Instructional Technology Workshops 2021

This January, we are offering several days of training and resources to kick-start your spring semester and use the SMUFlex model of teaching.

January 12 - 14, 2021
with Special Guest Claire Major

Claire H. Major

About Claire Major

Claire Howell Major is a Professor of Higher Education at The University of Alabama. She teaches courses on college teaching, technology in higher education, and reading research in the field of higher education. Her research interests are in the areas of faculty work, pedagogical approaches, technology for teaching, and online learning.

She has authored or co-authored several books including Collaborative Learning Techniques: A Handbook for College Faculty (with Elizabeth Barkley and Patricia Cross, Jossey-Bass), Learning Assessment Techniques: A Handbook for College Faculty (with Elizabeth Barkley, Jossey-Bass), Teaching for Learning: 101 Intentionally Designed Educational Activities to Put Students on the Path to Success (with Michael Harris and Todd Zakrajsek, Routledge). Major publishes her work in leading education journals and speaks at universities across the country on college teaching issues.

for Claire Major's Active Learning Strategies for Engaging Students.

Schedule

Session Key:
= Lecture |
= Panel |
= Q & A |
= Training |
= Workshop

Click the
…
to collapse or expand the session listing.

Day One

January 12, 2021

  • Re-Discovering the Zoom Basics
    with Faye Walter

    January 12, 2021
    9 a.m.

    Join us as we re-discover the Zoom basics. Zoom continues to improve and change, with that the basics continue to alter as well. We will cover the latest recommended settings, new screenshare options, meeting controls, pinning videos and much more.

  • Maximize Time & Increase Student Satisfaction with Canvas Assignments
    with Cassidy Porter

    January 12, 2021
    10 a.m.

    Join us as we cover how to create assignments in Canvas, as well as grade them in Speedgrader. We will cover creating group assignments, activating plagiarism detection, and many of the other options Canvas assignments offers. This session will cover time-saving tips on anything relating to assignment submissions and feedback.

  • Organizing Your Canvas Course for Optimal Student and Professor Experience
    with Jiaqi Yu

    January 12, 2021
    11 a.m.

    Join us as we take a deep dive into the creation of syllabus, pages and modules in Canvas. We will cover why the use of modules is important for student success, as well as how to organize your overall course.

  • Teaching Online with Zoom: Classroom Management
    with Christina Churchill

    January 12, 2021
    12 p.m.

    Classroom management is much more complex in the online world. Join us as we discuss tips and trick on keeping your students engaged. Topics will include student Zoom fatigue, adapting your course according to the method of delivery, technical considerations and more.

  • Why Students Struggle with College-level Research
    with Megan Heuer and Jonathan McMichael

    January 12, 2021
    1 p.m.

    As the information landscape has become increasingly complex, the ability to find, evaluate, and use information has become an essential skill for students both in and after college. Librarians have a valuable perspective on the information ecosystem that can help instructors and scholars from all disciplines. Join Megan and Jonathan in a discussion to explore the challenges presented by college level research and the resources and strategies ÃÛÌÒ½´librarians are developing to help students best adapt in all types of learning contents. Bring your observations and questions about student research.

  • Easy Small Group Discussions in the Zoom World
    with Christina Churchill

    January 12, 2021
    2 p.m.

    Join us as we address using Zoom Breakout rooms to facilitate small group discussions, as well as a method to minimize Zoom fatigue. We will cover the discussion-based approach in learning, tips and tricks for encouraging student participation, and the technical method for using Breakout Rooms. Pre-assigned, self-selection, and random selection breakout rooms will be addressed in this session. Please be sure you have Zoom Desktop version 5.3.0 or higher in order to experience all features covered in this session.

  • Conquering the Canvas Online Assessments
    with Cassidy Porter

    January 12, 2021
    3 p.m.

    Assessing students through Canvas quizzes is simple and convenient. Join this session as we cover the basics of setting up a quiz online, assigning the quiz, how to use fudge points, and how to give feedback and grade quizzes. We will cover both the classic and new quizzes features.

  • Taking Attendance in Trying Times: Strategies for Success
    with Jason Warner

    January 12, 2021
    4 p.m.

    This session will lay out a spectrum of strategies for taking attendance in both SMUFlex and fully virtual courses that faculty can choose from to incorporate into their instructional planning—based on their discretion and unique pedagogical preferences.  Responding to faculty feedback from Fall 2020, this session will feature clear and practical strategies for taking attendance in both small and large classes and offer specific syllabus language for each.

Day Two

January 13, 2021

  • Zoom Recording Automation: Learn How to Configure Recordings into Canvas
    with Faye Walter

    January 13, 2021
    9 a.m.

    Join this hands-on workshop to schedule your Spring Zoom meetings and set them up to record directly into Canvas. We'll also cover how to find missing recordings and best practices for moving and sharing videos.

  • SMUFlex Classroom: Using the New DTEN
    with Christina Churchill

    January 13, 2021
    10 a.m.

    Join us as we cover how to use the new DTEN technology available in some of the classrooms on campus. You will have the opportunity to be the online student and see what the new technology will offer in the ÃÛÌÒ½´Flex classroom.

  • Matching the Canvas Gradebook with Your Syllabus
    with Cassidy Porter

    January 13, 2021
    11 a.m.

    The gradebook functionality is a powerful tool that helps students gauge their progress in your class at any time. Join us as we discuss how to ensure that the configuration is set correctly, the weights are established and the assessments are accurately set. We will also cover how to mute grades while you are posting and much more.

  • Teaching SMUFlex: Connecting Your Virtual and Face to Face Classrooms as One
    with Christina Churchill

    January 13, 2021
    12 p.m.

    SMUFlex has given the opportunity to teach in person and online simultaneously but it has come with some challenges. In this session we will discuss how to engage both your virtual and face-to-face students, how to encourage students to attend class, as well as how to teach to an empty room. The goal for this session is to connect both teaching worlds.

  • Zoom: Beyond the Basics
    with Faye Walter

    January 13, 2021
    1 p.m.

    Join us as we go beyond the basics of Zoom, including polling, advanced audio settings, advanced screen share, virtual backgrounds, security settings, and more.

  • Creating an Instructional Video for Today's Digital Students
    with Jennifer Culver and the OPS Team

    January 13, 2021
    2 p.m.

    Instructional videos can help students learn about specific course content in an engaging way. In this session, we’ll talk about how to create an instructional video for your course. No matter whether your course is virtual or Flex, instructional videos provide students a way to return to information when they are doing the work of your course and show students how you approach your content. Participants will walk away with easy steps to implement in making an instructional video.

  • Always Remote: Using ManeFrame II for Research and Teaching
    with Eric Godat and Rob Kalescky

    January 13, 2021
    3 p.m.

    ManeFrame II (M2), SMU's premier high performance computing cluster, is ready and waiting for faculty and students to get back to doing cutting edge research and creating edifying student experiences. We will give an introduction to M2 and teach you how you can access this powerful resource through our new web-based Portal from anywhere in the world, including your home office. No prior programming knowledge required.

Day Three

January 14, 2021

  • Formative Assessment for Flex and Online Students
    with Jennifer Culver

    January 14, 2021
    9 a.m.

    Checking for understanding in virtual and Flex environments help keep all students engaged. Come and learn a variety of ways to see how students are progressing during and outside of class.

  • Creating 101 Versions of Your Canvas Quiz in Minutes
    with Faye Walter

    January 14, 2021
    10 a.m.

    Canvas has the ability to use test banks to create a variety of quizzes for your students rather than just one. This could minimize cheating during your assessments. Join us as we discuss how to set up test banks in Canvas

  • Ensuring Accessibility and Accommodating for DASS Students in Canvas
    with Jennifer Culver

    January 14, 2021
    11 a.m.

    Come and learn some very easy accessibility tips ranging from providing extra time or attempts for only one student's exam making media consumable in other ways quickly for learners, and finding where our common tools, such as PowerPoint can guide us to simple changes to make accessible content.

  • Active Learning Strategies for Engaging Students
    with Claire Major


    January 14, 2021
    2 p.m.

    During this 1-hour seminar, participants will be immersed in knowledge of active learning strategies designed help improve learning for all students. Dr. Major will walk participants through the process and challenges of student learning, how active learning helps overcome these challenges, and strategies to incorporate in their classrooms.

    At the conclusion of this seminar, participants will come away with:

    • A clear definition of active learning
    • Knowledge of how to encourage active learning in their classrooms
    • Techniques that help students overcome challenges to learning


  • Course Material and Films for your Class: The Basics
    with Jolene de Verges, Jalesia Horton, Elizabeth Killingsworth, and Sarah Sanabria

    January 14, 2021
    4 p.m.

    Classes are online, so are library materials! In this panel discussion with librarians, find out how to access digitized material for your course. This includes textbooks, research material, films, and more. Find out how the library can get digital and streaming material for you and your students.


Claire Major Photo © K. Patricia Cross Academy. Used with Permission.