CETL's Spring '25 FLO Schedule Released | |
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Thank you to those of you who joined us for the In-Service activities last Friday, January 31. We have an exciting spring ahead! CETL is excited to announce our Faculty Learning Opportunities (FLOs) for the upcoming spring 2025 semester!
Our Faculty Learning Opportunities, or FLOs, are multi-modal learning opportunities offered for a number of topics. FLOs include in-person, online and HyFlex workshops, specialized series, short video trainings, and asynchronous and synchronous online courses. Check out our FLO Calendar for session description, dates, modality, and registration links.
Below is a sampling of some of our offerings this spring. Please note that if you do not see a specific session on the calendar, know that we are still finalizing details on a few. We will be adding FLOs regularly throughout the semester so please bookmark our FLO Calendar and check back often.
- AI and Assessment
- Accessibility in Course Design I & II
- Accessing the Impact of TILTed Assignments
- Canvas Accessibility Tools with DesignPLUS
- Canvas Updates You May Have Missed
- Creating Clear Learning Objectives
- Cultivating Growth Mindset to Improve Student Success
- DesignPLUS Your Courses
- HyFlex 101 & 201*
- Implementing Interactive Modules
- CETL Panel Series
- Program Health & Assessment
- TILTing Assignments to Improve Student Learning
- and more!
*Please note that HyFlex 101 is not required to attend HyFlex 201. HyFlex 101 is intended only for non-HyFlex faculty assigned to a HyFlex classroom.
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Save the Date: CETL Panel Series | |
2025 Faculty Forum Call for Proposals | |
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The call for proposals for the 2025 Faculty Forum are out! The Reynolds Faculty Forum is held annually to give adjunct and full-time faculty a chance to share original research and innovative pedagogical practices with each other in a relaxed and informal setting. Faculty presentations can be related to all areas of teaching and learning as well as discipline-specific research projects.
This year, the Faculty Forum will be held on Wednesday, May 7, from 12:00 to 4:30 p.m.
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Faculty Reading Corner: "AI-Detectors Biased Against Non-Native English Writers" | |
"AI-Detectors Biased Against Non-Native English Writers"
Stanford researchers found that AI detectors often mislabel writing by non-native English speakers as AI-generated due to reliance on linguistic complexity metrics, raising fairness concerns. They recommend reducing reliance on such detectors in educational contexts and developing alternative verification methods.
Myers, A. (2023). AI Detectors Biased Against Non-Native English Writers. Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI. Retrieved from https://hai.stanford.edu/news/ai-detectors-biased-against-non-native-english-writers
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In Case You Missed It: Virginia OER Impact Award | |
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SCHEV’s Open Virginia Advisory Committee (OVAC) is pleased to announce a call for nominations for the inaugural Virginia Open Educational Resource (OER) Impact Award. This award recognizes outstanding OER in Higher Education that have had a significant impact in Virginia classrooms.
Nominated OER will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Virginia impact (such as: student success metrics, cost avoidance, classroom adoption, etc.)
- Innovative pedagogical approaches leading to active and inclusive learning
- Contributions to Open Education by addressing a need or gap in the pre-existing literature and/or Virginia higher education
- Accessibility (WCAG 2.x AA compliant)
Creators of selected OER will be recognized formally online, via press release, and at an awards ceremony. Awardees will also receive a $2,000 honorarium, funded by VIVA, Virginia’s academic library consortium.
Award Nominations (including self-nominations) will be made via form below. Following submission, SCHEV OVAC will review and select three OER to recognize in the pilot year.
Creators of awarded projects will be expected to present their resources at an OVAC/VIVA sponsored online event, date TBD.
For more information about this award, please contact Liz Thompson at thomp3ea@jmu.edu.
Application deadline: 3/19/2025
Notifications: 4/30/2025
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Teaching Tactics: "4 Best Teaching Strategies for Students with Autism" | |
As the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) continues to rise, educators must develop effective strategies to support students with ASD in the classroom. This article outlines four key teaching strategies: limiting sensory overload by adjusting classroom environments, using Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) techniques like rewards and incentives, providing clear and direct feedback to enhance communication, and focusing on tailored reading comprehension strategies. These approaches help address common challenges related to communication, socialization, and learning while fostering a more inclusive and supportive educational experience. By implementing these techniques, educators can improve student engagement and learning outcomes while enhancing their own teaching skill sets. | |
Spring '25 Empowerment Reading Group | |
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CETL's Empowerment Reading Group (ERG) is a faculty-led initiative where participants read books together throughout the semester to discuss strategies to cultivate supportive, welcoming approaches to teaching and improving student learning and success.
This year's 2024 - 2025 ERG set out to explore books with an emphasis on evidence-based, high-impact strategies and concrete steps that can be implemented immediately into online and in-person classrooms. Last semester we read Promoting Belonging, Growth Mindset, and Resilience to Foster Student Success by Amy Baldwin, Bryce D. Bunting, Doug Daugherty, Latoya Lewis, & Tim Steenbergh. This upcoming spring semester we will read Transforming Online Teaching in Higher Education by Steven Goss, Robin E. Hummel & Laura Zadoff.
Dr. Stephanie Daniel is leading this spring semester's sessions. Upcoming meetings will be held in Zoom on February 6, February 27, March 27, and April 17. If you have any questions or would like to participate, please email sdaniel@reynolds.edu to receive a copy of the book (supplies limited) and the links to participate in the Zoom sessions.
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Transforming Online Teaching in Higher Education
by Steven Goss, Robin E. Hummel & Laura Zadoff
Drawing on their years of experience leading transformative online classrooms in higher education, the authors present an approach for teaching online that is both engaging and effective. This practical book provides an overview of essential approaches, bolstered by examples from various instructors who are teaching online courses. The authors examine how progressive practices are useful for instructors new to the online classroom as well as for experienced online educators seeking to enhance their existing practices.
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Connect in 'The Nest': Discussion Board in the Faculty Hub | |
Discover 'The Nest,' our discussion board space in the Reynolds Faculty Hub, where faculty can connect, share insights, ask questions, and exchange teaching tips. Whether you have a tried-and-true classroom hack, an innovative tech tip, or a fresh approach to student engagement, 'The Nest' is the place to pass it on to your peers. Join the conversation, collaborate, and help build a collective resource of practical strategies that enhance our teaching community. Dive in today and see what you can learn—and share! | |
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Canvas Discussion Checkpoints Temporarily Disabled | |
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To minimize disruptions, the Canvas Discussion Checkpoints: Multiple Due Dates for Discussions has been temporarily disabled by the VCCS while Canvas works to resolve the issues. Although designed to offer greater flexibility and structure for managing discussions, Canvas has identified significant problems with its impact on SpeedGrader functionality, affecting all graded discussions—regardless of whether checkpoints are used.
For more information about the primary concerns reported by instructors, please visit the following Canvas Community page. These issues have led to drastically increased grading times, particularly for large classes, and frustration with the workflow.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and appreciate your patience as Canvas prioritizes usability and efficiency. We will keep you updated on any developments and let you know when this feature becomes fully functional and ready for use.
FYI, Canvas is collecting feedback through a Maze survey shared below. The survey is a follow-up to feedback given by Canvas Community members and will further explore issues related to how SpeedGrader works with discussions, especially checkpointed discussions.
If you have additional questions please feel free to reach out to CETL at canvas@reynolds.edu.Thank you.
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"You Asked, We Got It" Reynolds Faculty Hub Updates | |
Based on your feedback, we’ve added several new resources to the Reynolds Faculty Hub in Canvas to better support your teaching and student engagement efforts. You’ll now find updated information on the Flight Path Incentives Program, helping you guide students toward key academic milestones. We’ve also expanded additional faculty support to include our recently delivered workshop and guide Canvas Prep Essentials: Starting the Semester, providing quick access to best practices for course setup. Need details on course evaluations or student support services? We’ve got you covered with new content to support you and streamline these processes. Plus, Atomic Search is available, making it easier than ever to find what you need in Canvas. Explore these updates in the Faculty Hub today! | |
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Need help using EAB Navigate for advising and student engagement? The Reynolds Faculty Hub now includes resources on key advising workflows, enrollment census campaigns, and submitting attendance in Navigate. You’ll find tutorials, video guides, and training materials to support your use of Navigate effectively. Check it out today to streamline your advising processes and stay informed! | |
Canvas Release & Deploy Notes | |
Enhanced Rubrics: Manage Rubics in Assignment Details Page
In the Assignments page, instructors can select, edit, or create rubrics directly from the assignment details. They can access active rubrics, modify existing ones, and create new rubrics.
Canvas Release Notes (2025-02-15)
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Accessibility Updates: Enhanced Structural Clarity & Improved Error Feedback
Over the coming months, a series of updates will be introduced to enhance Canvas's accessibility, intuitiveness, and equity, with a focus on improving usability for assistive technology users. These updates will include changes in the following areas:
Enhanced Structural Clarity
Refined semantic markup in the user interface to improve communication of content relationships and hierarchy.
Improved Error Feedback
In the user interface, improved error messages in forms and interactive elements offer clearer and more accessible feedback. Focused states for missing or incorrect fields ensure a consistent experience for all users, whether using a mouse, keyboard, or screen reader.
Canvas Release Notes (2025-02-15)
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TILT & Growth Mindset Support | | |
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CETL would like to remind faculty to reach out to Jennifer Hitchcock with any questions about applying TILT or growth mindset strategies in your courses.
For more information on TILT and growth mindset strategies, please check out the following CETL curated resources:
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LockDown Browser and Respondus Monitor Webinars | |
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Date/Time
Description
This comprehensive training webinar is intended for instructors who plan to use LockDown Browser and/or Respondus Monitor with online exams. The session provides a detailed demonstration of both applications, including enhancements that make Respondus Monitor even more effective and easy to use.
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