Fall 2020 Orientation Week
Welcome back! We hope everyone had a safe summer with time to relax and refresh. We look forward to seeing you virtually at Orientation Week events this week and working with you this semester!
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Fall Resources: Course Template, Syllabus Template, Online Course Checklist, and More!
Here are important resources to help you as you prepare for the fall semester:
- Blackboard Course Template
- Online/Blended Syllabus Template
- Essential Online Course Features Checklist
- Quick Guide for Copying One Blackboard Course to Another
- Web Conferencing Tools Comparison Guide
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Blackboard Support: How to Get Help
With most classes for the Fall 2020 semester taking place online, this has sparked unprecedented use of Harper’s Blackboard learning management system. As instructors prepare their courses for remote learning, the Academy has also been planning for ways to support faculty to have the most successful fall semester possible. One way we have done this is to add basic Blackboard technical support during the weekends, by phone for the Fall 2020 semester.
Going into the Fall 2020 semester, here are the ways to get Blackboard support through the Academy:
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Register Now for Professional Development Credit Offerings
The Academy has developed programming for the fall semester with a focus on equity pedagogies and practices.
Graduate Equivalency Courses (GECs):
Click on the links below to view details and register.
Workshops:
Click on the links below to view details and register.
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Assessment and Proctoring Options for Fall 2020
Administering exams in a fully online class can present challenges around academic integrity, student accommodations, and limits how students show their work. This can lead to test anxiety for both the student and instructor. Luckily there are some options to consider: online exam proctoring and alternative assessments.
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Meet the Academy Team
Watch this video to meet the Academy Team and learn about our mission and the support and resources we provide for all Harper faculty.
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Online Instruction Support & Resources
The Academy is here to support all full-time and adjunct faculty who are making the transition to online instruction. Please review the resources below and let us know how we can continue to support you!
Blackboard Course Template (Fall 2020)
The Academy has created a Fall 2020 Blackboard Course Template to help faculty in the building of their Fall 2020 semester. Using this template is not required; however, it can save you time, provide you with ideas for what to include in your course, and provide students a consistent navigation of your course. Learn more.
Online/Blended Syllabus Template (Fall 2020)
A "special edition" of the Harper College syllabus template has been created for Fall 2020. This edition contains several updates to help students find resources while learning at a distance. Learn more.
Essential Online Course Features Checklist
As you develop your courses for Fall 2020, consider using this 15-item checklist of the "essentials" of a well-designed and facilitated online or blended course. The checklist also contains links to tutorials, resources, and ideas to help you in your course building. Learn more.
Web Conferencing Tools Comparison Guide
With so many options available, how do you decide which web conferencing tool to use? At Harper we support Blackboard Collaborate, Webex, and Microsoft Teams. To help you decide what to use, the Academy has created a one-page quick guide that compares the top features of each tool. Learn more.
Online Instruction Forum in Yammer
The Academy has launched an Online Instruction Forum for Harper faculty in Yammer. Yammer is a social platform within Office 365 that gives Harper employees a secure and convenient way to communicate and collaborate. The ability share ideas is integral to the success of transitioning to online teaching. Learn more and join.
On-Demand Resources for Faculty
The Transition to Online Instruction webpage has links to recordings of webinars (Essential Online Course Features Showcase, Transitioning to Fully Online Instruction, Essential Online Skills). The page is continually being updated with additional resources as they become available.
Online Instruction Support Form
Please continue to submit support requests using the Online Instruction Support form. An Academy team member will follow up with you within one business day.
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In preparation for the Fall 2020 semester, Stu Dev has developed on-demand support and new virtual workshops and presentations that can be embedded in your courses or shared with students as-needed—Educational Planning, "How-To" Videos, Self-Service Support from Counselors, and more. Learn more using the link above and please share this information with your students.
Are you aware of the many new online resources and services provided by the Library? Want to add copyrighted videos to your online courses? Are you wondering how you can adapt your research assignments to the online format? Do you have a plan for how you’ll address information literacy and research skills in your fall courses? Learn more using the link above.
Blackboard has replaced the Box View inline grading tool with a new tool called Bb Annotate. Bb Annotate offers a more robust feature set for instructors to provide customizable feedback to students when grading assignment submissions. Features include a sidebar summary view, freehand drawing tools, various color selections, and much more. Watch a video tour of the new tool and view FAQs using the link above.
The following online resources are available to you for no cost: Illinois Community Colleges Online (ILCCO), Illinois Online Network (ION), Magna Publications (including 20-Minute Mentor on-demand videos), National Institute of Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD), and Online Learning Consortium (OLC). Use the link above to learn more and view login information.
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Save the Date: 12th Annual Assessment Conference featuring Tia Brown McNair
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Date: Friday, September 25, 2020
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Time: 9 a.m. - 1:45 p.m. (virtual event)
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CEUs: 0.35
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Featured Speaker: Dr. Tia Brown McNair, lead author of From Equity Talk to Equity Walk
This professional development opportunity is open to faculty and staff.
- Keynote Session: “Creating and Sustaining a Culture of Equity” presented by Tia Brown McNair
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Workshop: “Assessment Through an Equity Lens” presented by Tia Brown McNair
- Additional Sessions on assessment presented by Harper faculty and staff
Please save the date! Agenda and registration information coming soon. View the Conference HIP page for additional information.
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What Students Need in the Asynchronous Environment—You
Submitted by Stephanie Whalen, Academy Chair, English & Interdisciplinary Studies and Phil Mortenson, Distance Learning Manager
In reviewing the student feedback from the Online Instruction Student Survey that was administered in May, it comes as no surprise that students appreciate communications with their instructors in emails and live sessions as well as the ability to review instructor-created videos as many times as needed.
The theme is clear—students need regular interaction and coaching from their instructors to feel connected to the course, faculty member, and classmates, but how can we make this happen in an asynchronous environment?
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Join the Online Instruction Forum
Have you joined the Online Instruction Forum yet? Now is the time!
The Academy launched this forum for Harper faculty during the spring semester and it's a great place to ask questions, share ideas, and have conversations about teaching online with fellow Harper faculty.
The forum is part of Harper's Yammer communities. Yammer is a social platform within Office 365 that gives Harper employees a secure and convenient way to communicate and collaborate. The ability to communicate, collaborate, and share ideas is integral to the success of transitioning to online teaching. By building this community, we can now work together, better than ever before.
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Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities |
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August 17 - August 21
August 20, 9:45 a.m. (CEUs: 0.1)
August 20, 11 a.m. (CEUs: 0.1)
August 21, 9 a.m. (CEUs: 0.1)
September 10, 3 p.m. (CEUs: 0.3)
September 14 - September 27 (GECs: 1) register by: August 31
September 17 - November 5 (GECs: 3) register by: September 3
September 23 - October 28 (GECs: 3) register by: September 9
September 25, 9 a.m. (CEUs: 0.35)
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What's Happening @ Harper? |
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Academy for Teaching Excellence | 847.925.6174 | Building F, Room F317
Monday - Thursday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
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The mission of the Academy for Teaching Excellence is to create a vibrant teaching and learning culture for full-time and adjunct faculty that cultivates professional development in support of student success. |
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Accessibility: Individuals with disabilities who would like to request an accommodation or who have questions about physical access may contact the event host or Access and Disability Services at ads@harpercollege.edu, 847.925.6266, at least two weeks in advance of the event date.
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Harper College enriches its diverse communities by providing quality, affordable, and accessible education. Harper College, in collaboration with its partners, inspires the transformation of individual lives, the workforce, and society. |
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