Attend an upcoming faculty writing retreat

The writing retreats are going virtual for fall 2020! Register for whichever morning and afternoon blocks you can during a three-day Wednesday to Friday block each month.

Retreat block dates:

• Wednesday-Friday November 18–20;
  • Lunchtime Workshop Friday Nov 20, 2:00–1:00 p.m.
• Wednesday-Friday December 15–17;
  • Lunchtime Workshop December 17, 2:00–1:00 p.m.

Please register through MyLearningConnection by searching for “Faculty Write Program” and choose the blocks and workshops you wish to attend.

Participants will be sent a form to log their goals and contacted prior to each event with links to optional morning and lunchtime “check-ins” on Zoom. The Friday Lunchtime Workshops will features special topics and/or guest presenters on writing and research productivity.

ZOOM training opportunities

Interested in using Zoom as an option for real-time engagement in your courses? Join the FCTL for Teaching with Zoom. In this session you will learn the basic functions of Zoom such as:

• Overview of user and meeting settings
• Recording meetings
• Participant management during a meeting
• Screen sharing
• The chat panel and reaction tool
• Breakout rooms

To attend a session, register through My Learning Connection.

• Monday, November 16, 9:30–10:30 a.m.

Mini diversity talks

Microaggressions: Intent vs impact

November 18 @11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
This is an introductory workshop on understanding the basics of what a microaggression is, and how it affects the recipients regardless of their intent.

Research based projects and pedagogical strategies in my classroom

December 2 @ 12:00pm
This will be a space for faculty to showcase intentional inclusive practices that they chose to incorporate into their teaching.

Online course development boot camps offered in different formats

You have your choice of different types of online course development boot campus:

• Two-week virtual boot camp
• Self-paced boot camp

Register now for the two-week virtual boot camp

The FCTL boot camp is offered virtually providing you the opportunity to participate through an online experience much like students do when taking an online or blended class.

The FCTL boot camp will assist you with developing and teaching an online course, using technology to teach a blended course, and being prepared to use online teaching tools and strategies as necessary during the upcoming semesters.

Some of things you’ll learn during the FCTL Boot Camp include:

• Best practices related to online and blended courses and teaching
• Technology tools that are used in these modalities (lecture capture, test proctoring tools, and others)
• How to translate learning activities to the online and blended classrooms so they create opportunities for student collaboration and engagement
• Legal and ethical issues such as copyright, accessibility, and academic integrity

The FCTL Boot Camp is an immersive-style experience providing you hands-on training and a structured process for accomplishing these objectives.

Upcoming boot camp (broken up over the break):

• Week 1: December 14–18th
• Week 2: January 4–8th

Throughout the two-week time frame, you will participate both synchronous and asynchronously; synchronous sessions will be held most days during 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. All synchronous sessions will be recorded for later review. After you register you will receive an outline of all FCTL Boot Camp sessions and activities. Throughout the two-weeks, you will receive feedback and support from the FCTL instructional designers.

For more information contact the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning or visit the FCTL website. Please register through My Learning Connection by searching for “two week virtual online boot camp”.

Online course development self-paced boot camp

Beginning June 1, 2020, the resources from the FCTL’s virtual online boot camps will be available as a self-paced course development boot camp. This self-paced version will cover many of the same things as the virtual and on-campus boot camps, but you will be participating at your own schedule and can contact the FCTL Instructional Designers at any time during this process. Their contact information is listed in the meet your instructional designers area of the modules.

What’s included in the self-paced course development boot camp

• Best practices related to online courses and teaching
• Different assessment options available in Blackboard
• How to remove potential barriers for students with disabilities.
• Strategies to foster community and engagement in the online classroom
• Strategies to prevent student cheating
• Copyright and fair use in distance education

How to find the self-paced boot camp (access begins June 1, 2020)

• Log into Blackboard and select the Community Tab at the top of the page.
• select Academic Community from the My Organizations module.
• Once in the site, on the main menu, locate “self-paced course development boot camp” to access the boot camp materials.

Upon completion of each of the activities within the module you will be able to print a certificate of completion.

Magna subscriptions available

MSU has an institutional license to the following on-demand resources.

• The Teaching Professor – access great articles and practical, evidence-based insights on strategies for creating a better learning environment. This online newsletter has been a trusted guide for educators for more than 30 years. Editor Dr. Maryellen Weimer has over 25 years of experience in college teaching. She has authored a number of books and is a highly-regarded proponent of effective teaching practices.
• Magna Commons – a content library of on-demand versions of many of Magna’s most popular Magna Online Seminars, covering a broad range of topics of interest to faculty and administrators.
• 20-Minute Mentor – a content library of on-demand versions of Magna’s popular 20-Minute Mentor programs, covering a broad range of faculty development topics.

Access these resources by activating your Magna subscription through the Academic Community located in Blackboard. Select the Academic Community from the Community tab in Blackboard, and from the Academic Community’s main menu, select Magna Subscriptions located under Professional Learning. Follow the instructions provided to activate your subscription.

Free resources for creating blended and online instruction

Check out these resources:

• EdSurge Digital Learning Network Higher Ed Home page
• Faculty Focus Home page
• IDEA Research and Resources Home page
• The K. Patricia Cross Academy Techniques Video Library
• OER Commons Home page
• Stanford – Tomorrow’s Professor Postings
• American Journal of Distance Education
• College Teaching

What is the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning?

The FCTL supports teaching excellence for faculty at all levels. Check out the many support services offered by the FCTL to see how you can benefit.

View FCTL services overview

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