Faculty Seminars In Online Teaching

Whether you are looking to save your students money on high-priced course materials or leverage learning content that offers you the freedom to customize the learning experience for your highly-diverse student demographic, open educational resources (OER) can help you to achieve your goals. In this session, participants will learn about the richness of openly-licensed educational materials, where to find them, and potential use cases for implementation in their courses. Additionally, a UCF professor will share his story about his journey to OER and how his idea began a chain of events that turned his static text to life for his students.

Providing a course overview, offering accessible and relevant content, encouraging meaningful interaction, and challenging students to think critically are all elements that contribute to a quality online learning experience. However, designing for quality may feel like a moving target and thus an elusive goal to achieve. To address this, the Instructional Design team at UCF has created a Quality and High Quality online course review process based on our own practices as well as nationally recognized standards. Session presenters will showcase select items included in the Quality and High Quality course review process and describe beneficial outcomes from a faculty member’s perspective. A key resource will be the Quality and High Quality items which participants can use to meet their unique needs.

Is your personality, humor, and care for student success lost in translation while teaching your online course? When you are not seen or heard, learners may have more difficulty connecting with you, which may hinder the overall experience. Integrating video can help develop your online persona by fostering your social presence in the online classroom. Video has the potential to enhance student satisfaction, engagement, and meaningful learning. By using video, you can model multimedia fluency skills, essential for learners’ employability and career advancement.

The online classroom environment can sometimes cause students to feel isolated, both socially and cognitively. Digital storytelling creates a framework that can bring the online classroom to life, energizing social-cognitive dynamisms, and promoting a more authentic sense of community in the virtual teaching and learning space.

Abstract Learning management systems (LMS) such as Blackboard and Canvas provide a foundation for instructors to design online learning experiences. In recent years, the functionality of most LMSs has expanded to offer more flexibility, primarily by allowing external tools to be integrated. Tools such as Twitter, YouTube, and Quizlet have the potential to increase learners’ access to content, foster interaction with others in the community, and assess learning in diverse ways. In this session, we will provide examples of how these tools can support sound pedagogical practices, and encourage attendees to explore integrations in their online courses. Specifically, an instructor shares experiences of utilizing several integration tools within Canvas online courses. Presenters Amanda Groff, Ph.D. Associate Lecturer of Anthropology College of Sciences College of Education and Human Performance University of Central Florida Amanda T. Groff is an Associate Lecturer in the Anthropology Department in the College

Abstract Supporting the learning needs of students in online courses is commonly perceived as challenging for instructors, as the time and effort needed to master particular concepts may vary widely. Adaptive learning, an educational method which adapts presentation of material and assessment according to students’ unique learning needs, is gaining popularity in online courses. In this session, we will provide an overview of adaptive learning approaches, describe real-life examples, consider the instructor’s role in personalizing the experience, share available support and resources, and encourage a call to action for attendees. Specifically, an instructor’s experience of integrating personalized adaptive elements into online courses using the Realizeit platform will be presented.PresentersDebbie Hahs-Vaughn, PhDProfessor Department of Educational and Human Sciences College of Education and Human Performance University of Central FloridaDebbie L. Hahs-Vaughn is a Professor in the Methodology, Measurement, & A

Abstract Addressing the needs of individual learners in online courses is commonly perceived as challenging for instructors. Design principles included in the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework have the potential to optimize learning in all spaces for all people, based on scientific insights in how people learn. In this session, we will share principles from the UDL framework that promote flexible learning opportunities within online courses. Specifically, an instructor’s experience of integrating UDL principles into online courses will be presented, and an online tool called Universal Design Online Inspection Tool (UDOIT) will be showcased.PresentersMary E. Little, Ph.D.Professor and Program Coordinator Department of Child, Family, and Community Sciences College of Education and Human Performance University of Central FloridaDr. Little is a Professor and Coordinator of Graduate Programs in Exceptional Student Education at UCF. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses, both online and face-to

Seminar Date: March 29, 2016 Seminar Time: 1:00pm Location: Streamed Online from LIB 161B AbstractThe ability to communicate in real time (synchronous) through media such as text, audio, and video, can enhance the online learning experience by providing dynamic opportunities for social connection, collaborative problem solving, and collective reflection. However, issues related to synchronous communication include scheduling conflicts, technical support, and the perception that it is extra or busy work. In this session, we will share strategies to incorporate synchronous elements that enhance engagement and learning within online courses for instructors and students. Concrete examples of applying these synchronous strategies will be shared by an instructor.PresentersBernardo Ramirez MDAssociate Professor Department of Health Management and Informatics College of Health and Public Affairs University of Central Florida Bernardo Ramirez is an Associate Professor as well as the director of the Executive Health S

Seminar Date: November 4, 2015 at 1:00 pmAbstractOnline discussions are extensively used in online and mixed-mode courses. However, a common concern is that students will minimally participate in order to fulfill the grading requirements, and not truly engage with the content, instructor, or peers. In this session, we will share strategies to create and sustain online discussions that foster critical thinking and student voice. These strategies guide an instructor to effectively design the discussion before it commences, as well as to facilitate the discussion as it progresses, and assess the discussion when it concludes. Specifically, an instructor’s experience of using innovative discussion prompts within Webcourses@UCF will be showcased.PresentersBeatriz Reyes-Foster Ph.D.Assistant Professor of Anthropology College of Sciences University of Central Florida Dr. Beatriz M. Reyes-Foster is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at UCF. Since 2012, she has taught online and mixed-mode classes and regularly in

Ownership of mobile technologies such as smartphones and tablets continues to rise amongst college students. Incorporating these devices in coursework can facilitate authentic learning, with students connecting what is taught in the course to real-world issues and applications. This can be especially powerful in online learning environments, allowing students to capture experiences in the field and share with others in the class. Although instructors may express an interest in incorporating a mobile element, they are often unsure how to design course activities that are not only engaging, but also effectively support authentic learning. In this session, issues of mobile design, assessment, and support will be discussed. Specifically, an instructor’s experience of integrating mobile devices to support authentic learning in a mixed-mode (blended) course will be showcased.

Online exams are popular in college courses, offering a time-efficient and flexible way of assessing student learning. Students often prefer them because of the convenience factor, while instructors like that they do not expend valuable face-to-face class time. However, the concern about students cheating on online exams is pervasive throughout higher education. Instructors often worry that it is difficult for students to remain academically honest under such conditions. In this session, resources and strategies to encourage academic honesty in the online exam environment such as considerations for test construction and exam settings will be shared. Specifically, we will showcase an instructor’s use of ProctorHub, UCF’s newest online proctoring tool, which is designed to mitigate these concerns.

Today’s college students are using social media more than ever in their personal lives, and emerging research suggests that social media can have a powerful influence on the learning experience. Many instructors have an interest in harnessing the pedagogical potential of social media, but are unsure how to effectively integrate them in their curricula. In this session, we will describe how social media can foster a sense of community within and beyond the classroom setting. Specifically, we will showcase strategies designed to create and sustain community using the social media tool Twitter, addressing commonly identified issues such as student privacy and communication.

The task of online collaboration is daunting, but not impossible. Advancements in communication technologies along with sound pedagogical techniques and clear student expectations can lower the barrier to effective group work online. This session will present strategies, resources, and services designed to assist faculty in implementing collaborative projects online. Ideas and concerns of on-site and remote participants will be solicited. The goal of this interactive session is to create a constructive and practical dialogue with colleagues.

At the Center for Distributed Learning we often hear from faculty, “that’s a great idea, but it’ll never work for me because I teach such large classes.” Student engagement can be a challenge in any size class, but it can be overwhelming trying to reach hundreds of students individually when there’s only one of you. In this brief seminar, we will share a set of strategies that can be used to make the most effective use of your time to provide a personal touch to all of your students. We will provide specific examples using existing tools in Webcourses@UCF and share anecdotal experiences using these strategies with classes of over 1400 students. The strategies presented in this session were developed with large classes in mind, but they can be used successfully in any size class.

It is easier than ever before to include existing media and to create your own media for online course content. Photos, infographics, charts, illustrations, icons! Demos, screencasts, events, interviews! Webcams, smartphones, YouTube, and Flickr! Possibilities abound for enriching online course content with media that contribute to understanding, captivate attention, or increase retention. In this session rich with examples, presenters will share principles for making wise choices about how to best include media for the greatest benefit and the least amount of hassle.

Whether you have been teaching online for years or are just getting started, “online course quality” is an elusive goal to achieve. For instance, what are the components of a high quality course? How does course design contribute to overall course quality? What role does the teaching practice of the online instructor play in course quality? Can the characteristics of the students impact the quality of the course? Are large classes and small classes of equivalent quality? Access this brief, informative session for access to an array of tools, resources, and information to aid you in the quest for quality in online teaching. A featured resource is the debut of UCF’s Online Course Quick Check as a tool for quick self-assessment or collegial feedback.

Blended courses (also known as “mixed-mode” at UCF) are growing in popularity in higher education. The benefit of the blended approach is that it offers students the flexible scheduling and pacing of the online environment, along with the support of the face-to-face interaction of the classroom. However, there are unique challenges in the design of a blended course. Care must be taken to leverage the “best” of both learning environments to design a cohesive, seamless learning experience. In this brief seminar, we will explore affordances of blended learning, review models of blended learning implementation, and share practical strategies in order to maximize the integration of the face-to-face and online components in your blended courses.

As new and exciting technologies emerge, many of us are compelled to incorporate them into our online courses. Yet how do we face the challenge of ensuring that all of our students, including those with visual and hearing impairments, learning disabilities, and non-native English speakers, can access these materials? In this session, presenters will discuss a variety of strategies, resources, and services that will help us make online course materials accessible. Ideas and concerns of on-site and remote participants will be solicited. The goal of this session is constructive and practical dialogue with colleagues.

Minimal student effort coupled with what some perceive as an isolating online learning experience make it more important than ever to identify strategies for engaging students online. In this recorded session, presenters will review a variety of synchronous and asynchronous interaction strategies with a particular focus on designing and facilitating meaningful online discussions.

In the face of larger numbers of students in online courses and the challenge of designing effective assessments in an online environment, the need is greater than ever to implement scalable strategies that mitigate academic integrity issues. In this recorded session, presenters will review a variety of assessment techniques applicable to many disciplines.