Provost’s Academic Plan Mini Grant Competition
The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) is pleased to announce the 2017 Provost’s Academic Plan Mini Grant Competition. This grant competition is designed to provide support for faculty innovation in teaching effectiveness and improved student learning outcomes. Grant funding will range from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $5,000 per award. Proposal materials and guidelines are available via the CETL website http://cetl.uconn.edu/2017-provosts-academic-plan-mini-grant-competition/.
Eligibility: All faculty, all ranks, all campuses.
Proposals Due: Monday, October 23rd
Awards Announced: Monday, December 4th
Teaching Talks
You are invited to participate in a series of informal teaching talks throughout 2017. These are opportunities for participants to comfortably share teaching concerns and discuss techniques and strategies with colleagues, experts, and CETL staff. All sessions will take place in Rowe 319. All UConn instructors —graduate students, TAs, and APIRs, as well as adjunct, tenure-track and tenured faculty—are encouraged to attend.
Contact Suzanne LaFleurif you have questions or would like more information.
Monday, September 11 1:30 – 2:45 Effective Use of Small Group Instruction
We will discuss topics such as:
Why small groups increase student engagement, motivation, and learning
The types of learning goals/objectives that are best suited to small group work
Important considerations for designing and implementing small group learning activities
Practical tips
Register here
Tuesday, September 12 1:00 – 2:15 Strategies for Increasing Student Motivation
At this session, participants will discuss topics like
- Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
- The role of choice in motivation
- Engaging student passion as a means of motivation
- The importance of the teacher/student relationship in motivating students
- Challenge and reward
- The reluctant learner
Register here
To view other upcoming Teaching Talks visit cetl.uconn.edu/teaching-talks/
Hands-On HuskyCT Workshops and other EdTech Workshops
Is your HuskyCT Grade Center ready for midterm and final grade calculations? Do you have questions about using HuskyCT tools in your course? Join us for hands on guidance with HuskyCT, including Grade Center. Workshops take place in Rowe 319 except via WebEx dates.
While each session covers a specific topic, general discussions and open-ended questions are always welcome. Please bring your laptop.
HuskyCT: Contact Daniel Facchinetti if you have questions or would like more information.
Other EdTech: Contact Karen Skudlarek if you have questions or would like more information.
Mon., 9/11 10:30 – 12:00 pm – Kaltura and Collaborate (also available online)
Kaltura is an application built right into HuskyCT that allows instructors and students to record their own video and audio, such as screencasts and/or webcam recordings, and add them directly to their courses. Collaborate is a web-conferencing platform (similar to Skype or WebEx) built into HuskyCT and available to every instructor, allowing for remote/virtual live interaction with students. This session will cover the basics of each platform and how they can be used in your course through HuskyCT.
Register here
Wed., 9/13, 1:30-3:00 – Developing and Building Test, Surveys, and Pools
Many instructors administer online assessments through HuskyCT, and this session will cover the variety of settings that ensure a smooth experience for both you and your students. This session will cover creating questions outside of HuskyCT and uploading them into the system, as well as the range of available submission and feedback settings.
Register here
To view other upcoming workshops visit cetl.uconn.edu/teaching-talks/
Teaching Seminars
Learning Technology to Enhance Reading, Writing, Studying and Research: Read & Write
Amanda Lor, Center for Students with Disabilities
Monday, September 11, 2017
1:30 – 3:30 pm – Laurel Hall 302
The Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) provides students with disabilities access to explore learning and assistive technologies to aid in the learning process as they pursue their programs of study. CSD’s goal is to increase student engagement in and out of the classroom by providing them with tools to actively participate in a dynamic learning community. The focus of these technologies is to enhance students overall success and independence with studying and learning. One software, Read & Write, in particular has become very popular among our student population. Read & Write is a customizable toolbar that integrates reading, writing, studying, and research support tools! This tool can also assist in creating documents that are accessible for students using screen readers. In this seminar, we will discuss, demonstrate, and encourage faculty to try out Read & Write on their personal laptops!
Google Earth: Strategies for Active Pedagogy In and Out of the Classroom
Ken Foote, Geography
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
1:30 – 3:30 pm – Laurel Hall 302
Google Earth offers remarkable worldwide imagery that can help students understand and apply important concepts drawn from many disciplines. This workshop offers examples how Google Earth can be used in class to promote learning, discussion and student learning, as well as for projects that stimulate student interest in course topics.
Introduction to Hybrid/Blended Courses
David Des Armier and Betsy Guala
Friday, September 15, 2017
1:30 – 3:30 pm – Laurel Hall 305
Interested in learning more about hybrid/blended courses? This seminar will provide an introduction to hybrid/blended course design. We will describe the reasons for wanting to create a hybrid/blended course, explain how this course delivery approach will benefit you and your students, and identify specific pedagogical challenges. Also, we will highlight some of the various tools, processes, and methods available for creating a hybrid/blended course. This seminar is informational, however, a more advanced hybrid/blended seminar/workshop will be available later in the spring semester.
To view other upcoming teaching seminars, please visit http://cetl.uconn.edu/seminars/
For more information, contact: Stacey Valliere at stacey.valliere@uconn.edu