Academy News - July 20, 2022

Inclusive Teaching Practices

The Academy supports inclusive teaching practices that create more equitable learning experiences and outcomes. The Academy website now features an Inclusive Teaching page that highlights several of our resources and on-demand programs related to creating a more equitable learning environment.

You might explore features on the pages such as the Applying Equity Matrix (AEMy), which suggests simple practices along six axes of equitable learning, and the Enacting Equity Guidelines, a self-reflection tool for improving your own inclusive teaching practice.

Visit the Inclusive Teaching Page

Register now for a Fall 2022 Graduate Equivalency Course (GEC). All Harper College faculty (full-time and adjunct) can register for GECs at no cost.

Infusing Information Literacy Across the Curriculum (new!): Learn More & Register

Teaching Online Successfully: Create, Facilitate, and Enhance: Learn More & Register

Equity Teaching Academy: Examine for Equity: Learn More & Register

Coming in August: A New Way to Navigate Blackboard

This August, Blackboard will be updated to incorporate the new Ultra Base Navigation. This change is an update to the “My Blackboard” landing page. Your courses will not change.

Why are we making the change? What does this mean for you as an instructor?

(click image above for video tutorial)

Fall Resources: Blackboard Course Template, Syllabus Template & Updates, and More

The Academy team has developed some resources to help you as you prepare for the Fall 2022 semester, including a Blackboard Course Template and Syllabus Template with Updates.

Learn More & View Resources

Academy & Blackboard Support: How to Get Help

During the summer semester, the Academy team is available remotely as well as on campus for 1:1 drop-in support in Building F, Room F317.

Academy & Blackboard Support: How to Get Help

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.

Summer On-Demand Series: Submit Action Plans by July 22 for CEUs

The Academy offered an On-Demand Series in Summer 2021 and by request we offered a series again for Summer 2022. We curated a list of programs from last year that you may have missed or didn’t have time to attend. Watch the recordings at your convenience and submit the corresponding action plans by July 22 to receive CEUs. Learn more using the link above.

Adjunct Faculty Teaching & Learning Conference 2022: Save the Date

Please save the date for the Adjunct Faculty Teaching & Learning Conference! This year's conference will be held in-person in the Wojcik Conference Center (Building W) on September 13 beginning at 5 p.m. Learn more using the link above.

RSVP for Opening Convocation

Join us in welcoming new students to Harper at the first Opening Convocation event on August 23 at 4:30 p.m. This event will celebrate students' decision to attend Harper and will foster a sense of belonging and affiliation with their Areas of Interest.

Connect and Join the Conversation With Yammer

If you're looking to keep current on events, resources, or buzz around campus, Yammer provides employees an opportunity to communicate with one another through posts and conversations. Find Yammer communities that meet your interests and join in. Looking for a place to start? Harper Wellness has its own Yammer community which includes a wide variety of resources and information. The Online Instruction Forum is a place for faculty to share information about teaching online. Subscribe to your favorite communities and get notifications in your email inbox. Log in to Yammer through Office 365 or using a direct link. Use the link above to learn more about Yammer.

Student Learning

Fall 2022 Assessment Conference - Limited Spots Available for Poster Presenters

Shared by the Learning Assessment Committee

Keynote Speaker Announced

We are pleased to announce that the 14th Annual Assessment Conference and Share Fair will be held in-person and will feature higher education and assessment expert, Dr. Natasha Jankowski! Dr. Jankowski is a Senior Fellow for community colleges at Strada Education Network and the former Executive Director of the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment (NILOA). Dr. Jankowski will share her perspective on the past several years of pandemic learning and what it means for the needs of incoming or returning students. A way forward will be presented to ensure equity and excellence in support of students without overburdening faculty and staff. Learn more.

Become a Presenter

The Learning Assessment Committee is looking for faculty members who have a success story to share at the 14th Annual Assessment Conference and Share Fair. This is an excellent professional development opportunity!

Limited spots available for Poster Presenters! View the Call for Presentations application and submit by Friday, July 29.

Faculty Experience

HyFlex (Hybrid-Flexible) Learning Pilot

Submitted by Stephanie Whalen, Academy Chair, English & Interdisciplinary Studies

During the Spring 2022 semester, the Academy for Teaching Excellence hosted a “Building Capacity for Flexible Learning” series developed and facilitated with Dr. David Rhoads, Director of Teaching Excellence and Digital Pedagogy at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, California.

Faculty explored the principles of hybrid-flexible (HyFlex) pedagogy and completed reflection assignments for each session as well as a capstone project designed to prepare them for the pilot and provide Academy partners with the information they need to provide individualized support. Each faculty member who attended the sessions and completed the assignments were provided a stipend and will be compensated for piloting HyFlex courses of their own design, which will include participating in related meetings to support the program and assessments for gathering data.

Online Learning

Online Instructional Activities Index

Could one of your online activities or assignments use a refresh this fall? If so, then browse through this fun list of possibilities provided by the Illinois Online Network (of the University of Illinois):

Online Instructional Activities Index

Click on any idea that interests you to see examples, objectives, materials, resources, and other information helpful for implementing the activity.

Feel free to contact Jenny Henrikson (jhenriks@harpercollege.edu) if you'd like to talk through, plan out, or brainstorm any ideas further!

Upcoming Professional Development Credit Opportunities

Infusing Information Literacy Across the Curriculum

September 6 - December 9 (GECs: 3) register by: August 23

Teaching Online Successfully: Create

September 12 - September 25 (GECs: 1) register by: August 29

Teaching Online Successfully: Facilitate

October 3 - October 16 (GECs: 1) register by: September 19

What's Happening @ Harper?

Academy for Teaching Excellence | 847.925.6174 | Building F, Room F317

academy@harpercollege.edu | harper-academy.net

Monday - Thursday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Academy Staff

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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