Attend a Blackboard Ally training session

A new component of Blackboard was announced in Faculty Senate last semester called Blackboard Ally. Blackboard Ally automatically scans content loaded to Blackboard and provides an assessment of the content’s accessibility and assistance in increasing the accessibility of course content. Ally uses visual indicators which provide a measure of the accessibility of your course. This new product will help to increase awareness of the level of accessibility of our digital course materials and provide tools to help us achieve our commitment to accessibility and promote a more inclusive campus.

Support will be offered for Ally in January 2019.

• The Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning (FCTL) has developed a knowledge base related to Ally and has created a web page to answer your questions.
• A list of faculty will serve as Ally Ambassadors to assist you with the implementation of the Ally product.
• As Ally is activated for all courses, the University will offer additional trainings related to Ally and university accessibility standards.

Blackboard Ally was activated for all courses as of January 3. The University will offer the following trainings related to Ally and university accessibility standards:

An Introduction to Blackboard Ally and document accessibility

In this session you will learn how to use the new Ally tool and the alternate versions of materials provided by Ally. You will also learn strategies for creating more accessible course materials and how to address the common issues identified by the Ally tool.

DATE	TIME	LOCATION
February 1	10:00 – 10:50 a.m.	Library 120
February 8	10:00 – 10:50 a.m.	Library 120
February 15	10:00 – 10:50 a.m.	Library 120
February 22	10:00 – 10:50 a.m.	Library 120
March 1	10:00 – 10:50 a.m.	Library 120
March 8	10:00 – 10:50 a.m.	Library 120

Intermediate Blackboard Ally

In this session you will learn how to incorporate the feedback that Ally provides to increase the accessibility of your course. This session is intended for faculty who are already familiar with creating accessible documents but want to learn how Ally feedback can benefit the accessibility of Blackboard courses.

DATE	TIME	LOCATION
February 1	3:00 – 3:50 p.m.	Library 120
February 8	3:00 – 3:50 p.m.	Library 120
February 15	3:00 – 3:50 p.m.	Library 120
February 22	3:00 – 3:50 p.m.	Library 120
March 1	3:00 – 3:50 p.m.	Library 120
March 8	3:00 – 3:50 p.m.	Library 120

Please register for these sessions through MyLearning Connection.

Department Trainings by Request

FCTL staff is also available to provide more in-depth training for departments.

Please contact the FCTL to schedule an Ally workshop for your department.

As the University implements Ally this semester, there is not an expectation that faculty will immediately be able to address all of the issues identified by the Ally product. The goal is to increase the University’s overall accessibility of digital course content over time with the right supports.

Register for faculty spring 2019 writing retreats

Date: Thursday, February 7
Times: 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Location: LIBR 204 (FCTL)
Facilitator: Dr. Etta Madden

Gear up for the Spring 2019 semester! The Faculty Write Program focuses on promoting faculty productivity and camaraderie through writing-based experiences such as interdisciplinary writing retreats held twice a month, workshops, and 10-day writing challenges. Writing retreats include lunch, opportunities to develop a strong network of peer support and accountability, and voluntary feedback sessions.

Register today through the MyLearning Connection. Contact the FCTL at 836-3059 if you have any questions.

View all program dates for 2018-19

Diversity mini-workshops

As an educator, have you ever considered how ‘identity’ is interwoven into your work? This session will encourage reflection on how your presence dictates your approach and receptivity with students. Opportunities for immediate application(s) will be discussed in an interactive forum.

Workshop 1 — Critical perspectives: Exploring the educator’s identity

Monday, February 11 — 9:00–10:30 a.m., LIBR 204
Tuesday, February 12 — 2:30–4:00 a.m., LIBR 204

View all Spring 2019 diversity mini-workshop dates and times

Diversity lunch and learn events for faculty and staff

Attend an open forum on specific topics related to the university setting. Share ideas and also learn from other faculty and staff. Feel free to come and go based on your schedule. Hosted by Adena Young-Jones.

Topic 2 — Beyond ‘Buzz’ Words by Dr. Tuesda Roberts

Wednesday, February 20 — 12:00–1:00 p.m., LIBR 204

View all Spring 2019 diversity lunch and learn dates and times

Book talk: White Fragility

Join us for scholarly conversations centered around the University’s public affairs mission (ethical leadership, community engagement, and cultural competence) and theme of Unity in Community.

Discussion 1, Part 1
Thursday, February 28 — 2:30–4:00 p.m., LIBR 204

Discussion 2, Part 2
Wednesday, March 27 — 12:00–1:30 p.m., LIBR 204

Discussion 3, Part 3
Monday, April 22 — 9:00–10:30 a.m., LIBR 204

Scholar 2 Scholar information sessions

The Missouri State University Scholar 2 Scholar (S2S) program is a campus-wide research initiative for students from all majors that have been awarded work-study funds and have an interest in helping faculty as a research assistant. S2S provides students, especially those from underrepresented populations, with opportunities to engage in faculty research projects.

Thursday, January 31 — 12:30–1:30 p.m., LIBR 204
Friday, February 8 — 1:00–2:00 p.m., LIBR 204
Tuesday, May 7 — 8:00–9:00 a.m., LIBR 204
Tuesday, May 7 — 4:00–5:00 p.m., LIBR 204

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

Upcoming online course development boot camp

Online Course Development Boot Camp is an immersive-style workshop which will provide faculty with hands-on training and work time to develop an online course.  At the end of the boot camp, you will have developed a significant portion of your course and earn a badge which applies toward an online course certification.

The next Online Boot Camp, May 20–24, 2019. Sessions will also be offered in the summer and in January 2020. Email the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning to reserve your spot.

Not available to attend any of those sessions? Contact the FCTL to schedule an appointment with one of our instructional designers.  You can work with them in a self-paced model around your schedule and in most cases complete your course by the end of the semester.

For more information about the online course development boot camp, visit the FCTL website.

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