Category: C3 Newsletter

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***

Audio, visual, and shameless self-promotion.

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

Looking for archived resources, tips/tricks, and questions?

Revisit the past editions of the C3-2-1 Newsletter here. 

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.

(3) Resources

1. S.A.F.E. Topics Podcast

A homegrown MiraCosta Podcast. 
Show Description:
The goal of the pod is to place students and faculty into dialogue with each other about issues that impact teaching and learning experiences in community college. We want student and faculty voices to be unfiltered, reactionary, and raw. Through these discussions, we will not arrive at decisions or solutions but rather provide listeners of the pod with a range of perspectives to weigh the interests, values, and outcomes of pedagogical and policy decision making processes. 

2. (Re) Teach Podcast

Another homegrown MiraCosta Podcast.
Show Description: 
This podcast focuses on becoming a more culturally-responsive and economically-responsible professor at the community college level. I will discuss specific teaching techniques, give practical classroom management advice, and engage in meaningful dialogues about teaching and learning so that we may positively affect student-equity groups.

3. Teaching in Higher Ed. Podcast

Although this one is not a homegrown MiraCosta podcast, it is excellent nonetheless! 🙂
Here is a description from the website:
This is the space where we explore the art and science of being more effective at facilitating learning. We also share ways to increase our personal productivity, so we can have more peace in our lives and be even more present for our students.

(2) Online Tips and Tricks

1. Captioning Your Videos Using Canvas Studio

We are recording videos for our classes more than ever. Canvas Studio makes captioning easy, issues and it is pretty accurate; however, reviewing and correcting the captions is vital (you can do this in Studio)You can request captioning for the videos you create in Studio and import the captions from videos you upload to Studio. In my experience with requesting captions, processing usually only takes a few minutes (but it could take a few hours according to various sources).

The MiraCosta Access Specialist for DSPS, Aaron Holmes, adds that we have resources for captioning that go beyond what is offered in Canvas Studio. If you have 3rd party videos, your own longer videos, and/or any issues with captioning, please reach out to our DSPS Office.

Aaron also points us to this helpful page – Captioning FAQs 

2. Embedding Quiz Questions into Your Canvas Studio Videos

This tool is excellent for keeping your videos engaging! It also helps you ensure that students are paying attention throughout your presentation. Embed some quiz questions at various points in your Canvas Studio videos to create multiple check-ins and drive home the most significant points! 

(1) Question

What are we learning from our students about how to cope with and adapt to the new normal?

Stay joyful,

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

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***

It is not you – the world is really weird right now…

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

Looking for archived resources, tips/tricks, and questions?

Revisit the past editions of the C3-2-1 Newsletter here. 

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.

(3) Resources

1. Black Students Matter Training on Canvas (self-enroll by using this link)

A new training at MiraCosta focuses on the experiences of Black students and gives us direction on how to better serve this community. 

Here is a message from one of the facilitators, Dr. Bruce Hoskins – 

I know y’all are busy surviving, but we need to create the space to live, grow and get better.  I created this Black Students Matter course for exactly that purpose. Shout out to Edwina Williams and Shawntae Mitchum for developing the material and doing the research for this project!  I will hit you with Working While Black later this semester (November-ish) and Anti-White Supremacy Teaching will be our spring project.

You will receive a certificate and #Blackstudentsmatter sticker on the successful completion of the course.  The class will close by December 10, but feel free to complete this course as quickly as you can.  I will reopen this class in spring if you do not get a chance to complete it this Fall.  Just a heads up, I put in deadlines to help give people a pace, but don’t worry, I ALWAYS take late work!  So just get the course completed by December 10 and you will receive full credit 🙂

2. PROJECT Online Faculty Mentor Program

Are you struggling with online instruction? Or do you just want a colleague to work with on your courses to help you develop and implement new ideas? We have a team of folks who are ready and willing to be at your side! 

We have 12 faculty members on the team who are ready to work with you on your online courses – synchronous and asynchronous classes. Our mentors work in non-credit and credit in disciplines 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.

3. OpenStax – Webinars (both live and recorded, archived sessions)

OpenStax is a nonprofit charitable corporation that is housed at Rice University. They offer Open Education Resources (OER) in the way of textbooks, supplemental learning materials, and webinars focused on teaching and learning. You can register for these free webinars or watch the archived webinars by using the title link. Be sure to check out their textbook offerings as well. You might find an OER solution for a course that you teach! 

(2) Online Tips and Tricks

1. Creating Extra Credit Assignments in Canvas

Canvas does not have a default extra credit option. So, if you are offering extra credit in your class, you will have to create extra credit opportunities as you would any other assignment with the key caveat of assigning a zero point value to the assignment. 

2. Using “Moderate” to Set Accommodations for Individual Students 

Do you have students who need extra time on your quizzes and exams? Maybe you have students whose accommodations require extra attempts. Well, you can use the Moderate panel to make these accommodations and more. 

(1) Question

What do we need to let go of to be more effective and useful in the long-term? 

Stay joyful,

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

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***

Do your students need help? Do you need help? Let’s get everyone what they need! 

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.

(3) Resources

1. MiraCosta Online Tutoring Services – Tons of support for our students…
   1. TASC – Free online support for ACCT, CSIT, ECON, MAT, Music, PLSC, PSYC, SOC, foreign languages, and CLC students.
   2. MLC – Free online support for all math and statistics courses, including CLC students.
   3. Writing Center – Free online writing feedback and speech support. We can help with grammar, reading, and scholarship/transfer statements.
   4. Language Resource Center – Free online support for Spanish, Italian, French, German, and Japanese.
   5. Student Help Desk – Free online support for passwords, technical issues & information about online portals.
   6. STEM Learning Center – Free online support for all science courses (Bio, Chem, CS, and Physical Sciences).
2. The Distance Learning Playbook for College & University InstructionThis resource was sent to me by Dean Mike Fino. Thanks, Mike! The Distance Learning Playbook covers a wide array of pedagogical concerns and topics and can be useful for us as we continue this online adventure. Some of the topics explored in the book include – faculty-student relationships from a distance, teacher credibility from a distance, teacher clarity from a distance, engaging tasks from a distance, Planning learning experiences from a distance, feedback, assessment, and grading from a distance, keeping the focus on learning, from a distance or otherwise.
   
   As you can tell, they emphasize the “distance.” Maybe they can also help us close the distance…
   
   ***You can read the book for free using the title link above.
   
3. Student Support Guide and Reshaping Your School Schedule During Remote Instruction (Canvas modules available to plug into your courses)At the start of each term, Our Vice President of Student Services, Alketa Wojcik, sends out a PDF version of the Student Support Guide that outlines many of the support resources that are available to our students. This Fall’s version also provides a guide – Reshaping Your School Schedule During Remote Instruction. Thanks to our guest CE Instructional Designer, Liesl Madrona, these two resources are now available in the Canvas Commons for you to upload into your Canvas Classes. The modules are very user-friendly and include iFrames embedded in the pages that allow students to explore the resources on our campus website without ever leaving your Canvas course! (2) Online Tips and Tricks

(2) Online Tips and Tricks

1. New Quizzes vs. Classic Quizzes in Canvas – What you need to knowWhen creating a quiz in Canvas, do we go with Classic Quizzes or New Quizzes? Well, it depends on what we are trying to accomplish with the quiz and how we want the quiz to work. Check out this resource that includes an in-depth look at the similarities and differences between these two Canvas tools.  
   
   *Important note – New Quizzes are set to replace Classic quizzes July 2021
   
2. Adding Prerequisites to Modules Are you into scaffolding? Do you want to make sure students have read or reviewed a page before moving on to the next activity? Add prerequisites in Canvas to help your students build-up to the next course item by ensuring they have been exposed to what will help them make the most of a deeper learning experience. 

(1) Question

Are our automated processes freeing up our time, or are they enabling us to commit to more busyness?

Stay joyful,

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

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.

(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

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.

(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! 

2. 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. 

3. 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. 

2. 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