Blackboard improvements within Grade Center
This tip continues to explain new features available to instructors after the Blackboard upgrade that happened over winter break.
Adapting to recent changes in Blackboard
Blackboard was upgraded last month to provide users with better performance and reliability. Here are tips and solutions to help you adapt to the changes.
January 2021 6-8 Barnraising Schedule
This workshop is ‘help right when you need it’ for developing your online or hybrid course. Join UAF eCampus instructional designers for a facilitated “barn raising,” which lays out a set of tasks and deadlines for you to get your course online and ready...Three ways to make your course more accessible
Everyone’s pinched for time and we need real solutions that are quick to implement with regard to accessibility. This tip provides a look at three areas you can improve in your course using simple ideas that are easy to execute.
Address uncertainty in your syllabus
Recommended strategies and language to include in your syllabus to help address the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, try surveying students about their current routines and internet access.
Noteworth QM Accomplishments
A list of Quality Matters related accomplishments regarding Program Review and Course Reviews.
One perspective on Quality Matters course certifications
UAF adopted Quality Matters as a framework for continuous improvement of online and blended courses four years ago. Gary Copus, professor emeritus, shares highlights, benefits and challenges of certifying three UAF Justice courses.
Quick communication with students
A few ideas on how to easily increase your communication with students while possibly reducing your time performing course management.
iTeach Online Workshop
iTeach Online is a cohort-based workshop where faculty work on building their courses in the company of their peers. Attention to best practices, course alignment, student engagement and usability are emphasized. Synchronous sessions allow for cohort building and tool practice.
Blackboard for beginners
Wednesday, September 4, 2019 We cover a variety of materials for those new to Blackboard. See the slides for more information.Invite students to publish
Are you interested in encouraging your students to create work to share with others? Adding your voice to the domain knowledge–which shapes our education–is a strong motivator. As teachers, writers, designers, and artists we long to create and share. What...Adding Custom Questions in Blue Evaluations (#facdev)
View the slides to see a bit about the Blue Evaluation form process.
Tackle Grackle to make accessible materials
Course materials need to be accessible. The Grackle add-ons assist you with making your materials more accessible even if you’re not a standard Google apps user.
Rebuilding your course
As faculty, at some point you’ll have to rebuild and refresh your existing course or rebuild and rebrand one you inherit. If you’ve found yourself in this situation for the upcoming semester, read on. I’m right there with you and these are the steps I’ve taken:
Our journey with Quality Matters
UAF’s Master of Education in Special Education program became the first online special education program in the nation to earn the Quality Matters’ Online Program Design Certification. Here’s how they did it and how you can earn Quality Matters certifications for your course or program.
Blackboard Bootcamp iTeach+
Blackboard Bootcamp Are you interested in gaining experience with Blackboard? Perhaps your students have asked you use it more for your resources? Join us for a beginning Blackboard Bootcamp to get the basics. This is a hands-on workshop so bring a laptop and...Make your Google Docs accessible
If you use Google Docs in your online course or share them electronically with your face-to-face students make sure they are readable. Some students use a screen reader to assist them. Here are three tips with the needed steps to make your Google Docs more usable.
Clean up and refresh your course today
Welcome to the fall semester. Here are quick tips to clean up your course today. There is one amazing “Wow’ item for Blackboard and a few very clear steps on cleaning up your WordPress shell. Feel free to stop into UAF eCampus during Open Lab to learn more.
Three ways to set up your course more efficiently
Teaching online since 2011, Janene McMahan has learned some things along the way. In this tip she shares three ideas for making the best use of your time: set expectations, set up your workspace for good flow, and prep a layout once then replicate it.
New Box View replaces Crocodoc for inline grading
As of this month when your students turn in programming code and graphics inside of Blackboard you can use the New Box View inline grading tool to view the code and add comments to the images. If you previously used Crocodoc to quickly view spreadsheets or papers inside of the Blackboard Grade Center, you’ll find the expanded list of supported file types a breath of fresh air!
Students communicate strategies and pitfalls
During National Distance Learning Week UAF eCampus conversed with students via Facebook. Here’s a light read on student strategies to stay on task as well as a few shared challenges we all face. Read on; it might spark a small change to make in your course as a result.
Prep your WordPress course site for next semester
Even seasoned WordPress users can learn a new trick. WordPress actively changes as new updates are applied to the main product. Years after I began using WordPress almost daily, a coworker showed me how to edit multiple settings from within one screen! This tip will show you how.
Guide students through your course
A few well-placed visuals may help students find their path through your course. Consider providing both a course calendar and a course map to guide them.
Staff Recognition & Development 2017: WordPress Basics & Practical Application
In this session you’ll see WordPress basics such as making a post, making a page, working with themes. Ready to begin your own WordPress site? Janene will coach you on your first steps. If you have a WordPress site you’ll love the tips she covers for ease...Better Tests & Quizzes
Slides Needed: note-taker Goals: driven by your discussion Resources Please add your ideas! On the iPad click the ” + ” near the bottom left to add. How do you know? VoiceThread You have to have Flash installed (allow use) Students practicing language...Bring your expertise front and center
Let go of some of the how. How will the student generate the video? How will the student submit his or her paper? Focus on the what and the why. Grab your list of learning objectives and analyze course learning experiences and assessments to determine if they support students progressing toward course outcomes.
Modifying your 16 week class to 12 weeks without jeopardizing the rigor
In this session we cover how to compress your course and where to look for simple modifications to prep it for summer.iTeach+ Develop learning activities and interaction
Here is the series of slides I’ll be using for this session. One of the items we will use is a Padlet.Providing feedback in Blackboard two ways
Building a rubric can help you determine how–or if–an assignment aligns to your course objectives. Once built, you may use it to frame your feedback. Sharing the specifics with students prior to task assignment helps focus their efforts. Your students may not know about the wealth of information provided by clicking on the link, “View Rubric.’
Help students make connections in your class
Last year I spent two days in a cold hotel conference room in Dallas practicing how to build connections between group members. Connecting individuals increases their chances of building community. Building community helps with success.