Professional Learning Offerings for VIU Community Teaching, Learning and Technology January – August 2016 VIU Annual Teaching and Learning Conference Wednesday, May 4 – Friday, May 6 | online pre-conference, keynotes, workshops, sessions, teaching slams etc. Workshops to help prepare proposals/sessions For Faculty New or Fairly New to Teaching New Faculty Orientation to Teaching Learning Technologies Basecamp New Faculty Connections Faculty Fast Start Institute Integrating Pedagogy and Technology: 3 Part Series Let’s Teach Online: Communication and Community Building Strategies for Online and Blended Courses Conversations in the Cloud: Implementing Open Reflective Writing Experiences Applying Indigenous Learnings to Classroom: 4 Part Series Creating a Sense of Belonging for Students: Indigenous Perspectives to Enrich Teaching and Learning in the Classroom Teaching and Learning Engagement Club Less Work + More Student Learning: What are the Answers? Raising the Bar: What is the Appropriate Height and How Do We Get Students There? Peer Observation: How Can Faculty Support Each Other? Accessible Learning Design: Striving to Create an Inclusive Classroom for All Learners Flipped Learning: Changing up the Ways Students Learn For Chairs: Supporting Programs Part 1: Supporting Teaching and Learning at the Department Level Part 2: Gathering Data to Make Informed Program Decisions Course Redesign Institute 3.5 days in May (+blended online) to overhaul your course Team-Based Learning Institute Two Offerings in 2016 (May or August) of this 2 day intensive Blended/Online Course Development Sprint Week 5 days in July to develop a blended/online course in VIULearn Workshop Creating Substantive, Purposeful Discussions Register https://inviu.viu.ca Contact 740.6179 or [email protected]
Transcript
Professional Learning Offerings for VIU Community Teaching, Learning and Technology
January – August 2016
VIU Annual Teaching and Learning Conference
Wednesday, May 4 – Friday, May 6 | online pre-conference,
keynotes, workshops, sessions, teaching slams etc.
Workshops to help prepare proposals/sessions
For Faculty New or Fairly New to Teaching
New Faculty Orientation to Teaching
Learning Technologies Basecamp
New Faculty Connections
Faculty Fast Start Institute
Integrating Pedagogy and Technology: 3 Part Series
Let’s Teach Online: Communication and Community Building
Strategies for Online and Blended Courses
Conversations in the Cloud: Implementing Open Reflective
Writing Experiences
Applying Indigenous Learnings to Classroom: 4 Part Series
Creating a Sense of Belonging for Students: Indigenous
Perspectives to Enrich Teaching and Learning in the Classroom
Teaching and Learning Engagement Club
Less Work + More Student Learning: What are the Answers?
Raising the Bar: What is the Appropriate Height and How Do
We Get Students There?
Peer Observation: How Can Faculty Support Each Other?
Accessible Learning Design: Striving to Create an Inclusive Classroom for All Learners
Flipped Learning: Changing up the Ways Students Learn
For Chairs: Supporting Programs
Part 1: Supporting Teaching and Learning at the Department Level
Part 2: Gathering Data to Make Informed Program Decisions
Course Redesign Institute
3.5 days in May (+blended online) to overhaul your course
Team-Based Learning Institute
Two Offerings in 2016 (May or August) of this 2 day intensive
Blended/Online Course Development Sprint Week
5 days in July to develop a blended/online course in VIULearn
Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Learning | 2016 Offerings | Register at https://inviu.viu.ca
Page 3 of 15
For Faculty New or Fairly-New-to-Teaching
New Faculty Orientation to Teaching
The purpose of the Faculty Orientation to Teaching at VIU is to introduce you to teaching and learning resources for designing learning experiences for your students, engage you in conversations on best practices for fostering critical thinking in students, and to provide you with an opportunity to work with colleagues who are on a path similar to yours. This session will cover the core components for teaching successfully at VIU.
What are the benefits of participating in the New Faculty Orientation to Teaching at VIU? Concrete ideas for:
Making the most of the first day of class Designing classroom activities that challenge students to think critically Engaging your students in productive discussions Interactions with new colleagues on the culture of teaching and learning at VIU Learning about teaching resources, and technologies available to VIU instructors Breakfast and lunch will be included. Travel will be reimbursed for those attending from Powell River or Cowichan campuses (please email [email protected] for more details as to what is covered and how to submit expense form)
Audience: This event is open to anyone, but we welcome those with less than 2 years of teaching experience
Register: https://inviu.viu.ca
Questions? [email protected] Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Specialist
NAN B300, Royal Arbutus Room Jan 8 8:30 am - 2 pm (breakfast + lunch)
NAN B300, Royal Arbutus Room Aug 30 8:30 am - 2 pm (breakfast + lunch)
Learning Technologies Basecamp
It may feel like you need to sift through a mountain of information about learning technologies before you can actually get down to learning them. Attend this session to move up to “basecamp” on your journey to effectively using learning technologies. In this session we will introduce you to the learning technology tools VIU has to offer - and provide a brief explanation of how these tools work. We will have a discussion of why you might choose one tool over another – and why you may not use any tool at all! You will leave this session knowing what learning technologies are most appropriate for your learners, and also obtain resources to help you plan the rest of your climb!
Audience Open to VIU Campus Community Members
Register https://inviu.viu.ca
Questions? [email protected] Learning Technologies Support Specialist
Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Learning | 2016 Offerings | Register at https://inviu.viu.ca
Page 4 of 15
New Faculty Connections
New Faculty Connections is a series of informal but structured sessions designed to keep faculty members engaged with their colleagues and with teaching enhancement for the duration of their first 2 years at VIU. The Connections program is especially designed to respond to emerging concerns and issues of VIU’s newest teaching faculty members. Offered monthly, the Centre brings faculty members together to explore topics of their own choosing.
Session 1 (January 18): Topic will be decided based on participant input Session 2 (February 4): Topic will be decided based on participant input Session 3 (March 3): Topic will be decided based on participant input
Audience Open to any VIU Campus Community Member who is new or fairly new to teaching at VIU
Register https://inviu.viu.ca
Questions? [email protected] Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Specialist
1. NAN B305, R444 Jan 18 12 – 1:30 pm
2. NAN B305, R444 Feb 4 8 – 9:30 am
3. NAN B305, R444 Mar 3 12 – 1:30 pm
Faculty Fast Start Institute
The goal of a faculty member is to thrive and excel, not merely survive.
The Faculty Fast Start Institute is a Fall 2016 (one semester) program for early career, teaching faculty in regular positions, designed to accelerate the development of skills, perspectives, attitudes and insights needed for long-term success as career faculty members. The Institute will be hosted and facilitated by three staff members of the Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Learning: Bill Roberson and Tine Reimers, both Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Specialists, and Liesel Knaack, Director.
Audience This entirely voluntary program will be especially useful to those who are in the first 1-2 years of their initial teaching appointments.
Register Email Tine Reimers
More Details https://ciel.viu.ca/teaching-learning-pedagogy/new-or-fairly-new-teaching/faculty-fast-start-institute
Questions? [email protected] Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Specialist
NAN B305, R509 Aug 24 + 25 8:30 am – 3 pm (2 days) (breakfast + lunch)
Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Learning | 2016 Offerings | Register at https://inviu.viu.ca
Page 5 of 15
Integrating Pedagogy + Technology: 3 Part Series
Let’s Teach Online: Communication and Community Building Strategies for Online and Blended Courses
Three-part learning series encourage participants to attend three connected sessions that focus on an impactful practice for enhancing student learning. The series are designed with application activities between sessions to allow for more meaningful and useful learning for all participants. If you would like to participate, please know that all three sessions are required for attendance and that there is some additional work beyond the sessions.
Have you ever wondered what a class discussion would look like online?
Are you curious about how online communities can develop, and how they can support your classroom community?
Do you want to use VIULearn to more effectively communicate with your learners?
This 3-part learning series will share a variety of strategies for connecting with your learners in an online environment. We will focus on techniques for communicating your expectations, creating engaging discussions, and building online communities. This series will also touch on the tools VIULearn has to help you communicate with your learners.
This series is offered in either a blended or fully-online format. You can choose to attend our three learning sessions face-to-face or attend some or all of them fully online through VIUOnline Rooms. Between sessions, you will engage with other teaching faculty members online, use the tools and strategies we discuss and experience how community can be built with your online learners.
Note: Please ensure you have a headset/microphone and good bandwidth to access VIUonline Rooms and VIULearn during this learning series. It is also optimal that you are available to attend all 3 sessions to aid in replicating the ‘community-building’ experience.
Audience Open to VIU Campus Community Members who teach online or wish to teach online
Register https://inviu.viu.ca
Questions? [email protected] Learning Technologies Support Specialist
NAN B305, R508 (Tuesdays) Jan 26 + Feb 9 + Feb 16 3:30 – 5 pm (for each day)
Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Learning | 2016 Offerings | Register at https://inviu.viu.ca
Page 6 of 15
Integrating Pedagogy + Technology: 3 Part Series
Conversations in the Cloud: Implementing Open Reflective Writing Experiences
Three-part learning series encourage participants to attend three connected sessions that focus on an impactful practice for enhancing student learning. The series are designed with application activities between sessions to allow for more meaningful and useful learning for all participants. If you would like to participate, please know that all three sessions are required for attendance and that there is some additional work beyond the sessions.
Are you interested in exploring how students can make their learning visible through reflective writing, creating opportunities for intervention and peer review?
Do you feel students may benefit from seeing and reviewing one another’s work throughout a course?
Could we build more deliberate collaborations into our assessment strategies to foster student co-construction of knowledge?
In these sessions we will explore a range of ways to support students in sharing their experiences, reflections and discussions outside of class in a more open manner – through digital communication platforms and tools. As part of this series, you will redesign one course activity or assessment strategy for implementation in a course in Fall 2016.
Throughout the three part series we will engage in a simulation using a shared and collaborative WordPress blog thereby modeling approaches to implementing open reflective writing. Various models of using WordPress in education will be explored including individual student reflective writing sites, collaborative community course sites, and aggregated sites.
By the end of these sessions participants will:
experience taking part in a collaborative reflective writing community plan a learning activity which makes use of this technique share their experiences implementing within their discipline
Audience Open to VIU campus community members with a class in Fall 2016
Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Learning | 2016 Offerings | Register at https://inviu.viu.ca
Page 7 of 15
Applying Indigenous Learnings to Classroom: 4 Part Series
FULL: Creating a Sense of Belonging for Students: Indigenous Perspectives to Enrich Teaching and Learning in the Classroom
The Office of Aboriginal Education & Engagement and the Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Learning are collaborating to invite teaching faculty members to engage with Indigenous perspectives and critically reflect about suggested teaching and learning practices that would help support a classroom free of marginalization for all learners. Collaboration and community is at the heart of this approach.
This series revolves around a Learning Circle that will include Elders, Aboriginal students and VIU teaching faculty who will provide their insights and suggestions for creating an inclusive learning environment based on a related Indigenous reading each week. Between each Learning Circle, faculty will be asked to apply suggestions to their own classroom teaching, critically reflect on the experience and share out at the next session.
The Learning Circle will take place from January until March meeting four times; participation in all sessions is encouraged to build a sense of community and a shared experience. Intended Audience: This professional learning opportunity is intended for VIU campus community members who teach a class or regularly have access to a group of students in the Spring 2016 semester. This group may include but is not limited to: teaching faculty members, student services staff, sessional instructors, contract teaching members, administrators etc. This learning opportunity requires participants to undertake some modest reading assignments each week, come to a session to discuss the topics and leave with actions and strategies to be applied in the classroom in the weeks between sessions. The following session would then require participants to share their experiences in implementing new actions and strategies and report back to the group on what they learned. Maximum Number of Participants: 12 Expectations: Participants are expected to undertake some modest reading assignments, attend all 4 sessions (Wednesdays 3:30 – 5:30 – January 13, February 3, March 2, and March 23), implement some new strategies/actions to the classroom, report back to the group each week and summarize their experiences in a short paragraph by early April. Registration: (FULL) – Registration occurred in November 23- December 4. Watch for future offerings.
Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Learning | 2016 Offerings | Register at https://inviu.viu.ca
Page 8 of 15
Teaching and Learning Engagement Club The popular “Teaching and Learning Engagement Club” meets each month with a session that will be hosted at a different day and time, but will always include some food and good conversation about teaching and learning. In March, there are three Club sessions and each will spotlight topics undertaken by the Council on Learning and Teaching Excellence members. All of the campus community are welcome to attend.
Less Work + More Student Learning: What are the Answers?
It is the ongoing challenge of how to reduce our time and work in preparing for teaching classes, yet somehow create conditions for students to learn more and excel. There are a number of key practices that will help you move towards this magical spot. Come for breakfast, a presentation of some ideas and then a chat with your colleagues to share some of your own tips.
NAN B300, Royal Arbutus Room Jan 20 7:30 – 8:30 am
Raising the Bar: What is the Appropriate Height and How Do We Get Students There?
This event’s topic is about rigor in the classroom - what is an appropriate level and how do we get students to reach that level. In an 'open access' university setting we receive students of varying abilities on their journey to experience successful learning opportunities. How do we manage with this variance in the classroom - but yet still set the bar to a level that will inspire and challenge students to do their best? Come join us for an afternoon chat about this topic and share some tips and strategies you have found helpful. Leave with some new thoughts and directions for your practice. Drinks and snacks will be served.
Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Learning | 2016 Offerings | Register at https://inviu.viu.ca
Page 9 of 15
Peer Observation: How Faculty Can Support Each Other?
This event’s topic is about peer observation. Members of the Council on Learning and Teaching Excellence will share what they’ve experienced in undertaking a peer observation process throughout the Spring term. Come learn about peer observation and how your practice can benefit from this process. Breakfast will be served.
Accessible Learning Design: Striving to Create an Inclusive Classroom for All Learners
This event’s topic is on accessible learning design. Members of the Council on Learning and Teaching Excellence will share what they’ve experienced in undertaking making their classes more accessible and inclusive for all learners throughout the Spring term. Come learn a few new elements about designing inclusive classrooms. Drinks and snacks will be served.
Flipped Learning: Changing Up the Ways Students Learn
This event’s topic is flipped learning. Members of the Council on Learning and Teaching Excellence will share what they’ve experienced in flipping their classes throughout the Spring term. Come learn how to design a flipped learning format for teaching and learning. Breakfast will be served.
Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Learning | 2016 Offerings | Register at https://inviu.viu.ca
Page 10 of 15
For Chairs: Supporting Programs
For Chairs: Part 1 Supporting Teaching and Learning at the Department Level
This session is for Department Chairs to learn how they can support successful teaching and learning at the department level. Part of the session will explore the process of how to ensure a program is kept current and enhanced explored through a simulation/case study approach. You’ll learn about curriculum and program mapping activities, developing and refining program level outcomes, gathering evidence of program effectiveness and asking effective questions from the data on your program. Another part of the session is a sharing of resources on the topic of program renewal/curriculum mapping - geared to answer your questions and share areas where you would like support. (This is a repeat of same session offered in October 2015).
Audience Open to any VIU Department or Program Chair (current or incoming)
NAN B300, Royal Arbutus Room Jan 21 11:30 am – 2:30 pm (includes lunch)
For Chairs: Part 2 Gathering Data to Make Informed Program Decisions
This session will engage Department Chairs in an exploration of how to gather evidence/data to make informed decisions about programs and courses. We will explore the VIU Student Experience Survey data, DASCO survey information and other information that exists on programs to understand what is helpful and what is missing. Then we'll discuss easy ways you and your program colleagues can gather evidence that is relevant and timely for your discipline/program and directions you wish to explore. Examples of VIU initiatives already happening or have happened will be shared. A demonstration will happen around some new resources for Curriculum Mapping your program - aligning program learning outcomes to course outcomes and performing a gap analysis will be explained as another tool for understanding more about your program's connections and future directions. The new Program Review format will also be shared so you know what is coming up in a few years. Come join us to ask questions and learn more!
Audience Open to any VIU Department or Program Chair (current or incoming)
Note You did not have to attend Part 1 to attend this session. Please join us!
Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Learning | 2016 Offerings | Register at https://inviu.viu.ca
Page 11 of 15
Course Redesign Institute Do you have a course you want to enhance or give a makeover?
Do you want to redesign a course in a new format (blended, fully online, adding new learning opportunities, etc.)?
Do you want to give your course a haircut?
This institute blends a combination of some readings and homework, and 3.5 days of work to redesign your course. We’ll focus on writing measurable and observable learning outcomes, building aligned assessment and evaluation methods as well as exploring a wide variety of teaching strategies to meet your needs. In the end you’ll end up with a detailed ‘blueprint’ of your new course, a revised course outline and a plan for undertaking new teaching and learning experiences next Fall or Spring. There is a follow up session in August to revisit your final work and ensure you are ready for the new course design.
Must be available for all May dates (some work online between dates)
Audience Open to VIU Campus Community Members with a course to teach
Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Learning | 2016 Offerings | Register at https://inviu.viu.ca
Page 12 of 15
Team-Based Learning Institute Two sessions to choose from in 2016: May 17 – 19 and August 16 – 18
The Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Learning is seeking ten adventurous instructors to create a cohort of colleagues in the adoption of “Team-Based Learning” for the Fall 2016 semester. Successful recipients will implement the “Michaelsen TBL Model” using the principles and practices that are described on the Team-Based Learning website and in the description below by Larry Michaelsen and Michael Sweet. This project is open to Teaching Faculty Members, Sessional Instructors, and any VIU staff members who teach. All disciplines are welcome.
Applications for this project will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until all seats are filled with successful applicants.
What is Team-Based Learning (TBL)?
Team-Based Learning is not simply group work. TBL is a comprehensive instructional model that allows university teachers to target higher intellectual goals while fostering greater student independence and accountability. The principle? Design well, ensure that the structure you build holds students accountable for both their individual and team performance, and then get out of students’ way while they figure things out! TBL is currently being used successfully in thousands of classrooms in North America, Australia, Europe and South America, in fields as disparate as Biology and Chemistry, Literature, Nursing, Computer Science, Political Science, Social Work, Information Literacy, History, Art, Physics, and Philosophy, to name just a few. This project will take you through the process of transforming a traditional course in any discipline into a TBL course.
What does the Research Say?
A rich body of research has been emerging steadily to show the effectiveness of the Michaelsen model.
University of British Columbia: Drop rates for an introductory programming course (Computer Science) went down 18% when instruction changed from traditional lecture to TBL format. (2008)
University of Oklahoma: Pharmacy students performed 14% higher against a standard in courses using TBL (2008)
State University of New York: Philosophy students taught in the TBL format improved student critical thinking ability dramatically when measured against students in traditionally taught sections using identical examination instruments (2010-2014)
Wright State University: Medical students performed significantly better on comprehensive exams for content taught using TBL (2010)
This project is designed to provide participants with an opportunity to learn the TBL model, design and plan a course using the model, implement the new design, and receive direct structured feedback from colleagues and Centre staff, as well as students.
Benchmarks and Expectations
1. Attend the 2 full-day immersion workshop on TBL practices and course design, 8:30 AM - 3:30PM (Nanaimo Campus), plus complete a substantial (3-4 hour), related course design assignment between the two meeting days.
2. Redesign (using the TBL model) a course that will be taught in Fall 2016 or Spring 2017 Semester
3. Receive feedback on (and revise) the new design and the new course outline
Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Learning | 2016 Offerings | Register at https://inviu.viu.ca
Page 14 of 15
Blended/Online Learning Development Sprint Week
This sprint week is for anyone who has designed a fully online or blended learning course and wants to get it mostly developed in VIULearn (or other technologies) in one week. Staff from the Centre will present micro-lessons each morning and afternoon (20 minutes each) on a variety of topics related to developing online and blended classes. The rest of the time is for you to work on developing your course.
You’ll be organized into small groups so that you can share your progress and have supports nearby for learning. The Centre staff will roam around and help where required. Prior to arrival, participants will send in their goals for the week.
Lunch, snacks, coffee and tea will be provided each day. Work will happen in various rooms throughout the Centre.
Audience Open to VIU Campus Community Members
Pre-Req For a sprint to work, participants must have a good portion of their course designed and planned – and brought to the sprint. The sprint is for taking those ideas and creating online components (uploading content, designing layout of content, making discussions, creating assignment dropboxes, adding in existing video clips, making teacher welcome videos etc.)
Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Learning | 2016 Offerings | Register at https://inviu.viu.ca
Page 15 of 15
Workshop Session
Creating Substantive, Purposeful Discussions
We all want our students to become analytic and independent thinkers, but designing formats of interaction to promote this attitude of inquiry can be challenging. Few things are more frustrating to a teaching faculty member than working up great materials for a class discussion only to find that your students apparently have little to say, or are unwilling to engage. Consistently productive, intellectually provocative discussions require careful planning, forethought and design. This practical workshop will demonstrate several concrete ways to structure classroom interactions that engage students, ensure their participation, and enhance their learning. This workshop will be given three times.
Audience Open to VIU Campus Community Members
Register https://inviu.viu.ca
Questions? [email protected] Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Specialist
