Category: Presentations

Festive Fundamentals: A Beginner’s Guide to ChatGPT

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Faculty Development, Presentations

Curious how ChatGPT can help you this holiday season? As the December festivities twinkle around us, we’ll unwrap the basics of ChatGPT in a fun and engaging way. In this beginner friendly workshop, we’ll take a merry stroll through the essentials of ChatGPT. It’s like learning to build a snowman – step by step and full of fun! We’ll explore what ChatGPT is and the ways it can add magic to your daily tasks. Think of it as your gateway to understanding AI, all wrapped up in a bow of holiday joy!

Bring your holiday spirit and prepare for an enjoyable learning experience, complete with holiday-themed examples and a friendly, supportive environment. Designed for AI newcomers, this workshop is your sleigh ride into the exciting world of ChatGPT!

Learning Objectives:

  • Uncover the magic of generative AI and ChatGPT, perfect for beginners stepping into the AI holiday season.
  • Navigate ChatGPT’s user interface with the ease of finding presents under a Christmas tree.
  • Identify at least two ways ChatGPT can be your helper elf, assisting with everyday tasks.
  • Learn tips for crafting effective prompts, like writing your first holiday card, in a simple, fun way.
  • Discuss AI ethics and safety, like responsibly roasting chestnuts on an open fire.

Current Student Experience: Managing the Portfolio

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Lecture, Presentations

During the annual PhD seminar, I delineated the journey of curating my PhD portfolio over the years. I articulated my rationale for selecting WordPress as my platform of choice, contrasting it with alternatives preferred by many peers. I also showcased a Padlet board, featuring portfolios of former classmates, inviting attendees to contribute and enrich this collective repository.

Portfolio Padlet Board

InteresTED | Unlocking the Boundless Potential of Many Metaverses

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Faculty Development, Presentations

Join us for an exciting session where we delve into the fascinating world of metaverses and explore their incredible potential. In this interactive training, we will discover the concept of the metaverse and how it can revolutionize our digital experiences. We will view a TED Talk led by Minecraft’s game director Agnes Larsson, and we will examine the limitless possibilities for inclusivity, creativity, and connection that multiple metaverses offer. Through engaging discussions and practical applications, you will gain insights into the transformative power of virtual worlds and their real-world impact. Don’t miss this opportunity to be inspired and join the conversation about the future of metaverses!

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this training session, participants will be able to:

  • Define the concept of the metaverse and understand its significance in today’s digital landscape.
  • Explore a metaverse platform and identify its potential for fostering dialogue, friendship, and trust.
  • Examine the practical applications of metaverses, with a focus on FrameVR as an example.
  • Reflect on personal takeaways from the session and identify key insights about the metaverse’s impact on the real world.

Asynchronous eLearning Modules – ACADEMIC BOOTCAMP PRESENTATION

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Faculty Development, Presentations

co-presenter

In today’s rapidly evolving education landscape, traditional teaching methods are being complemented or even replaced by innovative approaches that leverage technology. One such approach is asynchronous eLearning, which offers flexibility and convenience for both instructors and students.

During this presentation, we will discuss:

  • How case-based learning can be reimagined with the help of technology
  • List tips doe crafting effective CBL eLearning modules
  • Share how eLearning technologies can assist in teaching difficult subject matter to students

The AI Toolbox: An Exploration of Tomorrow’s Educator Toolkit

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Faculty Development, Presentations

Let’s open the lid and see what’s inside the toolbox of tomorrow’s educator. During this engaging presentation, we’ll explore the world of AI tools through the lens of a handyman’s trusty toolbox. Just like a skilled craftsman, educators possess an array of tools at their disposal, and AI is the ultimate addition to their toolkit!

Discover how AI tools can revolutionize the higher education landscape, enabling educators to enhance their teaching techniques and create personalized learning environments. We’ll delve into the power of AI, from automating administrative processes to crafting captivating content using machine learning algorithms and data analytics. Bring your hammer as we forge a new path to unveil the top AI tools that will empower you to craft a like a true master handyman, ensuring an exceptional learning experience for your students.

Learning Objectives:

  • Recognize the potential of AI tools as valuable additions to the teaching toolbox.
  • Explore the diverse range of AI tools available to educators.
  • Understand the benefits of integrating AI tools into teaching practices.

Give me my 10 minutes back!

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Lecture, Presentations

Stop wasting your valuable time in back-to-back meetings! Microsoft’s Human Factor Lab conducted a study that revealed how two hours of non-stop video meetings can accumulate stress and ultimately hurt your productivity. But don’t worry, we have the solution for you.

In this session, we will share the research findings from Microsoft and provide you with practical tips to optimize your meetings. We will guide you on how to customize your Outlook Calendar settings and shorten those default 1-hour meetings that are sucking your time away.

Say goodbye to meeting fatigue and hello to increased productivity! Join us for this exciting event and get those 10 minutes back that you deserve. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to boost your efficiency and thrive in your workplace. Reserve your spot now and start taking control of your time!

Learning Objectives:

  • Participants will be able to explain the findings of Microsoft’s Human Factor Lab study on the impact of back-to-back meetings on stress levels and productivity.
  • Participants will be able to identify at least three ways in which back-to-back meetings can negatively impact their work and well-being.
  • Participants will be able to adjust their Outlook Calendar settings to create more efficient and effective meetings that save time and reduce stress.
  • Participants will be able to apply the knowledge gained in the session to their own work routines and develop a plan for implementing changes to their meeting schedule that maximize productivity and well-being.

Unlocking the Future of Education: 4×4 Incredible Ways ChatGPT Can Transform Your Classroom Experience!

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Faculty Development, Presentations

Join us for an exciting event where we will explore the innovative ways ChatGPT can be used in the classroom! This insightful discussion will guide you on how ChatGPT can transform the classroom experience in 4×4 incredible ways. Learn about the 4 ways ChatGPT can be used in the classroom, 4 ways to help prevent cheating with ChatGPT, 4 ways ChatGPT and other AI tools can be used to assist your teaching, and 4 ways students can use ChatGPT as a study tool. With ChatGPT, educators can transform their teaching strategies, making it more engaging, interactive and effective. From teaching to learning…ChatGPT has got you covered!

Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to unlock the full potential of ChatGPT and other AI teaching apps. Register today and get ready to be inspired!

Learning Objectives:

  • Define how ChatGPT can be used in the classroom
  • Discuss how you can help to prevent student cheating with AI tools
  • List AI teaching tools to support faculty
  • Describe how ChatGPT can be used as a study tool

The Horrors of Stolen Research and 7 Tips for Establishing a Research Team Agreement

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Faculty Development, Presentations

Picture this: You’ve gathered a team of brilliant minds, all working toward a common goal. But, beware, my friends, for there are horrors lurking in the shadows, waiting to steal you hard-earned research…and the perpetrator may just be your neighbor. If you dare to venture into the treacherous world of research teams without a proper agreement, be prepared to face the consequences. But, fear not, for in this CETL Session, you will discover the secrets of establishing a pact that will shield you from the horrors of stolen research and set the stage for your group’s triumph.

Join in for this CETL Session where you will be equipped with the knowledge to establish a research team agreement that will protect your group and provide a solid foundation for success. Together, we will explore the tales of stolen research and we’ll share with you seven essential tips for crafting a strong agreement.

Online Learning Modalities – Academic Bootcamp Presentation

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Faculty Development, Presentations

Learning Objectives 

  • Identify synchronous, asynchronous, hyflex, hybrid, blended, MOOC course design
  • Recognize technologies that can be used for synchronous or asynchronous instruction
  • Discuss the differences of Hybrid and HyFlex course design
  • Explain the elements needed for HyFlex course delivery
  • Identify the differences between a correspondence course and a distance education course
  • Define RSI

InteresTED: How your brain responds to stories, and why they’re crucial for leaders

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Facilitated Discussion, Presentations

How do the world’s best leaders and visionaries earn trust? They don’t just present data, they also tell great stories. In this TED Talk, leadership consultant Karen Eber demystifies what makes for effective storytelling and explains how anyone can harness it to create empathy and inspire action. The neurobiology of the brain differs with data presentation and stories.

Stories help people see something that they won’t see with data alone. Join us as we discuss living your values as a leader by involving the harmony of data and storytelling.

Learning Objectives:

– Identify the 3 components of what makes a great story

– Define a framework of questions to guide and incorporate data and storytelling

– Use the framework to develop a story

AI Student Cheating Tools – What you don’t know but should.

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Lecture, Presentations, Workshop

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are making it easier than ever for students to cheat or assist with assignments and tests. Yes, there has been a movement for proctored online exams and plagiarism tools, but what about those low-stakes assignments? Is it possible for a student to fake their way through an entire college course? How about an entire college degree?

In discovering over 20 FREE AI-assistive technologies, we have identified various ways these AI tools can be used by students to cheat, or assist, their way through their education. While we will not be identifying these tools by name, there are still common themes between the tools that professors should be aware of. We are only touching the surface of this topic and hope to begin a collaborative discussion about the future of AI in education.

In this session we will:

  • Identify the different types of cheating tools that could potentially be used.
  • Discuss ideas for how professors may identify potential cheaters.
  • Discuss the ethics of using AI assistive technology in student coursework

Ready (Head) Set Go!! Virtual Reality Immersive Simulation for Interprofessional Education – The “I Belong” project

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Faculty Partner Project, Presentations

Come try out the Virtual Reality Immersive Simulation for Interprofessional Education created by an interprofessional research team at WesternU.

This workshop will provide you with an understanding of the technology and hand-ons experience to jumpstart your own immersive education project.

Learning objectives:

1) Describe how technology in the classroom can be used as a medium for translating clinical experiences to diverse student populations.

2) Experience a simulation VR project.

3) Understand the technology and hardware to devise your own collaborative immersive education project.

Trick or Treat…Zoom Apps are really Neat.

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Presentations, Workshop

Did you get an email, or many, about newly installed Zoom Apps? Is it a trick, or is it a treat? Are you curious about these Zoom apps? Are you interested to learn how to use these Zoom Apps in the classroom or during meetings? – – – Well…then this session is for YOU!

This session will be a choose-your-own-BR discovery and group brainstorm discussion session. Let’s explore these apps together and uncover best use cases for these technologies. A short introduction to Zoom apps will be presented and then attendees will choose a breakout room to join for further discovery of the technology. At the end of the session, the small groups will reconvene into the larger group where each sub-group will share their app recommendations.

Learning Objectives:

  • List various Zoom Apps and describe their main function
  • Identify how to use Zoom Apps within the Zoom client interface
  • Describe how Zoom Apps can be used in the digital classroom or in a department meeting

An Untapped Faculty Resource: Customized learning modules to enhance student learning

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Presentations, Workshop

The CETL Instructional Design Team as has created learning projects that have been presented at large conferences on a national and international stage, described in published articles, analyzed for research, and furthered the scholarship of teaching and learning for many WesternU faculty. Some designs are more complex than others, but all with the goal of enhancing the student learning experience. From teaching schizophrenia pharmacology, to outlining lifestyle medicine, to an EHR interface where students can select labs for case-based learning modules or interactions that teach students to make fiscally responsible decisions, the IDLD Team can create a custom online learning module unique to your course needs.

So, as a faculty member, how can you partner with the CETL ID Team to expand student learning?

In this session we will:

  • Discuss project exemplars created by the IDLD Team
  • Identify resources to further inspire your creative learning models
  • Explain how you too can partner with CETL to develop your next project and enhance student learning in your course

Badges? We don’t need no stinking badges…Or do we?

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Presentations, Workshop

We may not be Troop Beverly Hills, but CETL badges are a great way to encourage group attendance and reward participation. A digital badge is a visual symbol that represents the development of a new skill that can be displayed, accessed, and verified online. Badges typically represent competencies not shown on a transcript, including learning from professional development, volunteer work, and other co-curricular activities. Digital badges are becoming popular because of the benefits they provide for both workers and employers. For professionals, badges demonstrate proof of their skills and accomplishments, which they can display on their online professional profiles, in their email signatures, and on social media.

In this session we will:

  • Discuss Digital Badges & Micro-Credentials
  • Identify & compare various digital badging platforms
  • Explain the back-end process of attendance to awarding the badge to sharing the badge
  • Describe CETL’s Digital Badge Program
  • Share examples of where one might implement digital badging

Maximize Social Learning Using Virtual Breakout Rooms

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Lecture, Presentations

Adult learners have an abundance of knowledge and experience that can be shared. How do you tap into their skillset and make the most of peer support? In this session, we’ll look at how to design collaborative activities and group exercises into your online classroom experiences using Zoom breakout rooms. We’ll explore how to take your social learning experiences to the next level by boosting engagement, knowledge sharing, and critical thinking.

Learning Objectives:

  • Discuss best practices for planning, setting up, and facilitating group work virtually
  • Identify how to customize breakout rooms and create content synchronization in Zoom
  • List ideas for going beyond audio and video, and create engaging exercises

Creating Your Own Infographics

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Presentations, Workshop

Let’s make data pretty! This CETL Session is all about Infographics.

Simply put, an infographic is a visual representation of information. By combining elements of text, images, charts, or diagrams, an infographic is an effective tool to present data and explain complex issues in a way that can quickly lead to insight and better understanding. As designers, researchers, staff, scholars, or students may be asked at some point in our career to create an infographic; but where does one even begin?

During this session we will:

– discuss how data can be reimagined to be visually appealing

– analyze 3-4 infographic design platforms

– use the design platforms to mold boring facts and figures into something visually extraordinary!

Please note: This session will be a hands-on workshop and attendees will be encouraged to participate in the hands-on design process during this session.

4 Misconceptions of Online Learning

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Faculty Development

“How can faculty and instructional designers address misconceptions about online learning as they transition from reactivity to proactivity following the COVID-19 pandemic?”

In March 2020, the shift to online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic occurred quickly, leaving many higher education institutions with just a weekend to prepare. The result was Emergency Remote Instruction (ERI), and not true Online Learning structure and design. As we move from reactive to proactive design planning within the online learning environment, we need to squash the ERI-created misconceptions that we have become familiar with over the last two years.

Based on the EDUCAUSE Article with the same name, this session will:

  • Identify 4 common misconceptions about online learning
  • Discuss creative teaching solutions to counteract the corresponding misconception
  • Describe how technology can be utilized to solve online teaching challenges
  • Identify how creating positive and engaging learning environments to promote success for online students

Research Posters: Turning Drab into Fab

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Faculty Development

We’ve seen them…we’ve made them…and we’ve walked right past them…Research Posters.

The purpose of a research poster is to visually represent the general overview, data, and most relevant findings of a research project. When preparing to design your poster you’ve likely taken your thoughtful research or well-drafted manuscript and you’ve widdled it down to the bare bones with just a few remaining sentences; next you probably chopped those sentences into bullet points and then plopped those well-crafted statements into a sterile three-or-four column template, adorned with some sort of chart, cladly themed in the university colors.

We’ve been using the same academic research poster templates for the last three decades. Why?

Science has advanced tremendously since the 90’s, why hasn’t research poster design?

In this session, we will:

  • discuss research poster basics
  • critique traditional poster design
  • apply updated design techniques
  • recognize better poster design 2.0
  • explain where to go for help

InteresTED: Super Chickens and Characteristics of Highly Effective Teams

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Facilitated Discussion

In the 2015 TED Talk, Forget the Pecking Order at Work, Margaret Heffernan argues that competition is not the way to create organizational success. Heffernan begins with the story of William Muir and his experiments with “super chickens” to engage the audience around the themes of competition and productivity. She states that organizations are often run according to “the super chicken model,” where the value is placed on star employees who outperform others.

And yet, this isn’t what drives the most high-achieving teams. Rather, social connections and people’s interactions with one another are the keys to success. Heffernan goes on to discuss social capital and the importance of valuing everyone in order to solve our most “wicked problems.”

She continues by presenting research and examples from various industries to illustrate that competition is not the answer to organizational wellness. It’s a radical rethink of what drives us to do our best work, and what it means to be a leader. Because as Heffernan points out: “Companies don’t have ideas. Only people do.”

Learning Objectives:

  • Recite what happens when we just use Super Chickens in our work teams
  • Identify the three characteristics of the successful and highly effective teams
  • Explain the terms Social Capital and helpfulness

Online Learning Requirements and 5 Focus Factors of RSI

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Lecture

Many of us do not regularly read policies on higher education online learning requirements and regulations. Yet, during the pandemic, the U.S. Department of Education issued updated rules and requirements for distance education. These updated legal federal requirements now include something called “Regular and Substantive Interaction” – or RSI for short – between a student and an instructor. During this session, we will focus on the DoE RSI requirements for online teaching and learning environments including asynchronous, synchronous, and blended/hybrid platforms.

What do these recent changes mean for faculty and the programs offering online education? How can faculty prepare their online course to meet these mandated requirements? What elements should be included within an online course to meet the RSI requirements? Where can faculty go for help?

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe the updated definition of distance education
  • Recognize the differences between a correspondence course and distance education
  • Define RSI
  • List 5 factors that are the focus of RSI
  • Identify how the IDLD team can evaluate your online course to meet RSI requirements

InteresTED: Super Chickens, Fika, Trust, and Characteristics of Highly Effective Teams

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Lecture

In the 2015 TED Talk, Forget the Pecking Order at Work, Margaret Heffernan argues that competition is not the way to create organizational success. Heffernan begins with the story of William Muir and his experiments with “super chickens” to engage the audience around the themes of competition and productivity. She states that organizations are often run according to “the super chicken model,” where the value is placed on star employees who outperform others.

And yet, this isn’t what drives the most high-achieving teams. Rather, social connections and people’s interactions with one another are the keys to success. Heffernan goes on to discuss social capital and the importance of valuing everyone in order to solve our most “wicked problems.”

She continues by presenting research and examples from various industries to illustrate that competition is not the answer to organizational wellness. It’s a radical rethink of what drives us to do our best work, and what it means to be a leader. Because as Heffernan points out: “Companies don’t have ideas. Only people do.”

Learning Objectives:

  • Recite what happens when we just use Super Chickens in our work teams
  • Identify the three characteristics of the successful and highly effective teams
  • Explain the terms Social Capital and helpfulness

6+ Tips to Increase Your Productivity Using Microsoft Word

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Lecture

Microsoft Word contains a multitude of helpful features that can streamline processes thereby helping to make your day-to-day more productive. At this point in your career, you’ve likely used Microsoft Word on a semi-regular basis, however even the proficient user may be unaware of the numerous time-saving features built into this powerful program.

This session will spotlight six+ time-saving and lesser-known features within Microsoft Word. We will discuss text boxes, images, quick parts, watermarks, spacing, page formatting, and other tidbits along the way. Come learn how you can increase your productivity and expand your knowledge of this familiar program.

Promoting Wellness and Reducing Tension with LinkedIn Learning.

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Lecture

Presented in partnership with the WesternU Staff Council Professional Development Committee

Scattered thinking? Under pressure? Distracted? Stressed?

This session combines LinkedIn Learning (LIL) with desk yoga breathing techniques. Here we will show you how you can use the LIL platform to not only learn something new but to also improve your wellness in the process.

Learn how to access LinkedIn Learning courses (a free benefit for all WesternU employees), and how some classes can help you with stress at work or at home. We will walk you through how to set up your LIL account, how to search and save courses, and we will even throw in some desk yoga breathing techniques which you can use the next time you’re feeling overwhelmed with life’s daily stressors. Come and learn how you can take advantage of this free employee service. Staff is encouraged to join!

Leveraging Podcasts for Learning

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Presentations, Workshop

Podcast Insights report that there are over 2,000,000 podcasts, with over 116,000,000 listeners alone in the last month. With the podcasting trend on a steady rise, how can we use this medium for learning and connecting with our students?

In this session we will:

  • Discuss use-case scenarios for using podcasts in the classroom
  • Describe examples of how student-created podcasts can be incorporated into your classroom curriculum
  • List podcasts we enjoy and discuss which aspects of those podcasts are appealing
  • Analyze a Podcasting Rubric with a peer-evaluation checklist and a self-evaluation checklist

5 Tips for Dealing with meeting overload

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Workshop

Could this meeting have been an email? The phenomenon of “calendar creep,” where meetings completely take over your workdays, is wasting time, energy and productivity — but you can take back control. Leadership expert Cindy Solomon shares her five tips for clearing up your schedule and getting your calendar to work for you, not against you.”

Learning Objectives:

  • List 5 tips for dealing with meeting overload
  • Identify meeting action verbs
  • Explain a meeting purpose statement
  • Use Microsoft MyAnalytics to schedule focus and learning time

Ask an ID

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Facilitated Discussion

Let’s talk “teaching and learning.”

Let’s talk “teaching with tech.”

Let’s talk “pedagogy.”

This hour is reserved for YOU and your questions. Any topics related to teaching and learning and/or teaching with technology, we’re here to support and assist you.

What Do Instructional Designers Do? … Instructional designers specialize in the process of learning. An instructional designer has a unique skill set that blends technology and pedagogy, which is ideal for supporting learning activities. Our ID’s can help maximize the technology within your online course to help enhance student learning, as well as assist with redesigning courses, developing entire courses, or creating training materials, such as teaching manuals and student guides.

ABC – Asynchronous Activity: Media Richness and Social Presence Theories and Web Resources Scavenger Hunt

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Faculty Development, Presentations

This asynchronous course will help to prepare you for the Wednesday Quiz at 10:00 am. In total, these two assignments should take you approximately 90-minutes combined.   

With remote learning being a strong component for the coming term the activities in the homework will provide you with additional learning resources, as well as provide important insights for creating online communities and engagement in your online course. 

Assignments:

  • Web Resources Scavenger Hunt
  • Media Richness & Social Presence Theory

This presentation was given as part of a semester training seminar for new faculty members. Academic Boot Camp (ABC) is a four (4) day intensive seminar that emphasizes the pedagogical basics of learning objectives, learning events, and assessment item writing. This intensive 4-day seminar/workshop has been re-tooled post-pandemic to not only teach the pedagogical basics but also emphasize technology and the skills needed for remote teaching and learning.

ABC – Tools for Teaching with Technology

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Faculty Development, Presentations

Session Learning Objectives:

  • Benefits of eLearning​
  • Define LMS​
  • Identify synchronous vs. asynchronous instruction and recognize technologies that can be used for synchronous or asynchronous instruction​
  • Explain the elements needed for HyFlex course delivery​
  • Define how preparing a detailed Schedule of Instruction can map easily to the learning management system ​
  • Learn to access additional tech training for the LMS​
  • Use, List, Define, Describe EdTech tools to promote active learning​
  • Identify locations for additional support​

This presentation was given as part of a semester training seminar for new faculty members. Academic Boot Camp (ABC) is a four (4) day intensive seminar that emphasizes the pedagogical basics of learning objectives, learning events, and assessment item writing. This intensive 4-day seminar/workshop has been re-tooled post-pandemic to not only teach the pedagogical basics but also emphasize technology and the skills needed for remote teaching and learning.

ABC – Zooming Into Active Learning

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Faculty Development, Presentations

Session Learning Objectives:

  • List five active learning strategies using Zoom​
  • Discuss examples of successful Zoom classroom engagement​
  • Identify how to troubleshoot most common technical issues​
  • Identify Zoom support and additional training options​

This presentation was given as part of a semester training seminar for new faculty members. Academic Boot Camp (ABC) is a four (4) day intensive seminar that emphasizes the pedagogical basics of learning objectives, learning events, and assessment item writing. This intensive 4-day seminar/workshop has been re-tooled post-pandemic to not only teach the pedagogical basics but also emphasize technology and the skills needed for remote teaching and learning.

ABC- Recap: MRT & SPT

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Faculty Development, Presentations

Session Learning Objectives:

  • Define Media Richness Theory and Social Presence Theory​
  • Explain how media richness can reduce student confusion​
  • Explain how social presence influences effective learning​
  • Identify modes of communication as it relates to social presence influence​

​This presentation was given as part of a semester training seminar for new faculty members. Academic Boot Camp (ABC) is a four (4) day intensive seminar that emphasizes the pedagogical basics of learning objectives, learning events, and assessment item writing. This intensive 4-day seminar/workshop has been re-tooled post-pandemic to not only teach the pedagogical basics but also emphasize technology and the skills needed for remote teaching and learning.

ABC – Carnegie Hours & Time on Task

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Faculty Development, Presentations

Session Learning Objectives:

  • Define Carnegie Hour​
  • Identify the WesternU credit hour requirement per the University Catalog​
  • Identify in-class and out-of-class hour requirements​
  • Use the worksheets provided to assist in course development​
  • Use the Workload Estimator to calculate student assignments​
  • Identify additional questions to consider when planning your course​

This presentation was given as part of a semester training seminar for new faculty members. Academic Boot Camp (ABC) is a four (4) day intensive seminar that emphasizes the pedagogical basics of learning objectives, learning events, and assessment item writing. This intensive 4-day seminar/workshop has been re-tooled post-pandemic to not only teach the pedagogical basics but also emphasize technology and the skills needed for remote teaching and learning.

This Meeting Could have Been an Email.

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Faculty Development

Meeting overload was a problem before the pandemic, but now with back-to-back Zoom meetings instead of the long Esplanade walks to our conference room destination, we have more time…and more time means more meetings. Advice on facilitating better meetings is plentiful, but often skips a crucial first step: asking yourself whether you need to have a meeting in the first place.

During this session, we will uncover the answer to the question that has plagued our Outlook calendars for years…Could this meeting have been an email?

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify if a meeting should be an email by using a simple flowchart.
  • List the steps that can be taken to maximize meeting effectiveness.
  • Explain how to effectively write a structured email to help reduce meetings

Engaging and Interacting with Students in Online Courses | Magna 20 Minute Mentor

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Facilitated Discussion, Presentations

Facilitated discussion:

“With the rapid changes to remote learning that we have experienced around the country and even across the globe, the pedagogy of online teaching has become one of the most important dialogues across the sector of education in both higher education, as well as secondary education, all the way down to the primary level. During this facilitated Magna 20-Minute Mentor session it is the hope that we will be able to refine your course design practices, to refresh your approach to online teaching, and to reflect on strategies to continuously improve online teaching, specifically through discussion about four important areas.”

InteresTED – The Game that Can Give you 10 Extra Years of Life

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Facilitated Discussion, Presentations

When game designer, Jane McGonigal, found herself bedridden and suicidal following a severe concussion, she had a fascinating idea for how to get better. She dove into the scientific research and created the healing game, SuperBetter. In this moving talk, McGonigal explains how a game can boost resilience – and promises to add 7.5 minutes to your life.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Define Posttraumatic Growth
  2. Outline four kinds of strengths that contribute to Postromantic growth
  3. Identify scientifically validated activities that help build personal resilience

Connecting Educational Concepts with Mind Mapping Techniques

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Presentations, Workshop

Mind mapping is a technique used to visually outline information. By using words, pictures, and diagrams, mind mapping can help professors teach connections in course material, as well as help students study.

The main concept, or idea, is at the center of the mind map. From the nucleus-center, themes associated with the main concept branch out; and from each of these themes, additional branches or twigs begin to grow as attributing information begins to unveil itself as a subset of the theme or idea. Mind mapping techniques can help students visualize subject content and conceptually display how various ideas are interconnected.

In this CETL Session we will:

  • explain the basic theory of mind mapping
  • identify how larger concepts can be broken down into smaller themes and ideas
  • list various educational technology tools to assist in the creation of a mind map
  • identify example mind maps used in medical education
  • apply new knowledge by creating a mind map

Discovering the new Zoom Apps

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Presentations, Workshop

Have you happened to notice a new icon on your Zoom meeting toolbar? What is this “Zoom Apps” thing and how do I use it? No, your eyes are not deceiving you, Zoom has once again updated their software and has provided us with some new meeting tools.

This session will be a choose-your-own-BR discovery and group brainstorm discussion session. Let’s explore these apps together and uncover best use cases for these technologies. A short introduction to Zoom apps will be presented and then attendees will choose a breakout room to join for further discovery of the technology. At the end of the session, the small groups will reconvene into the larger group where each sub-group will share their app recommendations.

Searching for Normal

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Lecture, Presentations

So much has changed in Higher Education since the start of the pandemic. What conveniences have you enjoyed? What have been some of the challenges? Will we reevaluate what’s important to us? Will the progress we’ve made during this time be undone?

What is “normal”?  Is “normal” even normal anymore?

Based on the article, Let’s Not Return to Normal When the ‘New Normal’ Finally Arrives, by Morton O. Schapiro, this session will center around a robust discussion of “normal” in higher education and our lives in academia. Additional thoughts and insights from the Steven Mintz article Let’s Not Return to the Old Normal will be incorporated, and insights from Sophia Rosenbaum’s article Dear Normal: Were you really that great in the first place? will be integrated. Come prepared to share, discuss, and question.

Let’s Toast to Toastmasters!

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Faculty Partner Project, Presentations

Interested in enhancing your public speaking skills? Join Toastmasters!

Toastmasters is an internationally recognized nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills to individuals worldwide. The organization’s membership exceeds 300,000 in more than 15,800 clubs in 149 countries. WesternU once had a thriving Toastmasters Club; we would like to reignite that spark once again!

Join us for this Toastmasters Demo Meeting. Learn about the organization, membership, recognition, and leadership opportunities. During this meeting we hope to identify the club’s charter members, a prestigious label of honor.

7 Things You Should Know About Adaptive Learning

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Lecture, Presentations

Adaptive learning is one technique for providing personalized learning, which aims to provide efficient, effective, and customized learning paths to engage each student. This session is based on The 7 Things You Should Know About… series from the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative (ELI) which provides a quick and concise overview of a single topic for time-pressed colleagues.

Learning Objectives:

– Define adaptive learning

– Explain how adaptive learning works and who’s doing it

– Discuss the future of adaptive learning

7 Things You Should Know About the HyFlex Course Model

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Lecture, Presentations

The hybrid flexible, or HyFlex, course format is an instructional approach that combines face-to-face (F2F) and online learning. Each class session and learning activity is offered in-person, synchronously online, and asynchronously online. Students can decide how to participate. This session is based on The 7 Things You Should Know About… series from the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative (ELI) which provides a quick and concise overview of a single topic for time-pressed colleagues.

Learning Objectives:

– Define HyFlex

– Explain how HyFlex works

– Discuss campuses and courses currently using HyFlex

– Identify the downsides of HyFlex

– Discuss the future of HyFlex learning

InteresTED: 100 Days of Rejection

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Facilitated Discussion

Jia Jiang adventures boldly into a territory so many of us fear: rejection. By seeking out rejection for 100 days — from asking a stranger to borrow $100 to requesting a “burger refill” at a restaurant — Jiang desensitized himself to the pain and shame that rejection often brings and, in the process, discovered that simply asking for what you want can open up possibilities where you expect to find dead ends.”

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify 5 Lessons Learned From 100 Days of Rejection
  • Discuss how to turn rejection into opportunity
  • List additional resources to assist you on your overcoming rejection

Facilitated Discussion of Popular TED Talk

How Can I Adapt My Teaching So Students Thrive in a Polysynchronous Classroom?

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Facilitated Discussion

For teachers in any modality that are required to synchronously teach students in-person and virtually, this 20-Minute Mentor details how polysynchronous instruction can provide concrete tools for adapting teaching to both modalities to maximize through learning.”

Learning Objectives:

  • Discuss the flexibility required for a polysynchronous class
  • Share and explain ideas for establishing student accountability
  • Identify engagement strategies and ideas
  • Identify ways to build rapport
  • Discuss ideas for online assignments

Facilitated Discussion of Magna 20-Minute Mentor

Zack and the Extraordinary Neuro Escape Room

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Faculty Partner Project

Gamification, or the use of learning design coupled with game mechanics and logic, has been shown to be an engaging and useful strategy in the classroom. An escape room is just one example of gamification, and has been utilized across health profession students to promote collaboration and problem-solving. Through virtual experiential learning and team collaboration students are able to follow “Zack’s journey” and compete against the clock, and each other, in this virtual clinical application experience of didactic coursework.  

This session will describe the development, implementation, and outcomes (student satisfaction and engagement) of a virtual escape room incorporating a complex patient case for Doctor of Physical Therapy students. Participants will leave with the knowledge and resources of how to create a similar project in their own classrooms. 

Learning Objectives: 

  • Describe the development, implementation, and outcomes of a virtual escape room 
  • Identify how to create a similar project in one’s own classroom

Co-Presenter

Custom eBook Publishing in Minutes

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Faculty Partner Project, Presentations

Give students a new way to read online by adding your personally developed eBook to your online course content. Interactive eBooks can be easily embedded in your Elentra or Canvas learning management system. With a digital page-flipping sound and page swiping features, students can flip through your eBook with the same ease as a traditional textbook.

Personally design your eBook with ease and flexibility. Choose the size of your eBook, or whether you want your eBook to have a hardcover. Your newly published eBook will be exported into an HTML5 format that is viewable in an internet browser, as well as mobile-responsive for readers who view the content on a mobile device.

With CETL’s newly available software, CETL can publish your custom eBook to the web in just minutes!

Behind the Scenes: Making the CETL Newsletter

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Presentations, Workshop

CETL’s weekly Tips & Tricks email is a routine email that is sent to the campus faculty and staff each Monday morning. Each week the CETL newsletter is refreshed with new information, new learning opportunities, new educational articles, and new resources. In this session, we pull back the curtain and discuss how the weekly newsletter is made.

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify how to use email marketing software for template design.
  • Demonstrate how to crop images and adjust image pixels with basic Windows software.
  • Explain where to locate WesternU graphics standards, including hex codes.
  • Discover how the blocked formatting template can be easily updated each week with new information.
  • Explain how to send an e-Newsletter template via Microsoft Outlook.

Will it be Door #1, or Door #2, or Door #3…

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Presentations, Workshop

Zoom keeps the updates coming, and this time there are some exciting updates to Breakout Rooms! Students are now able to CHOOSE their own breakout room. Maybe Door #1 has a discussion on a specific and Door #2 has a discussion on a different topic…with the newest Zoom Breakout Room features, your students can now CHOOSE which discussion they want to be a part of.

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify how to update your Zoom Client Interface
  • Describe how to set up the “Let Participates Choose Room” feature in Zoom Breakout Rooms
  • Explain how to rename the Breakout Rooms
  • Identify how students can ask for help when in a Breakout Room
  • Describe how teachers can join/monitor individual Breakout Rooms

Based on Bandersnatch: Designing a “Choose Your Own Adventure” eLearning Module

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Faculty Partner Project

Emmy award winning Black Mirror: Bandersnatch was Netflix’s first interactive movie that allowed the viewer to choose the movie’s storyline.  Like the popular Choose Your Own Adventure books from the 1970’s, Bandersnatch created multiple paths within the storyline based on the choices selected by the viewer. The question became, can we create an eLearning module based on the framework of Bandersnatch?

It was a question posed by a College of Pharmacy faculty member who wanted to reimagine their lecture on therapeutic medication for schizophrenia diagnosis. Bandersnatch’s creative layout and extensive branching scenarios provided the ideal format for a schizophrenia patient case study, and Articulate Storyline was the only authoring tool powerful enough to make this idea come to life.

The simulated case study follows the patient, PJ, through multiple medication timelines.  Similar to Bandersnatch, the student chooses which medication to prescribe PJ, and therefore chooses their own individual learning path.  Much of the module branching originates from the virtual pharmacy in which the student has six medications to prescribe to the patient.  Once a selection is made, the student travels down the education path.

Throughout the education path the student learns about the prescribed medication, answers questions, participates in interactions, and discovers common medication side-effects.  The side-effects ultimately overwhelm PJ, and the learner is forced to return to the virtual pharmacy slide to choose another medication for the patient.  Intricate triggers are integrated within the module forcing the student to learn about, and exhaust, all medication options until the correct medication appears on the pharmacy shelf thereby proving the ending path of the case simulation.

The complicated branching scenario in the eLearning module includes over 80 slides, 40 layers, 35 interactions, 20 variables, over 100 triggers, and a result slide that captures the student’s choices along the way.  Additionally, all the representative artwork integrated within the design was created by individuals living with schizophrenia.

In this session we will review the creative and design process that begun with generic PowerPoint themed slides supplied by the SME and discuss how the content was reimagined and retooled to be an engaging eLearning module student experience.

5 Tips to help Increase Student Morale in a time of Remote Learning

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Lecture, Presentations

Look…this pandemic has been hard on all of us. Each of us battling our own unique challenges; and, after 11 months, it’s no wonder that we’re all exhausted by our “new normal”. Students are no different, and for many, morale is low.

No surprise to many of us, EdWeek is reporting that more than 50% of students and 75% of instructors within a remote-learning environment have lower morale than before the pandemic. The U.K. Office of National Statistics reported that more than half of the students surveyed identified that their well-being and mental health has worsened these past 11 months. And, according to a report by The Jed Foundation, 63% of students say their mental health is worse since the start of the pandemic. No surprise, student morale is low.

In this session, we will hone in on five (5) tips to help increase student morale within the online learning environment, and how sometimes those simple changes can make all the difference. Please also bring your thinking-caps because we will open the floor for the opportunity to share conversations and our own experiences in making the remote learning environment better for students.

Looking at 2021 and the Cloudy Crystal Ball of Teaching & Learning

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Lecture, Presentations

Higher Education and topics related to the future of teaching and learning have been forever changed post-2020. As the clouds begin to clear and a new dawn shines on 2021, let’s reflect on the past and begin to look toward the future. Multiple outlets have published their projections for the new future of teaching and learning and educational technology. Together we will review some of the projected highlights shared by these outlets, and share our own thoughts on what is to come.

Learning Objectives:

– Analyze the educational technology lesson takeaways from 2020

– Identify the industry projections for the future of teaching & learning

– Discuss individual ideas for the 2021 future of teaching & learning

Three Easy Strategies to Let Your Personality Shine in Your Online Course

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Lecture

With the ability to automate so much of an online course, along with the physical separation from your students, it can be challenging to find ways to let your personality, teaching style, and personal touches shine through in the online environment.

Based on the article “Don’t Turn into a Bot Online: Three Easy Strategies to Let Your Personality Shine in Your Online Course” by Jessica Evans we will discuss three easy strategies that you can begin trying and implementing in your teaching today to bring a bit more of your personality to your online courses.

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify three strategies to help express your personality in your online course.

Qualtrics Basics: Getting Started

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Workshop

Qualtrics is a powerful online survey tool that allows one to build surveys, distribute surveys and analyze responses from one convenient online location. In this CETL Session we will begin to introduce you to the powerful world of Qualtrics. This session is ideal for the brand new Qualtrics user, looking for a soft introduction to the software.

Learning Objectives:
– Become familiar with the basics of user interface
– Identify design options with Look & Feel interface
– Discuss Qualtrics use case scenarios
– Create a survey
– Copy shareable link to for survey participants

How Do I Set Students up for Success in Online Courses?

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Facilitated Discussion

Beginnings matter, whether you’re teaching students face-to-face or online. Find out how you can make the most of online course introductions. In this fast and focused session, you’ll discover how you can transform course introductions from ho-hum exercises in housekeeping into time-saving, inspirational new beginnings.

This seminar will give you the tools you need when you’re introducing online courses, particularly if you’re new to organizing online courses.

After participating in this seminar, you’ll:

  • Understand the elements necessary to establish a Start Here area to support online student success
  • Appreciate how establishing rapport and providing student resources when introducing online courses can save time later in the course
  • Learn how to make students feel responsible for their own success

7 Things You Should Know About the HyFlex Course Model

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Lecture, Presentations

The hybrid flexible, or HyFlex, course format is an instructional approach that combines face-to-face (F2F) and online learning. Each class session and learning activity is offered in-person, synchronously online, and asynchronously online. Students can decide how to participate. This session is based on The 7 Things You Should Know About… series from the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative (ELI) which provides a quick and concise overview of a single topic for time-pressed colleagues.

Learning Objectives:

– Define HyFlex

– Explain how HyFlex works

– Discuss campuses and courses currently using HyFlex

– Identify the downsides of HyFlex

– Discuss the future of HyFlex learning

Zoom Active Learning Strategies

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Presentations, Workshop

No one wants to passively sit through a straight lecture session for 60+ minutes, Zoom fatigue is a real issue. To help engage students and prevent passive learning you can use the features of Zoom to guide different types of interactive activities. In this session we will identify active learning strategies to be considered in a synchronous Zoom course, and share successful examples implemented this past spring.  This session will employ active learning strategies and follow a suggested synchronous course agenda designed to break up long class sessions. Attendees will also learn where to locate additional training and support for using Zoom.

Learning Objectives

  • List five active learning strategies using Zoom
  • Discuss examples of successful Zoom classroom engagement
  • Identify a sample agenda outline for a synchronous Zoom course session
  • Describe how to troubleshoot most common technical issues
  • Recognize Zoom support and additional training options

Remote Teaching 101

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Lecture, Presentations

In this special CETL Session we will take a step back.  The way we teach has changed forever, and online/remote teaching and learning is the path paved toward the future.  While this Spring many faculty jumped in feet-first and persevered, now there is time to reflect and better prepare for the fall.

Online learning is dependent on technology.  Beginner or expert, it is important to not just understand how the technology works, but also know how to leverage that technology to work for you.

Learning Objectives:

  • Define LMS
  • Identify synchronous vs. asynchronous
  • Recognize technologies that can be used for synchronous or asynchronous        learning
  • Define Microlearning
  • Identify WesternU support options for teaching & learning
  • Learn to access additional tech training related to teaching & learning

3 Questions to Consider in Student-Centered Remote Teaching

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Lecture, Presentations

While online and remote education may not be equal, today’s new remote educators can work toward providing high-quality, engaging learning experiences for their students. Providing access to content is a great first step, but access on its own does not make for a quality learning experience.  During this session we will review the EDUCAUSE article Student-Centered Remote Teaching: Lessons Learned from Online Education.  The session will cover the Three Questions to Consider in Student-Centered Remote Teaching.

Learning Objectives:

  • List the three questions that should be considered when developing a student-centered approach to remote teaching
  • Discuss examples of student-centered interactions for remote teaching and learning
  • Collaborate with peers on shared experiences of student-to-student interaction for remote learning
  • Identify examples of how to facilitate student-to-instructor interaction

Creating and Facilitating a Virtual Poster Presentation

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Faculty Partner Project

Co-presenter.

Recent prohibition of large group meetings has impacted all of us in academia causing the cancellation of conferences, symposia, college- and department-level faculty and staff meetings, etc. These current restraints have prompted us to think outside the box when it comes to the standards related to Scientific Poster Presentations.

As an IPE student at the COMP-NW campus, the final activity is an in-person scientific poster display presentation.  This is a group assignment in which 252 students from 4 colleges are organized into 28 different groups, and given a recent public health topic to research and present in poster-form.  As you can imagine, social-distancing has caused us to rethink how this activity can be completed given our new proximity constraints.

In an effort to maintain the project requirements, given our current social-distancing circumstances, CETL has developed a Virtual Poster Presentation forum.  During this session we will discuss the process of how this idea went from design to concept to creation.  Come see a real-world hot-off-the-presses implementation and hear about how it was done and lessons learned.

After attending this session, participants will be able to:

  •  Describe how website and video conferencing technologies can be utilized  to  present student work to a wide audience.
  • Identify some of the advantages of a virtual setting and some of its pitfalls.
  • Engage WesternU IT and CETL staffs to create their own virtual poster presentation.

Development of a Branched E-Learning Simulation for Schizophrenia Therapeutics

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Faculty Partner Project

Co-presenter.

Electronic learning (e-learning) is gaining popularity due to technology trends, learner preferences, and evident need for curricula to be able to adapt to changing world conditions. Passive e-learning methods such as recorded Zoom lectures can be used in an emergency, although are far from ideal e-learning tools.

Interactivity in e-learning exercises changes the level of engagement students have with e-learning materials, which in turn can influence learning. In this session we describe the instructional design process of developing a branched e-learning interactive simulation for schizophrenia therapeutics and summarize course evaluation feedback pertinent to the branched e-learning simulation.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Differentiate types of e-learning based upon levels of interactivity including basic (passive), intermediate (limited interactivity), and complex (branched simulations)
  2. Describe instructional design process of branched e-learning simulation
  3. Summarize course evaluation feedback pertinent to the branched e-learning simulation

Quality Matters: Emergency Remote Instruction Checklist

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Workshop

Quality Matters, a nonprofit organization focused on standards for online learning, has created a set of checklists for rapidly moving classes online in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Emergency Remote Instruction Checklists for higher education provides “considerations, tips, and actionable strategies to enact during an institutional move to temporary remote instruction of classroom-based courses.”

During this session we will preview a video by Dr. Bethany Simunich, Director of Research and Innovation for Quality Matters. Dr. Simunich will explain how the checklists can be used to assist instructors in Higher Ed when moving to remote instruction in an emergency.

The advice is prioritized by phases: starting points, next steps and longer-term considerations.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify Quality Matters Emergency Remote Instruction Checklist
• Explain how the provided QM Tips can be applied to your online course
• Apply the recommended actions to the appropriate phase

EdTech Three-4-Thursday #4

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Presentations, Workshop

This month’s three technologies to add to your creative toolbox, include: BioRender, Factile, OneTab.

 This reoccurring CETL Session will introduce you to three new technologies each month. The presenter will review the technology with the attendees and share examples of how this technology can: 

  • be utilized within the classroom or to enhance online learning
  • used for communication with the students
  • to spark classroom engagement

 Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their WiFi-enabled laptop or tablet so that they can fully participate in the session. Learning Objectives: 

  • Define the technology presented.
  • Explain how the technology can be used for teaching and learning in higher education.
  • Demonstrate how the technology can be used to enhance online student learning.

Your TPS is your GPS

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Workshop

Co-presenter.

You’ve heard of them. You know you should have one. But do you have a Teaching Philosophy Statement (TPS) that really tells the world how you view teaching and learning (especially when it comes time for P&T)?

This interactive workshop will help you work through an inventory of various teaching philosophies to help you with the vocabulary and concepts to convey you pedagogical ethic. Interactive discussion, flash cards, small group work and self-discovery during this workshop will help you create a rough draft of a TPS that will have you well on you way to a beautiful finished product.

Session objectives

– List and describe various teaching philosophies

-Recognize and apply teaching philosophies that personally apply

Advanced Outlook Techniques to Improve Productivity

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Workshop

Co-presenter.

It’s 2020 and in this CETL Session we will show you how to be more productive this year by enhancing your skills with Microsoft Outlook.  Come and learn tips, tricks, and keyboard shortcuts that will help you increase your work efficiency.  As part of this session we will discuss: email rules, folder management techniques, email delivery delay, categorization tags, quick parts, scheduling assistant, calendar time blocking, bcc, reoccurring calendar events, email templates, and so much more!

Becoming Your Own Instructional Designer – Facilitated Workshop

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Workshop

One overarching goal for an instructional designer is to create a perfect match between modality, content, student learning, and faculty experience and expectations.  In this workshop we will view a Magna Publications video led by Krys Ziska Strange, a curriculum and learning innovation designer for the Office of Digital Learning at the University of Arizona.   

This guiding 2-hour workshop will lead the group through the instructional design process in developing a course planning sheet, and help you develop the first few weeks of a course. This will be a hands-on session, so come prepared to participate!  Bring your laptop or tablet, learning objectives, and any other items that will help you in developing or revamping one of your courses. 

Objectives: 

  • Explain the purpose of a course planning sheet
  • Identify curated course content
  • Use the provided template to begin to draft your course plan

EdTech Three-4-Thursday #3

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Presentations, Workshop

This month’s three technologies to add to your creative toolbox, include: FlipBoard, Kahoot, Quizlet.

 This reoccurring CETL Session will introduce you to three new technologies each month. The presenter will review the technology with the attendees and share examples of how this technology can: 

  • be utilized within the classroom or to enhance online learning
  • used for communication with the students
  • to spark classroom engagement

 Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their WiFi-enabled laptop or tablet so that they can fully participate in the session. Learning Objectives: 

  • Define the technology presented.
  • Explain how the technology can be used for teaching and learning in higher education.
  • Demonstrate how the technology can be used to enhance online student learning.

InteresTED: The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Facilitated Discussion

Everyone has the ability to build mental strength, but most people don’t know how. We spend a lot of time talking about physical strength and physical health, but much less time on mental strength and mental health.  We can choose to perform exercises that will help us learn to regulate our thoughts, manage our emotions, and behave productively despite our circumstances. No matter what your goals are, building mental strength is the key to reaching your greatest potential.

In this session we will watch Amy Morin’s TEDx Talk, and dive deeper into the presented concepts of:

  • 3 Types of Self-Limiting Beliefs That Will Keep You Stuck in Life.
  • 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do.

PBL Gamechanger: Converting Paper Cases to Online e-Learning Modules

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Faculty Partner Project

Co-presenter.

This session will introduce you to a PBL game-changing format utilizing Articulate Storyline. Standard written medical cases studies were transitioned into e-modules allowing for better assessment of the student’s critical thinking and decision-making skills through case selection interactions.

The idea was to take the traditional case-based learning method and convert the model into a case scenario to be presented in an online environment, incentivizing correct answers and disincentivizing incorrect answers. This gamification pedagogy helps students to understand that in real-world scenarios not all diagnostics are necessary or appropriate and therefore their choices should be well thought out and intentional. The e-modules challenges learners to engage in decision-making that mirrors the clinical setting. The ending goal of the CBL e-module is to provide appropriate and cost-effective healthcare to the patient.

In this session, the presenters will discuss the e-module case study development process from planning to implementation.  During the session the audience will gain access to the e-module and experience the case via their tablet, mobile device, or wi-fi enabled laptop.  Group discussion about the Articulate Storyline implementation will commence and participants will get to see and learn about the structure of the e-module design.  Utilizing an online case development template, the audience will work in small groups to begin to develop their own case during the session.

Upon completion of this session audience members will be able to:

  • -Describe how traditional medical case-based learning can be converted into an online e-learning module within a blended learning environment.
  • -Identify how Articulate Storyline can be used to develop online e-modules for medical case-based learning.

*NOTE: Please bring a laptop to fully participate in the session

EdTech: Three-4-Thursday #2

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Presentations, Workshop

This month’s three technologies to add to your creative toolbox, include:

  1. ThingLink
  2. FlipGrid
  3. QR Codes

This reoccurring CETL Session will introduce you to three new technologies each month. The presenter will review the technology with the attendees and share examples of how this technology can:

  • be utilized within the classroom or to enhance online learning
  • used for communication with the students
  • to spark classroom engagement

Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their WiFi-enabled laptop or tablet so that they can fully participate in the session.

Learning Objectives:

  • Define the technology presented.
  • Explain how the technology can be used for teaching and learning in higher education.
  • Demonstrate how the technology can be used to enhance online student learning.

How Can High Quality Faculty Development Improve Online Course Quality?

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Facilitated Discussion

This 20-Minute Mentor will cover the benefits of providing high quality professional development opportunities for faculty, what some of these opportunities (or programs) might look like, and ultimately how these opportunities can positively impact the overall quality of online programming.

Review current professional development opportunities and participate in an open discussion on the ideas presented during the video and how those ideas might be able to be implemented at WesternU.

  •   Identify faculty barriers for online learning.
  •   Examine common topics for professional development.
  •   Discuss leading exploration questions to help guide future professional development.

Online Instruction: How Can Media Richness Theory and Social Presence Theory Help Me Improve?

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Facilitated Discussion

Attrition rates are 10% to 20% higher in online courses than their face-to-face counterparts. While online course formats offer convenient methods of instruction, poor course development often leads to high attrition rates. This facilitated discussion explores how applying Media Richness Theory (MRT) and Social Presence Theory to online course design and instruction can aid overall program retention and student satisfaction.

InteresTED: Let’s Use Video to Reinvent Education – Flipping the Classroom with Khan Academy

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Facilitated Discussion

In this TED Talk, Salman Khan talks about how and why he created the remarkable Khan Academy. He shows the power of interactive exercises, and calls for teachers to consider flipping the traditional classroom script — give students video lectures to watch at home, and do “homework” in the classroom with the teacher available to help.

During this session we will view the popular TED Talk presented by Sal Khan, discuss the flipped learning model and how videos can be used to support student education.

Zoom, Zoom!

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Presentations, Workshop

Co-presenter.

Offering quality video, audio, and screen-sharing capabilities and experiences, Zoom improves collaboration among teams, students, and participants.  Zoom is built to host and broadcast online meetings that can cater to up to 100 interactive video participants and 10,000 view-only attendees.  Zoom is designed exclusively for hosting webinars, teaching online courses, conducting video demonstrations, or participating in virtual meetings and video conferencing.  Users can share their entire desktop screen with their audience, an active window in their browser, or a whiteboard with illustrations and diagrams.  Another feature of Zoom is its group collaboration functionality and breakout rooms. Users can create groups and instantly send text, image, or audio files to the members of those groups.

Zoom on in and join us for this important training session!

Learning Objectives:

  • Recognize the Zoom Pro Account interface used at WesternU.
  • Create, schedule, join and start a Zoom meeting.
  • Learn how to operate Zoom’s web conferencing capabilities.
  • Discover how to use Zoom Breakout Rooms during your course.
  • Compose online classroom activities using the Zoom Whiteboard feature.
  • Get creative and set up a customized Video Background.

Easily Convert Your PowerPoint Slide Deck to an E-Learning Course

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Workshop

E-Learning course development can be as simple as taking an existing PowerPoint presentation and converting it into an E-learning module.  Use PowerPoint—a tool you already know—to create presentation‑based courses for any device, faster than ever. Articulate Presenter 360 lets you import and record audio, import and embed video, web objects, and interactive content to your slides.  Convert your current slide deck in just a few simple clicks.

Learning Objectives:

-List the contents of the four boxes within the Articulate ribbon.

-Define to apply course interactions.

-Describe best practices for slide properties.

-Identify Audio editing and narration capabilities.

-Use the content library to enhance the look and feel of your presentation

Team-Based Learning 101

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Lecture, Presentations

Team-Based Learning is an evidence based collaborative learning teaching strategy designed around units of instruction, that are taught in a three-step cycle. Some medical schools are reporting an ABIM pass rate of 85% before TBL implementation, and a95% pass rate after TBL implementation.

Some Benefits of TBL over Didactic teaching include:

  • Improved learner engagement during class
  • Better content retention through active learner engagement
  • Development of problem-solving and critical thinking skills
  • Team-building

This session will introduce you to Team-Based Learning and provide resources to get you started.  Learning objectives include:

  • Define Team-Based Learning
  • Describe the four essential elements of TBL
  • Identify the S’ of Application Development
  • Explain the TBL Course Framework

Guest Presentation: College of Pharmacy

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Invited Guest Speaker

CAPE 101: Discovering WesternU’s Teaching and Learning Support

On Thursday, March 28th the Center for Academic and Professional Enhancement (CAPE) will be presenting to the College of Pharmacy.  Come learn about the array of teaching and learning resources available to YOU!  Are you tired of lecturing and want help making your class more engaging?  Do you have a great idea for an online component, but you’re not sure how to use technology to create it?  Do you want to learn to use Articulate, but don’t have a software license?  Come get answers to these questions and learn so much more!

Creating Alt Text

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Workshop

Alternative text, or “alt text” is an important consideration for accessibility.  It should be added to every image that conveys meaning in instructional and communications materials including LMS sites, word processing documents, and slide presentations.  In this session, we’ll introduce image alt text and explain how to add alt-text to your images within PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat, and Blackboard.

Learning Objectives:

  • Define “alt text”
  • Identify where to locate alt text fields in PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat and Blackboard
  • Describe good alt text vs. poor alt text
  • Create an effective alt text example

InteresTED: Humanism and the Habits of Original Thinkers

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Facilitated Discussion

How do creative people come up with great ideas? Organizational psychologist Adam Grant studies “originals”: thinkers who dream up new ideas and take action to put them into the world. In this talk, learn three unexpected habits of originals — including embracing failure.

“The greatest originals are the ones who fail the most, because they’re the ones who try the most,” Grant says. “You need a lot of bad ideas in order to get a few good ones.”

CAPE Workshop: Articulate to Blackboard

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Workshop

In this hands-on workshop participants will learn how to prepare and publish their e-Learning file within either Storyline or Articulate, and upload that exported file into Blackboard making it available for student learning.  Printed step-by-step instructions will be provided to participants for future reference.

This workshop will be held in the new CAPE Lab, and seating for this workshop is extremely limited. Lab computers are available for participant use, and participants should bring, or have access to, an Articulate or Storyline file as well as editing permission capabilities within Blackboard.  Please contact CAPE if you have any questions.

In this session, you will learn:

  • Prepare Articulate/Storyline file for publishing
  • Use the “Upload Zip Package” feature within Blackboard
  • Demonstrate how to create an Item in Blackboard in which the Articulate/Storyline file can be viewed by students

e-Learning for Beginners

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Presentations, Workshop

Are you new to e-learning?  Or, maybe, you just want to know more about e-learning?  In this session we will examine the e-book: “E-Learning for Beginners.”  With the help of this session and the accompanying resources, you’ll be creating great courses in no time!  This Articulate-sponsored e-book will tell you everything you need to know, and each participant will receive a link to download the e-book for FREE!

In this session, you will learn:

  • Define e-learning
  • Explain how e-learning can benefit your organization and learners
  • Employ the step-by-step process for creating courses
  • List what technology and tools you’ll need in your toolkit

Top eLearning Trends for 2019

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Lecture, Presentations

Let’s take a moment to discuss e-Learning by reflecting back on 2018, and try to forecast for 2019.  In this session we will review some of the key issues from last year, as presented in the 2018 EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative annual meeting.  Next, we will discuss the forecasted eLearning trends of 2019 as presented by The eLearning Industry and share examples of how some of the 2019 trends can be incorporated into the classroom. 

Learning Objectives: 

  • Define 2018 eLearning issues 
  • List 2019 eLearning trends 
  • Discuss how forecasted trends can be incorporated into the classroom. 

Facilitated Discussion: Microlearning

Posted on by Tracy Mendolia-Moore in Facilitated Discussion

As originally presented at the 2018 Learning Solutions Conference & Expo, in this webinar, Diane Elkins of Artisan E-Learning and E-Learning Uncovered discusses a case study of 30 microlessons built in 30 days.

Many learners want shorter nuggest of content.  It can be challenging, however, to fit everything they need to do into five-to seven-minute chunks.  In this recorded session, you’ll walk through a case study of 30 microlessons in 30-days and learn how to minimize formal learning, allowing learners a chance to try techniques immediately. Next, put this new knowledge into practice with Diane’s worksheet: “How to Design a Microlesson.”  As a group we will discuss the recorded lecture and brainstorm ideas of how microlessons can be used at the university.

In this session, you will learn:

  • How to focus your microlearning designs on practice and application
  • How to pick a narrow, targeted topic that learners can explore in a short period of time
  • How to incorporate teaching points throughout an interaction, rather than use the “teach then quiz” model