As we approach the start of the fall semester, we want to welcome you back! We hope you all had a great, relaxing summer break and are ready to begin another school year! In this newsletter, you'll learn about ways we can help, our new collaborative space, updates in Canvas, a list of things to do and check before the fall semester begins, and a list of fall workshops and upcoming professional development opportunities.
As you're preparing for the fall semester, feel free to ask for help using one of the options below:
Extended drop-in hours: Mondays & Tuesdays, August 14-29th, 4-7pm
Book a 30-minute meeting with an instructional designer or technologist on our bookings website (instructional design, instructional technology, YuJa, etc.)
Send us an email at uno.its.digitallearning@unomaha.edu
Come see us in the Library!
Exciting news! The Office of Digital Learning and Center for Faculty Excellence (CFE) have moved into our new library space! Come visit us on the third floor of the library, located next to the faculty lounge! Our new location allows us a better opportunity to collaborate with faculty and staff across campus; we're excited to not only see you on zoom, but in-person as well in our new collaborative space! Stop by anytime between 9 and 4, Monday through Friday!
Grading Scheme Redesign
Canvas has redesigned the Grading scheme to improve user experience and make it easier for grading schemes to be created and managed. To learn more about the redesign, check out the Screencast video on the Grade Scheme Redesign.
You may have noticed the NEW Teaching Policies navigation tab in your Fall Canvas courses. This tab contains up to date information related to policies and gives you quick access to the policies and resources you may need as you teach!
Beginning of the Semester Items
Download and view the Beginning of Semester Checklist to ensure you're ready for the fall semester. Other items to consider completing before the fall semester begins are:
We recommend publishing your courses a few days to a week before the start of the semester with the home page and getting started module published (at minimum). This will allow students to get comfortable with the course and its' expectations before it begins!
Updated Canvas Resources
Digital Learning has been working hard to update our content within Canvas Commons to reflect the updated Canvas links and to improve the directions and resources we offer students for YuJa Video and YuJa Panorama. You can add these pages to your course by importing the entire updated Student Technology Resource Module from Canvas Commons or by importing the following pages from Canvas Commons:
'How to Use YuJa to Record Video Assignments/Discussions'
'How to Use YuJa Panorama'
'How to Navigate Canvas'
For more information on how to access Canvas Commons and import templates into your course, check out our Canvas Common Resource Page. If you have questions or need any assistance, please contact the Digital Learning team.
NEW TOOL! - YuJa Panorama
Starting Fall 2023, YuJa Panorama, a new accessibility tool integrated into Canvas will be available for faculty and students to use in their course(s). YuJa Panorama offers a variety of tools to help improve accessibility and enhance the student's learning experience. Join us for an introductory workshop to Panorama on August 18th, from 9:00-10:00am and/or check out the Panorama Resource button below!
Our contract with VidGrid officially ended on June 30th, 2023. As a reminder, all videos made in VidGrid prior to March 8, 2023 were copied over to YuJa. VidGrid videos are now located in your My Media folder in YuJa, hosted in a folder with your email address as the name.
YuJa has finished swapping VidGrid links and videos with YuJa links and videos in all Canvas courses. Although this process worked quite well, it was not perfect. We recommend you do the following things before the fall semester begins:
Videos: Double check the videos in Canvas were transferred over to YuJa and all pages are labeled correctly.
Video Thumbnails: Thumbnails did not transfer over, if you want thumbnails for your videos, you'll need to re-add the thumbnails in YuJa
Video Quizzing: Video Quizzes were transferred over from VidGrid but must be re-embedded into your Canvas course for them to work.
Directions: Swap out VidGrid directions with YuJa directions in all assignments, discussions, and pages in your course.
If you have questions or need any assistance, please contact the Digital Learning team.
Fall workshops will consist of Technology Quick Bytes (30-minute sessions) and 1-hour workshops that embrace topics and pedagogy outside the traditional Higher Ed model. Join us for one or all of the workshops you're interested in learning about.
Quick Bytes
These 30-minute sessions will focus on specific tasks within our academic technology. Each session will consist of a basic overview and leave time for you to ask questions.
Thinking Outside the Traditional Model: Unique Approaches to Teaching
These 1-hour workshops will focus on non-lecture based learning! Each workshop will consist of an overview of the approach and give examples of how to do it effectively. Be on the lookout for our special edition newsletter mid-August or keep an eye on our bridge training calendar for more details and registration links.
Competency Based Education | Thursday, September 7, 2:00-3:00pm
Effective Uses of ChatGPT in the Higher Ed Classroom | Tuesday, September 19, 2:00-3:00pm
Flipped Classroom | Tuesday, October 10, 10:00-11:00am
Assessments in the world of AI | Wednesday, October 18, 11:00am-12:00pm
Using ChatGPT to Work More Efficiently | Wednesday, November 8, 10:00-11:00am
Hyflex | Tuesday, November 14, 10:00-11:00am
Looking to discuss ChatGPT and other forms of AI with your colleagues?
Let us know you're interested! Digital Learning is partnering with CFE to provide a space where faculty and staff across campus can discuss relevant topics and philosophies surrounding ChatGPT and other instances of AI on a monthly basis. Select the button below to sign up using our AI discussion group Interest form!
Individual Course Development Grant Applications Due September 1st!
Three times a year, the Office of Digital Learning awards grants for faculty to develop or improve the online delivery of one of their courses; the next approaching due date is for courses that are marked for summer 2024 course delivery. Select the button below to learn more and apply for a grant today!
Creating an Engaging, Equitable, and Inclusive Online Class
Starts September 11, 2023
Our 3-week Humanizing Online course on creating an engaging, equitable, and inclusive online class is coming up in a couple months! In this course, participants will explore ways to design and facilitate online courses that promote rich and robust learning interactions for all students. Faculty who participate and complete the course will receive a $300 stipend. Join our newest cohort today!
Interested in learning effective strategies for developing and managing an online class? Join us for our Foundations of Teaching Online course! This course explores the impact of instructional pedagogy on student learning and how implementing simple strategies can help improve student achievement, motivation, and engagement.
This 3-month course is asynchronous and has a rolling start date. This course is available for all faculty except those who have completed Foundations of Teaching Online in the past. Participants receive a $1,000 stipend for successfully completing all discussions and assignments. Register below!
Know someone who might be interested in this content? Feel free to forward this newsletter and encourage them to subscribe. Missed out on our previous newsletters, you can check them out on our ILCI website page.
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