CETL Weekly Teaching Tip: February 3, 2015

10 Best Things Digital Teachers Do; Grant and funding opportunities; free Course Design Workshop opportunity

 If you are anything like me, working with students and seeing them explore during their education experiences are highlights of being a teacher.  For this week’s teaching tip, I share a blog  from the Chronicle of Higher Ed with you about being a digital teacher.  As we run the spectrum across our institution from face-to-face to fully online teaching, I was very hesitant about using this as I thought that some may perceive it as not pertaining to them.  But let me explain why I am sharing it this week.  This blog post is about digital pedagogy.  What is digital pedagogy, you ask?  I like this definition from the digital journal of learning, teaching, and technology,  Hybrid Pedagogy: “Digital pedagogy is precisely not about using digital technologies for teaching and, rather, about approaching those tools from a critical pedagogical perspective.  So, it is as much about using digital tools thoughtfully as it is about deciding when not to use digital tools, and about paying attention to the impact of digital tools on learning.”  I include this because making informed decisions about student learning is something we all do.    

So, as you consider which tools and how to best use those tools in your courses – whether they be email, a social media platform, an electronic portfolio or D2L, you are really trying to deepen and strengthen interactions with our students.  Take a look at this list of best digitalteaching practices and see if any make sense for your courses.  Oh, and in here, you’ll find things like ‘grade less’ and ‘don’t worry of you don’t know what digital pedagogy is.’

Upcoming opportunities for funding and course design retreat

In the coming weeks, we will identify the remaining budget from CETL and open that money up to support two items: learning communities and course development.  I am working on a process and will be recruiting a team to evaluate proposals.  But, if you have ideas for Faculty Learning Communities (FLC) (including a topic, a strategy for recruiting 10-12 other faculty across the university to participate, how it will enhance student learning at Regis, and what the FLC will give back to the University community) or are thinking of doing something new or different in your courses, keep an eye out for more announcements.  In the meantime, if you have an idea for running an FLC, CETL will fund $500 to be used to support the FLC’s work.

Also, if you are using or planning to try out a new technology in your courses, the Teaching and Learningwith Technology Microgrant (TLTM) call for proposals is out from Instructional Design& Technology (IDT).  More details available at .  And, if you want to share what technology-related things you are trying in your courses or look at what others have tried, check out the info on the Learning Technology Fair being held March 12 from 10-2 in the Mountain View Room.

Finally, CETL will offer (in coordination with the Air Force Academy), a four-day course design retreat in Colorado Springs this coming June (first week).  Details forthcoming but if you would like to work on designing or redesigning a course, this opportunity is a great one.  Contact me if you have questions. Spots go quick so if you are interested, please let me know.  This is a like a free conference and CETL will pay for your hotel.  We will also be looking to host a local event later this spring if there is interest.