Academic Expressions

Office of the Provost

FCTL events and announcements

by

Missouri State University Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning

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. The fall sessions are scheduled for:

  • Thursday, October 22, 3:00–4:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday, October 27, 10:00–11:00 a.m.
  • Wednesday, October 28, 12:00–1:00 p.m.
  • Friday, November 6, 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
  • Monday, November 16, 9:30–10:30 a.m.

The 2020–2021 FCTL curriculum innovation call for proposals is now open!

The FCTL Advisory Council is pleased to offer this faculty funding opportunity of up to $4,000 per successful applicant.

We are seeking proposals in the following areas:

Creating high-impact practices that enhance student learning.

High-impact practices, or HIPs are active learning teaching practices that promote deep learning and student engagement as measured by the National Survey on Student Engagement (NSSE). Priority will be given to proposals that address items in MSU’s institutional report that indicate target areas for improvement (i.e., student or instructor performance below comparable institution) including but not limited to student participation, self-regulated learning, and instructor feedback.

Incorporating inclusive teaching practices that advance diverse perspectives and classroom inclusion.

Proposals should emphasize inclusive teaching practices that ensure all students can fully participate in the learning process and practices that will help students develop a deeper awareness of diversity in all its forms. Proposals can focus on inclusive teaching practices (development of self) or incorporating course content and activities that advance students’ understanding of diversity, inclusion, and cultural competence (development of student).

Proposals should be submitted no later than Oct. 31, 2020.

For additional information and to submit a proposal, please visit the FCTL Curriculum Innovation Funding webpage.

Questions can be sent to Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning.

Curriculum innovation mini-grants

Curriculum innovation mini-grant awards are limited up to $1,200 per grant application. Funding can be used for purchasing a document camera for your home office, license for Camtasia or other software, an iPad and apps that can be used as a writing tablet, or for other instructional tools.

Curriculum innovation mini-grants support faculty with ‘pivoting’ their courses during the ongoing Coronavirus. Applicants must complete an application indicating:

  1. What one change do you want to make to your course? i.e., better engage students with the content, create more engaging video lectures, determine better strategies for blended instruction.
  2. What do you think might help you with this change? i.e., document camera or other video equipment, digital tools that will engage students, not sure.
  3. How will you know if you were successful in creating this change? i.e., I will see better scores, I will have more engaging course materials online, my students will be more satisfied with their learning experience.

Applicants will meet with FCTL Instructional Designers to assist in the selection of tools, strategies for using, and any training helpful for the successful implementation. Mini-Grants are one-time funding and faculty should consider ongoing costs when spending the money on subscription services. Applications will be considered until the funding is depleted.

Apply today

Mini diversity talks

Social distancing vs physical distancing: Creating a community in our classroom

October 21 @ 12:00–1:30 pm.
We will share, exchange ideas and strategies to be intentional on maintaining a classroom sense of community while navigating both pandemics.

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:

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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