Category: Online Education News You Can Use

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

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***

And away we go…

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

• PROJECT Online Teaching Foundations Canvas Course (click the link to self-enroll in the coursePROJECT stands for Professionals for Joy, Equity, and Community in Teaching. It’s our hope that you’ll find this course helps you to approach online teaching more joyfully, to prepare online classes that are equitable, and to engage with (as much as you are interested) a community of supportive colleagues. Faculty learning experiences under the PROJECT name are organized by MiraCosta faculty support groups, including the C3 Teaching and Learning Center, Professional Development Program, and Online Education. 
• MiraCosta Library Support For Fall Research Instruction – Orientation Request FormOur librarians provide fantastic support for research projects. In addition to the library website, library databases,  24/7 live chat with librarians, and the Canvas Online Student Support Hub’s Library Section, Librarians are also available to create assignment-specific class research guides (Sample Class Guide 1, Sample Class Guide 2), a brief YouTube video (Sample YouTube Video), or teach a live 30-minute Zoom research orientation to your class.
• Teaching First-Generation College Students GuidebookIn collaboration with first-gen college students, the TASC’s (Tutoring and Academic Support Center) Academic Success Coaching Program has developed a guide for teaching and learning with first-generation college students. Here is a description of the resource – This guidebook is organized by deconstructing the narrative of the first-generation identity, followed by identifying characteristics of a first-generation college student. In addition, it includes culturally responsive and sustaining teaching practices for faculty to employ. These best practices facilitate the success of first-generation college students in the classroom. Furthermore, we describe social capital in the community college context.

For more context, please take the time to watch this 10-minute documentary on our First-Gen Students

(2) Online Tips and Tricks

• Using Google Voice as a tool for connecting with students If you want to connect with students via phone/text but don’t want to give your personal number, try this resource. This free product will generate a local phone number that you can use to avoid unwanted clutter on your own text message app and phone. The texts and calls using your Google Phone Number will be pushed to your phone through the app.
• Setting Up Notifications as an Instructor in CanvasCanvas can provide you with notifications about updates and changes to your course by sending you an email, text, and other communication forms. You can change the default notification settings to get the information you want in the ways you prefer. These changes only apply to you so if you want to let students know how to set their  notification preferences, provide them with this resource – Student Notification Guide

(1) Question

Are we giving our students and ourselves the time and space to acclimate to all the new things?

Stay Joyful,

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

Oceanside Campus
1 Barnard Drive
Oceanside, CA 92056
P 760.757.2121 x7713
C 760.521.1387
sdavis@miracosta.edu