January 5

STAR Symposium 2017 Registration Open

Registration is now open for the 2017 STAR Symposium sponsored by the Minnesota Online Quality Initiative. This is a virtual one-day conference that will consist of presentations focused on topics related to Faculty Development Support, Course Design and Delivery, Assessment and Feedback, Student Engagement, Technology Integration, Measuring the Impact of Best Practices and other Teaching Innovations for face-to-face, blended, and online courses.

Date: February 10, 2017  8:30 AM – 4 PM

Cost: $50 per attendee.

For more information and to register: https://minnesota.qualitymatters.org/symposium/

star-symposium-2017-conference-information

November 14

STAR Symposium 2017 – Call for Proposals

STAR Symposium photo credit to: https://mnqm.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/logo2.png

There’s still time to submit a proposal to present at the STAR Symposium! This is a state-wide conference focused on teaching and learning best practices. The all day conference is completely virtual – attend and present from your home or campus office. 

Call for proposals is open until November 21.  All presenters will receive training related to effective web-based presentation.

Share your Ideas

Do you have an innovative approach for engaging your students, managing your classroom, integrating best practices or collaborating for improvement? This is your opportunity to share the innovative work you’re doing at your institution, for your department and in your classroom! The STAR Symposium Planning Committee is seeking proposals  related to best practices and innovation related to teaching, technology, course design, faculty support, etc. for face-to-face, blended, and online courses and/or programs. Check this list for ideas for topics:

– Faculty Development and Support
– Course Design and Delivery
– Grading, Assessment and Feedback
– Student Engagement
– Technology Integration
– Measuring the Impact of Best Practices
– Other Innovations…

The committee is seeking both 50 minute and 25 minute presentations which will be offered concurrently. Individuals looking for information about the types of sessions offered last year are encouraged to review the STAR Conference Guide. (http://bit.ly/STARGuide16)

To submit your proposal, please complete this form. The conference planning committee will review all proposals and will contact everyone regarding the status of their proposal in December.

Registration is open!

Registration for the STAR Symposium is managed by Northland Community & Technical College. To register individuals or a group, use the STAR Symposium Registration Link (opens in a new window). The cost to attend the all-day conference is $50 (presenters pay $25).

April 12

STAR Symposium Presentations and Handouts

STAR Symposium photo credit to: https://mnqm.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/logo2.png

The STAR Symposium, sponsored by the Minnesota Online Quality Initiative and the first completely online conference in MN, is behind us. However, we can always look at the handouts and presentations in search of some best practices. Presenters at the conference focused on pedagogical approaches to face-to-face, online, and blended learning delivery. You can access the presentations and handouts here.

February 3

STAR Symposium Presentation Schedule

STAR Symposium photo credit to: https://mnqm.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/logo2.png

Conference Schedule Session Title
Welcome and Logistics

8:30 AM – 8:45 AM

 
Keynote Speaker
8:45 AM – 9:45 AM
Keynote: Promoting More Good Learning: What Can Teachers Do?

Dr. L. Dee Fink

Concurrent Sessions
(50 minutes)
10:00 AM – 10:50 AM
Gamifying your online course using D2L Brightspace tools
Carrie Miller, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Using SoftChalk™ Cloud to Create Digital Lessons for Online Learners
Claudia Pragman, Patricia Nelson, Aaron Deris & Kristie Campana, Minnesota State University, Mankato
The Essence of Presence: Strategies for Online Courses
Darcy Turner, Saint Paul College
Break (15 minutes)  
Concurrent Sessions
(50 minutes)
11:05 AM – 11:55 AM
Video, The New Paper
Norb Thomes, Winona State University
Online Collaboration versus Isolation-Interactivity Makes the Difference
Roseann Wolak, Saint Cloud State University
Tech Challenged? No Worries! Your Students Can Lead the Way!
Mary Anderson, Winona State University
Lunch Break
11:50 AM – 12:45 PM
 
Concurrent Sessions
(25 minutes)
12:45 PM – 1:10 PM
Using Flipped Classroom Design to Facilitate Communications and Mental Illness Response Module in Law Enforcement Classes
Patricia Nelson, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Fascinating Online Discussions: A Few Practical Applications of Draves’ “Advanced Teaching Online”
Bill Joyce, Bemidji State University
A new twist on an old favorite: Evernote and BuildFire = Engaging capstone projects
Joan Sax-Bendix, Winona State University
Break (10 minutes)  
Concurrent Sessions
(25 minutes)
1:20 PM – 1:45 PM
Creating a Learning Environment That Promotes Student Engagement in an Online Course
Stacey Rosenberg, Southern New Hampshire University
The Structured Debate: Increasing Student Engagement
Jane Carducci, Winona State University
Leveraging Technology in the Socratic Graduate Classroom

Jason Kaufman, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Break (10 minutes)  
Concurrent Sessions
(50 minutes)
1:55 PM – 2:45 PM
The D2L Brightspace Learning Object Repository (LOR): What is it and how can I use it?
Deb McManimon & J.C. Turner, Riverland Community College
Creating Engaging Recorded Lectures

Robin O’Callaghan, Winona State University

Using Web Conferencing Tools for More than Online Teaching
Patrick Paulson, Winona State University
Break (15 minutes)  
Featured Speaker
3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
Creating Community: Building a Learning Community from Classrooms to the Cloud

Bethany Simunich, Kent State University

Wrap-up and Evaluation
3:45 PM – 4:00 PM
 

Date & Time:  Friday, February 19, 2016     8:30 AM – 4:00 PM (CST)
Location: Wherever you are! This is a virtual conference. Join from your computer or mobile device.
Cost:  $50 to attend sessions all day.  Register here!

**content borrowed from MOQI announcement STARSneakPeek

January 22

STAR Symposium a month away

STAR Symposium photo credit to: https://mnqm.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/logo2.pngWhile we are waiting for the full schedule, MOQI has announced their keynote speaker and several sessions.

Dr. L. Dee Fink will be the keynote speaker for the STAR Symposium. He will be joining us virtually to start the day with a keynote address. Dr. Fink currently works as a national and international consultant on college teaching and faculty development. In the past several years, he has been invited to 15 countries outside the United States to lead workshops or make presentations. He is well-known as the author of “Creating Significant Learning Experiences: An Integrated Approach to Designing College Courses.”

In addition to the keynote, below is a list of some of the sessions and presenters on the agenda:
Community of Inquiry (Bethany Simunich, Kent State University)
Gamifying Your Online course using D2L Brightspace Tools (Carrie Miller & Jeff Henline, Minnesota State University, Mankato)
Video, The New Paper (Norb Thomes, Winona State University)
Creating a Learning Environment That Promotes Student Engagement in an Online Course (Stacey Rosenberg, Southern New Hampshire University)
D2L Brightspace Learning Object Repository (LOR): What is it and how can I use it? (Deb McManimon & J.C. Turner, Riverland Community College)
Using Web Conferencing Tools for more than Online Teaching  (Patrick Paulson, Winona State University)

A reminder – STAR Symposium will be held on February 19, virtually, from your home or office, you will be able to attend 25 or 50 minute sessions from 8:30 am to 4 pm. You can register here!

December 9

MOQI Presents a Virtual Conference – STAR Symposium

STAR Symposium photo credit to: https://mnqm.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/logo2.png

 

 

 

 

Minnesota Online Quality Initiative (MOQI) will promote best teaching practices through an all day virtual conference open to all higher education faculty and staff. They are inviting faculty and staff to share their strategies in course design and delivery, student engagement, technology integration, their assessment practices. The MOQI organization focuses on promoting quality course design in all Minnesota post-secondary institutions.
Please consider their call for proposals for the symposium, where you can showcase your innovative, brightest pedagogical practices.

Hurry in because the proposals are accepted until December 22, 2015.

On February 19, 2016 from 8:30 am to 4 pm, join the virtual conference from your computer or a mobile device. There will be 25 or 50 minutes sessions.
The cost to attend all day sessions will be $50, or $25 if you are a presenter.

To learn more and register, click here.

November 17

Accessing Higher Ground Virtual Conference starting tomorrow

Just a friendly reminder, with a full schedule following: tomorrow, Wednesday, November 18, through Friday, November 20, the Accessing Higher Ground virtual conference will be featured at St. Cloud State University. Brought to you by the Academic Technologies Team, the different sessions (webcasts) will be shown in Miller Center conference rooms 114 and 115.

Pass this along to whomever you think is interested. Accessibility in learning is one of the major themes of today’s higher education. We are happy to have this opportunity right here on our campus.

Finally, the recordings of these sessions will be available after the conference, and we will notify you how to get those.

Virtual Conference Schedule – Live Stream

Wednesday, November 18, 2015, Track “A” Sessions     Miller Center Room 114

Time Session Information
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Alt Text Production: Providing More Effective Services and Promoting Student Self-Reliance, Jenna Atkinson, Utah Valley University
10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. How to Write a Good Description for Visual Elements, Gaeir Dietrich, HTCTU, Robert Beach, Kansas City Kansas Community College
12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Faculty Outreach – Spreading the Gospel of Alternate Format to the Faculty Front Lines, Susan Kelmer, University of Colorado Boulder
1:50 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Keynote Talk: Getting from Barrier-Free to Great User Experiences?, Whitney Quesenbery, UX Researcher & Director of Center for Civic Design
3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. School of Social Work and Disability Resources: Working to Make Documents Distributed through LMS Accessible, Krista Greear, Univeristy of Washington
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Designing a Mobile Ready Course with Universal Design, Kate Miller, UC Denver

 

Wednesday, November 18, 2015, Track “B” Sessions     Miller Center Room 115

Time Session Information
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. What did I sign up for? Technology Accessibility for New Professionals, Steven Salter, Ashford University
10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. What works with faculty? Results from a yearlong faculty-to-faculty accessible instructional materials workshop,   Scott Kupferman, University of Colorado
12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. The Challenges of Emerging Technology in Online Education: Tips and Tools for Ensuing Accessibility in the Online Environment, Steven Salter, Ashford University
1:50 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Keynote Talk: Getting from Barrier-Free to Great User Experiences?, Whitney Quesenbery, UX Researcher & Director of Center for Civic Design
3:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. When the Federal Government Comes Knocking on Your Virtual Door– What to Expect in an ADA or 504 Technology Review, Mary Lou Mobley, U.S. Dept. of Education (double-session)

 

Thursday, November 19, 2015, Track “A” Sessions          Miller Center Room 114

Time Session Information
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Managing Accessibility in Online Education: WKU Processes and Practices, Anne Honaker, Western Kentucky University
12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Creating faculty buy-in for accessibility, Kristi O’Neil-Gonzalez, CSU Channel Islands
1:50 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Plenary Panel: Technology Accessibility in Higher Education — The Student PerspectiveA panel of students with disabilities from across the United States share their challenges, solutions, success stories, and ideas.
3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. UDOIT – Instructure Canvas Course Accessibility Checker, Nancy Swenson, UCF

 

Thursday, November 19, 2015, Track “B” Sessions          Miller Center Room 117

Time Session Information
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Introducing the Center for Accessible Materials Innovation: A First In The World Project, Robert Martinengo, Georgia Institute of Technology
12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Building Accessibility Auditing into Course Development, Kara Zirkle, George Mason University
1:50 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Plenary Panel: Technology Accessibility in Higher Education — The Student PerspectiveA panel of students with disabilities from across the United States share their challenges, solutions, success stories, and ideas.
3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. New Developments in Image and Math Content Accessibility 2.0, Sue-Ann Ma, Benetech

 

Friday, November 20, 2015, Track “A” Sessions                Miller Center Room 114

Time Session Information
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. E-Learning Accessibility: What Does an Instructor Need to Know?, Sheryl Burgstahler, University of Washington
10:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. When the DoJ/OCR makes a visit: Campus leaders discuss lessons learned in resolving complaints about inaccessible IT, Sheryl Burgstahler, University of Washington (double-session)
12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Fostering a Course Accessibility Community of Practice, Matt Dingo, Ohio University

 

Friday, November 20, 2015, Track “B” Sessions                Miller Center Room 115

Time Session Information
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Motivating Accessibility Adoption on Campus, Janet Sedgley, University of Montana
10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Taking on the elephant in the room: Implementing innovative procurement processes in a large University system, Tom Siechert, California State University, Fresno
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Getting Mainstream Publishers onto the Accessibility Bandwagon: Why STEM & commercial publishers avoid accessibility, Bevi Chagnon, PubCom — The Publishing Communications Group
12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Creating Audio-Tactiles on the Fly, Alexa Schriempf, Penn State University