The Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology will offer new learning opportunities for faculty, along with some old favorites, during Spring Institute 2018. CTLT’s popular event runs over spring break, March 12-16. These free, half- or full-day workshops are open to faculty, staff, and graduate assistants. Seating is limited. Select a date to register.
If you need a special accommodation to fully participate in an event, please call the main desk at (309) 438-2542.
Fostering Student Collaboration
Monday, March 12 • 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Milner Library, Room 213C
Learning with peers can be powerful, but structuring collaborative learning experiences is not without its challenges. This workshop, held in Milner Library’s Collaborative Classroom, will give you a chance to experience collaborative and cooperative learning first-hand and discover how to incorporate these practices into your teaching. Registration is required.
ReggieNet: Lessons
Monday, March 12 • 9 a.m. to noon
Discover how to easily create online instructional modules using the Lessons tool. This powerful tool allows you to integrate content, resources, and multimedia as well as other tools within your ReggieNet site (Tests & Quizzes, Assignments, and Forums) into online lessons. Learn advanced design strategies, and how to create lessons that incorporate prerequisites and interactive components. Registration is required.
Applying the Quality Matters™ Rubric
Tuesday, March 13 • 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Learn about the Quality Matters™ Higher Education Rubric and how to use it to review an online course. Those who successfully complete the workshop will receive a Quality Matters™ certificate of completion. Registration is required.
Introduction to Screencast-o-Matic Pro
Tuesday, March 13 • 9 a.m. to noon
Learn to use this popular screen recording software to create voiced-over videos. You’ll record, create voice-over, edit, and insert footage into your own practice video. You’ll also learn how to upload it for online viewing. Registration is required.
Your Classroom Technology Policy
Wednesday, March 14 • 9 a.m. to noon
Research shows that students respond better when instructors set clear guidelines about the use of mobile technology, such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones in the classroom. But you don’t have to resign yourself to teaching in spite of digital distractions. Discover ways to collaborate with students at the start of the semester to create agreement over what is, and is not, the appropriate use of technology in your classroom. Registration is required.
ReggieNet: Collaborative Assignments
Wednesday, March 14 • 9 a.m. to noon
The ReggieNet Assignments tool has advanced features that allow for different kinds of student interactions. The group assignments feature allows groups of students to make a single submission. The peer review feature allows students to provide feedback to other students. Explore how to use these features to enhance student collaboration. Registration is required.
Improve Your Online Course
Thursday, March 15 • 9 a.m. to noon
This half-day workshop will help you develop a course improvement plan for a blended or online course you have taught at least once—and intend to teach again. The session introduces the Quality Matters™ Higher Education Rubric and covers how to apply QM standards to improve your blended or online course. Registration is required.
Use Concept Maps to Encourage Deep Learning
Thursday, March 15 • 1 to 4 p.m.
PowerPoint-based lectures divide information into bullet points, leading to flash card-oriented learning strategies. Concept maps, on the other hand, require students to make connections. The connection of concepts and relationships leads to more complex levels of learning. Uncover the various ways concept maps can be used. You’ll also create a template your students can use for a topic you teach. Registration is required.
Screencast-o-Matic Pro: Make It and Take It
Thursday, March 15 • 9 a.m. to noon
Using materials from your own courses, create one or more short videos of about 20-minutes in length using Screencast-o-Matic Pro. Materials you can bring include PowerPoint presentations, ReggieNet courses, other websites, or anything else that can be displayed on a computer screen and recorded with voice-over. Registration is required.
Please note: Participants new to Screencast-o-Matic Pro should register for the introductory workshop on Tuesday, March 13.
Finish Strong
Friday, March 16 • 9 a.m. to noon
Do you feel like your course has gotten off track somehow? Whatever the reason, if you feel like the second half of your course plan could use a tune-up, join us for this judgement-free workshop, and get help using sound, research-based practices. We know you can still finish the semester strong. Registration is required.
