Teaching Today
Teaching Today is Wichita State's monthly teaching newsletter. See recent issues and archives below, or access the archives by selecting the "Section Menu" above.
Teaching Today Archive
| Issue | Topics |
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January 2023 Academic Resources Conference recap and videos! The theme of this conference was Digital Transformation. Session topics include equity considerations of digital transformation, the fututre of work, the academic honesty/student conduct process, the ethics of big data, mental health for instructors, technical training in McGraw Hill and Cengage, Watermark CES, and more. |
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| February 2023 |
Fall in Love With Teaching This issue includes links to free training from Blackboard, Microsoft, and others, information about ICPSR (an archive of political and social research data), which we can access through University libraries, and information about Teaching Matters, a series hosted by the Retention Faculty Fellows. |
| March 2023 |
Retention Faculty Fellows Takeover!
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| April 2023 |
Very Large Enrollment (VLE) Classes VLE courses (classes with enrollment above 100, including in-person, hybrid, and online) present challenges not present in smaller courses. In this issue, you will find results of VLE instructor survey, tips for course management, assessment recommendations, advice from peers, and more. |
| May 2023 |
May, 2023 Academic Resources Conference recap and videos! Topics for this conference include Diversity and Inclusion in student retention, positive risk-taking, AI and academic integrity, encouraging intrinsic motivation, tech training in Adobe Acrobat, Watermark CES and more. |
| Summer 2023 |
Professional Development and Conference Highlights In this issue, we hear from faculty and staff who have recently attended conferences or professional development events. Articles by Brett Bruner, John Hammond, Sandra Ranney, Anna Porcaro, Carolyn Speer, Rachel Bastian, and John Jones |
| August 2023 |
August 2023 Academic Resources Conference recap and videos! Topics for this conference include using Generative AI as a tool in the classroom and in your job, AI and academic integrity, technical training in Teams, Blackboard Ultra's new features like AI and Flexible Grading, in-class digital surveys and more. |
| September 2023 |
Student Support Services Have you ever worried about whether you know the “right” office or campus service to recommend to a student in need? It’s understandable because Wichita State has a lot of student support services! To make the job of keeping them all clear in our minds easier, OIR has compiled a list in the September 2023 Teaching Today. We hope it’s helpful to you and your students! |
| October 2023 |
Digital Transformation - Welcome to the Wild, Wild West! Our annual Digital Transformation issue which brings our readers a useful update on the state of educational technology and the impact new technologies has on teaching. This year there is a heavy emphasis on artificial intelligence, including opportunites for lowering the cost of classroom materials for students, deepfakes, links for AI training, the use of AI as a tutor, and more. |
| November 2023 |
Annual "Thankful" Issue This issue includes ideas for activities that cultivate gratitude in the classroom, the benefits of gratitude, advice on student engagement, the 8 Dimensions of Wellness, and special thanks from the OIR staff. |
| December 2023 |
We are Moving to Ultra! Our December issue includes a special announcement: We are moving to Blackboard Ultra! Inside, you will find links to training, advice for preparing for the move, unpacking, and getting ready to teach in Ultra. |
| Issue | Topics |
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January 2022 ARC in Review Highlights: Aligning Outcomes, Activities, and Assessments; LinkedIn Learning suggested courses about goals; where to get Blackboard help. |
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| February 2022 |
Fall in Love With Teaching Highlights: Let's talk about the cloud; Using word to create tests for online use, rubrics in Ultra courses, "Learn to love learning theory," |
| March & April 2022 |
Spring has Sprung! Highlights: Looking forward to May ARC -- Myths about Teaching and Learning, articles "Why the Science of Teaching is Often Ignored" and "The Power of Telling Students Why," |
| May 2022 |
What to expect at the May ARC Highlights: panel discussions include student panel, portfolios at WSU, Intersectionality of ODI and ODS; sessions about teaching include Inclusive teaching, encouraging metacognition, intro to learning theories; sessions your GTAs will love, and more. |
| June 2022 |
May ARC in Review (includes videos) Highlights: Metacognition Training from Moriah Beck, Myths about Teaching and Learning by Carolyn Speer, OneDrive and cloud storage with Ali Levine, Introduction to Learning Theories by Carolyn Speer, and more. |
| July 2022 |
August ARC is coming! Highlights: types of ARC sessions, topics for teachers, including nontraditional grading methods, mental health for instructors, and accessibility training; tech training in OneDrive and Blackboard; LinkedIn Learning suggestions. |
| August 2022 |
Welcome to AY 2022-23! Highlights: August ARC review, including panel "What will the future look like, and how do we prepare our students for it?" and sessions "Nontraditional Grading Methods" with John Hammond, "The Inclusive University" panel, technical training in Blackboard and OneDrive, and more. |
| September 2022 |
Teaching Matters Highlights: Suicide prevention training and video from Rick Muma, Teaching Matters discussion recap, tips about Blackbaord course messages. |
| October 2022 |
Digital Transformation and Education by Humans and AI Highlights: Teaching Tomorrow with provost Shirley Lefever, What is digital transformation, high performance computing, Creative AI with John Hammer, AI and music with David MacDonald, and more. |
| November 2022 |
Thankful Highlights: Messages of gratitude from WSU faculty and staff |
| December 2022 |
OIR Gifts to You Highlights: Digital Transformation and AI, how to guard your mental health, Blackboard training, Book club, etc. |
| Issue | Topics |
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The "Welcome to Spring Term!" edition Highlights: Maria Sclafani's article "So you think you can teach? Finding my teacher identity in the classroom, the writing cetner, and the library;" improving engagement in Zoom classes, LightBoard studio training, Intro to Panopto, #WeSupportU program, Information on FERPA, Copyright. |
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| February 2021 |
The "Fall in Love With Teaching" edition Highlights: Change from IDA to OIR, OIR staff introduction, what does OIR do? What to expect during IDA to OIR transition, Thinking about Metacognition with Moriah Beck, Learning to love online teaching, "First Year Students are a Joy," by Aaron Rife, First Year Seminar faculty coordinator. |
| March 2021 |
How Far We've Come! Highlights: Revisit computer security, call for ARC21 May and August presentations, Snagit for making GIFs, "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" presentation by Dr. Corrie Moreau, professor of arthropod biosystematics and biodiversity at Cornell University, Aaron Rife muses on How Far FYS has come. |
| April 2021 |
Changes Highlights: Campus-wide switch to Blackboard Ultra base navigation, Ultra FAQs, topics for May ARC, call for proposals for August ARC, Freedom of Expression curriculum, "Thinking During a Pandemic" by Aaron Rife. |
| May 2021 |
What to Expect When You are Expecting an ARC Highlights: Sessions on proctoring, Blackboard Ultra, infographics, accessibility, classroom management, beyond the discussion board; in addition, links to OLC Innovate session recordings like "Creative Strategies for Equitable Engagement in Online Classes," "Building 21st Century Skills for All Learners," as well as LinkedIn Learning challenges. Also, "The First Days of College" essay by J. Hadley Perkins. |
| June 2021 |
May ARC Revisited Highlights: Ultra is here! Brush up on Blackboard Original tools, accessibility is here to stay, 21st century workforce skills, Advanced Title IX with Sara Zafar, Microsoft Office tricks, free software overview. |
| August 2021 |
August ARC in a Nutshell Highlights: August ARC review, including Blackboard Ultra training, new required accessibility training, alternative assessment in higher ed, freedom of expression in your classroom, making human connections in class, intro to Panopto, getting started with open educational resources, Title IX training, Excel features. |
| September 2021 |
Doing What Can Be Done Highlights: "It's the Little Things that Count," guest column by Dr. Carolyn Shaw; Blackboard/Teams integration; in-person classes with masks, sexual assault prevention training for students. |
| October 2021 |
Encouraging All Voices Highlights: "Encouraging All Voices," guest column by Dr. Rick. Muma, intro to Examity, improve your course's visual design, Blackboard webinars, human captioning on Panopto. |
| November 2021 |
Ultra Course Format is Here! Highlights: "Holistic Support for Students and Instructors," guest column by Dr. Shirley Lefever; MRC educational technology survey results, intro to Ultra course format, Assessment committee meeting about curriculum mapping, student access to Microsoft Office 365. |
| December 2021 |
Ultra Course Format Delays Highlights: required move to Blackboard Ultra delayed based on feedback and experience, how to choose between Blackboard Original and Ultra, preview of January ARC, grade codes. |
| Issue | Topics |
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Your Teaching Resource Highlights: Merging courses with similar content, Blackboard Ally accessibility dial; Open/Alternative Textbook (OAT) Initiative, Interdisciplinary Program Award Comptetition, embed a librarian in your course, advice from the FYS team. |
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| February 2020 |
Your Teaching Resource Highlights: Active Learning Fellows, Katie Cramer wins Academy for Effective Teaching award, Pre-Tenure club meetings, Advice from Dr. George Dehner, Fall in Love with Teaching, from tthe FYS team, How to write a good alt-text tag, tips from ITS. |
| March 2020 |
Emergency Preparedness Issue Highlights: Putting your course online in an emergency, CDC guidance for higher ed, message from Dr. Carolyn Shaw about coronavirus, concerns about serving student in emergency situations, basic computer training, going online FAQs, accessible online presentations, connecting to work computer from home, SafeAssign. |
| March Extra: Community |
Your Teaching (Community!) Resource Highlights: Keeping healthy, CAPS "Keep Calm and Breathe On," "I will survive" Coronavirus version for teachers video, LinkedIN Learning enterprise license makes courses free for all, other free teaching resources, "Leading Remote Teams" by John Jones. |
| April 2020 |
Yes We Can! Highlights: IDA help with Blackboard; What you need to know: Blackboard tests; Honor pledge available for classes, Peer Insight from Cindy Malcolm and her transition to remote teaching, Zoom pro accounts, promoting online tutoring, "Helpful Hints from University Libraries," by Ginger Williams, Accessibility Ally training info. |
| April Extra: Security |
Security Extra Highlights: Welcome, new CISO, Mark Rodee; "Avoid the scams of the moment" by Chris Cavanaugh, social engineering (aka human hacking) - don't get human hacked! computer updates, avoiding Zoom intruders, using password managers, OneDrive saves the day, Secure your home network, computer self diagnosis, helpdesk, IDA suport. |
| May 2020 |
The Off Contract Issue Highlights: unchaining the 2020 ARC, community online events, "What We're reading" feature by faculty and staff. |
| September 2020 |
Your Teaching Resource Highlights: ARC is now three times a year in January, May, and August; join ARC facebook group, Zoom pro accounts, online icebreaker ideas, helping students find your comments, finding streaming media at WSU libraries, subject librarians, adding subtitles to PowerPoint in real time, set up an escape room in your Blackboard course. |
| October 2020 |
Your Teaching Resource Highlights: The ARC big read: Derek Bok's Higher expectations; using polls in Zoom, ask for "reactions" during your online class, archiving blackboard courses, controlling the archive size of your Blackboard course, 5 things to know about hyperlinks, locating OER texts, host a Zoom-based murder mystery. |
| November 2020 |
The "Why Didn't Someone Tell Me That?" Issue Highlights: Spotlight Zoom panels and guest speakers, improved breakout rooms in Zoom, new Zoom backgrounds, simplify test creation in Blackboard, course size limits, organize personal courses, Respondus lockdown browser, Incomplete policy, free access to LinkedIn Learning, Microsoft stream. |
| Issue | Topics |
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| October 2019 |
Welcome to our first edition! Highlights: Accessibility Ally dials, important accessibility decisions from the Ninth Circuit, pros of hybrid course delivery, Blackboard course copy, miderms in Blackboard, chalk and markers available from IDA, Inclusive teaching training with Dr. Jennifer Stone, information literacy in higher education, PowerPoint shows, friendly online course audit, call to share conference news with WSU. |
| November 2019 |
Your Teaching Resource Highlights: Grade entry tips and instructions, Tell your students about alternative formats, research on note-taking, new roles in Blackboard courses, Library textbook collection, CourseLeaf Curriculum training. |
| December 2019 |
Your Teaching Resource Highlights: Open/Alternative Textbook (OAT) initiative to reduce student expenses, Harvard settles with National Association for the Deaf, FYS team "Demonstrating Care," Blackboard items to set up before your course launches, Give better feedback with technology, what CMS does for you, OER. |