Launch of the PROJECT – Online Faculty Mentorship Program

Hello, Faculty Community!

We are very happy to announce the launch of the PROJECT – Online Faculty Mentorship Program! 

Project Online Faculty Mentorship Program logo

We know that folks are still adapting to our shift to distance education this Fall. Today, our President Dr. Sunny Cooke, announced that we will be continuing in our current modality for Spring 2021. Are you in need of assistance with your online course design and teaching? Are you looking to learn more ways to engage your students and help them better navigate your classes? Do you want help implementing more equity practices in your online course offerings? 

We have 12 faculty members on the team who are ready to work with you on your online courses – both synchronous and asynchronous classes. Our mentors work in non-credit and credit in disciplines that span across all ACPs (Academic and Career Pathways)

If you want to connect with and be assigned a mentor, please complete the following form so we can assess your needs and know how to best pair you with a member of the team: PROJECT – Online Faculty Mentorship Program

For more information, feel free to contact us! 

Sean Davis (sdavis@miracosta.edu)

Jim Julius (jjulius@miracosta.edu

C3-2-1 Newsletter – Week Three!

Hello, Faculty Community! 

***You are receiving this newsletter because you are a faculty member at MiraCosta College. I, Sean Davis, am the coordinator of our C3 Teaching and Learning Center***

There are lots of people doing many cool things. I am grateful to work with so many talented and driven folks! Yes, you. 

3 resources related to teaching and learning, 2 online tips and tricks, and 1 question for reflection

Want to share? 

If you have some resources, tips/tricks, and questions to share, please contribute to the newsletter using this C3-2-1 Form.

C321 Newsletter

(3) Resources

  1. Engage Your Students in the Spartan Experience!*Special thanks to Denise Stephenson (Faculty Director of the Writing Center for connecting me with Kathy Rodriguez (Interim Program Manager for Student Life and Leadership) for this resource. Here is what Kathy shared with us for us to share with our students – Check out MiraCosta.edu/Engage to learn more about upcoming events, virtual programming, clubs, and request your Spartan Pass ID Card.  Click here for a tutorial on how to use Engage.To schedule a class presentation about Engage, please contact Omar Jimenez ojimenez@miracosta.edu.   
    Engage https://miracosta.campuslabs.com/engage
    Engage Tutorial https://youtu.be/mb4O8BYO9oA
    Student Life & Leadership https://miracosta.edu/student-services/student-life/index.html
  2. The Harriet W. Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning – “Effective Teaching is Anti-Racist Teaching This one covers A LOT. There is an example of how a STEM professor integrates inclusivity and examining bias into their course objectives and goals. Moreover, these resources include ideas and considerations for inclusive class content, discussions, assessment, and reflection. Be sure to scroll to the bottom – the references are excellent, and it is worth checking out those that POP for you! 
  3. Association of American Colleges & Universities – Creating and Assessing Learning in a Digital Classroom CommunityThis resource is another recommendation from Dean Jonathan Fohrman. Thanks, Jonathan, for being a regular contributor to the C3-2-1 newsletter! This post helps us think of the various ways we can deliver content. Additionally, it provides examples of how we can employ different strategies for student engagement. Further, the authors offer instructors suggestions for alternative submission options for students to demonstrate learning by developing learning opportunities that are relevant and realistic. 

(2) Online Tips and Tricks

  1. Numbering Class Announcements – This tip comes from Chad Tsuyuki (Faculty, Letters). Thanks, Chad! This simple tip might help with class emails this semester. I included the following paragraph in a recent reminder email:

    “You’ll notice that my subject line for this email included ‘#1.’ This semester I’m going to number my emails so that they’re easier to follow and reference at times. Later this semester, I might need to reference a previous email. This numbering system will allow me to say something like ‘Check out email #4 for additional details.’ And you won’t have to dig through your emails. All you’ll need to do is click on the Canvas ‘Announcements’ tab on the homepage, and you’ll be able to locate the email announcement quickly. Pretty cool, right?”
  2. Undeleting things in Canvas If you have ever deleted something from your course and want it back, this is the trick for you! I mean, the title says it all, right? Check it out – it is worth knowing how to do this. 

(1) Question

Are we trying to get back to “normal” or are going to take this opportunity to move into something better?

Stay joyful,

Sean Davis
Joyful Teacher in Residence 
Coordinator, C3 Teaching and Learning Center

C3-2-1 Newsletter – Week Two!

Hello, Faculty Community! 

***You are receiving this newsletter because you are a faculty member at MiraCosta College. I, Sean Davis, am the coordinator of our C3 Teaching and Learning Center***

Zoom. Canvas. Google Docs. Repeat. Is this real life?

3 resources related to teaching and learning, 2 online tips and tricks, and 1 question for reflection

Want to share? 

If you have some resources, tips/tricks, and questions to share, please contribute to the newsletter using this C3-2-1 Form.

C321 Newsletter

(3) Resources

  1. Teaching Effectively With Zoom by Dan Levy

This resource is the companion website to the newly published book with the same title. Do you want more ideas on how to use Zoom to engage students? This is the place for you! Check out the downloadable resources for some inspiration for group work, sharing, building community, and more! 

  1. MiraCosta’s Social Justice and Equity Center’s Calendar of Events

Our Social Justice and Equity Center (SJEC) hosts incredible events year-round. Topics on race, gender, sexualities, social class, and other social issues are facilitated by discipline experts, students, and community leaders. These events provide great extra credit opportunities and a place for students to find a community at MiraCosta. 

  1. Association of American Colleges and University’s Global Learning Conference (October 8-10)

This recommendation comes from our Dean of Arts and International Languages, Jonathan Fohrman.

Here is a brief conference description from the organization’s website: 

The 2020 Conference on Global Learning will be held virtually due to public health concerns and higher education’s prevailing travel restrictions connected to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the virtual format, AAC&U is committed to the goals that have always guided our conference planning: engaging and informative sessions, networking with colleagues from across the broad spectrum of higher education roles and institutions, and opportunities to reflect on professional practice and aspirations

***MiraCosta is a member of AA&U so you should be able to get the reduced member rate if you use your MiraCosta email when registering***

(2) Online Tips and Tricks

  1. Using the People feature in Canvas to track student activity, create groups, and more!

With the Census Roster deadline quickly approaching, the People feature in Canvas can be a great tool to track student engagement in your course(s). This tool also allows you to create groups that can be congruent with your live Zoom breakout rooms or can be used to simply have more concentrated discussions and activities. 

  1. How to add events to the Canvas Calendar without setting up an assignment

Scheduled assignments are automatically generated in the Canvas Calendar but what about other events that you want students to be aware of? You can use the Calendar to schedule office hours for students, inform them about important college deadlines, and present your class(es) with event opportunities throughout the semester. 

(1) Question

How much are we learning to help ensure our students are learning?

Stay joyful,

Sean Davis
Joyful Teacher in Residence J
Coordinator, C3 Teaching and Learning Center

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