November 6

T4TL Workshop: D2L ePortfolio

Make learning visible. Tell your learning story. Find out how at the next T4TL workshop.

This week we will be hosting another Technology for Teaching and Learning (T4TL) workshop: D2L ePortfolio. Plan to attend one of the sessions offered by the ITS Academic Technology Team on either Wednesday, November 7 from 3-3:50 in Centennial Hall 115 or Thursday, November 8 from noon to 1 in Centennial Hall 106.

If you can’t join us in person, please plan to join us online at: https://webmeeting.minnstate.edu/t4tlworkshops. We look forward to your attendance.

 

October 29

T4TL Workshop: D2L Intelligent Agents

Intelligent Agents provide automated communication techniques to help you maintain an online presence and increase student engagement. Learn more about how to create intelligent agents by attending the upcoming session offered by ITS Academic Technology Team on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 3:00 PM -3:50 PM in Centennial Hall 115. If you can’t join us in person, you can participate online using Adobe Connect: https://webmeeting.minnstate.edu/t4tlworkshops. 

February 20

Technology for Teaching & Learning Workshop Feb. 28 – Mar. 1

Unleash Amazing Using Instructional Technology Tools 

Wednesday, Feb. 28 from noon- 1 in CH 106 OR Thursday, Mar. 1 from 3:30 – 4:30 in CH 106 OR use this link to join us remotely T4TL remote access.

Workshop Description:

Would you like to reach more students with the same email message, but you want it to feel more personal? Are you curious to know what other faculty are doing in the classroom with technology? Join the Technology for Teaching and Learning (T4TL) workshop to learn more about instructional technology tools.

  • Wednesday join Dr. Mark Petzold to hear more about how he uses D2L Intelligent Agents to reach out to his students without needing to create individual emails.
  • Thursday join Dr. Kannan Sivaprakasam to hear how he is using instructional technology tools like Respondus, LICEcap, Zoomit, and Clickers to engage his students in Chemistry.

We would love to see you in person, but if that is not convenient, please join us remotely to learn more.

February 5

T4TL Feb. 14 & 15 Workshop

Engage Your Learners: Using Soft Chalk, Library Widgets, and Media Space

Wednesday, Feb. 14 from noon- 1 in CH 106 OR Thursday, Feb 15 from 3:30 – 4:30 in CH 106 OR use this link to join us remotely T4TL remote access.

Workshop Description:

Do you lay awake at night wondering how to engage your learners? Join the Technology for Teaching and Learning (T4TL) workshop to learn how:

  • Cindy Gruwell uses Soft Chalk to create engaging content. It’s easy to learn and allows you to prepare content and engage students by embedding a variety of media and interactive activities. It is easy to embed in D2L, a webpage, or access by URL.
  • Melissa Prescott uses Library Widgets to help engage learners in academic research. She will demonstrate how you can utilize the D2L Brightspace widget feature to incorporate database searches, instructional videos, discipline-specific information and more, right into your course pages.
  • Mary Leyk uses Media Space to provide effective feedback and a more personal touch when grading papers or providing weekly course updates.

This workshop is all about engagement. We would love to see you in person, but if that is not convenient, please join us remotely to learn more.

 

January 25

FREE MOQI Webinars

MOQI Webinar Logo

The Minnesota Online Quality Initiative (MOQI) is offering free webinars throughout spring semester.  The variety of topics such as, using discussion boards to increase engagement, accessibility, Universal Design (UDL), learning objectives, assessment, and using MediaSpace to record lectures are sure to be of interest. Best of all, it’s free. Review the list and register for a webinar today.

Wed. February 14, 2018

Noon – 1

MOQI Webinar: Increase Student Engagement Using Discussion Boards
In this webinar, you will be introduced to several, easy to implement discussion techniques that can be used for any class to increase student engagement.

Participants will be introduced to ways you can engage your students with icebreakers to get to know each other, team building, introduce new technologies, hands-on experience with the discussion tool.

Participants will also learn how to structure a debate online to increase student critical thinking skills and deepen their knowledge on course topics, incorporate scenario based learning as an effective way for students to apply what they are learning to realistic situation and participants will learn how to create a discussion board in which students can become the expert on a course topic requiring them research, apply concepts and examples. Templates, assignment directions and examples will be provided.

After this webinar you will be able to

1.     Discuss techniques for increasing engagement using the discussion board

2.     Utilize planning worksheets and templates to implement discussion board concepts

3.     Increase student engagement with discussion boards

Register for webinar: https://mnquality.eventbrite.com

Wed. February 21, 2018

Noon – 1

MOQI Webinar: Accessibility, UDL, and You
In this webinar, participants will learn the difference between the accessible course design and Universal Design for Learning (UDL).  They will review the important role faculty play in designing courses that are accessible and inclusive. Principles of UDL will be introduced.

Participants will learn about how to create accessible course content using Word, PowerPoint, Mediaspace, and D2L Brightspace files.  Handouts and guides will be provided.

After this webinar, you will be able to:

1. Explain the difference between and main concepts of accessible course design, accommodation, and Universal Design Learning principles.

2. Identify several strategies for implementing UDL principles in your own course.

3. Create accessible course content including course documents (Word, PowerPoint, PDF), video captioning in Mediaspace, and content pages in Brightspace.

Register for webinar: https://mnquality.eventbrite.com

Wed. February 28, 2018

Noon-1

MOQI Webinar: Learning Objectives: What, Why, Where, & How

Well-written learning objectives establish the foundation upon which courses are designed and delivered.  They form the basis for the instructional materials and assessments that are included in the course. Learning Objectives serve as an implied contract between the instructor and student by defining what is to be taught and what is to be learned, so communicating these objectives clearly is a crucial step in assuring an effective learning experience.

This session will review best practices for creating and sharing measurable learning objectives in your online or blended course.

Register for webinar: https://mnquality.eventbrite.com

Wed. March 7, 2018

Noon – 1

MOQI Webinar: The ABCs of Assessments

Assessment, Evaluation, and Testing are often used interchangeably.  What do we mean when we talk about formative assessment, summative assessment, aligned assessment, and evaluation?  Is that the same as testing?

Assessment is a crucial part of any course because it allows your students to demonstrate mastery of the learning objectives.  But how do you know what type of assessment to choose?

Register for webinar: https://mnquality.eventbrite.com

Wed. March 21, 2018

Noon-1

MOQI Webinar: Lights, Camera, Action…Recorded Lectures

This session will feature practical information and skills needed to produce high-quality and polished recorded lectures. In addition to a review of PowerPoint fundamentals and design, participants will learn what makes a clear and engaging recorded lecture, how to fine-tune delivery, what to capture and best practices from the broadcast industry and on-air presence. This session will focus on the pedagogy of recorded lectures not the technology. Templates and handouts for producing recorded lectures will be provided.

After this webinar you will be able to:

1.     Describe PowerPoint design elements: theme, images, accessibility features, and use of master templates.

2.     Create a video outline for instructional videos.

3.     Utilize a planning document to produce effective recorded lectures.

4.     Apply broadcast industry best practices for recorded lectures.

Register for webinar: https://mnquality.eventbrite.com

Wed. March 28, 2018

Noon – 1

MOQI Webinar: Accessibility, UDL, and You

In this webinar, participants will learn the difference between the accessible course design and Universal Design for Learning (UDL).  They will review the important role faculty play in designing courses that are accessible and inclusive. Principles of UDL will be introduced.

Participants will learn about how to create accessible course content using Word, PowerPoint, Mediaspace, and D2L Brightspace files.  Handouts and guides will be provided.

After this webinar, you will be able to:

1. Explain the difference between and main concepts of accessible course design, accommodation, and Universal Design Learning principles.

2. Identify several strategies for implementing UDL principles in your own course.

3. Create accessible course content including course documents (Word, PowerPoint, PDF), video captioning in Mediaspace, and content pages in Brightspace.

Register for webinar: https://mnquality.eventbrite.com

Wed. April 4, 2018

Noon – 1

MOQI Webinar: Mediaspace for Recorded Lectures

In this webinar, participants will learn how to capture a lecture using Mediaspace as well as how to integrate their lectures into D2L Brightspace. This webinar will focus on the technical aspects of recording lectures including audio levels, camera composition, capturing web camera and PowerPoint presentations, editing, machine-close caption the video and share this in D2L Brightspace. Step-by-step guides will be provided.

After this webinar you will be able to:

1. Utilize Mediaspace to record lectures including web camera and presentations.

2. Share recorded lectures in D2L Brightspace.

Register for webinar: https://mnquality.eventbrite.com

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Noon – 1

MOQI Webinar: Tips to Improve Navigation, Usability, and Organization in your Online or Blended Course

This session will introduce you to different ways to create and organize your course content to improve the learning experience for your students. Tips will include different content creation strategies to improve accessibility and usability. Several different course organization approaches will be shared that will streamline the learning experience for your students including how to link other Brightspace and external tools into your course content area.

Register for webinar: https://mnquality.eventbrite.com

January 24

T4TL Workshop Series

UNLEASH the AMAZING…YOU! Institutional Repository Upload-a-Thon!

The second session of the T4TL workshop series will be held in Centennial Hall 106 on Wednesday, January 31 (noon-1) and Thursday, February 1, 2018 (3:30 – 4:30).

Join Rachel Wexelbaum & Mary O’Dea, Library Faculty in their session on St. Cloud State University’s Institutional Repository.  During the session you will create an account, Creative Commons license your work, and upload it into the Repository. Along the way, we will talk about how the Repository—and resources like it–can help your research and teaching. If you join us in person, plan to bring your laptop and a work to upload.

If you cannot join us in person, plan to join us remotely https://webmeeting.minnstate.edu/t4tl2018

 

 

 

December 6

MOQI Webinars for Spring Semester 2018

MOQI Webinar LogoAre you looking for professional development opportunities without needing to leave your office? MOQI has just the thing for you. Check out the list of FREE webinars  scheduled from January through April. Review the list, find something of interest, and register today.  The MN Quality Online Initiative (MOQI) promotes quality course design through professional development and statewide collaboration. 

Wed. January 10, 2018

Noon- 1

MOQI Webinar: Mediaspace for Recorded Lectures

In this webinar, participants will learn how to capture a lecture using Mediaspace as well as how to integrate their lectures into D2L Brightspace. This webinar will focus on the technical aspects of recording lectures including audio levels, camera composition, capturing web camera and PowerPoint presentations, editing, machine-close caption the video and share this in D2L Brightspace. Step-by-step guides will be provided.

Register for webinar: https://mnquality.eventbrite.com

Wed. January 24, 2018

Noon -1

 

MOQI Webinar: Tips to Improve Navigation, Usability, and Organization in Your Online or Blended Course
This session will introduce you to different ways to create and organize your course content to improve the learning experience for your students. Tips will include different content creation strategies to improve accessibility and usability. Several different course organization approaches will be shared that will streamline the learning experience for your students including how to link other Brightspace and external tools into your course content area.

Register for webinar: https://mnquality.eventbrite.com

Wed. February 14, 2018

Noon – 1

MOQI Webinar: Increase Student Engagement Using Discussion Boards
In this webinar, you will be introduced to several, easy to implement discussion techniques that can be used for any class to increase student engagement.

Participants will be introduced to ways you can engage your students with icebreakers to get to know each other, team building, introduce new technologies, hands-on experience with the discussion tool.

Participants will also learn how to structure a debate online to increase student critical thinking skills and deepen their knowledge on course topics, incorporate scenario based learning as an effective way for students to apply what they are learning to realistic situation and participants will learn how to create a discussion board in which students can become the expert on a course topic requiring them research, apply concepts and examples. Templates, assignment directions and examples will be provided.

After this webinar you will be able to:

1.     Discuss techniques for increasing engagement using the discussion board.

2.     Utilize planning worksheets and templates to implement discussion board concepts.

3.     Increase student engagement with discussion boards.

Register for webinar: https://mnquality.eventbrite.com

Wed. February 21, 2018

Noon – 1

MOQI Webinar: Accessibility, UDL, and You
In this webinar, participants will learn the difference between the accessible course design and Universal Design for Learning (UDL).  They will review the important role faculty play in designing courses that are accessible and inclusive. Principles of UDL will be introduced.

Participants will learn about how to create accessible course content using Word, PowerPoint, Mediaspace, and D2L Brightspace files.  Handouts and guides will be provided.

After this webinar, you will be able to:

1. Explain the difference between and main concepts of accessible course design, accommodation, and Universal Design Learning principles.

2. Identify several strategies for implementing UDL principles in your own course.

3. Create accessible course content including course documents (Word, PowerPoint, PDF), video captioning in Mediaspace, and content pages in Brightspace.

Register for webinar: https://mnquality.eventbrite.com

Wed. February 28, 2018

Noon-1

MOQI Webinar: Learning Objectives: What, Why, Where, & How

Well-written learning objectives establish the foundation upon which courses are designed and delivered.  They form the basis for the instructional materials and assessments that are included in the course. Learning Objectives serve as an implied contract between the instructor and student by defining what is to be taught and what is to be learned, so communicating these objectives clearly is a crucial step in assuring an effective learning experience.

This session will review best practices for creating and sharing measurable learning objectives in your online or blended course.

Register for webinar: https://mnquality.eventbrite.com

Wed. March 7, 2018

Noon – 1

MOQI Webinar: The ABCs of Assessments

Assessment, Evaluation, and Testing are often used interchangeably.  What do we mean when we talk about formative assessment, summative assessment, aligned assessment, and evaluation?  Is that the same as testing?

Assessment is a crucial part of any course because it allows your students to demonstrate mastery of the learning objectives.  But how do you know what type of assessment to choose?

Register for webinar: https://mnquality.eventbrite.com

Wed. March 21, 2018

Noon-1

MOQI Webinar: Lights, Camera, Action…Recorded Lectures
This session will feature practical information and skills needed to produce high-quality and polished recorded lectures. In addition to a review of PowerPoint fundamentals and design, participants will learn what makes a clear and engaging recorded lecture, how to fine-tune delivery, what to capture and best practices from the broadcast industry and on-air presence. This session will focus on the pedagogy of recorded lectures not the technology. Templates and handouts for producing recorded lectures will be provided.

After this webinar you will be able to:

1.     Describe PowerPoint design elements: theme, images, accessibility features, and use of master templates.

2.     Create a video outline for instructional videos.

3.     Utilize a planning document to produce effective recorded lectures.

4.     Apply broadcast industry best practices for recorded lectures.

Register for webinar: https://mnquality.eventbrite.com

Wed. March 28, 2018

Noon – 1

MOQI Webinar: Accessibility, UDL, and You
In this webinar, participants will learn the difference between the accessible course design and Universal Design for Learning (UDL).  They will review the important role faculty play in designing courses that are accessible and inclusive. Principles of UDL will be introduced.

Participants will learn about how to create accessible course content using Word, PowerPoint, Mediaspace, and D2L Brightspace files.  Handouts and guides will be provided.

After this webinar, you will be able to:

1. Explain the difference between and main concepts of accessible course design, accommodation, and Universal Design Learning principles.

2. Identify several strategies for implementing UDL principles in your own course.

3. Create accessible course content including course documents (Word, PowerPoint, PDF), video captioning in Mediaspace, and content pages in Brightspace.

Register for webinar: https://mnquality.eventbrite.com

Wed. April 4, 2018

Noon – 1

MOQI Webinar: Mediaspace for Recorded Lectures
In this webinar, participants will learn how to capture a lecture using Mediaspace as well as how to integrate their lectures into D2L Brightspace. This webinar will focus on the technical aspects of recording lectures including audio levels, camera composition, capturing web camera and PowerPoint presentations, editing, machine-close caption the video and share this in D2L Brightspace. Step-by-step guides will be provided.

After this webinar you will be able to:

1. Utilize Mediaspace to record lectures including web camera and presentations.

2. Share recorded lectures in D2L Brightspace.

Register for webinar: https://mnquality.eventbrite.com

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Noon – 1

MOQI Webinar: Tips to Improve Navigation, Usability, and Organization in your Online or Blended Course

This session will introduce you to different ways to create and organize your course content to improve the learning experience for your students. Tips will include different content creation strategies to improve accessibility and usability. Several different course organization approaches will be shared that will streamline the learning experience for your students including how to link other Brightspace and external tools into your course content area.

Register for webinar: https://mnquality.eventbrite.com

 

November 15

Some Highlights of the November 28th MR3 Update

Just a few highlights from the update. Some are new features, others are fixes to issues experienced by on-campus users.

HTML Accessibility Checker. (new feature)

  • An accessibility checker is now available within the HTML Editor for use within Content, Widgets, Quizzes, Assignments, Calendar, and any other tools where an instructor or student can access the HTML Editor.
  • The accessibility checker is available on the HTML Editor bar. After you add content to the HTML Editor, you can click the checker to ensure that the HTML page conforms to WCAG and Section 508 accessibility standards.
    • location of the new accessibility checker in the D2L WYSIWYG editor

Assignment folders available as release conditions again! (fix)

  • This is a fix. Since the last update it has not been possible to use any of the Assignment folder conditions as a release condition. With this release this bug has been squashed!

Long Answer (LA) question renamed Written Response (WR) (change)

  • The Long Answer (LA) question type (Quizzes, Surveys) has a new name: Written Response (WR). Nothing about the functionality of the question type has changed.

THE ICONS ARE BACK!!! (update)

  • Previously, icons displayed in Content to help users distinguish between content file types (for example, an icon for a video topic or an icon for a discussion topic). Now, icons reflecting the Daylight look and feel are re-introduced in Content. These icons are visible in the main Table of Contents view, the Module Content view, and the Table of Contents fly-out menu when viewing a topic or activity.
    •  

Quizzes – shuffle question order at quiz level (new feature)

  • To discourage cheating in quizzes, instructors can now shuffle the order of all questions in quizzes or specific groups of questions (sections) in quizzes. For example, an instructor could shuffle questions 1-10 in a quiz, or shuffle questions 3-10 (grouping those questions into a section) and retain the order of questions 1-2 at the start of the quiz.
  • When editing a quiz in the Quizzes tool, a new option to Shuffle order of questions at the quiz level displays in the Quiz Questions section. When creating a new section to group specific questions in a quiz, a new option to Shuffle order of questions in this section is visible in the Display Options section.
    •  
  • Once the shuffle option is selected, a shuffle icon appears next to each affected question in the quiz.
    •  

Hide Assignment folders (new feature)

  • Instructors can now set the visibility state for draft content within assignment submission folders in Content and Assignments. When content is in a draft state, it is not visible to learners in Brightspace Learning Environment.
  • When instructors have set the visibility to draft, the hidden icon appears in the instructor view of the assignment.

 

The full release notes: MR3 Release Notes and Fixed Issues (PDF)

October 5

Recap of MOQI Webinar Learning Objectives: What, Why, Where & How

What was updated in the post: Added Webinar Summary and Bloom’s Taxonomy Action Verbs handout (click Webinar Summary for document).

MOQI Webinar Logo

Awesome webinar provided yesterday through MOQI. Beth McMahon and Robin O’Callaghan presented on Learning Objectives over the lunch hour. Effective use of action-based facilitation, Beth designed the session to include a substantial amount of interaction which increased engagement and reduced the temptation to multi-task. It was great to see other SCSU representation at the event, Dr. Kate Mooney and Dr. Kristin Portz were also in attendance.

Webinar Summary:

What: Learning Objectives form the foundation of the course and provide students with your expectations of what needs to be done to meet the objectives. They also create a bridge to align course materials, instructional activities, and assessments.

Why: Learning objectives help both the student and instructor.

How: Use ABCDs of writing learning objectives when creating learning objectives.

Where: Put your learning objectives in a number of places throughout your course to help connect the dots for your students.

“Using learning objectives helps guide and direct students creating a state of expectations and avoiding leaving them in a state of wonder,” (Beth McMahon, 2017).

If you missed this webinar, don’t worry it will be offered again next semester.

October 3

Reminder MOQI Webinar Tomorrow – Learning Objectives: What, Why, Where & How

MOQI Webinar Logo       Wednesday, October 4, 2017

MOQI Webinar: Learning Objectives: What, Why, Where & How

Well-written learning objectives establish the foundation upon which courses are designed and delivered.  They form the basis for the instructional materials and assessments that are included in the course. They serve as an implied contract between the instructor and student by defining what is to be taught and what is to be learned, so communicating these objectives clearly is a crucial step in assuring an effective learning experience.
This session will review best practices for creating and sharing measurable learning objectives in your online or blended course.
To Register: https://mnquality.eventbrite.com
When
Wed Oct 4, 2017 12pm – 1pm Central Time
Where
Online Webinar