LEARN Center Workshops 2006-2007
A Closer Look at Quality Matters Process:
Towards Quality Assurance in Online Courses
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
12:00pm-1:00pm (Lunch Provided)
Library 2254
At a 20 March online seminar, more than 20 participants from across the campus were introduced to the Quality Matter (QM) process for assuring quality in online course offerings. Attendees were introduced to this peer-based approach to reviewing online courses, learned about the QM rubric, and heard about emergent issues and typical decision points affiliated with adopting the QM process. Because of time, many questions and issues went unexplored
This session will take a closer look at the QM process. Lorna Wong, Director of Instructional Technology Services, and Dr. Bob Schramm, Director of the Online Education for the College of Business and economics, will discuss their experiences as certified reviewers in the QM process.
The focus will be on the QM process, its benefits and its limitations, with the hopes of advancing a campus wide dialogue about implementing a method of ensuring quality in online courses.
To learn more about Quality Matters visit qualitymatters.org.
To reserve a place, please contact the learn center at 232.472.5242 or learn@uww.edu by April 18, 2007.
For online registration go to http://signup.uww.edu. Login with your NET-ID. The workshop is listed under "LEARN Center".
Ensuring Online Course Quality
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
12:00pm-1:30pm (Lunch Provided)
Hyer Hall 142
You need to ensure the quality of your online courses, especially if you want to share resources and materials. But where do you start? Begin building or improving your own quality assurance process during the live, online seminar "Quality Matters: Quality Assurance in Online Courses" on March 20. This is a peer-based approach to quality assurance in online education, and the organization recently completed a successful three-year FIPSE project to develop a voluntary, inter-institutional process for recognizing quality online courses.
By participating in this online seminar, you'll be able to:
- Understand key steps in the quality assurance process
- Learn how to identify and overcome the challenges in developing your own standards
- Begin to craft a project that meets your institution's particular needs
- Brainstorm ways to kick off this project
- Review the tools and rubrics Quality Matters uses in its own quality assurance process
- Create a more effective learning environment for your online students
PRESENTER: Mary Wells is the director of development for Quality Matters, and is dedicated to distance learning as a means of expanding student access to quality educational programs and services. Ms. Wells recently retired from Prince George's Community College in Maryland where she had been the director of the distance learning center for five years. Before this position, she served as the distance learning director at Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland for 20 years and spent one year as the executive director of MarylandOnline, Maryland's distance learning consortium.
View PDF Brochure of this Workshop.
To reserve a place, please contact the learn center at 232.472.5242 or learn@uww.edu by March 9, 2007.
For online registration go to http://signup.uww.edu. Login with your NET-ID. The workshop is listed under LEARN Center.
Issues & Strategies: When Teaching Online Courses
Workshops 2 & 3
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
& Wednesday, April 4, 2007
12:00pm-1:00pm (Lunch Provided)
Library 2254
Increasingly, faculty on our campus are expanding their repertoire of techniques to deliver effective instruction online. These workshops will feature the demonstration of several techniques in an interactive setting. Participants attending the workshop will be able to:
- Identify ways to increase students' preparedness for online classes
- Assess students' understanding of course content
- Integrate active learning in online classes
Presenters-Scott Bradley, Department of Communication Science and Disorders; Jim Winship, Social Work; Lorna Wong, iCIT.
Workshop 1
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
12:00pm-1:00pm (Lunch Provided)
Library 2254
As online classes proliferate, faculty should be aware of ways that the academic integrity can be compromised. This workshop will feature of panel from our campus, each member having extensive experience teaching online classes. Participants attending the workshop will be able to:
- Identify major challenges to academic integrity in online classes
- Debate the implications of those challenges
- Discuss potential solutions
Panelists - Chris Henige, Art Department; Jerry Gosen, Management; David Porter, Finance and Business Law; Bob Schramm, IT/BE; Diana Rogers-Adkinson, Special Education; Jim Winship, Social Work.
For online registration go to http://signup.uww.edu. Login with your NET-ID. The workshop is listed under LEARN Center.
Time Management for Academics
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
12:00pm-1:30pm
Hyer 142
From your first day as a junior professor, you will thrive only if you can manage your time effectively. This workshop teaches you the skills to set priorities, avoid procrastination, schedule commitments effectively, work efficiently, and stay sane, so that you can succeed.
By participating in this online seminar, you'll:
- Schedule commitments in line with career priorities
- Make time for writing and research on a consistent basis
- End writer's block and meet publishing goals
- Limit teaching preparation time
- Manage student demands and improve evaluations
- Choose projects wisely and say no when necessary
- Create and maintain effective work habits
- Overcome procrastination and avoid distractions
- Prevent burnout and craft a balanced life
Meet the Presenter:
Mary McKinney, Ph.D, is a clinical psychologist and professional coach who specializes in working with faculty, post-docs and doctoral students. She is the founder and director of Successful Academic Consulting.
For online registration go to http://signup.uww.edu. Login with your NET-ID. The workshop is listed under LEARN Center.
How to Make Online Collaboration Work
Thursday, February 15, 2007
12:00pm-1:30pm
Hyer 142
In this session, you'll see why collaboration is important and likely to get even more important. You'll also learn how to reduce frustration and improve learning outcomes by helping learners prepare for collaborating online.
By participating in this online seminar, you'll:
- Have more fun teaching online by involving learners more
- Examine when to use collaborative activities (and when not to)
- Identify the reasons why online collaboration is considered "hot" and is likely to get "hotter"
- Evaluate a selection of online collaboration tools, including some of the newest (and most exciting)
- Select the right collaboration tools for the right purpose
- Design collaborative activities so learners gain the most (and are less frustrated)
- Reduce the need to be an exhausted, omnipresent, moderator/expert/advice giver
Meet the Presenter:
Patti Shank, PhD, CPT, is the president of Learning Peaks LLC, an internationally recognized instructional design consulting firm that provides training and performance support solutions to government, corporate, and higher education clients. She is a frequently invited conference speaker and workshop leader and has written numerous articles and chapters on instructional design and instructional authoring.
For online registration go to http://signup.uww.edu. Login with your NET-ID. The workshop is listed under LEARN Center.
Managing to Thrive
January 18th, 2007, noon-1:30 pm. (lunch provided)
Roseman Building 2007B
This is an audio conference presented by Magna Publications - a provider of consistently worthwhile online seminars. Those who attend will be able to:
- Define specific strategies for managing the online workload in each of five categories - authoring course content, teaching strategies, revision and management of existing courses, institutional approaches, and support strategies.
- Actively contribute to the development of new strategies.
- Determine how to adopt several strategies for personal use in their online classrooms
- Understand what resources are available to continue exploration of new and emerging strategies.
Presenter - Lawrence C. Ragan is the director of Institutional Design and Development for Penn State's World Campus. He also coordinates the design and delivery of faculty development seminars and training programs at PSU.
For online registration go to http://signup.uww.edu. Login with your NET-ID. The workshop is listed under LEARN Center.
Understanding and Using the New Grading Scale for Undergraduates
November 29th, noon-1:00 pm. (lunch provided)
Library 2254
Last spring, the UW-Whitewater Faculty Senate passed a new grading scale for undergraduate students. The scale adds "pluses" and "minuses" to the traditional grading scale. Thus, an "A-" equates to 3.67 grade points, a "B+" to 3.33 grade points, a "B" to 3.00, etc. By using the new scale, faculty are able to make finer distinctions among the achievements of their students, compared to the traditional grading scale. Come to this workshop to learn more about the new grading scale. Those who attend will be able to-
- Identify the reasons for switching to the new grading scale
- Recognize the principles of good assessment that support the new grading scale
- Apply the new grading scale to their own grading data
PRESENTER Robert Gruber, Chair of the Accounting Department, was instrumental in the passage of the new grading scale. His dissertation focused on the development of multiple-choice tests, and he has maintained an avid interest in assessment issues through-out his career.
For online registration go to http://signup.uww.edu. Login with your NET-ID. The workshop is listed under LEARN Center.
Finding the Fakers
Plagiarism: New ideas and a new way to find the fakers.
Wednesday, November 1, 2006
12:00-1:00pm, Esker 108
In spring, 2005, the LEARN Center sponsored two workshops on plagiarism- "Finding the Fakers". Those attending the workshops recently responded to a questionnaire that focused on searching for ways that faculty and staff can continue to support each other's efforts in dealing with plagiarism. One option that has been discussed is developing a blog or wiki on this topic.
At this workshop, the results of the questionnaire will be presented and next steps discussed. IN addition, the University recently purchased a site license for Turnitin- commercially-available software designed to detect plagiarized work-which will be demonstrated. Those who attend will be able to-
- Identify ways to address plagiarism on campus
- Discuss ways that faculty and staff can support each other
- Use Turnitin to detect plagiarism in student work
PRESENTERS: Ronna Hoeper is a reference and instruction librarian in the University Library. She has an avid interest in plagiarism issues and in developing resources to assist faculty and staff. Lorna Wong is the Director of Instructional Technology Services in iCIT and was instrumental in piloting and eventually bringing Turnitin to campus.
Entering Mentoring
A multidisciplinary six-week discussion group to develop or enhance mentoring skills in undergraduate research.
Tuesdays, October 17 - November 21, 2006
12:30-1:30pm, Seminar Room, L2245, Andersen Library
"Entering Mentoring," developed at UW-Madison, has been run 22 times at 11 institutions with great success.
Each week, participants will discuss a brief reading and/or a problem in mentoring. Sessions include:
- Getting Started/Learning to Communicate
- Goals and Expectations
- Identifying Issues and Challenges
- Resolving Challenges and Issues
- Evaluating Our Progress as Mentors
- Elements of Good Mentoring and Developing a Mentoring Philosophy
Participants will be given elevated priority for full funding of Undergraduate Research Grants (for their students) in 2006-2007.
August 2006
Successful Professional & Grant Writing
Tuesday, 29th August 2006, Room 108, Esker Hall
Morning Session: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Afternoon Session: 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
The myriad of challenges that attend initiating and maintaining a sustained program of scholarly writing behind successful publication and grant submission is well documented. The many demands that attend teaching 12 credits per semester often make it difficult to find the necessary time, the intellectual and emotional energy, and ultimately serve as a gauntlet to achieving writing goals.
This active, hands-on workshop is designed to help faculty creatively break through writing blocks and accomplish more professional writing. It will:
- confront myths about writing;
- help attendees overcome the major obstacles to writing; and
- explore strategies to sustain writing momentum.
The focus will be on the special application of these principles in writing proposals for external support—examining specifically the process for managing a successful grant application.
Facilitators:
Bob Lucas, Director of the Institute for Scholarly Activity
A Moral Compass for Teaching?
Ethical Dilemmas in the Instructional World
Thursday, 31st August 2006, Room 125, McGraw Hall
Session: 8:45am - 10:00 am
College educators are experts in their discipline, yet often have little preparation for confronting common ethical dilemmas that are part and parcel of academic life.
This highly interactive session will use a series of engaging case scenarios to foster discussion about issues ranging from controversial classroom assignments to collegial conflicts, from dealing with difficult students to issues of confidentiality. Attendees will explore the complexity inherent in the decision-making contexts in which faculty must operate.
Facilitators:
Jon Werner, Management Department; Robert Gruber, Accounting Department; Frank Hanson, Music Department; Linda Holmes, Accounting Department; Penny Portman, HPERC Department; and Paula Mohan, Political Science Department.
A Tool for Building Better Multiple Choice Tests
The Power of Item Analysis
Thursday, 31st August 2006, Room 121, McGraw Hall
Session: 8:45 am - 10:00 am
Multiple choices tests remain one of the most widely used and efficient means for assessing student learning. However, creating test questions (items) that validly and reliably assess student learning is difficult.
This thought-provoking session will overview “item analysis,” a tool for identifying discrepancies between what was taught and what was learned. Attendees will learn how to use information available for any scantron test scored by iCIT, to not only identify test questions that merit revision, but also identify concepts and constructs that would benefit from new approaches to instruction.
Facilitators:
Steve Friedman, Interim Associate Dean of the LEARN Center, former professor, Educational Foundations Department.
The Mind of the Millennial
Knowing and Understanding the Social Context of Today’s College Student
Thursday, 31st August 2006, Room 121, McGraw Hall
Session: 10:15 am - 11:30 am
How well do we know the traditional age students who attend UW-W? How familiar are we with what shapes their world view, their learning, and their social context? How does our current generation, the Millennials, differ from the previous generations, and what can be done to better meet the educational needs of this population?
This fun and engaging session will examine the latest research on today’s and tomorrow’s college student. Discussion will focus on preparing for the challenges and opportunities of educating Millennials.
Facilitators:
Sandi Scott Duex, Assistant Director of Residential Education, Office of Residence Life
Creating Your Own Personal Research Assistant
Customizing Library Databases to Enhance Your Research
Thursday, 31st August 2006, Room L2211, Library
Session: 10:15 am - 11:30 am
The University Library’s article databases provide a powerful platform for conducting secondary research in all academic fields. By tapping into the customization features included in many of these databases, you can transform an ordinary database into a powerful research assistant.
This interactive session will allow attendees to explore the special features of WilsonWeb, Web of Science, SuperSearch, Ingenta, EBSCOhost, the Library Catalog, and others. Attendees will learn how to save search queries, build bibliographies, create citations in styles such as APA and MLA, track articles that cite key research in a field of interest, and set up email alerts to learn of newly published material.
Facilitators:
Carol Elsen, Reference and Instruction, University Library.
Kick-Starting Undergraduate Research
A multidisciplinary panel discussion on getting started in undergraduate research.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
12:00-1:00pm, Esker 118 (Lunch Included)
Objectives: Participants will leave this workship with a better understand of how-to:
- Recruit and select student researchers.
- Help a student define (and modify) a suitable project.
- Fund student projects and student conference travel.
In addition, we will preview the upcoming six-week "Entering Mentoring" program (listed below) for faculty wishing to get started in reasearch mentoring or strengthen their skilss.