Welcome to the weekly UTLC Newsletter supporting teaching and learning at UNCG.
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This section is full of timely and evidence-based practices to apply in your teaching.
Making course content accessible may seem like an overwhelming task, but starting with one small thing makes it easy! Creating accessible learning environments doesn’t have to be complicated. For more information, check out the article on Creating Accessible Learning Environments from Vanderbilt University’s Center for Teaching. If you are interested in additional facts about accessibility, this government website about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) offers comprehensive information about website barriers and ADA accessibility requirements. Here are some small steps that can have a big impact on accessibility:
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Sharing Materials in Advance: Sharing materials in advance benefits all learners, not just students with disabilities. Sharing the materials before class allows students to familiarize themselves with course content. Are you worried students won’t pay attention if they have all the materials in advance? Consider hiding slides with group activities or discussion questions before sharing the materials. This will still allow students to feel prepared for class while keeping them engaged.
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Using Accessibility Checkers: Accessibility checkers will ensure your documents can be read by screen readers, thus making them accessible for your students. Scanned PDFs present themselves as images of text, instead of plain text so screen readers cannot read the document. For guided directions on using accessibility checkers, you can visit the UNCG Accessibility Resources webpage.
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Creating Slides and Presentations: When creating presentations to share during your classes, there are three easy things that you can do to make them more accessible. First, include clear concise language. Second, make sure the content is easy for students to see and read. That means it should be large enough and the color contrast should be considered when choosing font colors. Color should also be avoided to emphasize meaning for students. Last, you should limit your use of images to essential images only. Consider asking yourself: Does this image add to the lesson by clarifying a new topic? If not, the image is likely decorative and does not enhance a student’s understanding of the concept. If you decide to use images, include alternate text descriptions for each one. Additional information is available on the UNCG Accessibility Resources website on the Making Presentations and Forms Accessible page.
Which one of these tips resonated most with you? Which one do you want to start implementing this semester to take a step towards creating more accessible content in your course?
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UTLC FEATURED ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Check out the latest updates and offerings from the UTLC.
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| Dr. Stuart Marcovitch wins UNCG SOCON faculty award
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The Southern Conference named its annual All-Southern Conference Faculty and Staff Team. The league recognizes two representatives from each of the 10 member schools each year. The recipients from UNCG are Dr. Stuart Marcovitch (Faculty) from the department of psychology and
Trina Porcher (Staff) from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. The recipients all share the common characteristics of demonstrated service to the institution and contributions to campus life and the local community. Faculty members selected have made strong contributions to teaching, research and/or service, while staff members are being recognized for bringing out the best in others and creating conditions for success. Congratulations to Dr. Marcovitch and Ms. Trina Porcher!
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Reminder | Upcoming Guest Speaker, Dr. Shawn Simonson, to discuss Teaching Effectiveness Frameworks on Feb. 5
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Join the UTLC and the Teaching Effectiveness Policy Workgroup for a morning with Dr. Shawn Simonson, Director of the Human Performance Laboratory and a Professor of Kinesiology at Boise State University. In his workshop, Simonson will share some common best practices for evaluating teaching, how we can use reflection to better understand our own teaching, and how we can solicit effective feedback on our own teaching.
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FACULTY ENGAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT
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Check out these upcoming opportunities from the UTLC and other partners on campus. Additional training opportunities are available at workshops.uncg.edu.
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Upcoming Events, Training, and Workshops
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| 🗣 Dr. Shawn Simonson on Teaching Effectiveness Frameworks in NIB 510
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Join the UTLC for a special presentation on Teaching Effectiveness Frameworks to learn how to evaluate and enhance teaching.
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1:00 - 2:00 PM
Date and time changed!
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| 📣 VOISES Panel | Black and African American Student Experiences
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Join the UTLC and Office of Intercultural Engagement for a student panel discussion centering the experiences of Black and African American students. If you previously registered for this panel there is no need to re-register due to the date change.
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💻 Faculty Fellows Workshop on Avoiding Faculty Burnout and Finding True Work-Life Balance (event flyer)
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In conjunction with NCFDD, we are hosting a 2-hour virtual workshop with optional in-person watch party to help faculty develop strategies for prioritizing and building momentum for their research and creative activities while maintaining work-life balance along the way.
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| ☕️ UTLC Coffeehouse | Co-hosted by the Biology Department in Eberhart Building, Room 310
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Coffeehouses are a space to gather with colleagues. No set agenda, just coffee (or tea), snacks, and great conversation.
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This segment features instructors who exemplify excellence and innovation in teaching at UNCG.
We are pleased to announce our next nominee, Dr. Jesse Ford!
Click the image below to read the nominee's Words of Wisdom.
To nominate yourself or a colleague, please complete the form at go.uncg.edu/minerva-mentions.
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