Distance Learning Mentors Workshop Series

Please CLICK  HERE TO REGISTER for any/all of the workshops below. You will receive information via email to access the event via Teams.

 

Distance Learning Mentors workshop series: Teaching and Learning Technologies
October 4, 2021, 12:15pm-1:15pm. 
Dr. Deanna Devlin: Using VoiceThread for an Interactive Online Classroom Experience

Presentation Description: Students do not always favor online courses due to the lack of interaction and engagement with their professor and classmates. However, the use of VoiceThread allows for an engaging experience in asynchronous classes. This presentation will provide a tutorial on how to use VoiceThread and leverage its features to bring traditional features of online learning to life. 

Dr. Doug Gallaway: Harnessing the Latest Technologies Trends for Teaching Online

Presentation Description: Many people find teaching online to be challenging but there are a number of ways to improve your online presence. Taking advantage of the latest technologies is a great way to build confidence and improve student learning outcomes. Covid has accelerated the advancement of distance learning and it is time to take advantage of these advancements to improve how we deploy our online classes. This presentation will help you take advantage of innovative teaching technologies such as livestreaming options and video creation to help improve your online class.

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Distance Learning Mentors workshop series: Pedagogical Innovations
October 7, 2021, 11:00am-12:00pm
Dr. Jason Lotz:  Decentering the Classroom with Social Media Trends

Presentation Description: Teaching remotely showed us that our students’ personal online presence does not always transfer or contribute to their academic online learning. This presentation aims to track some of the online habits and trends that might be harnessed to decenter the classroom (or, redistribute the instructional agency to the students themselves). From reaction videos to the #tellmewithouttellingme challenge, these social media trends encourage students to access learning material on their terms and take more responsibility for their learning experience

Dr. Michael Figuccio: Google Sites and E-Service-Learning

Presentation Description: E-Service-Learning is “an integrative pedagogy that engages learners through technology in civic inquiry, service, reflection, and action” (Dailey-Hebert & Donnelli, 2010, p. 1). In e-service-learning, the service, the course, or both occur online. Recently, it has been established that students obtain similar learning outcomes in both service-learning and e-service-learning activities (Figuccio, 2020). This presentation will discuss how Google Sites can be employed in e-service-learning projects. 

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Distance Learning Mentors workshop series: Authentic Assessment Strategies
Tues, October 12, 2021, 2:00pm-3:00pm
Dr. Jessica Seifert: Strategies for Creating and  Implementing Authentic Assessments in Science Courses

Presentation Description:  This presentation will cover the course-based implementation of a combination of assessment modalities; low stakes assessments, traditional high stakes assessments and high stakes authentic assessment.   In addition, the presenter will cover the benefits and drawbacks of authentic assessment and strategies for incorporating authentic assessments in courses.

Dr. Gozde Ustuner: Backward Design and Creative Assessment Methods

Presentation Description: Assessment is a key factor for improving student learning. Backward design offers an unique approach for designing, developing and improving course curriculum and assessment methods. This presentation will focus on designing student-centered assessment methods rather than using traditional assessments and encouraging students to actively participate in the assessments that require them to apply the principles and knowledge they have learned in the courses.

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Distance Learning Mentors workshop series: Strategies for Student Engagement
Weds, October 20, 2021, 11:00am-12:00pm
Dr. Michael Fraina: Engaging Tools in Blackboard Collaborate

Presentation Description: This presentation will cover easily accessible tools that can be used in Blackboard for remote, synchronous and or livestreaming classes. The presenter will display how to utilize the polling feature and breakout groups. Best practices toward these resources will be shared.

Dr. Jie Li: Revisit Student Engagement and Best Practices

Presentation Description: This presentation will introduce a broader view of student engagement and recommend best practices to improve student engagement in online, remote, and live-stream classes. Challenges of engaging students in live-stream classes will also be discussed.  

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Distance Learning Mentors workshop series: Nurturing Online Communities
Thurs, October 28, 2021, 11:00-12:00pm

Dr. Sherry Manansingh: Engage your Virtual Community

Presentation Description: Engaging students in the online courses can be challenging for educators. Utilizing various teaching strategies and online communities such as facebook, linked in, and/or twitter can be beneficial to the students for engagement. 

Dr. Gonca Altuger-Genc: Strengthening Online Classroom Community through Peer Modeling and Peer-to-Peer Connection

We start learning from our peers at a very young age. We observe how others complete tasks and replicate their approach. The process is commonly referred to as peer modeling and it continues to be integral to our learning through our lives. In online learning environments forming a platform for students to peer model and as a result create meaningful peer-to-peer connection is a challenge. This presentation will discuss ideas, formats that can be included in online learning environments to establish and encourage peer modeling to form meaningful peer-to-peer connections. 

 

If you have any questions about these workshops, please contact Aracely Mahay at Email.