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September 2021 e-LIS Newslettere-Learning and Instructional Support provides and develops tools and resources to enhance the online learning experience. Our monthly newsletter offers tech tips, helpful information and links to relevant articles. We are here for YOU!
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| e-LIS launches first Annual Report
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Annual Report highlights e-LIS' successful yearThe e-Learning and Instructional Support (e-LIS) department had a record breaking year supporting the Oakland University campus going online during the pandemic. In addition to working with the deans to launch 6 new online programs in 2021, bringing the total up to 33 online programs, we received funding from the Provost's Office to spearhead the creation of a central Academic Compliance Committee. The Provost Office's support also allowed e-LIS to expand instructional design services to assist in the design of quality online program courses. The ID and support staff created new support material, including 16 help videos and offered 72 workshops to support online learning. We implemented many new pieces of software. While all of this work was going on, e-LIS has its busiest year to date with nearly seven times the traditional amount of online courses and 54 percent of faculty teaching online and 74 percent of students taking at least one online class. e-LIS successfully answered more than three times the average number of support requests at 6,532. To read more about the accomplishments and see the highlights of the last year in e-LIS, see our Year in a Glance or read our complete Annual Report.
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XBrowserSync integrates data across browsers
Members of our stafff love the free, open-source browser syncing tool, XBrowserSync. The application syncs bookmarks across multiple browsers like Google, Firefox and Edge, "securly, anonymously and free." XbrowerSync is available an extension for web browsers or as a mobile app. If you use multiple browsers on a regular basis, this tool can help keep you organized and consistent throughout your browsing experience, all without storing your private information. To get more information, visit the xBrowserSync website.
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Update brings new tools to Moodle
A Moodle update this summer brought about several new features that can be beneficial to students and faculty. Two of them are Activity Completion and Stealth Mode, which give instructors more options when it comes to creating a comprehensive and robust online learning environment for their students. To read more about these new Moodle tools, read the blog post.
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Instructional Designers facilitate Moodle course reviews
Kanako Taku, professor in the Department of Psychology, expected to have a long to-do list after e-Learning and Instructional Support’s (e-LIS) Instructional Designer Jess Tess-Navarro reviewed her online statistics course. However, after meeting with Tess-Navarro, Taku got help reformatting her class, learned about tools she could use to enhance her Moodle course, gained confidence in her ability to use Moodle and, most importantly, she didn’t have to do it alone as Tess-Navarro was there to walk through the process and make change with her. To read more about her experience with the Instructional Design team, read the blog post.
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Have a suggestion?
If you have an idea for an Online Learning blog topic, email Rebecca Thomas at rwthomas@oakland.edu.
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| Professional Development Opportunities
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New workshop launches in November - Sign up now
The e-LIS Instructional Design team launches Moodle Advanced: Scenario-Based Learning Activities, a new workshop scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 2 from 1:30-2:30. Scenario-based learning (SBL) uses interactive scenarios to support active learning strategies, such as problem-based or case-based learning. It normally involves students working their way through a storyline, based around a complex problem they are required to solve. This session will review the difference between basic and branching scenarios, the design elements required for either type, provide steps for creating a storyboard, tips for getting started, examples, resources, and more! Come learn how to give students a unique way to apply learning concepts and gain insight from the consequences of their choices and decisions. Sign up now to reserve your seat.
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Lunch Bytes are back
Lunch Bytes are returning this fall with plenty of Teaching with Technology topics and discussions.
Join e-LIS for lunch and an informal discussion about using technology in your online or partially online course. Topics may include effectively using technology in your teaching, often faculty may be invited to share interesting techniques they are using in their courses. There will also be time for you to ask questions. All sessions will be held online from noon- 1 p.m. Visit the links below to sign up.
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QOTCC Part 1 has limited seats available
e-LIS offers two Quality Online Teaching Certification Courses (QOTCC), Part 1 and Part 2. The upcoming fall cohorts begin soon. While Part 2 is full, the Part 1 has several seats still available. Enroll by Monday, Sept. 27 to take part this fall. The four-week, fully online courses focus on how to teach effectively in the online environment.
Part 1 is facilitated asynchronously with no specific meeting times. Assignments are due either mid or end-of-week. Participants have the flexibility to access course content on their own time with these due dates in mind.
Topics of Part 1 include - Learn about online course design, pedagogy, best practices, QA, accessibility and much more. Upon successful completion of QOTCC part 1 a $700 stipend is awarded.
What are past participants saying about QOTCC
From Florence Dallo, professor and director of Wellness and Health Promotion
"The QOTCC course provided me with crucial information about developing, implementing and evaluating an online course. I know I would not have been so thorough with my online course development if I had not had any direction. I am glad I took it because I learned a lot from my peers. I will now provide more detail in my online courses."
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Good luck to Eric Merrill, Learning Management System Programmer!
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After 15 years of exceptional work supporting the Moodle LMS environment, Eric Merrill has accepted a new position as Director of Development for Moodle U.S. Those who had the opportunity to work with Eric quickly came to appreciate not only the depth of his knowledge, but also his capacity for friendly collaboration in the pursuit of solutions to complex problems. We are so grateful to Eric for all of his hard work, including many late nights and long hours, in making our Moodle environment great. We wish him all the best in his new position, and look forward to the many great enhancements he and his team will to bring to Moodle in the coming years. Good luck, Eric!
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