Attendance Tool in Blackboard
Do you need to take attendance for live face-to-face or online synchronous class meetings? The great news is that you can do that in a snap by using Blackboard’s Attendance tool. Any day that you want to track students’ attendance as present, late, absent, or excused you can do so with just a few clicks. For written directions feel free to access this Blackboard link, or to watch how to set up and use the tool, access this 3-minute video.
Looking for more tips on Blackboard tools? Visit the Faculty Blackboard Support page on the Academy website and find the heading "Blackboard Tips, Tools, & Resources for Faculty". Click the toggle to view a list of topics with a quick write-up and/or short video for each topic.
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Redesign for Equity Microcredential in Learning, Leadership, and Liberation
Shared by Stephanie Whalen, Academy Chair, English & Interdisciplinary Studies
The start of September is busy with many activities to kick off the year for students and staff, and the Fall 2023 convening of the Redesign for Equity Grant participants is becoming an annual part of campus efforts to support Dr. Proctor’s Pillars of Equity with focused solutions as we seek to close equity gaps and remove barriers to success. The fall Redesign ingathering brings educators from Harper and Northwest Educational Council for Student Success (NECSS) partnership schools participating in the grant program an opportunity to share what they have worked on over the summer for redesigning their courses, further refine their implementation based on actionable feedback from previous redesign cohorts, and prepare for assessments throughout the semester.
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Evaluating and Remediating Instructional Content and Media for Accessibility
Do you want to improve access and inclusion for all students? Do you know how to evaluate your course materials for accessibility and other common barriers that may impede learning? This workshop will provide an overview of methods and tools for evaluating and repairing instructional content for digital accessibility. All students, including students with and without disabilities, can benefit from having accessible materials for utilizing alternative formats. This workshop will help you to learn to identify when materials need remediation but also learn to build accessible materials so that no remediation is required.
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Ally for Everyone - Lunch & Learn Sessions
Join us for an informational session on Blackboard’s Ally – a powerful tool designed to enhance the accessibility and usability of course content for all students. We will provide an overview of the tool, dive into the process of becoming an Ally Advocate, and highlight the numerous benefits associated with it. If you’re already an Advocate, don’t miss the opportunity to learn about the exciting new addition of Ally Peer Coaching, available this year. No matter what your previous experience is with Ally, we have something to share with you!
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Cite It Right with the Library!
Shared by Jennifer Lau-Bond, Coordinator of Library Instruction
Do your students get confused about the finer points of plagiarism? Do they struggle to accurately cite their sources? Encourage them to come to one of the Library’s workshops this fall! The Library is offering three separate 45-minute workshops to help students learn how to avoid plagiarism, cite in MLA style, and cite in APA style. Workshops are being held online during both day and evening times in October and November.
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Provide Students Early Feedback and Connect Them to Critical Campus Resources
Shared by Advising Services
Student success is at the heart of Harper’s mission. Our early alert tool, Starfish, is used to facilitate communication among students, faculty, and advisors regarding students’ academic achievements and areas for improvement. In addition to awarding Kudos to acknowledge excellent performance, Starfish is also used by faculty to raise concerns and to direct students to free resources such as the Academic Support Center and Hawks Care Resource Center.
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Creating Equitable Learning Experiences: An Introduction to the Enacting Equity Course Review Tool
What can Harper instructors do to make their courses more equitable? This workshop presents opportunities for instructors to implement more equitable practices using the Enacting Equity in Courses tool. Under the guidance of instructors and Academy staff, participants will review institutional data and consider areas for improvement in their own courses. Faculty who complete a full equity course review are eligible to receive a stipend.
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Adjunct Faculty Teaching & Learning Conference: September 14 (tomorrow!)
There’s still time to register for the 10th Annual Adjunct Faculty Teaching & Learning Conference. This free conference includes dinner, resource tables hosted by campus departments, a keynote presentation, breakout sessions, a fun and interactive closing session, giveaways, and more.
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Academy & Blackboard Support for Faculty: How to Get Help
The Academy team is available on campus for drop-in support in Building F, Room F317, as well as available for remote support.
Not sure what to ask or where to start? We’re here for you! Just fill out the Academy Request Form, and an Academy team member will follow-up with you.
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The Academy team has developed some resources to help you as you prepare for the Fall 2023 semester, including a Blackboard Course Template and a revised and streamlined Syllabus Template. Learn more and view resources using the link above.
To celebrate faculty who Connect MORE this year, teaching tech-themed prizes are available to all faculty who participate in at least four highlighted Academy workshops, Graduate Equivalency Courses (GECs), events, or other professional learning opportunities from now through May 2024.
More than 30 Harper faculty have been piloting Flex Learning (offering 2-3 modality options for participation in class sessions) over the past year. During the Fall 2023 Opening Week, pilot faculty and Academy staff provided an update on the principles behind Flex Learning, what Harper faculty and students experienced during the pilot, and plans for next steps for Flex Learning at Harper.
Please consider sharing the following resources and links with your students in a Blackboard announcement:
This video provides an overview of Harper's completion model, Flight of the Hawks Prepare to SOAR. Learn about the Search, Onboard, Advance, and Realize components of the model and see how they positively impact the student experience at Harper. You will also receive some tips and suggestions for supporting students and contributing to this model.
Harper Happenings is filled with information and links to many Harper events, activities, programs, resources, and services for our students and community. Learn more using the link above.
Please contact the Service Desk with any technical issues or questions: 847.925.6199, servicedesk@harpercollege.edu. You can also visit the Service Desk HIP page for information about Office 365, take-home software, Employee Technical Skills Training information, to Live Chat with the Service Desk, and more.
Use the link above to view important deadline and due dates from the Registrar's Office.
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Invest in Yourself While Serving Our Students
Shared by the Learning Assessment Committee
Friday, September 29, 2023 – Wojcik Conference Center
- 8-8:45 a.m.: Poster Session and Breakfast
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8:45-10:30 a.m.: Keynote Session - Building Responsiveness and Serving Our Students: For Integrity, Efficacy, and Equity
- Dr. Divya Bheda, Senior Fellow from the American Association of Colleges and Universities
- 10:40-11:25 a.m.: Breakout Sessions 1
- 11:35 a.m.-12:20 p.m.: Breakout Sessions 2
- 12:20-12:30 p.m.: Raffle
View the agenda; join us for one or more sessions. Attendees can win raffle prizes (must be present) including a Fire Tablet and the book, “The Impact of Belonging in College: Implications for Student Persistence, Retention, and Success.”
This is a great opportunity to pause – step away from your workspace – and learn something new!
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Brian Cremins Honored with Award
Congratulations to Brian Cremins, English, who was named this year’s recipient of the Professor Powell and Larry Moats Extra Five Minutes Faculty Award. Established by Moats, a former member of the Board of Trustees and Distinguished Alumni Award honoree, the award was created to honor his Harper mentor, Professor Robert Powell, and recognizes a faculty member who has inspired students, given them extra time, and made a difference in their lives. Brian received his award during Honors Convocation earlier this year. “I was very happy to receive the award,” he said, “especially since it's one that came from our students!”
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Stephanie Horton, English, presenting a workshop for the Addressing Equity Gaps in English series. |
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Joe Wachter, Chemistry, supporting the FYE OER work group. |
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"Unleashing the Power of Active Learning: Revolutionizing Online Education for Unprecedented Engagement and Achievement"
As an instructor, it can be tough these days to compete for and hold students’ attention. By integrating active learning strategies into online courses you can help promote student engagement.
In "Unleashing the Power of Active Learning: Revolutionizing Online Education for Unprecedented Engagement and Achievement", Natalie Bidnick Andreas offers four ways to create a dynamic and engaging learning environment for students. Check it out and see if any of these ideas could work in your course!
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Upcoming Professional Development Credit Opportunities |
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September 14, 4:30 p.m. (CEUs: 0.35)
September 22, 11 a.m. (CEUs: 0.2)
September 25 - October 30 (GECs: 3) register by: September 20
September 26, 3 p.m. (CEUs: 0.15)
September 29, 8 a.m. (CEUs: up to 0.4)
October 2 - December 1 (GECs: 3) register by: September 18
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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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