July 2015  Faculty News & Training

 

Outstanding Online Course Awards 2015  


2015 Outstanding Online Teacher & Course Award
Dr. Stephen Garretson
Family, School and Community

2015 Exemplary Online Teacher & Course Designer Award
Dr. Royce George
Theories of Organizational Development and Reform

Award presentations will take place during the  "Salute to Faculty Excellence Reception Dinner",  October 2, 2015. 
Faculty/Staff Group Subscriptions offered by CLEAR
FREE ACCESS
20 Minute Mentor Commons has provided a listing of programs with links and descriptions:

Here are some programs which might prove interesting and helpful from 20 Minute Mentor Commons (you may view information on all 4 programs below under "4 Programs for Administrators).

How Can I Build a Successful Faculty Development Program?

 

What Steps Can I Take to Foster a Collegial Department

 

How Can I Better Manage Difficult Conversations with Faculty? 

 

How Do I Use FLCs to Strengthen Institutional Assessment? 

 

See their complete catalog/programs:  

20 Minute Mentor Commons Programs

20 Minute Mentor Catalog

4 Programs for Administrators 

 

Please email  Amber Bryant

to obtain the campus voucher code and pin number if using an off campus machine.    

 

Teaching Professor
FREE ACCESS
The Teaching Professor &
Online Classroom

CLEAR provides Free Access (through a group subscription) to Magna Commons, 20 Minute Mentor Commons, Distance Education Report, Online Classroom,Online Classroom and The Teaching Professor.  These electronic newsletters provide the information faculty, deans, chairs, and other academic decision-makers use for effective leadership within their colleges or departments as they fulfill their institution's mission of teaching and scholarship. 

  
To subscribe, go to www.magnapubs.com/group to view our active subscription.  There is no need to create an account or log in when accessing the subscription on campus.  If you wish to access these publications from off campus or if you would like to receive an email message each time a new issue is posted, you will need to register and enter a campus voucher code and pin number. Please email  Amber Bryant to obtain this information.   

FREE ACCESS
Online Learning Consortium

CLEAR provides Free Access (through a group subscription) to Online Learning Consortium (formerly Sloan-C) http://onlinelearningconsortium.org.  

 

The University of North Texas is a member of the Online Learning Consortium.  As a member, you will receive OLC's workshop, conference and publications discounts, research, and interaction with other members.  To receive account set-up and login instructions, please contact  Amber Bryant at Amber.Bryant@unt.edu.

 

Membership includes workshop membership pricing.  Visit http://onlinelearningconsortium.org/institute/workshops/2014/upcoming-by-date for the list of 2014 workshops. Additional workshops are added throughout the year, so please make sure to check the schedule often. The member price for a workshop is $169. Non-member pricing is $269. If you and your faculty have set up your accounts or affiliated your existing accounts properly, you will automatically see the member price.

 

 OLC Membership Resources include:

  • Webinars
  • Conference Discounts  
  • Publications Discounts  
  • Website Resources 
  • Monthly Newsletter
FALL 2015 COURSE ON BLACKBOARD LEARN HAVE BEEN CREATED
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Fall 2015 Blackboard Courses
  • Only courses with an enrollment of at least 2 students have been created. As registration continues, additional courses will automatically be created.
  • If you don't see your section, make sure you are listed as instructor of record on MyUNT.
     
  • Students will be uploaded during the week of August 17th.  They will not have access to your course until the first day of the fall semester(August 24th).
     
  • Email clearhelp@unt.edu if you'd like the students to access your fall course earlier or to you have your sections combined.
     
  • Remember to make your course available and copy your content (click here for instructions) before the semester begins.

Mary Speight
Instructional Technology Administrator
University of North Texas  

Follow @clearUNT on Twitter!
Check out our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/clearUNT.

UPCOMING TRAINING
Blackboard Learn icon
FACE-TO-FACE Sessions
Blackboard Learn:  Grade Center

Date:  Thursday, July 30, 2015
Time:  9:30am - 11:00am
Site:    Chilton 245


Register Here: 

The key functions of the Grade Center will be covered in the class. By the end of the session, instructors should be able to:

  1. Record grade data.
  2. Calculate the Totals and Weighted Totals column.
  3. Monitor student progress.
  4. Organize the Grade Center.  90 minutes
 
Teaching Excellence Seminar -- Fall 2015

August 20, 2015
7:30 am - 12:00 pm
Gateway Center Ballroom

The Teaching Excellence Seminar is held at the beginning of every long semester and is intended to educate and inform new instructors on UNT policies and best practices in teaching and learning.  The seminar is mandatory for all new TAs and TFs, and all other UNT instructors are encouraged to attend.


INFORMATION ON CLEAR INITIATIVES
Thank A Teacher - october 2012
Has a UNT teacher made a positive difference in your life?   Let them know.

Outstanding teachers at UNT do make a difference for students. They make learning challenging and fun; they are available when needed; and they weather many storms with students to foster bright futures. When teachers have made this kind of a difference, many students wish for a way to say "Thanks".


UNT students have the opportunity to say "Thanks" through the "Thank a Teacher" Program here at UNT. You have until August 13th to complete the form at http://thanks.unt.edu to share your thanks with your teacher(s). You may complete as many of these forms as you wish (one for each teacher you wish to thank). You may also choose to remain anonymous. Your notes will be sent to your teachers as part of a letter of recognition from the Provost!

GSTEP will be accepting applicants for the Fall 2015 semester in late Summer
 

The Graduate Student Teaching Excellence Program (GSTEP), provided by CLEAR with support from the Office of the Provost, is a free program for graduate students at the University of North Texas with the goal of preparing graduate students for teaching roles in higher education by equipping them with teaching skills, knowledge about teaching strategies, and peer support.  Upon completion of the program, students will receive a GSTEP certificate of completion and a letter of recommendation for future employment.

 

GSTEP had 92 participants enrolled in Stage 1: Introduction to Teaching for Spring 2015.  Stage 1 participants collectively completed 171 online TREE training modules on topics such as supporting engaged learning; seminars focused on developing professional peer mentor networks and utilizing Team Based Learning strategies in the classroom.  Thirty-eight participants enrolled in Stage 2: Developing Your Teaching Skills.  Stage 2 participants collectively completed 37 in-depth training modules and conducted classroom observation and teaching practicum experiences with UNT faculty.  They also developed teaching demonstrations for a micro-teaching workshop in which they gave and received peer feedback.  Learn more about GSTEP and how your graduate students can enroll at http://clear.unt.edu/gstep.
CLEAR Initiative:  Learning Catalytics --
Engaging and Interacting

CLEAR is working with Pearson as part of our ongoing exploration of increased student engagement.  We are partners with faculty in Biology, Anthropology, BCIS, Political Science and Math to test a classroom engagement tool called Learning Catalytics (https://learningcatalytics.com/). This tool allows faculty and students to interact in a variety of ways using student devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops.  Participating faculty with the help of CLEAR and Pearson, will develop scenarios and implement the tool in a variety of class sizes and settings.    

Teaching Resources for Engaged Educators (TREE)

 

Want to maximize your impact on student learning?  Do you look for ways to connect with other committed educators?  Are you looking for ways to document your efforts to improve your teaching?  If so, the Teaching Resources for Engaged Educators (TREE) initiative, developed by CLEAR, is for you.  TREE leverages online training modules focused on 10 important teaching proficiencies (e.g., engaged learning, assessment, course design) that allow you to move at your own pace through three levels of proficiency (introductory, intermediate, and advanced). The TREE program will appear in your list of Blackboard courses and is available for everyone who teaches at UNT.  To participate, simply select the course and then the modules you would like to complete.  You will receive badges for completing each module and a Certificate of Teaching Distinction when successfully completing all three levels of a proficiency.  For more information, please refer to the CLEAR website:  http: clear.unt.edu/tree.
CLEAR COLLABORATION WITH THE SGA

Illuminate Good Ideas

CLEAR supports the SGA initiative known as the Illuminate Good Ideas campaign, with the intent of identifying then prioritizing good ideas for improving teaching and learning experiences at UNT.  President Smatresk has provided funding to pilot this initiative.  CLEAR is the administrative home, but the committee is led by students (2 undergraduates and 2 graduates).  Drs. Kimi King and Lee Hughes are serving as faculty representatives and Patrick Pluscht serves as the staff representative from Academic Affairs.  The ideation campaign launched April 1st and ideas are being submitted, commented on, and voted up or down.  We encourage you to login and review the ideas and comments.    

 

Login with your EUID and password at http://illuminate.unt.edu.

 
RECENT AWARDS & ACTIVITIES
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CLEAR Presentations
  • Many CLEAR personnel attended the annual Blackboard World Conference (held in Washington, D.C.).
  • Dr. Mike Simmons was one of several representatives to the SACSCOC Summer Institute (held in Kissimmee, Florida).
UPCOMING CHANGES TO CLEAR FACULTY HELPDESK
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Support line: (940) 369-7394
Support Email:  clearhelp@unt.edu
Summer Hours

The Blackboard Faculty Helpdesk will be adjusting its support hours for the Summer semesters beginning Tuesday, May 26th to the following schedule:

Monday - Friday  8:00am - 5:00pm
Closed Saturday
Closed Sunday