Finals week workshops can save faculty time creating an online course
When Computer Science Professor George Adams began designing his new online course, he started by exploring the technology options available on campus. Then he started looking for help.
“There is a lot of technology, and there are a lot resources, available,” says Adams, “but discerning how to use them for a new course isn’t always obvious.”
Adams says he found discernment – and a lot of help – by attending an afternoon of professional development workshops designed specifically to help faculty members create new courses in Blackboard Learn. Another round of course creation sessions – held on May 1, during finals week – are available for faculty interested in developing their own courses.
The workshops, led by instructional designers and educational technologists from ITaP’s Teaching and Learning Technologies team, are part of a week of sessions designed to help faculty do everything from engaging students online to easily submitting end-of-semester grades.
“One of the nice things about attending a session like this, is that it gives you access to ITaP staff who have experience working with faculty and other staff from across campus,” says Adams. “They’re able to give you insights and tips about what others are doing, and what has worked and what hasn’t. That guidance was very valuable.”
Adams encourages any faculty member currently working on developing a course, or those who might do so in the future, to consider attending one of the afternoon of workshops, and to come prepared with questions and ideas about what they’d like to do.
“It was actually very time efficient, because trying to figure out how to do it on your own can be very time consuming,” says Adams. “I was able to get directed guidance.”
All of the workshops are free and open to any Purdue instructor, and some are even taught online. Registration is required and can be found on ITaP’s training calendar. Those unable to attend can request a one-on-one consultation by contacting tlt@purdue.edu.
The offerings include:
Online Course Creation Series
Part 1: Preparing to Launch Your Online Course
1-1:50 p.m., Tuesday, May 1, in the Wilmeth Active Learning Center
Get help getting started on developing an online course. Topics discussed include assessment, engagement, how to create an instructor presence, and how to identify what students should get from a course. Attendees should bring their own computer and work to particpate.
Part 2: Rapid Course Development Using Blackboard Templates
2-2:50 p.m., Tuesday, May 1, in WALC
Learn to use new Blackboard Learn templates to quickly build a course in Blackboard. Attendees are encouraged to bring a laptop with their own course material, and will be able to organize their content and begin building their specific course. Attendees should bring their own computer and work to particpate.
Part 3: Online Course Open Work Session
3-3:50 p.m., Tuesday, May 1, in WALC
A continuation of the two earlier courses, this open work session will allow faculty to work with instructional designers on developing courses in Blackboard Learn. Attendees should bring their own computer and work to particpate.
Grade Submit Tool – webinar
Noon-1 p.m., Wednesday, May 2, online via WebEx
Learn how to use Purdue’s Grade Submit Tool to help quickly and securely transfer final letter grades from Blackboard to Banner. (Please note: This tool can only be utilized by the instructor of record in Banner for individual courses; teaching assistants or graders who are not listed as the instructor of record will be able to prepare the gradebook but will not be able to transfer the grades.)
Finalizing your Blackboard course – webinar
2:30-3:30 p.m., Thursday, May 3, online via WebEx
Learn how to back up course data, transfer content to another course site, clean up gradebook and make courses unavailable in this webinar designed to help instructors prepare for the end of the semester.
Qualtrics survey basics
11a.m.-noon, Tuesday, May 1, in Stanley Coulter Hall
Learn to create a basic survey, preview and activate a survey, view results, and create a report in Qualtrics, the online survey tool used for everything from research to event registration.
To learn more about teaching with technology, ITaP’s course design services, or future faculty professional development opportunities, contact tlt@purdue.edu.
Tech Today
11:30 a.m. -12:20 p.m., Friday, May 4 in WALC
Learn about the new in-video quizzing tool that will be available with Kaltura starting this summer and hear an update on the development of Circuit, a new peer assessment tool being developed by ITaP.
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Did you know?
ITaP’s Teaching and Learning Technologies supports and enhances teaching and learning at Purdue by offering:
- One-on-one consultation with educational technologists, who can help you choose the appropriate solution for your teaching and learning needs.
- Faculty Professional Development, hands-on opportunities designed to help instructors learn best practices for using specific technology.
- Course design, with the help of our team of instructional designers, who work with colleges and faculty to develop, redesign and review courses.
Contact tlt@purdue.edu to get started or to learn more.
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Writer: Dave Stephens, technology writer, Information Technology at Purdue, 765-496-7998, steph103@purdue.edu
Last updated: April 19, 2018