The FACILITATOR

Flying solo, Mike dives into how application of principles from usability research to our course sites & materials can promote student success, engagement & Retention. Mike introduces the WHAT of Usability with ISO 9241 & Nielsen Norman Group's definitions. The linkage to WHY is addressed with intersection of several course design quality rubrics and teaching best practices. Then the application with HOW starts with Modules Usability (& common misuses). Next, chunking topical content via PAGES, as well as Optimizing Text for reading on screens., Naming Conventions & Consistent formatting is discussed. Our Usability world cheat sheet concludes with looking at LEGIBILITY & READABILITY of course materials - whether digital or hard copy etc.
Episode Resources:
5 Ways to Optimize Canvas Sites Tips, Examples & How Tos
8 Ways to Optimize Course Content Tips, Examples & How Tos
The Hemingway app
Legibility Readability & Comprehension: Making Users Read Your Words [Nielsen Norman Group]

Amid the ongoing scrutiny of the value of higher ed education, Shella & Mike dive into the timely topic of how to increase the learning value of classes with alternatives to lecturing. While lecture lurches on in higher ed (for now) as a predominant teaching technique, science and mounds of data tells it is a poor teaching tool with 5% of info being retained on average from a lecture. As such, we turn to the WHAT/ WHY (see above) & most crucially the HOW to diversify our teaching toolbelt!
Episode Resources:
NCSC Ctr for Teaching Excellence Non-Lecture Teaching Techniques
226 Active Learning Techniques (Iowa State U.)

Wading into the WHAT/ WHY & HOW of levering the powerful learning science of Activating Prior Learning for Engagement, support student (& Faculty!) time on task and promoting success.
Episode Resources:
NCSC Ctr for Teaching Excellence Activating Prior Learning Tips/ Resources

Tackling the HOW of Best Practices for teaching condensed/ accelerated 8 week courses for optimizing student success. Shella & Mike get into Sequencing (1:35) - what happens when with integrated 'Spiral' Design reinforcement; Managing Cognitive Load (3:14) on Students; Scaffolding with Support Resources (3:55) to offer built-in recovery/ time efficiency/ engagement;  Time Efficient Canvas Tools: Canvas Pages (6:55) for reusable evergreen remedial built in support resources;  Early Publishing of Your Canvas Course Site (8:20) to allow for a bonus 'Week Zero' of student prep/ orientation for success; Canvas Quizzes for Self-Check/ Practice (10:26) to allow students to be active learners and build confidence for applying/ higher order use of material;  Canvas Modules Optimization (11:48) applying best practices for lean but content packed modules; Grading Rubrics (12:33) for supporting student practice & faculty time efficiency;  Canvas Mastery Paths (14:31) to efficiently automatically connect students to appropriate level work; Communication Strategy/ Reinforcement (15:32)  for ensuring students get the word/ know what to focus on; Kicking 'Coverage' Fallacy (16:44); Outcomes Focus (17:37).
Episode Resources:
Sequencing a Course Tips/ Resources
Managing Cognitive Load of Students
Ways to Optimize Your Canvas Sites (Pages, Modules , Assignments etc)
Canvas Early Access for Students
Chickering & Gamson Respecting Diverse Talents/ Ways of Learning
Lang's Small Teaching Research
Grading Rubrics
Using Rubrics in Canvas SpeedGrader
Canvas Mastery Paths

Shella & Mike discuss the WHAT/ BENEFITS/ HOW & UNIQUENESS of the Perusall 'Social Annotation' tool.  Perusall allows instructors to assign students to annotate and dialog on a layer right around assigned readings, videos or podcasts etc. Instructional opportunities and scenarios with examples are discussed for how to apply this tool to your college courses.
Episode Resources:
Our Perusall Resource Page
Social Annotation Tips
7 Things You Should Know About... Collaborative Annotation Tools [PDF]

Excerpt of the 6/11/24 Teaching Tips Tuesday session on improving online discussions with guest Star Officer Dave Kopeke from the NCSC Criminal Justice Program.  In which, we chat about WHAT online discussion can/ should be to engage and promote meaningful discussion beyond the tool driving the bus; Aligning the Intellectual Task with proven Best Practice models using 1) Bloom's Taxonomy 2) Boettcher's Four Online Discussion Types & 3) Project Zero's Thinking Routines, with working through an example using the Project Zero 'Object, Perspectives, Parts & me' model protocol.
See Also a broader discussion on Online Discussions back in Episode 3.
Episode Resources:
Our Online Discussion Models Resource 
Bloom's Taxonomy
Project Zero's Thinking Routines 

WHAT & WHY of Redesigning college Assignments for the AI Age. 14 ways HOW to both make assignments resistant to cheating with AI, but also use the opportunity of both the Tools themselves and enhancing your assignments with industry Best Practices!
Resources:
PDF Worksheet for AI Assignment Makeover (CTE) 
Top 20 Generative AI Tools & Applications in 2024 (eWeek)
"Professors Cautious of Tools to Detect AI-Generated Writing" 2/9/24 (Inside Higher Ed)
Bruff's 6 Questions for AI Assignment Makeover (Agile Learning)

Basic Intro to the best practice teaching technique of transparent, randomized selection of students/ groups to call on to start/ continue/ extend activity or discussion.
 https://spinthewheel.app/ 
http://wheeldecide.com/ 
https://www.classtools.net/random-name-picker/ 

Follow-up to Ep 18 with how to adapt the best practice active learning course design of Team-Based Learning (TBL) for a fully online asynchronous format with no live class meetings.
Prof Bill Roberson's Team based Learning Team Readiness piece approach with Canvas:  https://ctl.pointloma.edu/teaching-online/team-based-learning-online/ 
 

Basic Intro to the best practice active learning course design of Team-Based Learning (TBL) utilized throughout the world to great effect, as well as some data & lessons learned from its utilization at North Central State College.