CTC Ed Tech News March 31, 2014

Dear Colleagues,

It's the home stretch. Here are a few tidbits for you…

Videos Find Their Place In and Out of the Classroom

This article from The Chronicle of Higher Education summarizes a study on students' use of video for learning. My take aways: video is ubiquitous; keep 'em short (5- 20 minutes); and make sure the presenter is an engaging speaker.

Blogs vs. Journals

Another report on research, this time from Inside Higher Ed. In this study, blogs and journals are compared. Some key findings: fewer grammar errors in the blogs, possibly because classmates are reading; more personal risk taking in the private journals; and more willingness to take a stand in the blog.

My personal finding is that when using blogs or wikis to replace essays, I needed to be clearer about the standards of academic writing. In my small sample of 2 online classes in summer 2011, the students did not write very much or very well in the blog assignments. I needed to give them a better description of my expectations.

Blogs can be a great alternative to an essay homework assignment. A key advantage is that the students can view/comment on/learn from each other's writing. Writing for an audience that is broader than just the instructor can be a motivator for improving the quality of the writing.

An Open Letter to My Students

This beautiful letter explains a music professor's theory of teaching and learning to his students. I am particularly fond of this quote, though there are many memorable passages in the letter.

…I want you to learn how to learn. That means that at times you will be teaching yourself. This is an intentional choice. One of my chief goals is for you to take charge of your own education. Though I will help set a frame in which this will take place, many of you will feel uncomfortable, even overwhelmed, at this. That's normal. It's what independent learning feels like quite often. (Because it's what teaching feels like.) However, if at any time you feel lost, please talk to me. (Kris Shaffer, http://www.hybridpedagogy.com/journal/open-letter-students/)

From Academic Innovations

Serious Fun: An Educational Games Gathering

April 17, 2015 8am - 4 pm

The ConocoPhillips Integrated Science Building

Serious Fun brings together educators and students interested in using games and/or game elements for teaching and learning. Share ideas, discuss the latest issues and trends, and build networks to improve the use of games and gamification in education.

 

Applying the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR) Workshop

Monday, April 6, 2015 - Monday, April 20, 2015

2-week asynchronous online course

This online, asynchronous workshop is an introduction to the Quality Matters rubric and how its standards inform online course design. The time commitment to complete the workshop is 10-12 hours per week. Upon completion, participants earn the Applying the Quality Matters Rubric certificate. Registe

CTC Ed Tech News March 16, 2015

Dear Colleagues,

I hope that you got some rest and/or recreation on spring break. This little post from Barking Up the Wrong Tree suggests five daily rituals to make one happy. One of them is to take a recess. Breaks and vacations are a longer recess.

Active Learning

This article from The Journal highlights research on active learning and flipping the classroom. It's what students do in the classroom that matters, rather than whether the class was flipped or not. Students learn more when active learning techniques are employed whether or not the instructor "flips" the class.

The Center for Research on  Learning and Teaching at University of Michigan gives some ideas on how to implement active learning. Of course, Team-Based Learning is an example of active learning.

Quality Matters at UAA

I'm a fan of Quality Matters. It helps professors think about designing courses well. It also helps us be conscious of aligning our learning objectives, assessments, and learning activities. Though designed for distance courses, the Quality Matters principles and rubric can be applied to any course. The Applying the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR) Workshop introduces one to Quality Matters and its rubric. Here are two upcoming instances of the APPQMR workshop:

1-day intensive Friday March 20, 2015, 9am - 4:30pm at Rasmuson Hall, Rm 218

Become familiar with the QM rubric and how its standards inform online course design. Upon completion, earn the Applying the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR) certificate. Lunch Break 12:15 - 1:15pm - Bring Your Own Lunch. Register

2-week online course Monday, April 6, 2015 - Monday, April 20, 2015

A rigorous asynchronous workshop on the QM rubric and how its standards inform online course design. The time commitment to complete the workshop is 10-12 hours per week. Upon completion, earn the Applying the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR) certificate. Register

If you are interested in a summer session on Applying the Quality Matters Rubric, please let me know. Learn More About Quality Matters

Information Literacy

Digital Literacy is the focus for Academic Innovations and eLearning, with a workshop on March 27.

The library has put together  some resources on digital literacy.

Serious Fun: An Educational Games Gathering

April 17, 2015 on the main campus

Serious Fun brings together educators and students interested in using games and/or game elements for teaching and learning. Share ideas, discuss the latest issues and trends, and build networks to improve the use of games and gamification in education.