Flexible Teaching
a resource from the Center for Teaching Excellence

Recordings and Transcripts of Past Workshops

Preparing for Flexible Teaching: 10 - 11 a.m.  Friday 7/24, via Zoom

Fall courses will require flexible design and flexible thinking to reimagine in-person activities for online environments, accommodate students both in person and online, or readily shift instruction between contexts. These types of adaptability also require a fair amount of time upfront to develop. The good news is that you still have time to do that. The even better news is that in this webinar, we will talk about what flexible course design means and how you can create flexible courses that are equitable and meaningful. With Doug Ward (CTE/Journalism) and Dea Follmer Greenhoot (CTE/ Psychology) Click here for the recording. Here are links to the Chat text and a transcript of the session. 

Social Distancing Ate My Classroom. Now What?  1 – 2 p.m. Friday 7/24, via Zoom.

Teaching in an era of social distancing will require faculty and students to make many adjustments. Classrooms have been adapted for safety, but safety and pedagogy often push in opposite directions. Group work, small discussions and other techniques that require close interaction among students and instructors will have to be rethought. So how can instructors adapt? Join us as we look at how classrooms of all sizes have changed and how instructors can make the best use of those spaces. With Dea Follmer Greenhoot (CTE/Psychology), Doug Ward (CTE/Journalism) and Kyle Velte (Law).   Click here for the recording. Here are links to the Chat text and a transcript of the session. 

Tuesday, July 28, 1-2 pm:  SPARK Up Your Syllabus and Blackboard Site: Ways to Make Your Courses More Engaging

In this session, you will learn how to use Adobe Spark to create static graphics and web pages, and then how to make a banner image for your Blackboard class site, a one-page syllabus highlights document, and a web-based interactive syllabus. You’ll come away with at least a start on a Spark creation for your class. With Ali Brox (Faculty Consultant/ Environmental Studies) & Lisa McLendon (Faculty Consultant/Journalism). Click here for a link to the recording. Here is a link to a transcript of the session.

Thursday, July 30, 1-2 pm:  Strategic Ways to Increase Student Engagement and Create an Online Community

When teaching online it is important to consider ways to engage students with course content, with each other, and with you as the instructor.  Engaging activities and experiences are key to creating an online community of learners who can succeed in your course and who will feel satisfied with their online experience.  This workshop will discuss ways you can be intentional and strategic about creating engagement within your online class environment.  With Carolyn Huffman (Faculty Consultant/Biology), Susan Marshall (Faculty Consultant/Psychology), & Ann Lindbloom (CODL). Click here for the recording. Password: TBbJ52*8 

Friday, July 31, 11 am -12 pm: Designing Inclusive and Equitable Online and Hybrid Courses

Intentional choices about both content and delivery can help you create inclusive and accessible online and hybrid courses that welcome and support all users. This session will address strategies and give examples for creating culturally, cognitively, and physically accessible and inclusive modes of delivery across disciplines and content areas.  Instructional designer Kim Glover along with faculty consultants Ali Brox (Environmental Studies) and Amy Leyerzapf (Leadership Studies) will provide an overview of Universal Design for online and hybrid courses and address your burning questions in this hour-long workshop. When you register for this workshop, you will be asked to respond to the following two questions: (1)  Rank the following 3 foci in order of importance to you design work: cultural, cognitive, physical, and (2) Provide a burning question you would like answered in the session.  Click here for the recording. Here are links to the slides, and the transcript. 

Wednesday, August 5, 12  -1 pm:  How Do I Do This Online? Rethinking Instructional Activities for the Online Environment

Spring 2020 was an interesting semester for us all. We found that some in-class activities and assessments readily translate into a digital space; some translate with challenges; and some require significant rethinking. We invite you to join us for a discussion on techniques and tools to promote student engagement in online and hybrid courses.  With Sean Seyer (Faculty Consultant/Humanities), Nancy Jo Kepple (Faculty Consultant, Social Welfare), & Kim Glover (CODL). Click here for the recording:https://mediahub.ku.edu/media/How+Do+I+Do+This+OnlineFA+Rethinking+Instructional+Activities+for+the+Online+Environment/1_jsq5gi8k

Thursday, August 6, 11 am -12 pm:  Making the Most of In-Person Time in Classes with Large Alternating Cohorts

Planning in-person class time involves thinking through the sorts of learning activities that can be carried out in a physically distanced classroom and the relationship between face-to-face activities and the learning activities completed online. For alternating cohort schedules, in which different groups of students attend class on different days of the week, you also need to decide what students will do during the alternate (online) days. In this session, three faculty consultants who are teaching large courses will faciltate a discussion of a range of options for handling in-person time. With Duane Myer (Faculty Consultant, Business), Lisa Sharpe-Elles (Faculty Consultant/Chemistry) & Emma Scioli (Faculty Consultant/Classics). Link to recording is here: (Access Password: $?fz87KC). Here are the slides. 

Tuesday August 11, 1 pm - 2 pm:  A little SPARKLE for Your Class: Designing Engaging Assignments using Adobe Spark

In this online workshop, you will learn how to use Adobe Spark to create static graphics and web pages, and then see some ideas for using both as part of class assignments. You’ll come away with some examples, plus inspiration for your own class. With Ali Brox (Faculty Consultant/ Environmental Studies) & Lisa McLendon (Faculty Consultant/Journalism). Click here for the recording: https://kansas.zoom.us/rec/share/2s0oH6PtxiRJR9bV02OYA6kuN934X6a81iQe__ENnkjBRMhrBnzilesAH_rIlT2U      Password: Spark2020!

Tuesday August 18, 1 pm - 2 pm:  Exam Formats that Work in the Online Environment

Transitioning from in-class testing to online testing can pose some challenges. In this zoom meeting, we will discuss ways for testing what students have learned, while discouraging cheating in the process.  Topics such as the use of Gradescope and other testing design parameters (pools, etc) will be discussed.  It is also important to communicate with students about academic honesty and testing expectations.  Samples of testing contracts and other academic integrity topics will round out the meeting. With Carolyn Huffman (Biology), Lisa Sharpe-Elles (Chemistry), and Jennifer Delgado (Physics). Click here for the recording. Password: J@m7Zun@   Here is a link to the slides.

Scheduling meetings and collaborating remotely | Thursday, July 30

This session will cover the basics of two technologies, Microsoft Bookings and Microsoft Teams. Trainer Linda Dixon will cover using Microsoft Bookings, which can enable others to schedule meetings with you or your team. In the last half of the meeting, Trainer Linda Dixon and Ed Tech Robert Tonnies will cover the basics of Teams, including for course use. You’ll receive information on how to get started and where to find additional resources and training.

Meeting online and creating video | Thurs., Aug. 6 

By now, many instructors have become familiar with holding synchronous online meetings with Zoom and options for creating video. In this session, Media Producer John Rinnert will cover some basics and some tips on using Zoom and Mediahub.ku.edu (Kaltura). You’ll receive information on how to get started and where to find additional resources and training.

Mediahub (Kaltura) Deep Dive | Thurs., Aug. 12 

By request, we scheduled a "deep dive" into mediahub.ku.edu (also known as Kaltura). The presentation and demo by Mediahub's John Rinnert, includes mediahub.ku.edu, Kaltura Express Capture, and Kaltura Capture.

Teaching from a classroom, teaching remotely  | Thurs., Aug. 13

Over the summer, KU IT staff have been working to outfit instructors and classrooms with technology to enable flexible teaching. In this session, you’ll learn more about the types of classroom setup, as well as what to expect for various types of spaces. Media Producer John Rinnert will also offer some tips and tricks for instructors teaching remotely.

Resources for instructors and students  |  Thursday, Aug. 20

This session is especially for instructors and staff who work with students. In this informational session, Trainer and Outreach Specialist Julie Hartness will provide information that can be shared with students, including services, software, and support. In the last half of the session, Tom Roderick and Suzie Johannes will provide more information about new student-centric initiatives aimed at helping students gain access to technology, internet, and Adobe Creative Cloud for the 2020-2021 academic year.

Check-in: FAQs from instructors  |  Thurs., Aug, 28

This informational session covers commonly asked questions (and their answers) from the first week of the semester. Topics include Blackboard, Teams, Zoom, Classroom Technology, and Student Resources.