Tuesday, February 23, 2016

iDevelop – NSCC’s Faculty Professional Development eNewsletter (2/22/2016)

Welcome to iDevelop, a weekly eNewsletter providing faculty with information about professional development opportunities at NSCC. The intent of this eNewsletter is to spotlight the various professional development events for faculty in one convenient location as well as share best practices, resources and tips related to the teaching practice. iDevelop is being brought to you by Instructional Technology and Design (ITD) and the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment (CTLA). 

Sign that reads: Got 20 Minutes? Then you have time to learn with the Monday Morning Mentor!

 20 Minute Online Professional Development: How Can I Write Engaging Threaded Discussion Questions?
The Monday Morning Mentor series will be available over the spring semester to bring you professional development in twenty minute snippets. The topic for the week of February 22nd is How Can I Write Engaging Threaded Discussion Questions? The presentation is available Monday at 10:00am and is accessible through Sunday of that week. For information on accessing the presentation and supplemental materials, please view the Bulletin or the email version of iDevelop.

More information about this session (including description, topics, and learning goals) is available at http://www.magnapubs.com/online/mentor/how-do-i-create-engaging-threaded-discussion-questions-3114-1.html. The complete spring schedule of Monday Morning Mentor sessions is available at http://nscclets.blogspot.com/2015/12/20-minute-mentor-online-faculty.html.

Other Professional Development Opportunities
  • Teaching Circles. We currently have three options for Teaching Circles. Please let Chris Bednar know if you are interested in participating in any of the groups so that we can connect group members and generate a stipend list.
  • Peter Balakian Lecture--Center for Holocaust & Genocide Studies. Faculty and students are welcome to attend a free event sponsored by the Salem State University's Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Morse Auditorium, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA. Professor Peter Balakian will read excerpts from his memoir, Black Dog of Fate: An American Son Uncovers His Armenian Past, and discuss his experience growing up in a suburban family haunted by memories of the Armenian Genocide. The memoir won the 1998 PEN/Martha Albrand Prize for the Art of the Memoir, and was selected a best book of the year by The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times and Publisher’s Weekly. Tickets are free, but must be reserved in advance at http://www.salemstate.edu/peter-balakian/. The lecture is part of the CHGS Sonia Schreiber Weitz Series and is generously supported by the Cummings Foundation.
  • Save the Date - Advancing Student Learning Conference. The MA Department of Higher Education is part of the AAC&U Faculty Collaboratives project funded by a Lumina Foundation Grant. As part of this project, the Department is sponsoring a conference titled Advancing Student Learning. It will be held on March 4th in Southbridge, MA. This is a wonderful (and free!) inter-state, cross-institution professional development opportunity for both faculty and professional staff. The conference includes sessions on AAC&U proficiency initiatives that are targeted at improving and deepening student learning. Registration information will be forthcoming.
  • HHMI BioInteractive Workshops. MassBay has extended an invitation to all NSCC faculty to join them on Wednesday, March 23 and Thursday, March 24 for Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s (HHMI) BioInteractive workshops (http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive) at the Wellesley Hills campus of the Massachusetts Bay Community College. RSVP at https://goo.gl/H4Hb6o.  
Resources
Share your Teaching Strategies
What strategies do you use to foster critical thinking and engagement in online discussions? Are there any other great resources that you would like to share with faculty on this topic? Send an email with your teaching strategies, best practices, or resources to itd@northshore.edu and we will share them in the next few issues of iDevelop.

 We hope you have enjoyed this weekly eNewsletter and would love your input. Please let us know if you have any feedback on the format, content, and resources or if there is anything else you would like to see in the eNewsletter.

 Thank you,
Instructional Technology and Design and the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment
at No comments:

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

iDevelop – NSCC’s Faculty Professional Development eNewsletter (2/15/2016)

Welcome to iDevelop, a weekly eNewsletter providing faculty with information about professional development opportunities at NSCC. The intent of this eNewsletter is to spotlight the various professional development events for faculty in one convenient location as well as share best practices, resources and tips related to the teaching practice. iDevelop is being brought to you by Instructional Technology and Design (ITD) and the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment (CTLA). 

Sign that reads: Got 20 minutes? Then you have time to learn with the Monday Morning Mentor.

 20 Minute Online Professional Development: What Key Concepts Improve Student Learning and Memory?
The Monday Morning Mentor series will be available over the spring semester to bring you professional development in twenty minute snippets. The topic for the week of February 15th is What Key Concepts Improve Student Learning and Memory? The presentation is available Monday at 10:00am and is accessible through Sunday of that week. For information on accessing the presentation and supplemental materials, please view the Bulletin or the email version of iDevelop.

More information about this session (including description, topics, and learning goals) is available at http://www.magnapubs.com/online/mentor/What-Key-Concepts-Improve-Student-Learning-and-Memory-13598-1.html. The complete spring schedule of Monday Morning Mentor sessions is available at http://nscclets.blogspot.com/2015/12/20-minute-mentor-online-faculty.html.
Other Professional Development Opportunities
  • Teaching Circles. We currently have three options for Teaching Circles. Please let Chris Bednar know if you are interested in participating in any of the groups so that we can connect group members and generate a stipend list.
  • Save the Date - Advancing Student Learning Conference. The MA Department of Higher Education is part of the AAC&U Faculty Collaboratives project funded by a Lumina Foundation Grant. As part of this project, the Department is sponsoring a conference titled Advancing Student Learning. It will be held on March 4th in Southbridge, MA. This is a wonderful (and free!) inter-state, cross-institution professional development opportunity for both faculty and professional staff. The conference includes sessions on AAC&U proficiency initiatives that are targeted at improving and deepening student learning. Registration information will be forthcoming.
Share your Teaching Strategies
Send an email with your teaching strategies, best practices, or resources to itd@northshore.edu and we will share them in the next few issues of iDevelop.

 We hope you have enjoyed this weekly eNewsletter and would love your input. Please let us know if you have any feedback on the format, content, and resources or if there is anything else you would like to see in the eNewsletter.

 Thank you,
Instructional Technology and Design and the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment
at No comments:

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

iDevelop – NSCC’s Faculty Professional Development eNewsletter (2/8/2016)

Welcome to iDevelop, a weekly eNewsletter providing faculty with information about professional development opportunities at NSCC. The intent of this eNewsletter is to spotlight the various professional development events for faculty in one convenient location as well as share best practices, resources and tips related to the teaching practice. iDevelop is being brought to you by Instructional Technology and Design and the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment.
  
Announcements, Ideas to Consider, idevelop, Professional Development,

20 Minute Online Professional Development: How Do I Get Students to Come to Class Prepared?
The Monday Morning Mentor series will be available over the spring semester to bring you professional development in twenty minute snippets. The topic for the week of February 8th is How Do I Get Students to Come to Class Prepared? The presentation is available Monday at 10:00am and is accessible through Sunday of that week. The presentation is available Monday at 10:00am and is accessible through Sunday of that week. For information on accessing the presentation and supplemental materials, please view the Bulletin or the email version of iDevelop.

More information about this session (including description, topics, and learning goals) is available at http://www.magnapubs.com/online/mentor/how-do-i-get-students-to-come-to-class-prepared-13525-1.html. The complete spring schedule of Monday Morning Mentor sessions is available at http://nscclets.blogspot.com/2015/12/20-minute-mentor-online-faculty.html.


Other Professional Development Opportunities
  • How Faculty Can Help Students with Disabilities Succeed in the Classroom. As part of Disability Services’ Brown Bag Lunch Series, one of NSCC's Disability Counselor will be facilitating a conversation around how faculty can make the most positive impact for students with disabilities in the classroom. The event will take place on Thursday, February 11th from 12:30pm to 1:30pm in Danvers, DB388 (CTLA Conference Room). 
  • Save the Date - Advancing Student Learning Conference. The MA Department of Higher Education is part of the AAC&U Faculty Collaboratives project funded by a Lumina Foundation Grant. As part of this project, the Department is sponsoring a conference titled Advancing Student Learning. It will be held on March 4th in Southbridge, MA. This is a wonderful (and free!) inter-state, cross-institution professional development opportunity for both faculty and professional staff. The conference includes sessions on AAC&U proficiency initiatives that are targeted at improving and deepening student learning. Registration information will be forthcoming.
Please Share with your Students (SPARK Magazine)
The deadline for SPARK Magazine submissions is right around the corner (February 12). Please share the SPARK Magazine information with any students you would like to encourage to submit! Thank you for your help, as always, in making SPARK a unique and creative celebration of our NSCC students. 

Resources
Share your Teaching Strategies
What are some strategies that you use to ensure that students come to class prepared? Are there any other great resources that you would like to share with faculty on this topic? Send an email with your teaching strategies, best practices, or resources to itd@northshore.edu and we will share them in the next few issues of iDevelop.
We hope you have enjoyed this weekly eNewsletter and would love your input. Please let us know if you have any feedback on the format, content, and resources or if there is anything else you would like to see in the eNewsletter.

 Thank you,
Instructional Technology and Design and the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment.
at No comments:

Friday, February 5, 2016

Identifying a Course in Blackboard Learn


Have you encountered a problem when you are trying to copy your course into a new semester? You cannot identify the courses in your Blackboard Learn list. Which course is which? Which semester is which? Which year is which?

 If you have taught here for a number of years you probably have a long list of courses to choose from. It can be difficult to know which course is your new one because there is no semester and year listed in the course title. But did you know that you can customize the title of your course.
A screenshot of Blackboard Learn - Properties
  1. Let's start with the new course. 
  2. Enter the course.
  3. Scroll down to the Course Management menu on the left.
  4. Select "Customization" in the Control Panel.
  5. Then select "Properties".
  6. Once in Properties, you can enter in the semester and year in the "Course Name" section.  
  7. Once changed, click "Submit."
It is suggested that you list it this way – 201601. First  the year and then the first month of the new semester. If it is an intersession course, you might want to include the word intersession in the title along with the year and month it starts.

 Now you will want to go into your current or last semester course and do the same thing. You will now find it much easier to identify your courses. The new name with the year and semester will appear on your course list and on the menu on the left.
at No comments:

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

iDevelop – NSCC’s Faculty Professional Development eNewsletter (2/1/2016)

Welcome to iDevelop, a weekly eNewsletter providing faculty with information about professional development opportunities at NSCC. The intent of this eNewsletter is to spotlight the various professional development events for faculty in one convenient location as well as share best practices, resources and tips related to the teaching practice. iDevelop is being brought to you by Instructional Technology and Design (ITD) and the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment (CTLA). 

Sign reads: Got 20 minutes? Then you have time to learn with the Monday Morning Mentor!

 20 Minute Online Professional Development: How Do I Assign Students to Groups?
The Monday Morning Mentor series will be available over the spring semester to bring you professional development in twenty minute snippets. The topic for the week of February 1st is How Do I Assign Students to Groups? The presentation is available Monday at 10:00am and is accessible through Sunday of that week. The presentation is available Monday at 10:00am and is accessible through Sunday of that week. For information on accessing the presentation and supplemental materials, please view the Bulletin or the email version of iDevelop.

More information about this session (including description, topics, and learning goals) is available at http://www.magnapubs.com/online/mentor/how-do-i-assign-students-to-groups-3113-1.html. The complete spring schedule of Monday Morning Mentor sessions is available at http://nscclets.blogspot.com/2015/12/20-minute-mentor-online-faculty.html.

 Other Professional Development Opportunities

 1. Teaching Circles. The CTLA and ITD are excited to offer a faculty-driven approach to professional development organized around the concept of Teaching Circles. We are looking for you to pitch an idea that you are interested in facilitating small group exploration and discussion around, and we will support your group with the resources it needs.
 
Interested in learning more? Please contact Andrea Milligan or Chris Bednar.

 2. Free Online Course (MOOC) on Accessibility: Designing and Teaching Courses for All Learners. For more information and to register, visit https://www.canvas.net/browse/empirestate/empirestate-buffalostate/courses/accessibility-designing-teaching. The course will run from February 22 - April 5, 2016.

 Looking for other professional development opportunities through MOOCs. Check out this list at http://nscclets.blogspot.com/2016/01/professional-development-through-moocs.html.

3. MSC Initiative. NSCC is once again participating in the Multi-State Collaborative (MSC) initiative. You may recall that last year a number of you submitted student artifacts (e.g., essays, journal entries, and quantitative papers) to examine the validity of the AAC&U rubrics in written communication, quantitative literacy, and critical thinking.

The MSC is continuing to test these rubrics and has requested additional artifacts (e.g., essays, journal entries, and quantitative papers) in the following areas:
  • written communication
  • quantitative literacy
  • critical thinking
  • civic engagement
We received a small grant to stipend faculty interested in participating. Depending upon the level of faculty participation, these stipends will be somewhere in the range of $50-$100 per faculty member. The process is entirely voluntary and is intended to assess the rubrics only, not the student work or scope of the assignment. If you are willing to partake, here's what the MSC would need:
  • A completed Assignment Cover Sheet
  • Your assignment sheet that generated the artifact
  • 10-12 student artifacts (e.g., essays, journal entries, and quantitative papers) that demonstrate written communication, quantitative literacy, critical thinking, or civic engagement. These artifacts should be at least 3 pages in length. All names and identifying features will be scrubbed. No releases from students are needed for this project.
Please let Chris Bednar know if you are willing to participate. We would need the materials by May 2016. Thanks!

Resources
Share your Teaching Strategies
In what ways do you effectively utilize groups in your courses? What are some strategies for assigning students to groups? Are there any other great resources that you would like to share with faculty on this topic? Send an email with your teaching strategies, best practices, or resources to itd@northshore.edu and we will share them in the next few issues of iDevelop.

 We hope you have enjoyed this weekly eNewsletter and would love your input. Please let us know if you have any feedback on the format, content, and resources or if there is anything else you would like to see in the eNewsletter.

 Thank you,
Instructional Technology and Design and the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment
at No comments: