Programs & Events

Fall 2023

Semester Wrap Up 
November 28, 2023

As the semester wraps up, faculty start to think about grading, making changes for future courses, and preparing for the summer. It is easy to become overwhelmed during this time of year. In this session, we will review a checklist of items to complete to help you close out your current course and prepare for the next semester.      

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HTML Templates and Creator+
November 28, 2023

We will also demonstrate the use of HTML Templates and Creator+ in iLearn. HTML templates give your course a clean and consistent look. Creator+ provides opportunities for faculty to create engaging experiences in minutes that appeal to the love of learning, improve comprehension, and achieve high engagement for instructors and learners. 

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Campus Pulse
November 21, 2023

During this session, we will present insights from data gathered through the Institutional Dashboard and our latest round of Small Group Instructional Diagnostics (SGIDs). We will also discuss common themes across campus that students identified as pertinent to their overall learning experience. 

View presentation 

"Decluttering" The Online Classroom: Making Course Design Work for Students
November 14, 2023

This session is designed to help educators optimize their online course environments. Participants will learn practical strategies to organize digital content, simplify navigation, and enhance user experience. The workshop emphasizes student-centered design principles to promote engagement and learning.  

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Engaging Students in Office Hours
November 7, 2023

Faculty-Student Interactions (FSI) are important to student success, and yet students report they don’t know how to engage with faculty beyond course time. Some faculty are reconceptualizing office hours as a way to increase FSI. Join us as we explore some recent trends in FSI and explore the merits of experimenting with office hours.  

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How To Prevent Your Students From Ghosting
October 31, 2023

It's that spooky time of year when some students begin to disengage. In this session, we will discuss ways for faculty to be proactive and prevent at-risk students from "ghosting" by having strong engagement and communication strategies in place for your courses. 

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Enhancing Your Online Courses With Yuja Media
October 24, 2023

Join us for a discussion and explore the benefits of embedding YuJa videos in your online courses to engage your students effectively. In this session, we will demonstrate how to add quizzes within your videos to assess comprehension and encourage active learning. We will also hear from faculty who have successfully integrated YuJa into their courses, gaining valuable insights and practical tips.  

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Bloom's & Maslow's
Mallory Matthews & Lacy Means
October 3, 2023

Enhance the educational experience by integrating Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and Bloom's Taxonomy. Discover how to create a supportive learning environment that addresses students' fundamental needs, while applying cognitive development principles from Bloom's Taxonomy to elevate critical thinking and enhance learning outcomes. Join us to enrich your instructional approach and inspire meaningful growth in your students. 

Personalized Learing - Data Driven Decisions
Mallory Matthews and Lacy Means
September 19, 2023 

Personalized learning is an approach to education that tailors instruction to students’ needs. In this session, we will discuss the importance of data-driven decisions and provide information about Small Group Instructional Diagnostics. SGID's are a simple and straightforward evaluation process that uses structured small group discussions among students to provide confidential feedback to an instructor, generally around the midpoint of a term. Join this session to learn some practical strategies for integrating data-driven decisions in your course. 

Course Mapping & Alignment
Heather Rippetoe and Lacy Means
September 12, 2023

Aligned courses ensure students’ knowledge and skills are measured according to established learning objectives. Courses are deemed "aligned" when instructors ensure that assessments, activities, and content closely match the course and module learning objectives. In this workshop, we will discuss the benefits of creating and reviewing both course-level and module-level learning objectives. We will also show examples of mapping at the daily, weekly, and semester levels for alignment in different disciplines.

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SMART/ABCD Goals
Heather Rippetoe and Mallory Matthews
September 5, 2023

Course learning objectives guide faculty in their course design and give students insight into the knowledge and skills they will be learning throughout the semester. Join us to discuss two ways to develop and evaluate course and module learning objectives: SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) and ABCD (Audience, Behavior, Condition, Degree).  

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Bloom's & Maslow's
Mallory Matthews & Lacy Means
August 29, 2023

Enhance the educational experience by integrating Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and Bloom's Taxonomy. Discover how to create a supportive learning environment that addresses students' fundamental needs, while applying cognitive development principles from Bloom's Taxonomy to elevate critical thinking and enhance learning outcomes. Join us to enrich your instructional approach and inspire meaningful growth in your students. 

View Presentation

ChatGPT
Taylor Chesson & Lacy Means
August 22, 2023

Watch our presentation "ChatGPT: Making AI Work for You" to discover some ideas and tips for using generative AI in education. Learn how to integrate AI technology into your classroom, explore innovative ways to leverage AI for assessments, and gain practical strategies to prevent academic misconduct.   

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Summer 2023

Semester Wrap-Up & Creator+ Demo
CITL Designers
July 25, 2023

Summer Series

The CITL will kick off the Summer Series on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, as we begin reading Powerful Teaching: Unleash the Science of Learning by Dr. Pooja Agarwhal and Patrice Bain. We will meet virtually on Tuesdays, wrapping up the series on August 8, 2023. Together, we will learn and discuss how to implement retrieval practice, spacing, interleaving, and feedback-driven metacognition into courses. Reading is NOT required to join in on the conversation, and all chapters are available online though the TN Tech library. If you need any assistance with online access to materials, please contact the CITL. Registration and more information available on the upcoming events page. 

Spring 2023

Course Design: Looks DO Matter
Mallory Matthews & Taylor Chesson
May 30, 2023

Course design impacts the overall effectiveness and appeal of a class. Looks and content increase student interest and motivation by making the course more engaging. Organization reduces cognitive load, which can help students understand the material more effectively. In this session, we will share engagement and organizational strategies for course design best practices according to the OLC Rubric.  

Spring 2023 Semester Wrap-Up and Gradebook 
CITL Designers
 April 26, 2023

As the semester wraps up, faculty start to think about grading, making changes for future courses, and preparing for the summer. It is easy to become overwhelmed during this time of year. In this session, we will review a checklist of items to complete to help you close out your current course and prepare for the next semester.    

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Engaging Adult Learners with Universal Design for Learning
Heather Rippetoe 
April 18, 2023

What is andragogy, and how does it differ from pedagogy? What design principles can we use to reach both traditional (18-24) and nontraditional-aged (24+) students in our courses? This workshop will explore recent research on how to engage adult learners and review the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). 

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Campus Pulse
Heather Rippetoe and Taylor Chesson
April 11, 2023

During this session, faculty from three different schools will join instructional designers to discuss insights from our latest round of Small Group Instructional Diagnostics (SGIDs).  Join us as Drs. Rachel Donegan, Carla Hurt, Sally Pardue and Andy Pardue reflect on the SGID process and how they use the results in their teaching. We will discuss common themes across campus that students identified as pertinent to their overall learning experience.  

Personalized Learning
Mallory Matthews & Lacy Means
April 4, 2023

Personalized learning is an approach to education that tailors instruction to students’ unique strengths, needs, and interests. In this session, we will discuss student-centered strategies for learning objectives, goal setting, ownership, and reflection opportunities. 

Insights Dashboard and Analytics Part 2
Lauren Neal and Dr. Kelvin Norman
March 28, 2023

Following the Course Analytics Part 1 workshop, we will share information about the new Insights Portal Dashboards implemented in December of 2022. The dashboards are a collection of reporting visualizations that allow you to dig deeper into the engagement or assessment quality in your courses. These dashboards compile the data from courses into a graphical representation that allows you to review engagement metrics, identify individuals or groups who are succeeding or at-risk, and ascertain the quality of your quizzes and question reliability.  

Insights Dashboard and Analytics Part 1
Lauren Neal and Dr. Kelvin Norman
March 21, 2023

Course analytics can help provide insight into the effectiveness of course elements, as well as the level of engagement for students. The analytics provided in iLearn allow instructors to monitor class progress, content statistics, quiz statistics, and more. During this session we will cover how to access the different course analytics for each tool and how to use the information collected to help improve course design and student engagement. 

Best Practices Across Course Modalities
Taylor Chesson, Mallory Matthews, Heather Rippetoe, and Lacy Means
 March 7, 2023

Are you familiar with the course delivery methods available at Tennessee Tech? Join the instructional designers as they review the three course modalities: Tech-Direct (Online), Tech-Flex (Hybrid), and Tech-Enhanced (On-Ground). Designers will discuss overall best practices for communication, engagement, assessment, and content. By following these suggestions, instructors can create courses that are effective in promoting student learning and success.

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AI in Academics: A Paradigm Shift In Pedagogy
Dr. Jason Beach
February 28, 2023

"AI in Academics: A Paradigm Shift in Pedagogy" is a thought-provoking session that will explore the impact of Artificial Intelligence on education and the way it is transforming traditional teaching methods. This session will delve into the potential of AI in enhancing the learning experience for students and how it can be leveraged to personalize education. We will also discuss the challenges and ethical considerations associated with implementing AI in the classroom. This session will provide valuable insights for faculty and administrators who are interested in exploring new and innovative ways to improve education through AI.

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How to Use Retrieval Practice to Improve Learning 
Ms. Taylor Chesson 
February 21, 2023 

Retrieval Practice is a no-stakes learning strategy with minimal planning required where students pull information out of their brains. Memory is strengthened and forgetting is less likely to occur the more a learner retrieves rather than receives information. In this interactive session, we will discuss ways to implement retrieval practice strategies and how “struggling” can improve learning.  

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Emotions in Teaching & Learning - Intrinsic Motivation 
Ms. Heather Rippetoe & Ms. Mallory Matthews 
February 14, 2023 

How do emotions show up in teaching and learning? In this workshop, we’ll explore the affective domain and its connection to learning. We’ll also hear from TN Tech faculty about how emotions play a role in their teaching. 

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"Flipping" Traditional Approaches to Teaching
Mallory Matthews & Taylor Chesson
Feb. 7, 2023

In this session we discussed "flipping" the traditional approaches to teaching while offering some examples of ways to incorporate effective strategies. Instructors can use various tools such as Flip or Video Note to create assignments and assessments that involve video responses, such as having students record themselves explaining a concept or giving a presentation. These platforms are popularly used for the Flipped Classroom pedological model of teaching, where students can engage with the content prior to class so they can maximize opportunities of learning during class. Join us for this session as we "Flip" out over these strategies! 

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Rubrics
Lauren Neal & Heather Rippetoe
Jan. 31. 2023

Rubrics are a best practice for communicating criteria and achievement levels of assignments to students in both online and on-ground courses. Well-developed rubrics show alignment between assignment criteria and overall module/unit and course learning objectives. Before the assignment, rubrics help students understand the connections between the “what” and “why” of learning. After the assignment, rubrics also help instructors provide quicker, more consistent feedback to students, often helping answer a common student question: why did I receive the grade I received? In this session, participants will hear from Tennessee Tech faculty who utilize rubrics and see examples of digital rubrics in iLearn.  

 View Presentation 

iLearn Features You Might Not Know Exist
Dr. Kelvin Norman & Ms. Lauren Neal
Jan. 24, 2023

iLearn is loaded with many practical timesaving features that instructors might not be aware of.  In this session, Dr. Kelvin Norman and Lauren Neal will elaborate on how to locate and use these  hidden gems so that instructors can get the most out of their iLearn experience.  Included in this list of top features are copying assignments within a course, Quick Eval, restoring assessments, setting default availability dates, and more. 

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Course Design: Looks DO Matter 
Taylor Chesson & Mallory Matthews
January 17, 2023

Course design impacts the overall effectiveness and appeal of a class. Looks and content increase student interest and motivation by making the course more engaging. Organization reduces cognitive load, which can help students understand the material more effectively. In this session, we will share engagement and organizational strategies for course design best practices according to the OLC Rubric.   

View presentation 

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Fall 2022

iLearn Semester Wrap-Up
Dr. Kelvin Norman & Lauren Neal
November 29, 2022

The end of the semester is the time to prepare iLearn courses for copying components to the next semester’s courses. This process involves updating Master iLearn courses, as well as cleaning up existing semester courses. In this session, we will discuss the exact procedures for adding, deleting, and modifying content topics, quizzes, assignments, discussions, and other iLearn components. The process of copying, exporting, and importing entire courses and between semesters is also explained in detail. Lastly, we will elaborate on the steps for selecting specific items to be copied as well as how to manage or offset start, end, and due dates.

Replay: Engagement Strategies
Heather Rippetoe & Taylor Chesson
November 22, 2022

In this session, we explore increasing attendance by designing for student interaction with the instructor, the content, and with one another. We will discuss including participation as a graded item, activities that encourage student motivation, and creating a welcoming classroom culture and environment. 

VIew presentation 

iLearn: Grading and the Gradebook 
Lauren Neal & Dr. Kelvin Norman
November 15, 2022

In this training session, Dr. Kelvin Norman and Lauren Neal will introduce some of the more advanced features of the ilearn Grades tool, which allows instructors to create an online course gradebook. We will discuss some common issues and how to identify them.  We will also demonstrate some additional less-used features to untap the potential of the course gradebook. Some of the topics discussed will include setting up grade schemes, using bonus items, how to drop the lowest grades, calculate a mid-term grade, allow exemptions, and how to switch between a weighted and a points-based grading system. 

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Creating Reports in Qualtrics
Dr. Allen Mathende
November 8, 2022

During this session, Dr. Mathende discusses the different types of   reports available in Qualtrics, how to create them, and what to look for  when  preparing a report. 

View presentation 

Campus Pulse
Heather Rippetoe & Taylor Chesson 
November 1, 2022

During this session, we will present insights from data gathered through the Institutional Dashboard, student polls, and our latest round of Small Group Instructional Diagnostics (SGIDs). We will also discuss common themes across campus that students identified as pertinent to their overall learning experience. 

View Presentation 

How to Prevent Students From Ghosting
Mallory Matthews & Taylor Chesson
October 25, 2022 

It's that spooky time of year when some students begin to disengage. In this session, we will discuss ways for faculty to be proactive and prevent at-risk students from "ghosting" by having strong engagement and communication strategies in place for your courses. 

View Presentation

Let's Talk About Chegg
Dr. Jason Beach & Mallory Matthews
October 18, 2022 

Chegg provides digital and physical textbook rentals, but did you know it also provides online tutoring and other student services?  In this session, the CITL will discuss using Chegg with Academic Integrity. We will talk about practical ways that Chegg can be beneficial to both students and instructors while upholding educational standards. 

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Cognitive Load (Replay)
Tayor Chesson & Heather Rippetoe
October 4, 2022

Cognitive load relates to the amount of information that working memory can hold at one time. Instruction methods should avoid overwhelming students’ mental capacities and focus more on retention practices. In this session, we will discuss memory, retrieval, and overload.  

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Group Work Faculty Panel
Heather Rippetoe
September 27, 2022

Group activities can support social, teaching, and cognitive presences in both on-campus and online learning environments. In this session, a panel of Tennessee Tech faculty members will share their techniques for effectively using group work in their courses. The panel and CITL staff will be available for questions.  

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Gathering Student Feedback
Taylor Chesson
September 20, 2022

After learning about the importance of student feedback on September 13th, in this session, we are turning the tables to see how learners can provide feedback to instructors. We will consider the benefits of receiving feedback from students and demonstrate how Small Group Instructional Diagnostics (SGIDs) can assist in opening communication in the classroom.  

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Optimizing Instructor Feedback  
Heather Rippetoe 
September 13, 2022

In this session we will explore the concepts “feedback literacy” and “feedforward.” We will also discuss structuring assignments in D2L/iLearn that allow feedback by using audio and video tools to improve the feedback experience for both students and instructors. 

View presentation

iLearn Quiz Tool

The iLearn Quiz Tool has a new look and functionality that is currently an opt-in or opt-out feature for instructors. Known as the New Quiz Experience, it is simpler to navigate as the design includes drop-down menus and settings all on one page. This is in contrast to the traditional design, which includes settings tabs on separate pages. In this training session, Ms. Lauren Neal and Dr. Kelvin Norman will compare and contrast the differences between the traditional and new quiz tool layouts.

Poll Everywhere
Taylor Chesson
August 30, 2022 

Poll Everywhere is an instructional technology tool that allows you to conduct formative assessments, foster student engagement through live polling, and increase the productivity of class discussions by providing an inclusive and easy-to-use discussion platform. In this session, we discuss how to increase student engagement in your classroom through using Poll Everywhere, helpful topics to get started, and more.  

View Presentation 

Cognitive Load 
Taylor Chesson & Heather Rippetoe 
 August 23, 2022

Cognitive load relates to the amount of information that working memory can hold at one time. Instruction methods should avoid overwhelming students’ mental capacities and focus more on retention practices. In this session, we will discuss memory, retrieval, and overload. 

View presentation 

Summer 2022

Portfolio Assignments
Heather Rippetoe
August 9, 2022

Portfolios help students participate in the process of learning while also creating a product that can be assessed as part of a course or shared with potential employers. Join us for this session on how to implement portfolio assignments in your course. 

View Session Recording 

Student Centered Learning
Taylor Chesson
August 2, 2022 

Student Centered Learning (SCL) is a teaching method broadly defined as a shift in the focus of instruction from the teacher to the student. In this interactive session, we will discuss how to implement student-centered learning in your courses and address both benefits and challenges of SCL. 

View Session Recording      View Presentation 

iLearn: Semester Wrap-Up
Dr. Kelvin Norman & Lauren Neal
July 26, 2022

The end of the semester is the time to prepare iLearn courses for copying components to the next semester’s courses. This process involves updating Master iLearn courses as well as cleaning up existing semester courses. In this session, Kelvin discusses the exact procedures for adding, deleting, and modifying content topics, quizzes, assignments, discussions, and other iLearn components. The process of copying, exporting, and importing entire courses and between semesters is also explained in detail. Lastly, Kelvin also elaborates on the steps for selecting specific items to be copied as well as how to manage or offset start, end, and due dates. 

View Session Recording 

Designing Assessment
Heather Rippetoe & Taylor Chesson
July 19, 2022

Assessments are a tool designed to help measure student mastery of course outcomes and objectives. In this workshop, we will review the types of assessments as well as the purpose and reasoning behind implementing effective assessments in your courses. We will walk through the importance of both formative and summative assessments as well as the tools available for each one. 

View Session Recording  View presentation 

Engagement Strategies
Heather Rippetoe & Taylor Chesson
July 12, 2022 

In this session, we explore increasing attendance by designing for student interaction with the instructor, the content, and with one another. We will discuss including participation as a graded item, activities that encourage student motivation, and creating a welcoming classroom culture and environment. 

View Session Recording  View Presentation 

Critical Thinking Replay
Taylor Chesson 
July 5, 2022

In this session, Taylor discusses the importance of critical thinking as it prepares students for a lifetime of thinking and learning independently. She covers ways to implement critical thinking exercises in the classroom, knowing what you know (metacognition), in-context learning, and inductive / deductive reasoning. 

View Session Recording View Presentation 

Communication
Taylor Chesson
June 28, 2022

In this session, we focus on the skill of communication. Communication is a critical   component to any course and essential for students to both learn and succeed. During this  session, we look at ways to incorporate communication in a variety of forms from student- to-student and student-to-instructor.  

View Session Recording View Presentation 

Collaboration
Heather Rippetoe 
June 21, 2022

In this session, we will discuss technology tools for collaboration and why it is a crucial 21st century skill. Listen and learn from faculty and students on the best methods for collaboration in your in-person, hybrid, and online courses.  

View Session Recording View Presentation 

Creativity
Heather Rippetoe
June 14, 2022

In this session, we discuss the importance of creativity as it creates opportunities for student  engagement and student success beyond the classroom. We discuss different methods for  incorporating creativity into your course, helpful technologies, and best practices.  

View Session Recording  View Presentation 

Critical Thinking
Taylor Chesson
June 7, 2022

In this session, Taylor discusses the importance of critical thinking as it prepares students for a lifetime of thinking and learning independently. She covers ways to implement critical thinking exercises in the classroom, knowing what you know (metacognition), in-context learning, and inductive / deductive reasoning. 

View Session Recording View Presentation 

Asynchronous Online Best Practices (Replay)
Taylor Chesson
May 31, 2022

Based on the Tech-Direct course modality, Taylor Chesson presents how to implement asynchronous best practices including release conditions, chunking information, and active participation in an online course. 

View Session Recording View Presentation

2022 CITL Summer Intensive
CITL Staff
May 16 & 17, 2022

The CITL Summer Intensive is a two-day workshop experience for all Tennessee Tech faculty. View session recordings to learn the principles of good course design for all course modalities, then apply what you’ve learned to improve your course.

View Session Recordings  

Spring 2022

Qualtrics Insights Platform
Dr. Allen Mathende
May 10, 2022

During this session, Dr. Mathende covers the how to's of Qualtrics. He provides an overview of creating surveys, adding collaborators, distributing, analyzing the data, and more. 

View Session Recording 

iLearn: Semester Wrap-Up 
Dr. Kelvin Norman & Lauren Neal
April 26, 2022

The end of the semester is the time to prepare iLearn courses for copying components to the next semester’s courses. This process involves updating Master iLearn courses as well as cleaning up existing semester courses. In this session, Kelvin discusses the exact procedures for adding, deleting, and modifying content topics, quizzes, assignments, discussions, and other iLearn components. The process of copying, exporting, and importing entire courses and between semesters is also explained in detail. Lastly, Kelvin also elaborates on the steps for selecting specific items to be copied as well as how to manage or offset start, end, and due dates. 

View Session Recording 

Asynchonous Online Best Practices
Taylor Chesson
April 19, 2022

Based on the Tech-Direct course modality, Taylor Chesson will present how to implement asynchronous best practices including release conditions, chunking information, and active participation in an online course. 

View Session Recording View Presentation

Mathematics in Online Environments
Taylor Chesson
April 12, 2022

During this session, Taylor Chesson will provide an overview of how to add different types of equations to iLearn quizzes as well as using LaTeX in assessments and assignments. 

View Session Recording View PowerPoint

Active Learning & Flipped Classroom
Taylor Chesson 
April 5, 2022

In this interactive session, Taylor Chesson covers strategies, best practices, and techniques designed to help you implement active learning and flipped classroom methods in your courses.  

View Session Recording View Presentation

Qualtrics
Dr. Allen Mathende
March 29, 2022

During this session, Dr. Mathende covers the how to's of Qualtrics. He provides an overview of creating surveys, adding collaborators, distributing, analyzing the data, and more. 

View Session Recording

Meet & Greet
Heather Rippetoe & Taylor Chesson
March 21, 2022

Join the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning for a meet and greet time with our new Instructional Design Team members, Ms. Heather Rippetoe and Mrs. Taylor Chesson. Learn about what an instructional designer is and how our team can assist you this semester. 

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iLearn Quizzes Part 2
Lauren Neal
March 8, 2022

Part 2 of the iLearn Quizzes series covers topics concerning the grading and management of quizzes once they have been taken. Issues that may occur and how to fix them, such as incorrect answers selected for the questions, manually grading, resetting attempts, and more.

View Session Recording

iLearn Quizzes Part 1
Dr. Kelvin Norman
March 1, 2022

In part 1 of this two part series, we take an in-depth look at the Quiz tool in iLearn. During this session, Kelvin discusses creating questions, using the Question Library, publisher test banks, and quiz setup. 

View Session Recording

Implementing Critical Thinking in Your Course
Dr. Kelvin Norman
February 22, 2022

During this session, we discuss the importance of critical thinking within your course. We discuss what questions to ask and assignments to implement to promote critical thinking and how to teach critical thinking skills such as discussing various points of view, asking questions, decision making, creativity, and connecting ideas. 

Session Materials: 

• Critical Thinking Rubric NEIU
• Critical Thinking Value Rubric
• Definitions of Critical Thinking
• UF-EMI Handout 
• UF-CTS Handout 

View Session Recording View Presentation

Assignment Tool & Turnitin
Lauren Neal
February 15, 2022

Watch this replay to see a review of the new assignment experience and settings available in iLearn, as well as the Turnitin integration for plagiarism and grammar checking. We also look at the options available for grading assignments through the iLearn grading experience and the Turnitin integration.

View Session Recording 

Poll Everywhere
Dr. Kelvin Norman & Lauren Neal
February 8, 2022

In this session, we discuss how to increase student engagement in your classroom through using Poll Everywhere. Poll Everywhere is an instructional technology tool that allows you to conduct formative assessments, foster student engagement through live polling, and increase the productivity of class discussions by providing an inclusive and easy-to-use discussion platform. We will discuss how to use Poll Everywhere, helpful topics to get started, and more. 

Book an Appointment to Learn More 

Technology Tools for Group Work
Dr. Kelvin Norman & Lauren Neal 
February 1, 2022

In this session, Lauren and Kelvin discussed the different technology tools available to help you implement group work effectively in your courses. They looked at group collaboration using Office 365 and other technology tools. As well as how to best use OneDrive, Online Doc sharing, Yammer, Kaizala, and other platforms when working within groups, as well as for your course as a whole.

View Session Recording 

Leveraging Microsoft Teams for Classes
Dr. Kelvin Norman & Lauren Neal
January 25, 2022

During this session, Lauren and Kelvin discussed the differences in Teams versus links, as well as how to use channels and files. They also walked through the process of setting up meeting links and integrating Teams within iLearn.

View Session Recording View Presentation

Communication Stragies
Dr. Jason Beach
January 11, 2022

Communication is an essential tool for classroom success.  Listen and learn from faculty and students on the best methods for communication in your courses. Whether teaching online, hybrid, or in person, you’ll gather valuable insights into how to engage and communicate effectively in your classrooms.  

View Session Recording

Adding & Organizing Content
Lauren Neal
January 6, 2022

The Content tool in iLearn is relatively simple and straight forward. In this workshop, we will cover the basics as well as demonstrate some other things you can do in the Content area. Want to know more about how students are using content? View the recording below. 

View Session Recording  View Presentation 

Managing Combined Courses
Dr. Kelvin Norman
January 5, 2022

Are you teaching multiple sections of a course? Have an undergraduate and graduate section that use similar material? Is there an Honors student in your general section? You can combine these courses into one section to provide one set of material as well as provide additional material for those who need it. In this session, we will show you how to use the tools in iLearn to help manage these types of courses.

View Session Recording 

Fall 2021 

iLearn: Semester Wrap-Up - Replay
Dr. Kelvin Norman
December 7, 2021

The end of the semester is the time to prepare iLearn courses for copying components to the next semester’s courses. This process involves updating Master iLearn courses as well as cleaning up existing semester courses. In this session, Kelvin discusses the exact procedures for adding, deleting, and modifying content topics, quizzes, assignments, discussions, and other iLearn components. The process of copying, exporting, and importing entire courses and between semesters is also explained in detail. Lastly, Kelvin also elaborates on the steps for selecting specific items to be copied as well as how to manage or offset start, end, and due dates. 

View Session Recording 

Group Work Part 2 - Replay
Lauren Neal & Dr. Kelvin Norman
November 30, 2021

Group work is a terrific way to induce collaboration and community in your classroom. In this session we will expand on Part 1 of this series and apply some of the knowledge gained in an activity. Come join us for an interactive session of group work. 

View Session Recording

Group Work Part 1 - Replay
Lauren Neal & Sydney Story
November 23, 2021

Student engagement and community are characteristics of a quality course regardless of the modality. While poorly structured group projects can lead to frustration and stifle motivation for students, well-organized projects can pull students together as a team allowing them to learn from each other by sharing perspectives, mindsets, cultural expectations, and ideas.  Join us for part 1 of this two part series and learn how to successfully plan and utilize group work in your courses.

VIEW SESSION RECORDING  View presentation

Video Projects Part 3
Dr. Jason Beach & Ms. Sydney Story
November 16, 2021

In the final session of the Video Projects series, Dr. Beach and Ms. Story will discuss options for implementing the video tips and tricks they have shared in part 1 and part 2, as well as provide information specific to student video projects. 

VIEW SESSION RECORDING 

Video Projects Part 2
Lauren Neal and Sydney Story
November 9, 2021

In part 2 of our Video Projects series we take a look at the how to element of creating videos. Beginning with the editing and various tools available, Ms. Neal and Ms. Story demonstrate how to use the various video editing software available, as well as provide guidance on which media options may work best for your course. 

VIEW SESSION RECORDING 

Video Projects Part 1
Dr. Jason Beach and Sydeny Story
November 2, 2021

Video Projects offer a unique way to engage students and provide alternative assessment and creative course design. This workshop series will share ideas on expanding the use of instructor videos, as well as ways to incorporate student videos in your class. The first part of our Video Projects series will cover the rationale and benefits of using video projects, along with highlighting sample video projects and ways to incorporate them in.  

VIEW SESSION RECORDING 

Group Work Part 2
Lauren Neal & Dr. Kelvin Norman
October 26, 2021 

Group work is a terrific way to induce collaboration and community in your classroom. In this session we will expand on Part 1 of this series and apply some of the knowledge gained in an activity. Come join us for an interactive session of group work. 

View Session Recording

Group Work Part 1
Lauren Neal & Sydney Story
October 19, 2021 

Student engagement and community are characteristics of a quality course regardless of the modality. While poorly structured group projects can lead to frustration and stifle motivation for students, well-organized projects can pull students together as a team allowing them to learn from each other by sharing perspectives, mindsets, cultural expectations, and ideas.  Join us for part 1 of this two part series and learn how to successfully plan and utilize group work in your courses. 

VIEW SESSION RECORDING    View Presentation 

Flipgrid: Discussion Alternative
Drs. Jason Beach & Kelvin Norman
October 5, 2021

Flipgrid is a free, web-based program that is used as an instructional tool for capturing brief video comments and reactions. Flipgrid allows students to consider other peoples’ perceptions and engage in content and feedback while developing their communication skills.

Here are a few benefits of using Flipgrid as a resource in the classroom: 

• Providing alternative assessment opportunities with verbal communication of learning. 
• Providing opportunities for students to be more effective digital citizens. 
• Providing a versatile instructional tool to be used as a one-time or ongoing strategy. 

View Session Recording 

Gamification / Awards Part 3
Kyle Cook & Dr. Kelvin Norman
September 28, 2021

During this session, participants walked through the award structures they had set up since the last session and tested their ideas with the members of the CITL staff. 

Gamification / Awards Part 2
Kyle Cook & Dr. Kelvin Nroman
September 21, 2021

In part 2 of the series, Kyle and Kelvin will focus on the “How To” related to awards, building on the foundation of the “why” from the previous session. They will demonstrate how to use videos to trigger awards and introduce release conditions, award templates, and more details on making award structures work in your course.

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Gamification / Awards Part 1
Kyle Cook & Dr. Kelvin Norman
September 14, 2021

Awards provide a way to lead students through your content to give order, engagement, and inspiration. In this session, Kyle and Kelvin will cover the broader picture of using awards to encourage students toward a goal. They will discuss different structures for utilizing awards in iLearn and applying these structures to a gamified scenario.

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Video in the Classroom and Accessibility
Kyle Cook & Lauren Neal
September 7, 2021 

With a larger footprint in the digital space, providing the most accessible materials to students has become even more critical. In this session, we will cover video accessibility basics and discuss what you should consider when designing your course. Join us to help ensure that you are creating the most accessible content possible.  

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YuJa Media Overview (Replay) 
YuJa Media Representative and CITL Staff
August 31, 2021 

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YuJa Media Overview (Replay)
YuJa Media Representative and CITL Staff
August 24, 2021

View Session Recording 

Summer 2021 

YuJa Media Tutorial
YuJa Media Representative
August 10, 2021

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YuJa Media Tutorial
YuJa Media Representative
August 3, 2021

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iLearn Semester Wrap-Up: Course Copy
Dr. Kelvin Norman
July 27, 2021

The end of the semester is the time to prepare iLearn courses for copying components to the next semester’s courses. This process involves updating Master iLearn courses as well as cleaning up existing semester courses. In this session, Kelvin discusses the exact procedures for adding, deleting, and modifying content topics, quizzes, assignments, discussions, and other iLearn components. The process of copying, exporting, and importing entire courses and between semesters is also explained in detail. Lastly, Kelvin also elaborates on the steps for selecting specific items to be copied as well as how to manage or offset start, end, and due dates. 

View Session Recording 

YuJa Media Tips & Tricks
CITL Staff
July 20, 2021

Now that we have begun the transition to YuJa Media, you can learn how YuJa provides courses with media tools to take them to the next level. In this session, members of the CITL staff will provide an overview of YuJa, general how-to instructions for re-linking your videos, and how to best use this type of technology in your courses. There will be time for questions and answers at the end of the session.

View Session Recording 

YuJa Media Video Creation
CITL Staff
July 6, 2021 

Now that we have begun the transition to YuJa Media, you can learn how YuJa provides courses with media tools to take them to the next level. In this session, members of the CITL staff will provide an overview of YuJa, general how-to instructions for re-linking your videos, and how to best use this type of technology in your courses. There will be time for questions and answers at the end of the session.

View Session Recording 

YuJa Media Information Session
Dr. Jason Beach and Dr. Kelvin Norman
June 22, 2021 

Now that we have begun the transition to YuJa Media, you can learn how YuJa provides courses with media tools to take them to the next level. In this session, Drs. Beach and Norman provide an overview of YuJa, including how YuJa compares to Kaltura, general how-to instructions, and how to best use this type of technology in your courses. 

View session recording

Course Design & Layout
Lauren Neal
June 15, 2021

The way a course is set up is critical to success. Designing the course with a structure that is easy to navigate, resources that are accessible, and consistency throughout is key. In this session, we will look at the tools available to help address the design and layout of your course.

View Session Recording 

Course Analytics in iLearn pt 2
Kyle Cook & Lauren Neal
June 8, 2021

During this session, Kyle and Lauren continued their discussion on the importance of course analytics, as well as demonstrated additional course analytic tools you can use to evaluate and improve your courses moving forward. 

View Session Recording 

Course Analytics in iLearn pt 1 (Replay) 
Kyle Cook & Lauren Neal
June 1, 2021 

Course analytics can help provide insight into how effective course elements are, as well as the level of engagement for students. The analytics function in iLearn allows instructors to monitor class progress, content statistics, assignment statistics, and more. During this session, Lauren and Kyle will cover how to find your course analytics, how to understand and use the information collected, and how to then implement that information for better course design and higher student engagement

VIEW SESSION RECORDING 

Affordable Textbook Options for Your Students 
Sharon Holderman, Volpe Library
May 19, 2021

Learn how to save your students money with textbook affordability options through the library, bookstore, and OERs (Open Educational Resources).  The best time to implement this is while you are creating or updating a course.  However, it may also be possible to save your students money without switching textbooks.  

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CITL Summer Intensive 
CITL Staff
May 17 and 18, 2021 

The CITL Summer Intensive is a two-day workshop experience open to all Tennessee Tech faculty. Day one will consist of four morning sessions that will unpack the 6 categories of the OLC Course Design Rubric, a break for lunch, and then breakout rooms in the afternoon where you can work one-on-one with the CITL staff. Day two will be similar, but focusing on infusing technology into your courses to promote interaction and engagement. The afternoon session will be centered around implementation and sharing ideas. 

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Spring 2021

Tech Tools Tuesday: iLearn, Getting Your Course Ready for the Next Semester
Dr. Kelvin Norman
May 11, 2021

The end of the semester is the time to prepare iLearn courses for copying components to the next semester’s courses. This process involves updating Master iLearn courses as well as cleaning up existing semester courses. In this session, we will discuss the exact procedures for adding, deleting, and modifying content topics, quizzes, assignments, discussions, and other iLearn components. The process of copying, exporting, and importing entire courses and between semesters will be explained in detail. I will also include elaboration on the steps for selecting specific items to be copied as well as how to manage or offset start, end, and due dates. 

View Session Recording 

iLearn Quiz Tool
Dr. Kelvin Norman
April 20, 2021

The iLearn Quiz Tool enables instructors to create exams using multiple question types while implementing a wide range of settings to facilitate administering the exams. In addition, this versatile tool captures analytics, reports, and exportable data that can be used as valuable feedback for evaluating student progress and teaching effectiveness. In this session, I will discuss how to create questions in the Question Library, how to add the questions to a quiz, and how to apply quiz settings to give the instructor granular control.  Other topics will include question pools, advanced grading options, special access, and analytics.  

View Session Recording 

Course Analytics in iLearn
Lauren Neal & Kyle Cook
April 13, 2021

Course analytics can help provide insight into how effective course elements are, as well as the level of engagement for students. The analytics function in iLearn allows instructors to monitor class progress, content statistics, assignment statistics, and more. During this session, Lauren and Kyle will cover how to find your course analytics, how to understand and use the information collected, and how to then implement that information for better course design and higher student engagement.  

View Session Recording 

LinkedIn Learning & e-Portfolios
Cheryl Tays, Instructional Designer
April 6, 2021

The nature of LinkedIn is centered around professionalism, which means it provides an easy way for students, faculty, staff, and alumni to cut through any social noise. It serves as a sort of electronic portfolio in the career search process. Instructors are encouraged to assign courses related to course content/objectives for a grade or suggest courses that help students perform better on performance assessments. 

This workshop will help instructors learn to utilize one of the most valuable tools offered to faculty and students at Tennessee Tech. Specifically, the objectives of the training include:

• Overview of LinkedIn and LinkedIn Learning
• Discuss the use of LinkedIn Learning as an electronic portfolio for students
• Create a plan for implementing LinkedIn Learning in your course

View Session Recording 

Elevating Student Engagement: Engagement Opportunities Outside iLearn
Kyle Cook, Instructional Designer
April 1, 2021 

Student engagement is essential to a successful course, but it is not automatic, especially in an online classroom. This session is focused on tools and techniques that instructors can leverage to increase engagement with their students. In this session, you will be introduced to available software, resources, and applications that can have a tremendous impact on learner engagement. You will also be given strategies for using these programs, as well as tips and tricks to increase overall interest in the content. 

View Presentation     View Session Recording 

Tech Teaches Tuesday: Course Evaluations
Kyle Cook, Instructional Designer
March 30, 2021

Consistent course evaluations offer the best opportunity for improvement in the future. In this session, I will discuss formative evaluation techniques as well as the traditional summative evaluations you may be familiar with. Participants will gain a better understanding of why and how to evaluate your course, as well as practical steps to implement to start improving next semester's course today.

View Presentation      View Session Recording 

Tech Tools Tuesday: Respondus Monitor
Dr. Kelvin Norman, Educational Technology Specialists
March 23, 2021

Respondus Monitor is an instructional technology that builds on the power of using Respondus LockDown browser by helping educators monitor students during quizzes or online assessments. Respondus Monitor uses a student's webcam and industry-leading video analytics to help prevent cheating during non-proctored exams. During this session, participants will learn how to successfully integrate the use of Respondus Monitor in their course, from turning on the proper setting in iLearn to accessibility and other additional features.  

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Tech Teaches Tuesday: Grading Rubrics
Cheryl Tays & Lauren Neal
March 9, 2021

Grading rubrics are assessment tools to help instructors and students focus on the expectations of an assignment. While generic grading rubrics are plentiful, it is recommended that instructors use the course standards to build effective grading rubrics in order to determine the level of student success within each assignment. In addition to facilitating learning, rubrics can also help to make the grading of the assessments fair and consistent. This workshop will offer discussions on the practical consideration of using grading rubrics within a course and research-based practices for rubric design. It will also include a demonstration of constructing grading rubrics within iLearn and connecting them to the gradebook.  

View Session Recording 

Tech Teaches Tuesday: Course Objectives, Assessments, & Instructional Strategies
Kyle Cook, CITL Instructional Designer  
March 2, 2021

Course alignment is crucial for successful learning. If the content of a course does not align with the course objectives then chances are the objectives will not be met. When designing an online course, a lot of thought and planning should go into the structure. The desired outcome(s) of a course should be the primary focus in the design process. In this session we will discuss course alignment through learning objectives and assessment. We will outline a strategy for building alignment within your course and hopefully provide you with some information you can use when structuring your next eLearning offering.

View Session Recording 

Gamification of Learning
Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning
Cheryl Tays, CITL Instructional Designer
January 28, 2021

Higher Education is NOT a game, but that does not mean that games cannot be used to motivate and engage students. Gamification has become more than a buzzword, and is proving to be popular in education development to enrich students' experience in classroom. Gamification is defined as the incorporation of gaming elements, such as scoring, competition, and leveling, in educational or other contexts that are not typically game-like. Not a gamer? No worries! This session will share strategies in iLearn and other web-based tools that may improve learner engagement in your course.

The “Elevating Student Engagement – Session 5: Gamification” will cover the following topics:

• Benefits of Gamification
• Educational Research on Gamification
• iLearn Release Conditions
• iLearn Points Grading System
• Tic Tac Toe Boards in Student Choice of Assessment
• Variety of Web-Based Tools for Gamification

View Session Recording 

New Faculty Orientation Series | Elevating Student Engagement  - this session is required for all new faculty. 

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Course Evaluations: Engaging with Course Evaluations Results to Improve Teaching Pedagogy
New Faculty Orientation Session
Dr. Kevin Harris, Center for Assessment and Improvement of Learning Associate Director
January 21, 2021

View Session Recording 

Visit the Office of Institutional Assessment, Research, and Effectiveness

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CITL Winter Workshop
Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning 
January 12, 2021

View recordings of each session: 

• Lessons Learned: A Faculty Roundtable 
• Grading with iLearn 
• Effective Virtual Communication
• Alternate Assessments 

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Fall 2020

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Elevating Student Engagement Series

More than ever before, college and university instructors are faced with a challenge of student engagement. In the traditional face-to-face classroom, instructor questions are often met with silence. In the online classroom, student passivity is revealed in a variety of ways: silence in Zoom video conferencing, lack of iLearn login, failure to submit assignments and limited words in a discussion board threads.  

There are many suggested ways to encourage active participation in the higher ed classroom, face-to-face and online. These sessions will share some research that shows the results of student engagement activities along with effective methods for enhancing student engagement in your courses.  

Primacy/Recency Theory
Cheryl Tays and Kyle Cook
September 24, 2020

 VIEW PRESENTATION    

Increase Student Engagement by Leveraging iLearn
Cheryl Tays and Kyle Cook
October 1, 2020

 View Presentation      

Improve student Engagement with Less Technology
Cheryl Tays and Kyle Cook
October 15, 2020

View Presentation  

Elevating Student Engagement with Breakout Rooms
Cheryl Tays and Kyle Cook 
November 12, 2020

View Presentation