Morrill Professor and CELT Associate Director Dr. Holly Bender will return to her tenure home in the Department of Veterinary Pathology at the end of the spring semester.
Four Iowa State students in their graduation cap and gown getting their picture taken at Lagomarcino Hall
CELT Teaching Tip • May 2, 2019
On to a New Adventure
Morrill Professor and CELT Associate Director Dr. Holly Bender will return to her tenure home in the Department of Veterinary Pathology at the end of the spring semester.

Holly has provided teaching excellence, mentoring, and leadership not only to veterinary students, but to graduate students and faculty in every corner of campus. As an associate director for nearly 10 years, she has been instrumental in advancing Team-Based Learning at Iowa State, and leading the Preparing Future Faculty program for graduate students and post-docs.

We are grateful for Holly’s dedication and commitment to teaching and learning and we wish her the very best in her newest adventure.

As CELT’s programmatic needs and strategic priorities continue to evolve, we have also made the decision to stop supporting the ThinkSpace software program.

We plan to re-imagine and re-consider the grad education and faculty development role within CELT over the coming weeks. If you are interested in learning more, please contact us, celt@iastate.edu .

With a joy for teaching,

Sara Marcketti, Director 
Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
A few of our 2018-19 highlights
  • 90% of all ISU courses are active in Canvas
  • 93% of academic departments attend our CELT events
  • 23 grants (Miller Faculty Fellowships, Miller Open Education Resource mini-grants, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning) were awarded
  • 560,000 unique users visited the CELT website
  • 144+ hours of CELT programs hosted/facilitated
  • 43% Teaching Tip open email rate (19% is the education average)
  • 79% of the CELT program attendees (who reported) shared that they teach, advise, and/or interact with 26 or more students each semester
What is Immediate Access and is it the right option for my course?
Immediate Access is a course materials affordability initiative that the University Book Store implemented in Fall term of 2014. The bookstore, faculty, and publishers all work together to provide digital course materials to students at a lower price than the standard print versions. Below are questions you should ask yourself to see if the textbook or digital homework platform you are requiring for your course is a good candidate for the Immediate Access Program.

Here are the top 5 questions instructors ask about Immediate Access:
  1. The textbook I require for my course may be too expensive for my students. I like the content but is there a way I can make it more affordable?
  2. Are there affordable course materials I can adopt that will help improve the student learning outcomes? 
  3. How can I make sure every student enrolled in my course will get access to the required course materials on the first day of class? 
  4. What if my students don’t want to participate in the Immediate Access Program? 
  5. How can I make sure the digital content I use for the course will be accessible to all students?

Interested in learning the answers?

When I started teaching at Iowa State, I wish I had known...
The Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) is asking that you take a moment to reflect on teaching at Iowa State. The information we gather through this one-question survey will inform our programming and resources. Submit your response via  CELT’s When I started teaching at Iowa State, I wish I had known... Qualtrics Survey web link
Learning Online: Canvas and Beyond
Use this end of semester checklist when Final Grades are due on May 15th
2019 Spring Semester final grades are due by May 15th at 2:15 p.m. Follow this end of semester checklist to guide you through the end of the semester process in Canvas via the End of Semester Checklist webpage. You may also submit grades through AccessPlus.
Canvas Open Labs return!
Note: In lieu of Canvas workshops, CELT staff will host  Canvas Open Labs  in 3019 Morrill for the rest of spring semester to accommodate specific needs, view the days/times on CELT's Canvas Open Labs webpage . No appointment required; bring your questions and your laptop. 
Don't forget to use Canvas Online Training this summer
Whether you are brand new to Canvas or a seasoned veteran, there are training offerings that meet your learning style (demonstration sessions, interactive sessions, and discussion sessions). Begin your training when you are available by visiting CELT’s Online Training with Canvas webpage.
What's new with Canvas?
Learn about all new features in Canvas and software updates on our Canvas News & Updates webpage on the MyCanvas Teacher at ISU website.
Nominate an Educator of the Year Today (due May 16th)
Instructure (Canvas) announced the launch of their inaugural Educator of the Year Awards to recognize exceptional educators who are shaping the next generation of students. Instructure is accepting award nominations until 5:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday, May 16 or until 500 nominations are received, whichever comes first. One winning educator will be selected from each category. To learn more and nominate visit the Canvas 2019 Higher Education - Educator of the Year webpage.
Reminder: CELT Presenter Grant Program (due June 15th)
Faculty and staff who received a CELT funded scholarship of a teaching and learning (SoTL) grant are eligible for the CELT Presenter Grant. The CELT Presenter Grant provides eligible faculty and staff with the opportunity to present their SoTL research findings at a teaching and learning higher education conference.

For travel that will be completed between July 1 and December 30, apply by June 15. Learn more from the CELT Presenter Grant Program webpage .
CELT Programs for summer 2019
For the most up-to-date events visit CELT’s Event and Registration website and register via the Learn@ISU website.

  • Discuss Published Education Research in Your Discipline (DBER Journal Club), May 6 (4-5 p.m.)
  • 2019 Top Hat Certification Day, May 14 (10 a.m.-3 p.m., register via this web form)
  • CELT Course Design Institute, May 20-23 (8 a.m.-5 p.m.) applications available on the CELT Course Design Institute webpage
  • Workshop, A Picture is Worth a Thousand Data Points: Showing your data story, June 26 (12:10-1 p.m.)
  • CELT Teaching Symposium for new faculty, staff, & graduate teaching assistants who teach, Tues., Aug. 20 (8 a.m.-Noon) for more information visit the CELT Teaching Symposium webpage
Sneak Peek into CELT's Fall Programming
To see what student-centered programs we are planning visit  CELT's Event and Registration  website ( http://www.celt.iastate.edu/events-registration ).

Topics include:
  • Building a Canvas course that makes sense to your students
  • Building an inclusive and learner-centered syllabus
  • Discover the top 10 tips for creating accessible course content
  • Documenting Your Teaching using the DART Matrix
  • Effectively managing disruptive conduct in learning spaces
  • Engagement strategies for every Classroom
  • Exploring ways to create an inclusive learning environment
  • Grading and student data in Canvas
  • Group and collaborative work in Canvas
  • Inclusive Classroom Workshop
  • ISU Online Learning Community
  • Low and high stakes quizzes in Canvas
  • Managing large enrollment courses in Canvas: Blueprints and more
  • Navigating controversial topics in the classroom
  • Rubrics and outcomes in Canvas
  • Turning your scholarly teaching into Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)
  • and More!
Prefer a Print version? To view the Teaching Tip as a printable document with the web addresses, download the CELT's May 2, 2019 Teaching Tip (PDF) ( http://bit.ly/2DIEhaz )
This is the last CELT Teaching Tip for AY1819