Canvas by Instructure is the new Learning Management System at WCU

by | Sep 22, 2020 | Canvas

After an extensive process of review by faculty, students, and staff, Canvas by Instructure has been chosen as our next Learning Management System (LMS). Canvas provides a superior user experience for faculty, staff, and students, as well as mobile capabilities and simplicity of integration and management that competitors, including Blackboard’s newest product Ultra, are unable to match. Canvas is a twenty-first century learning environment that will support WCU’s needs for the next 5-10 years for online, hybrid/blended, and face-to-face instruction.

The implementation team, in consultation with the LMS Committee, is working on a detailed migration plan to guide faculty and staff in their efforts to learn the new platform, adapt their courses and workshops to the Canvas structure and workflow, and take advantage of the superior user experience to optimize the learning environment for students.

During the 2021 spring semester, Western Carolina will be working through a migration and implementation process that will move the university from Blackboard Learn to the Canvas Learning Management System. Courses will remain in Blackboard for Spring 2021, but all courses that begin after the conclusion of the spring semester will be delivered in Canvas.

Blackboard Learn will be turned off on June 30, 2021. In the coming weeks, we will provide instructions for exporting Blackboard courses for retention.

More information is coming soon, so watch your email box for the Provost’s newsletter, subscribe to the CFC content (Faculty News) in Inside WCU, look for the LMS migration section in the IT Weekly email from the CIO, and feel free to check our information page at our new Canvas website!

Innovation Fridays

by | Sep 21, 2020 | Blog, Research

Innovation Fridays serve to enhance the climate of innovation and research at WCU by creating opportunities for innovation, connection, and collaboration across campus. So that we don’t let Covid-19 deter our collegiality and innovative mindsets, we have a couple of options for continuing the spirit of Innovation Friday this year.

  1. Consider joining us for Innovation Friday at Innovation Station in Dillsboro on the following dates for fall term:  October 9, November 13.  Spring term Innovation Friday dates are February 12 and March 12.  To keep us safe, we are asking for folks to RSVP and limiting attendance to 10.  Masks and social distancing are required. To RSVP for the October 9,  at 4 pm click here.  The first round of drinks is sponsored.
  2. Join our Teams Innovation Friday (or any other day) Group and join in for asynchronous collegiality, brainstorming, informal mentoring, interdisciplinary connections, and support for innovation in research and teaching.   Join the Team Here.
  3. Let us know your desire and ideas for synchronous remote Innovation Friday (or any other day)  via Zoom or other synchronous or asynchronous events by completing this very brief form.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Lisa Bloom

Professional Development Grant: Upcoming Deadline

by | Sep 8, 2020 | Blog, Teaching and Learning

Established in 2012, this grant supports the strategic mission of WCU by providing funds for faculty and instructional staff to pursue professional development opportunities in areas such as teaching and learning, scholarship, leadership, certification, accreditation, assessment, and other related areas. This program replaces and expands upon two former grant programs: Microgrants and Provost Instructional Improvement Grants. Maximum Award: $1,000.

Deadlines for 2020-2021 Submission are September 25, 2020 / January 29, 2021 / March 26, 2021

View the application and guidelines

CFC Open Training Sessions

by | Aug 3, 2020 | Blog, Educational Development, Educational Technology, Help Your Students, Online Learning, Panopto, Pedagogy

In order to practice social distancing and safety precautions, the CFC will be operating by appointment only. No walk-in hours will be available until further notice.

We are here to partner with you, help answer your questions and find solutions that will work in this rapidly changing environment.

Join an open session

Every Tuesday, Thursday & Friday at 11:00am

Bring all your LMS, educational technology, pedagogy and course design questions.

 

Click Here to join the session

Authenticated WCU Zoom account will be required to join the session.

Visit zoom.wcu.edu to log in with WCU credentials, click “Join” and enter Meeting ID: 910 6773 8483

Interested in how to apply online teaching concepts or how to use the LMS or Panopto?

Each session provides a space for attendees to ask specific questions about their courses and interact with members of the CFC. Find out about Assessment, Discussion boards, using Zoom or other synchronus tools to interact with your students, as well as how to approach teaching online and flexible face-to-face changes. Review the video Playlist before attending a session.

Please contact the HelpDesk at 828.227.7487 or submit an IT Help Ticket for immediate course related requests.

The Fall Blend – Hybrid Course Design Workshops

by | Jun 21, 2020 | Blog, Faculty Development Workshop, Pedagogy

Coffee cup, latte with leaf design

It’s not too early to start working on your fall courses, particularly this year as we work within the requirements that the pandemic has imposed on us. Social Distancing will drastically reduce the number of students in your classrooms and labs requiring the need to rethink how you will teach. You may be moving totally online or using one of the suggested modalities in the Fall Instruction Plan from the Provost’s office. Without exception, you will not be teaching the way you taught last fall.

Start Early!  Don’t Wait! Sign up Now!

This three day online workshop offered by the Coulter Faculty Commons will guide you through a process using the goals and outcomes for your course to design learning experiences that work for both for you and the students. By using best practices in hybrid course design and facilitation, you will discover creative ways to engage your students online. You will also learn which activities and content can be put online for asynchronous access and prioritize what needs to happen in that very precious face-to-face or synchronous online time (Zoom). The goal of this workshop is to provide you with a streamlined process for converting your courses to a hybrid modality.

Each workshop will run from Tuesday through Thursday. We are offering the workshop three times this summer, starting this week.

For more information on the workshop and how to register, see The Fall Blend page on the CFC website, https://affiliate.wcu.edu/cfc/events/fallblend/.