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A Call for Explorers

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“The Higher Education We Deserve” 
Top 10 IT Issues, 2022

Come explore the Educause Top 10 IT Issues, with the LTC this Spring as we do a directed study at portions of the report to identify areas we can support campus operations to enhance student success.  Almost two years into a global pandemic, it’s clear the higher education we once knew will never return.

Top 10 IT Issues
Join the LTC this Spring 2022 as we explore Educause’s top 10 IT Issues.

The Top 10 IT Issues describe the way technology is helping to create the higher education we deserve. They highlight the work institutions are doing to develop a shared transformational vision and strategy, redefine higher education’s value proposition, and reshape institutional business models and culture to anticipate and serve the current and emergent needs of learners, communities, and employers.

In this “book-club inspired” Explorers Group, participants are expected to come prepared to explore issues, tackle challenges, and discuss how these issues impact student and institutional success, our shared vision, and sustainable business models. Bring an open mind and an explorer’s heart.  We will provide short key readings and discussion points inspired by the Top 10 Issues.  By the end of our sessions together we hope that you will be informed and prepared for how these IT issues transform our increasingly digital future.  Let’s build that higher education we deserve and shape that future.  Let’s help articulate that vision and ideate new models that support both student and institutional success. This group is appropriate for educators, leaders, administrators, and technologists.

https://www.educause.edu/research-and-publications/research/top-10-it-issues-technologies-and-trends/2022

Excursion Dates and Time

Wednesdays 3:00 – 4:00 pm Spring 2022
McGraw Hall 19A and Online via Webex

Please register individually for the session you can attend.  For more information contact ltc@uww.edu 

LTC Tour Guides

Eric Loepp, Director of Learning Technology
Jeffrey Thomas, Assistant Director, Learning Technology
Ted Witt, Teaching Learning and Technology Consultant

Digital Transformation (DX)

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Digital Transformation is the adoption of digital technology to transform services or businesses, by replacing non-digital or manual processes with digital processes. Digital solutions may enable new types of innovation and creativity, rather than simply enhancing and supporting traditional methods. 

Join the LTC as we explore how these concepts can impact traditional teaching and learning methods within Higher Education and your classroom including:

  • Exploring the challenges and opportunities that Digital Transformation will have on Higher education.
  • Improving design by exploring the impact from the student perspective.
  • Learning strategies to save time in a digital environment.
  • Discovering tips and tools to increase performance utilizing technology.

Check out the details of the upcoming three-part series below. We hope to see you soon!

Digital Transformation #1 — Culture: Design for the Student Perspective
September 14th 3:00 pm | Register here

Digital Transformation #2 — Workforce: Strategies for Saving Time in a Digital Environment
September 28th, 3:00 pm | Register here

Digital Transformation #3 — Technology: Tips and Tools to Increase Performance in a Digital Environment
October 19 3:00 pm | Register here

Webex Suite Updates (6/15/2021)

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Campus members will see new Webex Suite logos starting on Tuesday, June 15. Cisco announced new branding for the Webex Suite, which will affect the way Webex application logos will appear on desktops, web browsers, and mobile devices. Any new downloads of applications in the Webex Suite will have the new logo as well. 

Webex by Cisco, the new Webex brand system, is designed to reflect Cisco’s guiding design principle: inclusion. The new Webex logo is a “W” in the form of a rotating double helix, symbolizing two hands coming together.

Along with the updated look, on Tuesday, June 15th, Cisco released the Webex Meetings 41.6 update. Highlights of this release are listed below with full release notes also available.

  • Optimized Shared Content dialog box: An updated look and feel to the share content box will make it easier to find the options you’re looking for, without having to scroll as much.
    Share Content
  • New Sharing Icon: With the updated Webex branding, you’ll see the sharing icon has been updated as well. This new look indicates who has the presenter role.
    Presenter Icon
  • Layout Optimization Features:
    • Scale the filmstrip in both the Stacked and Side-by-side views by dragging to make the filmstrip bigger or going the other way to hide the filmstrip by collapsing it completely.
    • Hosts and cohosts will have a new option when syncing their stage to “Lock attendee view on stage only,” which hides the filmstrip from attendees’ views, so they can only see what’s on stage. This prevents attendees from being able to change to a different view and can be useful when hosts want complete control over who attendees can and can’t see at any given time. Additionally, a new “Stop” button will make it easier to stop syncing your stage.
  • Reactions flow in Webex Rooms: Send and receive reactions across Webex Rooms devices (like video-enabled classrooms and conference rooms) and Webex apps.

If you have any questions or concerns about this update, please contact the UW-W Learning Technology Center.

Webex Updates (May, 2021)

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May brings many updates to the Cisco Webex suite! In this post, we’ll summarize the critical updates for Webex Meetings as well as what’s new in Webex (formerly known as Webex Teams).

Webex Meetings

Webex Meetings

On Tuesday, May 11th, Cisco will release the Webex Meetings 41.5 update. The highlights of this release are listed below, with full release notes also available.

Learn More

Webex (Teams)

On Friday, May 14th, Cisco will release the Webex (Teams) 41.5 update. The highlights of this release are listed below, with full release notes also available.

Learn More

Webex Meetings 41.5 Update

  • Web App Attendee Functionality: Attendees, hosts, and cohosts who join from the Web App will see greater parity in functionality for answering Q&A, video layouts, and syncing their stage.
  • Stop Video for Attendees: Meeting hosts can now stop video coming from video devices and mobile attendees. When any of these attendees leave and re-join the meeting, their video will start, even if it had been stopped previously by the host.
  • Share Post-Meeting Content to the Webex (Teams) App: From the post-meeting web page, share meeting content to an existing or newly created space in Webex (Teams) to continue collaborating.
  • Recording Availability Indicator Icon: Your Recorded Meetings page will now display within how much time the recording will be generated, which is typically within 24 hours, depending on file size and bandwidth.
  • Tool Tip for Customizing the Stage: Participants will see animated tool tip in the stage views to quickly show how they can customize the stage by drag and dropping participants from the filmstrip onto the stage.

Webex Events (New) Now Available: This update brings a new service called Webex Events (New), which includes many of the advanced features you’re familiar with from Webex Meetings, as well as some from Webex Events (Classic). When scheduling a Webex Event, you will have the option to use the New or Classic service.

  • This is a new service that has not been available for any length of time. UW-Whitewater staff have not had the opportunity to test it with live audiences. At this time, we recommend you continue to use Webex Events (Classic). Events scheduled from the Webex Events (Classic) scheduler will continue to have the original Webex Events experience.
  • View our Knowledge article Webex Events (New) – Information to compare the two services and to learn about to learn about current known issues and limitations with Webex Events (New).
  • View directions on how to Schedule a Webex Event (New) to try it out.
  • Look for training and additional resources to be available soon!
  • You may see this highlighted next time you sign in to uww.webex.com with a walk-through.
  • Webcast mode is not available on our account.

Webex (Teams) 41.5 Update

  • Full-Featured Meetings: When you join a Webex Meetings scheduled or Personal Room meeting using Webex (Teams), you’ll have access to full-featured meetings, which offers you most of the Webex Meetings features even when you join from Webex (Teams). These features include stage view, breakout sessions, reactions, Webex Assistant, and People Insights profiles.
    • Webex (Teams) meetings from a space will remain unchanged at this time. Mobile users will see Webex Meetings launch when they join.
  • Schedule Webex meetings right from the app: No need to go outside the app to schedule your standard and Personal Room meetings. Add important meeting details, check the availability of the attendees, and send out the invites right from the Webex (Teams) app.
  • Additional In-Meeting features: No more self view when your video is off; shared content is automatically optimized; a new Stop Sharing button for ease; new connection and computer indicators will help meeting quality; and the ability for hosts to turn off attendees videos will improve Webex (Teams) meetings.
  • Messaging Updates: Mark messages as unread, move quickly between spaces you’ve visited with navigation history, and choose your default tab when the app opens.
  • Webex now on Linux: All the core capabilities are in a single app for Linux users, with the full-featured meetings to be added soon.
Full-Featured Meetings in the Webex (Teams) App

If you have any questions or concerns about this update, please contact the UW-W Learning Technology Center.

Planned Data Center Outage May 21st

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Due to a state-initiated project, a temporary power shut-off of the UW-W data center will be required to complete planned maintenance.

Based on the academic calendar and after consulting with a variety of academic, functional and governance areas on campus, it was determined that the least disruptive timeframe would be to start the outage at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 21st, with a targeted return to full service by 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 22nd. 

Photo by Fernando Arcos from Pexels

During this maintenance window, all IT services, applications, and web pages will be unavailable so please plan accordingly.

We would like to thank those who provided feedback regarding this planned maintenance, specifically the Department Chairs, University Technology Committee, and Campus Business Representatives.

If you have any questions, please contact the Help Desk.

Registration open for the LTDC 2021 Virtual Showcase “Transforming the Future of Education!”

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Registration to attend the FREE Learning Technology Development Council’s 2021 Virtual Showcase, themed Transforming the Future of Education is now open! The showcase will be held June 15 and 16, 2021.

2021 LTDC Virtual Showcase Registration Now Open
Registration Open!

Keynote speakers include Bryan Alexander, author of “Academia Next: The Futures of Higher Education,” and Kathe Pelletier, Director of Teaching and Learning with EDUCAUSE. They, along with instructors and staff throughout UW-System, will reflect upon ideas and innovations, lessons learned, the technologies utilized, and the experiments tried over the last year that may shape future educational opportunities.

To register for this free professional development opportunity, please go to the LTDC 2021 Virtual Showcase website: https://www.wisconsin.edu/learning-tech/events-conf/ltdc-virtual-showcase-2021/#about
Be sure to register even if you cannot attend the live sessions to gain access to session materials and recordings after the conference.

Summer Online Blended Teaching Institute application

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Applications are open for the Summer 2021 Online Blended Institute. The overall goal of the institute is to align quality course design with best practices in online teaching, preparing faculty for online, remote, hybrid or blended course development, and teaching in future academic terms.

This Summer Institute is designed in a hybrid modality combining a series of short online workshops and asynchronous materials in Canvas. The course models hybrid and remote modalities including readings, materials, and short homework assignments. Participants will be required to build a fully online unit of a course they could teach.

The Call for the Summer Online Blended Teaching Institute is open.

There are four synchronous workshops scheduled from 10:00 am to noon starting Wednesday July 7th.

Wednesday, July 7, 2021: 10:00am – Noon
Wednesday, July 14, 2021: 10:00am – Noon
Wednesday, July 21, 2021: 10:00am – Noon
Wednesday, July 28, 2021: 10:00am – Noon

Submission of final Institute content Monday, August 9th, 2021.These will include a student panel discussion and a peer to peer review session to share ideas and collaborate on online course designs in progress. Additional faculty guests will share their existing online course designs.

We will be accepting up to 25 applicants. Preference will be given to those faculty and full-time instructional academic staff who fully complete the application in a first come, first serve basis and who have not previously completed the Online / Blended teaching Institute since the summer of 2018.

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_cMVfAJS73Dak6Ds


Call for proposals: 2021 LTDC Virtual Showcase

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Instructors and staff are invited to participate in the 2021 LTDC Virtual Showcase: Transforming the Future of Education to be held Tuesday, June 15 and Wednesday, June 16, 2021. We are accepting two types of proposals: pre-recorded, asynchronous “TechTalk” videos and more traditional conference-style presentations. Proposal submission deadline: Friday, April 16, 2021

LTDC logo
Transforming the Future of Education

TechTalks: Technology administrators, instructional designers, and instructors are invited to create brief (5-15 minutes) pre-recorded videos explaining how to use a tool or certain applications of the tool. The focus of the TechTalk should be training or demonstration.

Traditional conference presentations: Sessions will be 30 minutes and will consist of 20 minutes of presentation and 10 minutes of Q&A. Presentation materials and proceedings are welcomed and will be shared on the LTDC Virtual showcase website.

This year’s LTDC Virtual Showcase will include three tracks. Proposals from instructional designers, instructional technologists, faculty and instructors are invited around the following tracks:

  • Student Experience and Success: This track explores ways in which the student experience has changed within the new learning modalities due to the addition of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) practices, Universal Design for Learning (UDL) practices and accessibility practices. How has shifting from face-to-face instruction to multiple modalities impacted the student experience or their success?
  • Online Instructional Pedagogy: This track explores how online education has impacted course design and layout, synchronous/asynchronous techniques for engagement and motivation, group work, activity or assessment creation, or other learning designs and lessons learned. What instructional challenges have you overcome as you have learned about online instruction? What are some key takeaways or lessons learned over the past year that you would like to continue to develop?
  • Leveraging Learning Technology: This track explores the use of various tools, technologies and teaching strategies used to enhance student learning, create efficiencies, or promote engagement. How have you used certain technology or tools to enhance your teaching and the student experience? What tools have intentionally made the online student experience more equitable, efficient or engaging?

Proposals may be submitted for presentations or TechTalks. If you are interested in presenting on multiple topics, please fill out the online submission form for each topic. Proposals will be reviewed by the LTDC Virtual Showcase Planning Committee, and all participants will be notified of participation within the showcase on Monday, May 3, 2021.
https://uwsystemadmin.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_508e664pbXufxC6

Questions – Please contact LTC@uww.edu

Poll Everywhere Activities Change

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Poll Everywhere strives for continuous product improvements and we’re committed to keeping you in the loop on key changes in your account. Starting on Monday, January 25th, 2021, activities in the Trash folder will be automatically deleted after 30 days.

After deleting an Activity, you will have 30 days to restore it from your Trash. Otherwise, it will be permanently removed. Once an Activity has been permanently removed, it will no longer be recoverable by you or the Poll Everywhere team. 

Thank you for using Poll Everywhere to engage students in your classes. We hope you’ve been enjoying the new features designed to support remote teaching and learning!

If you have any questions, please contact the Learning Technology Center at ltc@uww.edu.

Pre-assign breakouts in Webex Meetings!

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Webex Meetings now allows meeting hosts to setup meeting breakout sessions and pre-assign invitees to specific sessions while schedule the meetings. For full details on how to use pre-assignment for Webex Meetings, see Cisco’s article “Preassign Participants to Breakout Sessions.”

Breakout sessions can be assigned in advanced using the web scheduler one of two ways:

Instructors: If you schedule your class virtual meetings in Canvas, you can take advantage of this feature, but it will mean that students will not need to log in to Canvas to join the meeting, thus making the attendance feature less accurate.

  • To use pre-assignment, instructors will need to go to their Webex account and adjust your meeting settings.
  • Instructors can easily download a class list as a CSV file using Canvas, modifying the CSV file to include the necessary elements from the Webex template.
  • By importing a CSV file of your students to the meeting in your account, you will effectively invite them through the web scheduler. This action will send them an invitation email with the meeting link.

Things for everyone to keep in mind:

  • If you currently have a meeting scheduled from your account, you can edit the meeting to include pre-assignment.
  • A meeting previously scheduled through Outlook can not be edited it to allow for pre-assignment.
  • When using a CSV file, download the template (see image below) and enter the names of the breakout sessions as well as the email addresses for your attendees, which will automatically invite these people to your meeting.
Screenshot of where to locate the template to import a list of attendees from a CSV.

If you have any questions or concerns about this update, please contact the UW-W Learning Technology Center.