Developing Blended and Online Courses

Virtual Training Series

Check out all the workshops here!

This award winning, blended delivery course provides insight into an Indigenous world view, describes the impact of colonization and how it affects students attending the college today, and guides participants in the development of new teaching and learning methods.

 This winter, the TELTIN TTE WILNEW course will run from Friday, February 3 to Friday, March 30 with an Orientation on Friday, January 27th.  It provides opportunities for you to work online using Desire2Learn (D2L) as well as face to face (F2F) in discussion groups with an Aboriginal facilitator, Corrine Michel. You should expect to commit approximately 40 to 50 hours of time to complete the course (or about 5 hours per week). If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Corrine at michel@camosun.bc.ca.

 Click here to register or copy and paste the following URL into your web browser: http://www.surveyfeedback.ca/surveys/wsb.dll/s/1g165b. You will be set you up in D2L prior to the orientation session so that you can begin accessing the D2L site. Face to face discussion sessions are scheduled as follows (all F2F sessions will be held at the Lansdowne campus):

 Orientation Session – Friday, January 27 – 11:30am to 1:30pm – Ewing 344

• Review of Unit 1 – Friday, February 3 – 11:30am to 1:30pm – Ewing 344
• Review of Unit 2 – Friday, February 24 – 11:30am to 1:30pm – Ewing 344
• Review of Unit 3 – Friday, March 16 – 11:30am to 1:30pm – WTCC 234
• Review of Unit 4 – Friday, March 30 – 11:30am to 1:30pm – WTCC 234

 Click here to see some testimonials from past participants talking about their TTW experience and how it has impacted their work (scroll to bottom of the page).

Learner-Centered Technology: Aligning Tools with Learning Goals

Date:                 Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Time:                11:00am – 12:30pm

Location:         LLC 156 (LTC Training Room), Lansdowne

Click the link below to register or copy & paste into your web browser:

http://www.surveyfeedback.ca/surveys/wsb.dll/s/1g1495

Learner-Centered Technology: Aligning Tools with Learning Goals will provide faculty with a roadmap for matching technological tools to course learning outcomes. This seminar is presented by Dr. Ike Shibley.  Ike is an associate professor of chemistry at Penn State Berks.  His research involves pedagogical approaches to improving science instruction at the college level. He has won both local and university-wide awards for his teaching including this year’s Eisenhower Award presented to a tenured Penn State faculty member who exhibits excellent teaching as well as mentoring other teachers.

In this online seminar, you will learn:

• How to match learning goals with technological products
• How to design course assignments that more effectively incorporate technology
• How technology can improve learner-centered instruction in each of the four major course formats: face-to-face learning, web-enhanced learning, blended learning, and online learning
• How to explain the major tenets of learner-centered education and relate each tenet to technology
• How to argue effectively about the way that technology can improve learning
• How to identify technology programs that can improve learning in a course

Virtual Training (NEW!)

This fall the Distributed Education team will be offering faculty, short,  just-in-time virtual training sessions to better facilitate training between both campuses. Faculty will now be able to attend training from their offices or from any location that has a computer with an Internet connection and a phone. We are hoping to record sessions and make them available for faculty after the training sessions.

Training Participation Policy

Space for virtual training will be limited to 15 participants and registrations will be processed on a first come, first served basis. Sessions with less than 6 registrants will be rescheduled or canceled, depending on resource availability.

Highly Recommended: D2L Overview

Due to the intensive nature of the just-in-time virtual training sessions, we are hoping faculty will have had some previous exposure to using D2L (so questions asked during the sessions are relevant to the training topics). This will enable us to make the most efficient use of time and ensure we are staying on topic. If you require an overview and are not able to attend any of the sessions listed, please contact desupport@camosun.bc.ca

Face-to-Face Drop-In Training

The DE team will also be offering face-to-face informal drop-in sessions on both campuses to assist faculty with learning D2L. No registration is required. Please drop by and we will answer any questions or concerns you have. See drop-in schedule

Virtual Training Sessions

Time: 12:00pm-1:00pm Location: Online (instructions will be sent via email)

D2L Overview

Date: October 25th, 2011
Prerequisites: Familiarity with using a computer and navigating the Internet is strongly recommended.
Description: This workshop will provide you with an overview of the essential teaching tools available in our new learning management system, Desire2Learn. Whether you are looking to supplement your face-to-face classes, transition from using a basic course website or simply want to learn more about how to enhance your current teaching methodologies with using technology, this session has a little something for everyone. Come explore the possibilities!

Managing Discussions

Date: October 26th, 2011
Prerequisites: Participants are required to attend a D2L overview session prior to attending this workshop.
Description: Take a closer look at how instructors can use Discussions to connect with students and promote collaboration. A demonstration of how to create and facilitate discussion activities will be provided.

Creating Private Groups

Date: October 27, 2011
Prerequisites: Participants are required to attend a D2L overview session prior to attending this workshop. Experience using the Dropbox and Discussion tools in D2L is helpful but not essential.
Description: Come learn how to create and manage private groups in D2L. A demonstration of how to create group discussions, dropboxes and locker space will be provided.

Managing Content in D2L

Date: November 1, 2011
Prerequisites: Participants are required to attend a D2L overview session prior to attending this workshop.
Description: This intensive session will provide an overview of the content tool in D2L. Participants will learn how to upload and manage course files and begin adding modules and topics. A demonstration of how to edit and manage your content will be provided.

Using Cascading Style Sheets in D2L

Date: November 2, 2011
Prerequisites: Previous experience using D2L (and specifically the content tool) is required.
Description: Come learn how to jazz up your online content using D2L’s built-in cascading style sheets (CSS). Cascading style sheets will enable you to easily create a consistent look and feel within your online material. Please note your content must be in HTML to use cascading style sheets. Please contact desupport@camosun.bc.ca if you have any questions related to this session.

Setting Up Your Gradebook

Date: November 8, 2011
Prerequisites: Participants are required to attend a D2L overview session prior to attending this workshop.
Description: A demonstration on how to set up your Gradebook from start to finish will be provided.

Entering Grades & Releasing Final Grades

Date: November 9, 2011
Prerequisites: Previous experience using D2L is strongly recommended. Participants should have a Grade book set up prior to the session in order to fully benefit from this training opportunity.
Description: It’s grading time again! This session is designed to assist faculty who would like a quick refresher on how to input and manage student grades in D2L. An overview of how to release calculated and adjusted final grades will also be provided.

Creating Quiz Questions

Date: November 15, 2011
Prerequisites: Participants are required to attend a D2L overview session prior to attending this workshop.
Description: This session will provide an overview of the 14 different question types available in D2L’s Quizzing tool. Come learn how to create quiz questions and organize your Question Library.

Setting up Quizzes in D2L

Date: November 16, 2011
Prerequisites: Participants are required to attend a D2L overview session prior to attending this workshop.
Description: Come learn how to set up a Quiz in D2L! Participants will learn how to customize quiz properties, restrictions, attempts, submission views and how to import questions from the question library during this session. A brief demonstration on creating randomized quizzes to ensure each student receives an unique quiz will also be provided.

Grading Quizzes

Date: November 17, 2011
Prerequisites: Participants are required to attend a D2L overview session prior to attending this workshop. Previous experience setting up a Quiz is also recommended.
Description: This training workshop will focus on how grade quizzes. Participants will learn how to set up additional submission views for students (to release answers after a quiz period is over), link to your grade book and grade long answer style questions within a quiz. An overview of question versioning and how to view question statistics will also be provided.

Customizing Your Course Home Navigation Bar

Date: November 22, 2011
Prerequisites: Participants are required to attend a D2L overview session prior to attending this workshop. Previous experience using D2L is strongly recommended.
Description: Come learn how to customize your course home navigation bar (navbar). We will tackle how to add, remove and create custom links to your navbar during this session. An overview of how to activate your course home navigation bar will also be provided.

Managing Your Course Homepage and Creating Custom Widgets

Date: November 23, 2011
Prerequisites: Participants are required to attend a D2L overview session prior to attending this workshop. Previous experience using D2L is strongly recommended.
Description: Participants will learn how to customize their course home pages by adding, removing and creating their own custom widgets during this session.

Import/Export/Copy Components in D2L

Date: November 24, 2011
Prerequisites: Participants are required to attend a D2L overview session prior to attending this workshop. Previous experience using D2L is strongly recommended.
Description: This workshop will focus on how to copy course component from course to course and how to export courses out of D2L.

Conditional Release in D2L

Date: November 29, 2011
Prerequisites: Participants are required to attend a D2L overview session prior to attending this workshop. Previous experience using D2L is strongly recommended.
Description: This workshop is designed to provide faculty with an overview of conditional release tool in D2L. Conditional release enables instructors to set up customized learning paths and conditionally release content and activities such as quizzes and discussions to learners.

Calculating and Releasing Final Grades – Refresher

Date: December 7, 2011
Prerequisites: Participants are required to attend a D2L overview session prior to attending this workshop. Participants should have a Grade book set up prior to the session in order to fully benefit from this training opportunity.
Description: It’s grading time again! This session is designed to assist faculty who would like a quick refresher on how to input and manage student grades in Desire2Learn. An overview of how to release calculated and adjusted final grades will also be provided.

D2L’s Course Builder

Date: December 8, 2011
Prerequisites: Participants are required to attend a D2L overview session prior to attending this workshop.
Description: Come learn how to use D2L’s course builder tool to assist with the course set up, design and review process. A demonstration of how to view your course materials, activities and assessments using the Course Builder will be provided.

For the  following sessions please note time and room number

Sneak Peek – New Tools in D2L

Date: December 14, 2011
Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
Location: LLC 151
Prerequisites: Participants are required to attend a D2L overview session prior to attending this workshop.
Description: Come join us for a demonstration and round table discussion on the use new tools in D2L. This custom workshop will be developed based on faculty requests. Participants will be sent workshop information (schedule of topics and drop-in times) via email.

Best Practices in Distributed Education

Date: December 15, 2011
Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
Location: LLC 151
Prerequisites: None.
Description: Come join us for a demonstration and round table discussion on best practices in Distributed Education. This custom training workshop will be developed based on faculty requests. Participants will be sent workshop information (schedule of topics and drop-in times) via email.

Interested in Something Else?

Would you like training but don’t see the tool/topic you are interested in learning about? Or perhaps the session dates/times do not work for you? Please share your feedback.

Magna Online Seminar – Finding the Right Technology to Support Learning Outcomes

Date:            Thursday, October 20, 2011

Time:            11:00am – 12:30pm

Location:     LACC 251J(Liz Ashton Campus Centre), Interurban

 Click the link below to register or copy & paste into your web browser:

http://www.surveyfeedback.ca/surveys/wsb.dll/s/1g1330

In Finding the Right Technology to Support Learning Outcomes, Ike Shibley, Ph.D will share his experience and expertise with technology and course design (e.g. general and organic chemistry and nutrition courses taken from traditional classroom environment to blended).

After the seminar, participants will be able to do the following:

• Distinguish learning activities best accomplished in class from those best accomplished online;
• Access technologies that will facilitate pedagogical goals;
• Recognize learner-centered course design features;
• Understand and articulate ways technology can contribute to learner-centered instruction;
• Compare online and face-to-face communication and delineate benefits of each;
• Identify which courses are good candidates for technology enhancements.

This seminar will benefit Camosun faculty who are being encouraged to move their classroom courses to blended or fully online environments. This seminar is an exemplary practice example for faculty to reflect upon when redesigning their courses.

Date:            Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Time:            10:00am – 10:30am

Location:     Multipurpose Room (151) Library & Learning Commons, Lansdowne

 Click the link below to register or copy & paste into your web browser:

http://www.surveyfeedback.ca/surveys/wsb.dll/s/1g1331

Maryellen Weimer, Ph.D will discuss the pros and cons of offering extra credit to enhance learning and not reinforce procrastination or other irresponsible behaviours. This seminar will give you new ways to think about your extra credit policies.

In particular, participants will:

• Review legitimate reasons why some faculty offer extra credit while others do not;
• Consider several creatively designed extra-credit options;
• Reevaluate assumptions about the purposes and value of extra credit;
• Explore how terminology (simply using the words “extra credit”) affects attitudes about optional assignments or mid-term changes to syllabi; and
• Learn strategies to improve the efficacy of current extra credit practices.

Date:            Thursday, November 10, 2011

Time:            12:00pm – 1:30pm

Location:     Learning & Teaching Centre Training Room (156) Library & Learning Commons, Lansdowne

 Click the link below to register or copy & paste into your web browser:

http://www.surveyfeedback.ca/surveys/wsb.dll/s/1g1332

Research has found that students who experience group work in their college classrooms retain more information, are more satisfied with their classes, and have increased persistence in college (Braxton, Milem, and Sullivan, 2000). In this webinar, Debra Runshe will share with participants the benefits and barriers to group work and effective strategies creating, facilitating, and assessing group work in the college classroom.

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Articulate the benefits and barriers to group work;
• Explore the best uses of group work;
• Describe effective group facilitation strategies;
• Identify strategies for handling “slackers”;
• Develop assessment tools for group work.

Magna Online Seminar – Selecting and Using Technologies in Online and Blended Courses

Date:        Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Time:       11:00am – 12:00pm

Location: Learning & Teaching Centre Training Room (156), Lansdowne Library & Learning Commons

 Click the link below to register or paste the link into your web browser:

http://www.surveyfeedback.ca/surveys/wsb.dll/s/1g132c

 Digital technologies have transformed communications and are changing how students learn and teachers teach. In Selecting and Using Technologies in Online and Blended Courses, Tony Bates will share a comprehensive framework (SECTIONS) for education technology discussions. In his 60 minute seminar, participants will apply SECTIONS criteria to individual situations and receive feedback from Bates.

 Starting with this framework, you’ll learn:

• When to use face-to-face, blended learning, or online learning
• When to use a learning management system
• When and how to create personal learning environments
• When to blend a learning management system and personal learning environments
• When to use Web 2.0 tools, and for what purposes
• How to design learner-centered teaching.

Innovative Educators Webinar – How to Design Effective Multiple Choice Tests that Assess Student Learning

Date: Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Time: 10:00am – 11:30am

Location: Multipurpose Room (151) Library & Learning Commons, Lansdowne

Click the link below to register or paste the link into your web browser:

http://www.surveyfeedback.ca/surveys/wsb.dll/s/1g132d

 Multiple choice tests are probably the most common form of assessment used in colleges and universities, but often times they only measure memorization. If written effectively, they can assess higher order thinking skills. In this webinar, led by Debra Runshe (Indiana University), participants will learn when using multiple choice tests is appropriate, the best guidelines for developing multiple choice items and how to develop exams that evaluate learning beyond simply recalling facts.

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• describe strengths and limitations of multiple-choice tests.
• evaluate appropriate uses of multiple-choice tests.
• explain guidelines for constructing multiple-choice items.
• learn how to create questions that address the different levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy.
• review examples of effective and ineffective multiple choice tests.
• write multiple choice questions at different cognitive levels.

Innovative Educators Webinar – Best Practices in College Teaching: Designing Effective Rubrics 

Date: Thursday, October 13, 2011

Time: 10:00am – 11:30am

Location: Learning & Teaching Centre Training Room (156), Lansdowne Library & Learning Commons

Click the link below to register or paste the link into your web browser:

http://www.surveyfeedback.ca/surveys/wsb.dll/s/1g132e

 Well written rubrics help students understand what they are expected to accomplish in an assignment or a course of study. Debra Runshe from Indiana University will lead this webinar and share how to develop rubrics to assist in making the evaluation and feedback process more effective, more objective, and more likely to result in deeper student learning. Participants will receive a Quick Guide to rubrics and a rubric template.  

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• describe characteristics of a rubric.
• distinguish between analytic and holistic rubrics.
• design a rubric.
• articulate how rubrics can be useful.

Innovative Educators Webinar – No More Monkeys:  Time Management for Burnt-out

Date: Friday, October 14, 2011

Time: 10:00am – 11:30am

Location: Learning & Teaching Centre Training Room (156), Lansdowne Library & Learning Commons

Click the link below to register or paste the link into your web browser:

http://www.surveyfeedback.ca/surveys/wsb.dll/s/1g132f

Most higher education administrators have far too much to do, making the challenge even greater to maintain balance and avoid burnout. This webinar, led by M.E. McWilliams (Academic Assistance and Resource Centre, Stephen F. Austin State University), will share what great managers do to maximize the time they have.

Participants will learn how to:

• wrestle and win the email war
• make better use of smart phones
• organize all the digital bits of your life
• make a Not To Do List
• make a daily plan using digital tools or plain old paper
• make certain parts of the day your very own
• start and complete the one task that you really, really hate
• separate the want-to’s from the have-to’s
• delegate and not redo everything you delegated
• run an action-oriented staff meeting.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction – Lunchtime Presentations

• Thursday, September 22: 12:30-1:30pm; LLC 151, Lansdowne or
• Friday, October 14: 12:30-1:30pm; LACC 354, Interurban

 Workplace-stress and the mental and physical health problems that result are estimated to cost “$20-billion a year in workplace losses”¹. So if you feel stressed, you’re not alone. Stress can wreak havoc on your decision-making capability, and in your relationships at home and work. In this Less Stress lunch-hour presentation you will learn the biology of stress, how it’s triggered, and how to relieve it with Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) skills and techniques that you can take home and into the classroom.  Medical research demonstrating the efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction will be included.

 Facilitator: Lynne Mustard   Lynne trained in facilitating Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), as pioneered by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, at the Centre for Mindfulness, University of Massachusetts Medical School. She has taught Mindfulness in the community for about 10 years, as well as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction courses and workshops at UVIC, the Vancouver Island Cancer Centre, and Island Hearing. Lynne was an MBSR presenter at a National Conference for the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology and is also an experienced Yoga instructor.

 1. Erin Anderssen, “Ottawa to fund creation of national mental-health strategy”, Globe and Mail;

    Thursday, June 16, 2011

 There is no cost to participate in these lunchtime sessions but please feel free to bring your lunch to the session and help us out by registering your interest here: Less Stress registration.  If you have difficulties with the link, cut and paste the following into your browser: http://www.surveyfeedback.ca/surveys/wsb.dll/s/1g1285.

Click here for the Learning & Teaching PD Opportunities Sept-Oct/2011

Working in a fun, safe environment with colleagues from across the College, the ISW is a 4 day peer-based workshop designed to improve teaching practice.  Participants must commit to the full workshop schedule. 

 Email LTC@camosun.ca to register.  (Note:  limited to 5 participants).

Thursday & Friday, September 22&23: 4:00-8:00pm, LLC151, Lansdowne Campus  AND

Saturday & Sunday, September 24&25: 9:00am-3:00pm, LLC151, Lansdowne Campus

For further information on the ISW see the Faculty Development/ISW tab or click here.

If you’re looking for an opportunity to improve or renew your teaching skills then the 3½ day ISW (Instructional Skills Workshop) will be an excellent professional development opportunity for you.  Working in a fun, safe environment with colleagues from across the College, the ISW is a peer-based workshop designed to improve teaching practice. It also gives you credit towards PIDP 3220 (Delivery of Instruction), one of the courses of the Provincial Instructor Diploma Program.

Full details are under the Faculty Development tab, or click here.