I am excited to introduce a new forum series that will cover a range of topics pertaining to an ever-growing social problem – the spread of misinformation. Our amazing Web Services & Emerging Technologies Librarian, Lauren McFall, has organized an interdisciplinary faculty lineup to present on intriguing and timely topics.
Here is more from Lauren –
Misinformation is an old problem, but technology has manifested that problem in new ways. 2020 only intensified these issues and the exposure to the public at large. From conspiracy theories to science denial to online bias, we are being impacted by a distorted information landscape like never before. In this series of four misinformation forums, we will take a deep dive into some of the recent information issues that have plagued our society alongside the problems that will permeate our future.
***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***
Lots of local workshops being offered to help us out. People are amazing, right? We just keep going. Pretty remarkable.
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
NCHEA’s Tri Equity: Allies in Action Conference The North County Higher Education Alliance (NCHEA) has been a powerful collaboration between Cal State San Marcos, Palomar, and MiraCosta for many years. Our very own Dr. Rachel Hastings, aka “Doc,” is the current NCHEA director. Along with other MiraCostans, Doc has been promoting this conference for the past few weeks, and I, for one, am looking forward to this event.
Here is a description from NCHEA:
This collaborative conference is designed for students, faculty, staff, administrators and community members. Our live events feature expert race and equity practitioners who offer engaging and effective ways to enter and exit these critical conversations. Attendees can expect that each symposium and training will directly acknowledge and address the ways our bodies create culture and communicate difference across our multiple identities.
As a tri-campus consortium serving North County, collaboration is central to our mission of supporting students through the transfer process. We have woven into our programming opportunities to network with members of our sister campuses with a click of the button. Attendees can meet and greet one another with ease, connecting with individuals to discover how to they might be able to work together on a future collaboration grant.
Tri Equity will run on Thursday, February 11, 2021 from 3:30pm – 8:30pm PST and is free to NCHEA community members. Register here
Black History Month 2021 Events Many MiraCostans are invested in preserving and amplifying efforts to elevate the educational and resource-based events during Black History Month. Please visit our Student Equity Page to learn more about the fantastic offerings still to come in February. February matters. Black History matters. The tireless work of our colleagues, students, and community partners matter.
Our college president, Dr. Sunny Cooke sent out an email last week with a link to our Resources for Faculty page on the MiraCosta website. I am impressed with the collection of documents, campus-based professional learning opportunities, and external support resources. Dr. Cooke also let us know that there is much more to come –
This summer, MiraCosta College joined the University of Southern CA- Race and Equity Center’s Racial Equity Leadership Alliance under the leadership of Dr. Shaun Harper. Each month we have been able to send a team of five people to focused topic sessions where MiraCostans can learn and bring back ideas, concepts, and resources to share more broadly at our college.
The Center will develop a portal to house materials from all the monthly sessions. The portal will also include a library of downloadable racial equity assets (readings, case studies, videos, etc.). In addition, MiraCosta employees will be able to form virtual groups with colleagues who serve in similar roles at other community colleges across our state. We will be able to pose questions; collaboratively solve problems of practice; and share effective racial equity strategies, policies, and resources with each other in these groups. This portal will be open to all employees at our college (full-time and part-time). The portal is scheduled to be completed by May 2021.
(2) Online Tips and Tricks
Pronto – A dynamic and engaging tool for effectively communicating with students This one does A LOT – you can chat with students, create groups, send out announcements, use live video, and much more. One feature I really appreciate – message translation. Users can send messages in their preferred language, and Pronto automatically translates messages into the recipient’s preferred language. Now that exemplifies equity.
Canvas update – The New Research Content Editor You have probably noticed that this essential Canvas tool has changed. Some of the changes are minor but navigating an update always comes with challenges. Our instructional technologist, Karen Turpin, helps us navigate the changes and provides an overview worth watching – Using Canvas’s NEW Rich Content Editor.
(1) Question
Are we teaching students that they need to do something to have something in order to be something? Or are we teaching them how to be something so they can do something and then have something?
Stay joyful,
Sean Davis Joyful Teacher in Residence Coordinator, C3 Teaching and Learning Center
Is spring semester off to a great start? Could it be even better for you and/or your students with a little bit of help? The campus may be physically closed but an amazing array of support for successful online education is a click away! Some quick reminders for all faculty, and especially those launching classes starting this week:
For faculty:
Online Mentors and Instructional Design help – To request online teaching and course design support from a peer faculty mentor and/or our instructional designer, please fill out our request form. We’ll get you connected!
Tech Support – Canvas tech support options include 24×7 phone and chat support. Just click the Tech Support button at lower left in Canvas! Zoom tech support for faculty now is available through the MiraCosta employee help desk.
Proctoring – If you have questions about how best to run your online proctored exams, the Academic Proctoring Center is happy to help faculty, as well as potentially providing makeup exam support for your students. For more information, please visit miracosta.edu/apc or email proctoringcenter@miracosta.edu.
OER support – Interested in exploring Open Educational Resources (OER) this spring? The college and the statewide Academic Senate OER Initiative have many resources and projects you can tap into. Just reply to me and I can help you get connected with resources, colleagues, support staff, and/or financial support.
Student Support Hub – Please remind students about the Student Support Hub in Canvas (the button is at lower left in Canvas). This is a quick way for students to connect with live MiraCosta support folks from the library, tutoring centers, Writing Center, academic counseling, Career Center, computer lab staff and the student help desk. New this spring, the Hub has added connections to health services and mental health counseling.
Tech Support – Also at lower left in Canvas is a button for students to quickly access Tech Support options, including 24×7 phone and chat support from Canvas, and our local MiraCosta student help desk.
Happy spring!
Jim Julius, Ed.D. Faculty Director, Online Education
The SAFE Topics Podcast is back at it with our first 2021 release! In this latest episode, we aired our first live recording during the Spring 2021 flex week! Hosts Sean and curry asked a panel of MiraCosta faculty including Himgauri Kulkarni (Biology), Leila Safaralian (Math), Casey McFarland (Kinesiology), Billy Gunn (Film), and Edward Pohlert (Faculty Director, Retention Services): what’s working, what’s challenging, and what should students expect as we all prepare for another semester of remote/online teaching and learning? This is one episode you won’t want to miss!
