We are very happy to announce the launch of the PROJECT – Online Faculty Mentorship Program!
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
***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.
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!
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
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?”
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
***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.
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!
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.
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***
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.
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
***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.
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
This is a quick recap with links to critical emails sent last week, for those who may have been immersed in summer until the last minute (good for you!). Please review any and all that may be of interest!
Email #1 – includes info on the new ability to merge Canvas course sections
Email #2 – includes a quick overview of MiraCosta’s primary online teaching tools, a heads-up about potential broken links in your courses, and a note about special support for CE faculty
Email #3 – includes info about online ed Flex workshops (now you can view archives of those), new Canvas-based faculty support resources, info on how to access past workshop archives, a note about updates to AP 4105, and info about Canvas support now available via chat
Email #4 – Includes key online student support resources to share with your students: the Canvas Student Support Hub, Student Orientation to Online Learning workshops, CARE resources for students in need, and support for student identity online (pronouns and preferred name)
PROJECT Trainers & Mentors Wanted – was sent by Sean Davis with a call for faculty interested in serving as compensated trainers and/or mentors for other faculty this fall to enhance our equity-minded online teaching practices. Remember to fill out the form by Friday, Aug. 21!
