National Distance Learning Week 2021 Lunchtime Series
Nov. 8-12, 2021: Teaching & Learning in a Hybrid World
One in four students take some of their courses online, and two-thirds do so at a public institution in the same state where they live (Allen, Seaman, Pouline, & Straut, 2016; Allen & Seaman, 2017). Last year, those numbers increased dramatically when the pandemic brought all teaching and learning to the virtual classroom. As life gradually shifts to a different instructional format, we invite faculty, staff, administrators, and students to reflect on new teaching and learning modalities.
Join UMBC in celebrating National Distance Learning Week (NDLW) from November 8 - 12, 2021. Instructional Technology will host a series of panel conversations around our theme, Teaching & Learning in a Hybrid World, as we celebrate the successes and the challenges of adapting, teaching, and working together during a pandemic. Topics include:
Monday, November 8, 2021 @ Noon
Lessons Learned: Online Teaching & Course Design
What We've Learned and How We're Moving Forward
Join us as we talk with faculty about their successes and challenges this past year, both technically and pedagogically. We will explore new practices they plan to continue, navigating a return to campus, and how course design and delivery have evolved. Learn about their experiences adapting to online and hybrid instruction, the courses they developed, and the future of these teaching modalities at UMBC. View the event recording.
Wednesday, November 10, 2021 @ Noon
Student Services: Library, Career Center, Advising, Classroom AV
Supporting students during the pandemic also required massive shifts across the institution. As we return both in-person and online, join us for conversations with those who have designed, delivered, and innovated their way to success for students. View the event recording.
Friday, November 12, 2021 @ Noon
The Future of eLearning: What Could it Look Like?
Online learning provided flexible opportunities when faculty and students could not come to campus last year and it created successful innovation for students, as seen by the Finish Line campaign. As UMBC invests in technology, support, and outreach for e-learning, we will talk with a program director and staff about the ways our practices have changed and what it may hold for our future. View the event recording.
The final schedule with links to join the live sessions will be posted to myUMBC by early November. All sessions will be recorded and posted to the recording archive.
Share your thoughts!
We also invite you to participate in this year’s NDLW conversations by contributing your reflection on lessons learned or what’s next in a VoiceThread box. To share your reflection, you may use this VoiceThread link. If you have not posted to VoiceThread, please refer to the directions for next steps.
Can't make these National Distance Learning Week sessions? Bookmark this post for updates about other virtual events!
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References
Allen, I. E., Seaman, J., Poulin, R., & Straut, T. T. (2016). Online report card: Tracking online education in the United States. Oakland, CA: Babson Survey Research Group. Retrieved from http://onlinelearningsurvey.com/reports/onlinereportcard.pdf
Allen, I. E., & Seaman, J. (2017). Digital learning compass: Distance education enrollment report 2017. Oakland, CA: Babson Survey Research Group. Retrieved from http://onlinelearningsurvey.com/reports/digtiallearningcompassenrollment2017.pdf
We are excited to announce the State Employee Benefits Division will be hosting a series of Virtual Open Enrollment Events over the next 3 weeks starting at 8am on 10/26/2021.
- 8 sessions a day
- 4 in the morning
- 4 in the afternoon
- Sessions are vendor specific (noted at the end of each link) i.e., United Concordia
- Join as many as you like – no need to register in advance!
- Sessions will provide a quick overview of the program and then time for Q&A
Open Enrollment started on October 18th and will end at 5pm on November 12th.
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We are excited to announce the State Employee Benefits Division will be hosting a series of Virtual Open Enrollment Events over the next 3 weeks starting at 8am on 10/26/2021. 8 sessions a day...
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Mon, 25 Oct 2021 14:01:09 -0400
Motivational Monday TEDx of the Week
5 ways to create stronger connections
Looking for a dose of inspiration to start your week? No need to look any further. Each week, we curate talks on topics that matter NOW for all of us related to resilience, self-care, dealing with uncertain times, as well as ways to stay connected, inspired, and grounded when the earth beneath us is shifting.Today's talk is 5 ways to create stronger connections by Robert Reffkin. In a tech-obsessed culture, it can be difficult to build genuine relationships with people, especially in the workplace. Robert Reffkin shares his tips and tricks for establishing authentic connections on the job.
After you watch, we invite you to reflect on the following:
- What resonated for you in the video?
- What lived experiences do you have, either personally or professionally that align with the core message of the talk?
- As you think of your role as a student, employee, or manager what feels relevant and useful to remember?
- What are you taking away that feels meaningful - either a new perspective, a potential action, etc.
- How might we take better care of ourselves and each other during this time?
If you're a supervisor, consider using this talk for team building purposes! You might send the video ahead of your meeting with several reflection questions on which you'd like your staff to come prepared to speak.
Join us on October 29th from 10-11:30 a.m. for a Caring For Yourself & Supporting Students Connections Group session.
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During this time of continued uncertainty and change we are faced with many stressors that impact the way we live & work affect our ability to take care of ourselves and others. We need...
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Wed, 20 Oct 2021 07:40:57 -0400
Wed, 20 Oct 2021 07:41:40 -0400
Motivational Monday TEDx of the Week
How burnout makes us less creative
Looking for a dose of inspiration to start your week? No need to look any further. Each week, we curate talks on topics that matter NOW for all of us related to resilience, self-care, dealing with uncertain times, as well as ways to stay connected, inspired, and grounded when the earth beneath us is shifting.Today's talk is How burnout makes us less creative by Rahaf Harfoush. Our obsession with productivity -- to-do lists, life hacks, morning routines -- is making us less productive, says digital anthropologist Rahaf Harfoush. She explains why we need to redesign our workday around creativity -- not just efficiency.
After you watch, we invite you to reflect on the following:
- What resonated for you in the video?
- What lived experiences do you have, either personally or professionally that align with the core message of the talk?
- As you think of your role as a student, employee, or manager what feels relevant and useful to remember?
- What are you taking away that feels meaningful - either a new perspective, a potential action, etc.
- How might we take better care of ourselves and each other during this time?
If you're a supervisor, consider using this talk for team building purposes! You might send the video ahead of your meeting with several reflection questions on which you'd like your staff to come prepared to speak.
Today's talk is A magical mantra for nurturing a blissful life by JayaShri Maathaa. As the coronavirus pandemic raged in her native Sri Lanka, monk JayaShri Maathaa had a thought: two magical words that planted something beautiful in her mind and blossomed into a whole new way of being. She shares how this mantra transformed her life -- and the surprising ways gratitude can invite bliss, joy and harmony between yourself and all that surrounds you.
After you watch, we invite you to reflect on the following:
- What resonated for you in the video?
- What lived experiences do you have, either personally or professionally that align with the core message of the talk?
- As you think of your role as a student, employee, or manager what feels relevant and useful to remember?
- What are you taking away that feels meaningful - either a new perspective, a potential action, etc.
- How might we take better care of ourselves and each other during this time?
If you're a supervisor, consider using this talk for team building purposes! You might send the video ahead of your meeting with several reflection questions on which you'd like your staff to come prepared to speak.
Rubrics are grading tools that help instructors to assess student performance and give feedback in detail. Prior to the October update, rubrics were limited to 10 rows and 10 columns. Now faculty can create rubrics with up to 15 rows and 15 columns, providing more flexibility for the grading process.
Students need a way to ensure their work has been correctly submitted into the system. The latest update to Ultra features the student receipts for assignment submissions, which provides students with a unique tracking number that confirms their academic submission.
Finally,
tables are available in the Ultra content editor, providing a way for instructors and students to align and organize content. There are some limitations to how tables can be used -- please check the
What's New in Ultra FAQ for this information. We also encourage users to leverage accessibility features by using the row and column headers which establishes relationships between header and data fields and provides context to users access assistive technologies.
The next update to our test environment will take place on October 12, 2021. Faculty who are interested in test driving new features before they are released to production should open an RT ticket to request early access. Please watch the FAQs and myUMBC for additional information about Ultra.
As always, if you have any questions about teaching, learning, and technology at UMBC, please consider the following options: Today's talk is How to make faster decisions by Patrick McGinnis. In a world of endless reviews and options, it's easy to become paralyzed by indecision. Investor and writer Patrick McGinnis shares the dangers of "FOBO" -- the fear of better options -- and how to overcome it.
After you watch, we invite you to reflect on the following:
- What resonated for you in the video?
- What lived experiences do you have, either personally or professionally that align with the core message of the talk?
- As you think of your role as a student, employee, or manager what feels relevant and useful to remember?
- What are you taking away that feels meaningful - either a new perspective, a potential action, etc.
- How might we take better care of ourselves and each other during this time?
If you're a supervisor, consider using this talk for team building purposes! You might send the video ahead of your meeting with several reflection questions on which you'd like your staff to come prepared to speak.
As we continue to live through times uncertainty and rapid change, learning how to support ourselves and others is essential to our personal and professional success. We often need new mindsets, skill sets, and heart sets that help us look in the mirror, challenge assumptions, practice self-care, and develop resiliences habits that can buoy us in the storm. The following collection of videos, live training & wellness sessions, and resources are available to support you and for you to help support others.
Gentle Yoga for the Fall Season -10.5
Wellness Wednesday: Managing Worry & Anxiety - 10.6
Navigating Uncertainty w/Mindfulness - 10.7
National Health Education Week - 10.19 - 10.21
Caring For Yourself & Supporting Students
Connections Group - 10.29 & 12.16
Retriever Recharge
Wellness in the Workplace
Care.com Resources
COVID-19 EAP Webinars
]]>
As we continue to live through times uncertainty and rapid change, learning how to support ourselves and others is essential to our personal and professional success. We often need new mindsets,...
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Wed, 29 Sep 2021 15:14:59 -0400
Wed, 29 Sep 2021 15:22:48 -0400
New Features for VoiceThread Assignments
Updates to Due Dates, Creating Assignments, and Commenting
There are some new features in VoiceThread Assignments!
New features were added to VoiceThread Assignments at the end of September and we would like to share them with faculty. These features enhance the functionality of VoiceThread Assignments to allow increased flexibility for submissions, due dates, and commenting. New features are available in Blackboard now and as you create new assignments.
Separate close and due dates + late submissions
When building an assignment, you can now set both a due date and a close date. This enables you to continue making the assignment available to students even after the due date passes. It will only become unavailable after the close date.
Additionally, students can submit after the due date has passed, and their submissions will be marked as "Late" on your grading page so you can decide whether to deduct any credit for missing the due date.
Replying to comments after submitting
After students submit a commenting assignment, you might want them to go back and reply to classmates to keep the conversation going. Now they can use the threaded reply option to continue the conversation even if they've submitted and received a grade. The image below illustrates how a student can make a reply comment even after submitting successfully.
Slide requirements
Create and comment assignments can require students to add a specific number of slides before they can submit. Set this requirement in the same place you set a required number of comments.
New location for importing from other VoiceThreads
Previously the option for importing slides from other VoiceThreads was inside the Media Sources option. Now it is available right on the main slide import page to make it easier to find and faster to use.
Other recent updates
Just in case you missed these other great updates from the last couple of months, these have also been added since June:
- Hands-off course copying: If you use a learning management system that supports automatic copying of LTI-integrated links, all of your student submissions and comments will be removed from your assignments automatically each time you copy the course to re-use it.
- Watch assignment feedback: If students are completing a "Watch a VoiceThread" assignment, they can access a detailed list of which slides or comments they haven't yet viewed or listened to completely.
- Caption editing: You can now edit closed captions in the Assignment Builder and in the student view. Note that you can't do this in the grader yet, but that's coming soon.
Bonus: This means you can create and edit closed captions in VT Universal now, too! - Maximum comment requirement: Rather than setting only a minimum or exact number of comments required on a VoiceThread, you can set a maximum number of comments students can record.
- Selecting comments to include: When building a commenting or watch assignment and selecting a VoiceThread you've already created, you can also choose which comments you want to include in this fresh instance.
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There are some new features in VoiceThread Assignments! New features were added to VoiceThread Assignments at the end of September and we would like to share them with faculty. These features...
https://wiki.umbc.edu/x/kQzBBQ
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Tue, 28 Sep 2021 12:36:14 -0400
Tue, 28 Sep 2021 12:37:19 -0400
