Work, and the UW-Whitewater Learning Technology Center will be facilitating this workshop series. Participants will create a digital narrative or story to share with the UW-Whitewater community or to improve learning outcomes in their courses. The goal of this workshop is to create a compelling digital work that is two to three minutes in length. By the end of the workshop, each participant will have written a story, recorded the voice narration of the story, supplemented it with background sounds, and enhanced through the use of visual images. Participants can also use the techniques learned to help students develop digital stories for their course.

Here are some insights on digital storytelling from past workshop participants:

“I got intellectually re-energized, more aware of the ‘heart’ at the center of education, more passionate about telling my stories.”- Marjorie Rhine, Associate Professor, Languages and Literature

“The camaraderie of the participants was very moving and so were the emotional content of the stories shared.”- Max White, Associate Professor, Art

“I am changed as a result of the power, wisdom, and generosity of spirit shared by Jim Winship. He shared himself, and as a result, each participant was encouraged to share themselves as well.” – David Reinhart, Lecturer, Philosophy and Religious Studies

For more information and video examples of digital stories created by UW-Whitewater faculty, please see the Faculty Best Practices: Digital Storytelling wiki page.

This workshop will be held May 16th through 18th, 2012. To apply for the workshop, please complete this brief survey by April 13th, 2012. About ten applicants will be selected by April 19th, 2012 to participate.

This workshop is sponsored by the by the UW-Whitewater College of Letters and Sciences, the Division of Student Affairs, the LEARN Center, and the Learning Technology Center.

If you have questions or would like more information, please contact the Learning Technology Center (LTC) at ltc@uww.edu or call 262-472-1004.