Welcome to the College of IST Learning Design eNewsletter
Summer 2024
Accessibility
On Wednesday, April 24, 2024, the Department of Justice issued its final rule revising the regulation implementing title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). That ruling is the adoption of WCAG 2.1 AA standards. The University has until April 24, 2026 to become compliant. This includes any and all course content in Canvas.
Our office is working on creating a checklist/best practices for current/established courses, as well as courses that will be developed or will undergo a revision in the future. WebAim’s WCAG 2 Checklist is a simplified and easy to understand resource. Be sure to select “2.1” and “AA”.
List of Learning Designers
Are you teaching a World Campus course this summer? Not sure who can be helping you from the Office of Learning Design? Look no further! This list shows the lead and back-up designers for all World Campus courses.
Generative AI Faculty Guides
Summer is great time to revise your course materials and Generative AI can help! Commonwealth Campus Teaching Support created these faculty guides for this purpose. Check them out today!
Upcoming Training and Events
There are many opportunities to enhance your teaching by learning something new. See the opportunities below:
- Canvas: An Introduction to Mastery Paths
- Tuesday, May 7, 1-2:30pm via Zoom
- Learn how to use Mastery Paths to create differentiated learning experiences in your Canvas course.
- Canvas: Optimizing Courses for Accessibility
- Wednesday, May 22, 10:30am-noon via Zoom
- An overview of best practices to make your Canvas courses accessible for all users.
- Artificially Altered: Addressing Document Falsification in Higher Education
- Friday, May 31, 1-2pm in Foster Auditorium, 102 Paterno Library, University Park & via Zoom
- The University Academic Integrity Leadership Community (UAILC) invites you to a panel discussion of document falsification in the era of artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence policies largely focus on cheating and plagiarism. Generative technologies have also made it faster and simpler to forge accommodation letters or craft fake messages from health professionals or university personnel, making it even more challenging for instructors to respond to such violations.
- Canvas: Engaging Your Students Using VoiceThread
- Monday, June 10, 10:30am-noon via Zoom
- Learn how to add VoiceThread to your Canvas courses and use it to enhance your students’ experience.
- Teaching with Video at Penn State: Kaltura, VoiceThread, and Zoom
- Tuesday, June 11, 1-2:30pm via Zoom
- Canvas: An Introduction
- Monday, August 5, 9:30-11:00am via Zoom
- A basic overview with best practices and resources for using Canvas to facilitate teaching and learning.
- Canvas: Building Content in your Canvas Course
- Monday, August 12, 10:00-11:30am via Zoom
- Learn how to create and add content to your Canvas course.
- Canvas: Organizing Content in your Canvas Course
- Wednesday, August 14, 10-11:00am via Zoom
- Learn how to organize your content and design your course to enhance your students’ learning experience.
- Canvas: Creating New Quizzes
- Tuesday, August 20, 10:30am-noon via Zoom
- Learn how to create and manage New Quizzes in Canvas.
- Canvas: Gradebook Features
- Wednesday, August 21, 9:30-11:00am via Zoom
- An overview demonstration of the Canvas gradebook.
World Campus Online Faculty Development Sessions
If you are teaching a World Campus course, check these out:
- OL 2000: Essentials of On`line Teaching, June 3 – July 8
- OL 2150: Canvas Hands On, August 5 – Sep 2
- OL 2200: Assessment of Online Learners, June 3 – July 1
- OL 2300: Teamwork in Online Teaching and Learning, June 3 – July 1
- OL 3000: Supporting Accommodations for Online Learners, 60 days, Start anytime
- OL 3200: Serving Military-Connected Students, 60 days, Start anytime
Request World Campus Course Templates
If you are teaching a Resident Instruction (RI) version of a College of IST course, you can request a copy of the World Campus (WC) course template for that course. Many of the courses that run in residence have an online WC version, and while the format is different from the RI section, you may find useful elements that you can utilize in your course. You can also request the RI shell or just the Academic Integrity module. Make sure that you also contact the course committee chair for info about the course.
Learning Design Support
The Learning Design team is available to help you! Email the Learning Design team with specific questions or to schedule a consultation at istlearningdesign@psu.edu and one of the team members will get back to you as soon as possible.
IST Teaching Site
The IST Teaching https://teaching.ist.psu.edu/ site has information that you will find useful.
Ideas below:
Penn State IT Learning and Development is offering Canvas training sessions during the summer semester to help you prepare for Fall! Whether you’re new to Canvas or just interested in newer features like New Quizzes and Mastery Paths, you will find training opportunities to help you get the most out of Canvas in your courses. Follow the session links to sign up and learn more about the training in the Penn State LRN (Learning Resource Network).
All sessions will be offered via Zoom, enabling faculty and staff to participate from anywhere. If a session is full, you may still request to attend. You will be placed on a waitlist and contacted if space becomes available.
Canvas: Creating New Quizzes
Wednesday, May 1, from 1:00 to 2:30pm
Learn how to create and manage New Quizzes in Canvas.
Canvas: An Introduction to Mastery Paths
Tuesday, May 7, from 1:00 to 2:30pm
Learn how to use Mastery Paths to create differentiated learning experiences in your Canvas course.
Canvas: Optimizing Courses for Accessibility
Wednesday, May 22, from 10:30am to 12:00pm
An overview of best practices to make your Canvas courses accessible for all users.
Canvas: Engaging Your Students Using VoiceThread
Monday, June 10, from 10:30am to 12:00pm
Learn how to add VoiceThread to your Canvas courses and use it to enhance your students’ experience.
Canvas: An Introduction
Monday, August 5, from 9:30 to 11:00am
A basic overview with best practices and resources for using Canvas to facilitate teaching and learning.
Canvas: Building Content in your Canvas Course
Monday, August 12, from 10:00 to 11:30am
Learn how to create and add content to your Canvas course.
Canvas: Organizing Content in your Canvas Course
Wednesday, August 14, from 10:00 to 11:00am
Learn how to organize your content and design your course to enhance your students’ learning experience.
Canvas: Creating New Quizzes
Tuesday, August 20, from 10:30am to 12:00pm
Learn how to create and manage New Quizzes in Canvas.
Canvas: Gradebook Features
Wednesday, August 21, from 9:30 to 11:00am
An overview demonstration of the Canvas gradebook.
For training on other Penn State technology services, such as SIMBA, Microsoft 365, Qualtrics, and video tools like Kaltura, Zoom, and VoiceThread, check out the full ITLD training schedule.
PASTED WITH LINKS BELOW
Penn State IT Learning and Development is offering Canvas training sessions during the summer semester to help you prepare for Fall! Whether you’re new to Canvas or just interested in newer features like New Quizzes and Mastery Paths, you will find training opportunities to help you get the most out of Canvas in your courses. Follow the session links to sign up and learn more about the training in the Penn State LRN (Learning Resource Network).
All sessions will be offered via Zoom, enabling faculty and staff to participate from anywhere. If a session is full, you may still request to attend. You will be placed on a waitlist and contacted if space becomes available.
Wednesday, May 1, from 1:00 to 2:30pm
Learn how to create and manage New Quizzes in Canvas.
Canvas: An Introduction to Mastery Paths
Tuesday, May 7, from 1:00 to 2:30pm
Learn how to use Mastery Paths to create differentiated learning experiences in your Canvas course.
Canvas: Optimizing Courses for Accessibility
Wednesday, May 22, from 10:30am to 12:00pm
An overview of best practices to make your Canvas courses accessible for all users.
Canvas: Engaging Your Students Using VoiceThread
Monday, June 10, from 10:30am to 12:00pm
Learn how to add VoiceThread to your Canvas courses and use it to enhance your students’ experience.
Monday, August 5, from 9:30 to 11:00am
A basic overview with best practices and resources for using Canvas to facilitate teaching and learning.
Canvas: Building Content in your Canvas Course
Monday, August 12, from 10:00 to 11:30am
Learn how to create and add content to your Canvas course.
Canvas: Organizing Content in your Canvas Course
Wednesday, August 14, from 10:00 to 11:00am
Learn how to organize your content and design your course to enhance your students’ learning experience.
Tuesday, August 20, from 10:30am to 12:00pm
Learn how to create and manage New Quizzes in Canvas.
Wednesday, August 21, from 9:30 to 11:00am
An overview demonstration of the Canvas gradebook.
For training on other Penn State technology services, such as SIMBA, Microsoft 365, Qualtrics, and video tools like Kaltura, Zoom, and VoiceThread, check out the full ITLD training schedule.