Events

WMUx hosts a variety of events and training sessions throughout the academic year.  These sessions are geared toward instructors, graduate assistants, and any others involved in creating learning experiences at Western Michigan University.

Upcoming Programming

  • Dec 5 12 p.m.

 AI @ WMU

Artificial Intelligence

Your Own Private GPT: Explore OpenAI’s New GPT Agents

 Date: Tuesday, December 5      Time: noon to 1 p.m.      Location: Online

On November 7, 2023, OpenAI released its newest innovation: GPTs—tools that allow users to “create custom versions of ChatGPT that combine instructions, extra knowledge, and any combination of skills.” Join Professor Dave Paul and members of the WMUx Teaching and Learning team, as we introduce you to potential uses of a GPT, take you on a tour of a GPT, and link you to resources if you would like to create one yourself. WMUx wants to be sure that we are up-to-date on new AI developments, so feel free to join us whether or not you plan to design a GPT.

Suggested pre-reading: Ethan Mollick, “Almost an Agent: What GPTs Can Do.” One Useful Thing substack, 7 November 2023.

  Sign up now for Your Own Private GPT: Explore OpenAI’s New GPT Agents

  • Dec 7 4 p.m.

 AI @ WMU

Artificial Intelligence

AI Prompting Showcase: A Speed Meeting Session on Prompting Strategies

 Date: Thursday, December 7      Time: 4 to 5 p.m.      Location: Online

Please join us for a series of 10-minute sessions with individuals enrolled in WMU's first AI prompting course, English 5970: AI Writing: Prompt + Response, and learn about their research into prompting strategies that work.

  Sign up now for AI Prompting Showcase: A Speed Meeting Session on Prompting Strategies

  • Dec 13 1 p.m.

 LMS Fundamentals Series

Elearning Fundamentals

Get Ready for Spring

 Date: Wednesday, December 13      Time: 1 p.m.       Location: Online

Get Ready for Spring semester: Combine sections, copying over, changing dates, removing news items, adding participants, updating bio widget and giving students incompletes are a few of the topics we will cover during this 60 minute workshop all designed to get you ready for Spring!

  Sign up now for Get Ready for Spring

 

  • Jan 3 1 p.m.

 LMS Fundamentals Series

Elearning Fundamentals

Part I: Setting up Your Homepage & Building Modules and Content​ (Quick Eval)

 Date: Wednesday, January 3      Time: 1 p.m.       Location: Online

​The Elearning Fundamental workshops are aimed at any user needing to start or increase their knowledge of Elearning. These workshops are designed to cover the basics of Elearning with our goal being is to assist instructors in connecting with students and to make teaching and learning more enjoyable by building a welcoming and functional online space. These workshops are applicable to all course modalities. You can pick and choose which sessions you attend or join us for all! Each session will be held on Teams.

  Sign up now for Part I: Setting up Your Homepage & Building Modules and Content​ (Quick Eval)

 

  • Jan 4 1 p.m.

 LMS Fundamentals Series

Elearning Fundamentals

Part II: Creating Discussions & Quizzes​

 Date: Thursday, January 4      Time: 1 p.m.       Location: Online

The Elearning Fundamental workshops are aimed at any user needing to start or increase their knowledge of Elearning. These workshops are designed to cover the basics of Elearning with our goal being is to assist instructors in connecting with students and to make teaching and learning more enjoyable by building a welcoming and functional online space. These workshops are applicable to all course modalities. You can pick and choose which sessions you attend or join us for all! Each session will be held on Teams.

  Sign up now forPart II: Creating Discussions and Quizzes

 

  • Jan 5 1 p.m.

 LMS Fundamentals Series

Elearning Fundamentals

Part III: Dropbox & Gradebook

 Date: Friday, January 5      Time: 1 p.m.       Location: Online

​The Elearning Fundamental workshops are aimed at any user needing to start or increase their knowledge of Elearning. These workshops are designed to cover the basics of Elearning with our goal being is to assist instructors in connecting with students and to make teaching and learning more enjoyable by building a welcoming and functional online space. These workshops are applicable to all course modalities. You can pick and choose which sessions you attend or join us for all! Each session will be held on Teams.

  Sign up now for Part III: Dropbox and Gradebook

 

  • Jan 11 1 p.m.

 LMS Fundamentals Series

Elearning Fundamentals

All things Gradebook

 Date: Thursday, January 11      Time: 1 p.m.       Location: Online

In this 60 min. workshop, we will talk through the bewildering world of Elearning gradebooks. We will go over the basics from creating categories and grade items and even offer tips and tricks to make things work smoothly for you and your students.

  Sign up now for All things Gradebook

 

  • Jan 17 1 p.m.

 LMS Fundamentals Series

Elearning Fundamentals

Rubrics say what?

 Date: Wednesday, January 17      Time: 1 p.m.       Location: Online

Ever wonder to yourself that has got to be a better way to grade these submissions. Consider using a rubric. The ITC specialists will walk you through building a rubric for use on discussions and dropboxes.

  Sign up now for Rubrics say what?

 

  • Jan 23 1 p.m.

 LMS Fundamentals Series

Elearning Fundamentals

Avoid busy work using effective Discussions & Dropboxes

 Date: Tuesday, January 23      Time: 1 p.m.       Location: Online

In this 60 min. workshop, the ITC will walk through how to use discussions and dropboxes effectively in your class. ID's will join us to ensure not only do your items function technology wise but also are purposeful and beneficial to your students. No one likes busy work!

  Sign up now for Avoid busy work using effective Discussions and Dropboxes

 

  • Jan 31 1 p.m.

 LMS Fundamentals Series

Elearning Fundamentals

Marie Kondo Your Class (organization party)

 Date: Wednesday, January 31      Time: 1 p.m.       Location: Online

Are you someone how organizes there closet by color? This workshop is for you! We will be showing how to Marie Kondo your class by organizing dropboxes, quizzes, gradebook, discussions with categories and reorder items. Join us to find the joy in each item in Elearning.

  Sign up now for Marie Kondo Your Class

 

Event Archive

  • View Past Sessions and Recordings

      Interactive Learning

    Reimagine Presentations with Sway

    Are you interested in learning about a tool that takes presentations a step beyond PowerPoint, or just want to try something new with your presentations or presentation assignments? Join us to learn about this versatile presentation tool that offers a contemporary way to create sleek, interactive reports, presentations, and more—driving collaboration, creativity, and accessibility. Sway is fully supported through our university's Microsoft license, making it freely available to all faculty and students.

      View session recording for the Mediasite upload associated with A Sway About Sway.

     

      Interactive Learning

    Engaging Students with Slido

    Active learning and student engagement are critical for effective teaching and learning. However, eliciting participation can sometimes be challenging. Slido, which is fully supported by our university as part of the Webex suite of tools, provides an easy way to engage all your students by integrating Q&A, polls, and quizzes seamlessly into your teaching.

    Join us for this hands-on workshop to learn how Slido can enhance student participation and liven up any lecture.

    We'll cover:

    • The benefits of using Slido for active learning and student engagement
    • How easy it is to create interactive Q&A, polls, quizzes and discussions
    • Ways to integrate Slido seamlessly into your existing lectures
    • Using Slido analytics to gather feedback and implement in future classes
    Whether you're teaching a small seminar or a large lecture course, Slido facilitates active learning and provides insight into what your students know and think. Attend this session to pick up tips for effectively using this free tool to engage and energize your classroom.

     

      View session recording for the Slido Quiz Tool discussion session.

     

      AI @ WMU

    Artificial Intelligence

    ChatGPT’s Distortion of the Professor-Student Relationship

    New technologies are often seen as tools that can make existing practices more efficient or help us create new ways of doing things. However, it's important to be mindful of the many ways in which new technologies can completely change the way we do things. ChatGPT, and artificial intelligence in general, could potentially do this when it comes to how teachers and students interact with each other.

    Join us as Dr. Matthew Noah Smith, associate professor of philosophy at Northeastern University, gives a talk that explores how ChatGPT has changed the way we approach teaching – moving the emphasis from teaching to monitoring – and raises some reasons why this might be worrisome. Dr. Smith will also examine how this connects to the idea of treating education like a tool and the relationship between teachers and students.

    This talk is co-sponsored by the WMU Center for the Study of Ethics in Society, the WMU Department of Philosophy, and WMUx.

      View session recording for ChatGPT’s Distortion of the Professor-Student Relationship

     

      AI @ WMU

    Artificial Intelligence

    Using AI Prompting to Create an Equitable Learning Environment

    Learn two AI prompting techniques for helping students of varying abilities learn foundational concepts in your field: scaffolding concepts and tutoring. After seeing demonstrations, participants will try the techniques with their own subject areas.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Using AI Prompting to Create an Equitable Learning Environment

     

      AI @ WMU

    Artificial Intelligence

    Predictive AI Is Not Google: Using Claude 2 and GPT 4 for Lit Searches and Outlining

    Join us as we demonstrate how Large Language Models (LLMs) such as Claude 2 and GPT 4 can help reduce the amount of time it takes to review, synthesize, and develop literature searches, and to develop outlines for scholarly articles. This session will also cover common misconceptions about how LLMs work so scholars can make ethical choices about how to use these tools.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Predictive AI Is Not Google: Using Claude 2 and GPT 4 for Lit Searches and Outlining

     

      Career Focus Series

    Gear Up for a Productive Year: Set Your Research and Writing Goals

    Setting goals at the beginning of the academic year does not have to be a lonely process. Join us to learn more about the many goal-setting and productivity tools available as part of your free membership with the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity. This session is open to all faculty, staff, part-time instructors, and graduate students. We’ll be touring the NCFDD website, talking about the October 2-week NCFDD writing challenge, and highlighting many of the DEIB offerings on the NCFDD calendar this year.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Gear Up for a Productive Year

     

      WMUx Accessible Teaching Series

    Accessibility

    Ally for Elearning: Accessibility, Access, and Alternative Downloads

    Learn more about Ally for Elearning and how accessible course content makes it easier for everyone to read and access your course materials, it improves the overall quality and usability of the documents. In addition to providing insight to your content accessibility through course reports and instructor feedback, ALLY automatically creates alternative versions of your files. Learn how to use the features in ALLY to improve content accessibility with Ally's step-by-step instructions while creating an inclusive learning environment.

    Objectives:

    • Understand and engage with the accessibility features provided inside of Elearning, why we use them, and how to get the most out of them.
    • Locate and identify accessibility issues in your course using the accessibility checker and ALLY for Elearning.
    • Experiment using Ally and the HTML Accessibility Checker.
    • Analyze your course documents for accessibility and quality.
    • Validate created and modified content through using accessibility auditing tools.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Ally for Elearning: Accessibility, Access, and Alternative Downloads

     

      AI @ WMU

    Artificial Intelligence

    Developing and Communicating Your AI Policies for Fall 2023

    Learn the latest about the capabilities of generative AI such as GPT-4, find out about the reliability of GPT detectors, hear from Student Affairs professionals about handling academic honesty, and develop strategies for talking to your students about AI. This session will help you plan a strategy for teaching in an AI-saturated environment in Fall 2023.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Developing and Communicating Your AI Policies

     

      AI @ WMU

    Artificial Intelligence

    Ethical Approaches to Using AI's Information Synthesizing Abilities in Your Teaching and Research

    David Paul, Chair of the WMU Department of Philosophy, demonstrates how Large Language Machines (LLMs) such as Bing, Claude2, and GPT-4 synthesize information contained in PDFs and other files to aid in research and teaching. He focuses on how to evaluate the LLMs’ responses and how to convert those responses into learning opportunities for our students and ourselves. Paul also shows how our roles as content experts can help us to use LLMs ethically.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Ethical Approaches to Using AI's Information Synthesizing Abilities in Your Teaching and Research

     

      Meeting Students Where They Are

    Functional Design: Approaches to Designing or Redesigning Your Course

    Whether designing a course for the first time or redesigning an existing course of your own or someone else’s design, the process can be daunting without a plan. Instructional designers will walk you through a few key questions to ask as you design with learners and goals in mind and share some helpful templates for course planning.

    Session Materials

     

      Meeting Students Where They Are

    Creating a Learner-Centered Syllabus

    A learner-centered syllabus signals a commitment to learner-centered teaching. In this session, instructional designers will highlight several universal design principles and quick tips to help you better center your syllabus on your students.

    Session Materials

     

      AI @ WMU

    Artificial Intelligence

    Navigating GPT-4 Powered Tools: Curating and Ensuring Data Privacy in Education

    As GPT-4 becomes increasingly prevalent in the world of education, it's essential to explore the wide array of tools available to teachers and students. In this session, we will demonstrate how to evaluate and select GPT-4 powered tools while prioritizing data privacy and security. Join us to learn strategies for adopting these technologies in a responsible and effective manner.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Navigating GPT-4 Powered Tools

     

      AI @ WMU

    Artificial Intelligence

    GPT-4 Prompt Generation Strategies 2

    The way a GPT-4 user develops and deploys prompts determines the quality of the responses that the AI generates. In this interactive workshop, you will create prompts, test them, and regenerate them until you are satisfied with the responses. Note: While this is a repeat session type from earlier in the summer, the prompts attendees bring will vary, so feel encouraged to attend again to see new prompts and engage in further discussion.

      View session recording for GPT-4 Prompt Generation Strategies 2

     

      Classroom Community

    Pop Culture Pedagogy: Exploring the use of Cultural Capital to Support Student Learning

    Students arrive at college with “cultural capital” – knowledge that they have developed around popular media. Join Katie Marshall, Faculty Specialist of Business Information Systems, and Brian Holland, instructor in the Department of Accountancy, to learn ways to engage students with your subject matter by including popular culture referents and activities. You don’t need to be a Marvel Universe/Project Runway expert to make a significant difference in how students view your subject area.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Pop Culture Pedagogy

     

      Interactive Learning

    Makers Lab: Collaborating with Digital Whiteboards

    Join us as we explore the use of an online whiteboard and collaboration tool to facilitate brainstorming, mind mapping, planning, and other collaborative work. Join us in this interactive session to learn more and play around with this technology tool.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Collaborating with Digital Whiteboards

     

      AI @ WMU

    Artificial Intelligence

    Using AI in Course Planning and Design

    Join us as we explore how we might use content generation tools in course planning and design. Learn how this technology can help you to ideate and think outside the box to hone in on your learning goals and create meaningful, engaging learning experiences for your students.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Using AI in Course Planning and Design

     

      Meeting Students Where They Are

    Empowered Teaching Toolkit: Beginning to Prepare for ‘Difficult’ or ‘Controversial’ Conversations

    Participants viewed the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity Webinar titled “Empower Teaching Toolkit: Beginning to Prepare for ‘Difficult’ or ‘Controversial’ Conversations” (by Chavella Pittman, PhD) prior to attending this session and discussed the issues raised within the context of their own experiences at WMU. This session was not recorded, but a short summary of the key issues discussed are included below. You can learn how to sign up for your free NCFDD membership here.

    Session Materials

     

      Addressing the Equity Gap

    Makers Lab: Student/Faculty Partnership Agreement Workshop

    Join WMUx/Merze Tate College Faculty Fellow Dr. Adrienne Redding in a workshop style Makers Lab on Partnership Agreements – documents that position students and faculty as co-workers in each student’s classroom success. Participants will redesign a syllabus for a course of their choice to include a partnership agreement that helps students learn the rationale for each class activity to use their own voices to contribute to the learning experience. Attendees will leave the session with documents that they can use this fall.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Makers Lab: Student/Faculty Partnership Agreement Workshop

     

      WMUx Accessible Teaching Series

    Accessibility

    Course Design that Supports Neurodivergent Learners

    Designing for neurodivergent learning means we create learning environments and opportunities that are tailored to the diverse ways that individuals process information and interact with the world around them. This session will focus on designing learning experiences with the diversity of the human brain in mind and will include advice for developing educational experiences that meet the needs of all learners, regardless of their neurological profile.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Course Design that Supports Neurodivergent Learners

     

      AI @ WMU

    Artificial Intelligence

    “AI, Ethics, and Bias – What You Need to Know”

     with Pierrette Renée Dagg, Expert on AI and Education

    Pierrette Renée Dagg, Director of Technology Impact Research at Merit Network, has authored a study that advocates for an ethical framework for AI in Education that capitalizes on the advantages of the technology’s use while mitigating harms and inequities to students, educators, and society. She will provide us with an understanding of how Michigan’s educational institutions are responding to AI bias/ethics challenges, and she will answer your questions on this important subject.

    Session Readings

      View session recording for AI, Ethics, and Bias – What You Need to Know

     

      AI @ WMU

    Artificial Intelligence

    GPT-4 Prompt Generation Strategies

    The way a GPT-4 user develops and deploys prompts determines the quality of the responses that the AI generates. In this interactive workshop, you will create prompts, test them, and regenerate them until you are satisfied with the responses.

      View session recording for GPT-4 Prompt Generation Strategies

     

      WMUx Accessible Teaching Series

    Accessibility

    ALLY for Elearning in Action

    Join us for Global Accessibility Awareness Day! Learn how to use the ALLY accessibility tool in your Elearning course to create more inclusive content. In this workshop, we will walk through the ALLY accessibility features to help you become more familiar with and comfortable using them.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for ALLY for Elearning in Action

     

      Grad Student Professional Development

    Professional Development

    Make the Most Out of Your Graduate Student NCFDD Membership

    Whether you are in your first year of graduate school or you are beginning your thesis or dissertation, NCFDD can help support your professional development. Dr. Ángela Pérez-Villa, an assistant professor in History, will discuss her grad school experience with NCFDD and help you make the most of your membership.

      View session recording for Make the Most Out of Your Graduate Student NCFDD Membership

     

      Grad Student Professional Development

    Professional Development

    Preparing for the Academic Job Market

    Most academic job applications require a CV, a letter of intent, a statement of teaching philosophy, and a diversity statement. Walk through models of effective letters and begin drafting your own.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Preparing for the Academic Job Market

     

      Intro to NCFDD Series

    Intro to NCFDD

    NCFDD Orientation Session for Graduate Students and Graduate Directors

    WMU has joined over 500 institutions of higher education as a member of the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity. NCFDD is an independent development center dedicated to supporting faculty, graduate students, and part-time instructors in every aspect of professional development. We invite all graduate students and graduate directors to attend a Webex informational session where they can learn from past participants the value of NCFDD’s teaching, professional development, and dissertation success programming.

      View session recording for NCFDD Orientation Session for Graduate Students and Graduate Directors

     

      Intro to NCFDD Series

    Intro to NCFDD

    NCFDD Orientation Session for Faculty, Staff, and Part-time Instructors

    WMU has joined over 500 institutions of higher education as a member of the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity. NCFDD is an independent development center dedicated to supporting faculty, graduate students, and part-time instructors in every aspect of professional development. At this informational session, WMU faculty who have experience with NCFDD will share their advice on how you can make the best use of this new professional development opportunity. 

      View session recording for NCFDD Orientation Session for Faculty, Staff, and Part-time Instructors

     

      Student Support Series

    Supporting Students

    Working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students

    Join us for a guided discussion about supporting deaf and hard of hearing students. Learn why not all deaf and hard of hearing individuals have the same needs. Learn and ask questions about the different accommodations like assistive listening devices, live captioning, and working with an interpreter. 

      View session recording for Working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students

     

      AI @ WMU Series

    Artificial Intelligence

    Incorporating ChatGPT into your Course

    After reviewing a number of GPT-4 assignments and grading strategies, participants will brainstorm with the WMUx instructional development and design team how to use the tool in their course. Every discipline is welcome. By the end of the session, you will have examples of assignments that you can share in your summer or spring courses. 

      View session recording for Incorporating ChatGPT into your Course

     

      Measures of Success Series

    Measures of Success

    New Approaches to Assessment: Single Point Rubrics

    Single point rubrics are a tool that can be used to provide detailed feedback without having to create rigid, inflexible success criteria. In this session, we will provide instructions on creating this type of rubric and using it to provide feedback in any situation requiring assessment. Participants will be given a template that can be customized to fit their specific purposes.

      View session recording for New Approaches to Assessment: Single Point Rubrics

     

      Measures of Success Series

    Measures of Success

    Closing Keynote: Dr. Kate McDowell: Data Storytelling Strategies

    By understanding storytelling dynamics, anyone can learn how to bring data stories to life. Data stories can help persuade decision-makers, but we need accessible tools for breaking down the dynamic process of storytelling into achievable steps. Based on ongoing research, this talk presents tools anyone can use, including: 

    • Introduction to storytelling thinking 
    • Classic advocacy arguments 
    • Evidence and forms of data for those arguments 
    • Narrative strategies that draw from common story structures 
    • Tone and tactics for engaging storytelling with different audience attitudes 
    One of the most critical things we can do to support institutions of higher education in challenging times is to be prepared, formally and in casual conversation, to tell a memorable data story about why they matter. In this talk, Dr. Kate McDowell, a nationally-recognized expert in data storytelling, guides you through the problems and practical possibilities of data storytelling. 

     

      View session recording for Closing Keynote: Dr. Kate McDowell: Data Storytelling Strategies

     

      Measures of Success Series

    Measures of Success

    WMU Mini-Grant Winners 

    This roundtable highlights the accomplishments of a number of WMU instructors and staff who are this year’s recipients of the University Assessment Steering Committee’s Assessment Mini Grants. With subjects ranging from assessment in literacy studies, fashion merchandising, and physical therapy, the presenters offer up insights that you can use in your own projects and courses. 

      View session recording for WMU Mini-Grant Winners 

     

      AI @ WMU Series

    Artificial Intelligence

    Writing, Learning, and AI

    The availability of AI, and Large-Language Models in particular, has rapidly become a disruptive force in higher education. What happened recently to make these models more powerful and more widely accessible? What are the capabilities of these models and how can they change teaching and learning? Dr. Hart-Davidson, a national expert on AI in higher education, offers some responses to these questions from his point of view as a researcher and maker of writing technologies, and as a teacher and administrator. 

      View session recording for Writing, Learning, and AI

     

      Measures of Success Series

    Measures of Success

    The Why and How of WMU Essential Studies Assessment 

    Dr. Jonathan Bush, Professor of English and Director of WMU Essential Studies, and Dr. Randy Ott, Senior Director of Academic Collaboration in Merze Tate College, share the why and how assessment within WMU Essential Studies courses is important, including how the rubrics can be used to measure student learning and future course optimization.

      View session recording for The Why and How of WMU Essential Studies Assessment 

     

      Measures of Success Series

    Measures of Success

    Opening Keynote with Dr. Anne Lundquist – Centering Equity in Assessment: Theories, Models and Practices

    Keynote by Dr. Anne Lundquist, Director of the Hope Center at Temple University, based upon her newly released co-edited text, Reframing Assessment to Center Equity. Assessment data can be a valuable tool to explore inequities on campus and move to remedy them. But assessment itself is not apolitical or objective and the approaches we use and the mindfulness with which we conduct assessment can advance equity in higher education or perpetuate inequities and cause harm. In this session, Dr. Lundquist will highlight the critical role of cultivating individual awareness as assessors; discuss the context and scholarly history of equity-centered and equity-minded assessment; share frameworks for considering various approaches to centering equity in assessment; and provide some examples of practice and resources. Participants will have an opportunity to reflect on how their current assessment practice centers equity and consider where they have influence to impact systemic change via more equitable and equity-centered assessment.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Opening Keynote with Dr. Anne Lundquist – Centering Equity in Assessment: Theories, Models and Practices

     

      AI @ WMU Series

    Artificial Intelligence

    ChatGPT 101: Exploring the Implications of Artificial Intelligence Text Generators for Teaching and Learning

    ChatGPT and other Artificial Intelligence (AI) text generators produce human-like written responses to prompts. This technology is taking off at a pace that indicates it is here to stay and is likely to improve exponentially over time. What implications does it have for research, critical thinking, and writing? Join a panel of WMUx experts who will share the latest information on ChatGPT in higher education and offer insights into how AI has the potential to enhance teaching and learning across every discipline.

      View session recording for Artificial Intelligence: ChatGPT 101: Exploring the Implications of Artificial Intelligence Text Generators for Teaching and Learning

     

      WMUx Accessible Teaching Series

    Accessibility in the Digital Classroom

    What to do with your course PDFs

    Join us to learn about PDF accessibility, how to create accessible PDFs, and how to improve your existing PDF course files. 

    Session Materials

      View session recording for What to do with your course PDFs

     

      Student Support Series

    Supporting Students

    Student Affairs Panel

    Are you curious about the ways you can help improve your students’ well-being and academic success or about what to do if a student comes to you in crisis? In this session, we will hear from three student support professionals on the various support systems in place for students at the university. Time will also be provided for a question-and-answer session.  

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Supporting Students: Student Affairs Panel

     

      Student Support Series

    Supporting Students

    Supporting Students with Accommodations

    Join us for a guided discussion about supporting students that require accommodations. Learn and ask questions about the roles and responsibilities of the Disability Student Services office, the students, and instructor throughout the accommodation process. 

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Supporting Students: Supporting Students with Accommodations

     

      WMUx Pop Culture Series

    Marvel Day Tie-in

    Using Pop Culture to Engage Students

    As part of community-wide programming surrounding the release of the Disney/Marvel film Wakanda Forever, Dr. Christopher "Mav" Maverick, a Teaching Assistant Professor in the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, will join a panel of WMU faculty and community partners to offer insights into increasing student engagement via the use of popular culture examples and artifacts in your courses. You don't have to be a pop culture expert to benefit from this session – it is geared towards all instructors, regardless of their superpowers.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Pop Culture

     

      WMUx Assessment Series

    Assessment

    Curriculum Mapping Basics

    Curriculum mapping is a strategic design process that describes a path for learning. In this session you will learn the basics about how to get started with this process, and how it can help you to create a road map for the learning you would like your students to achieve.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Curriculum Mapping Basics

     

      WMUx Article Club

    Fall Article Club:

    Video Pedagogy

    Read the short article provided and think through the pre-session discussion questions. At the session, the group will share reactions and insights. At the end of the session, Dr. Tarbox will share an assignment card related to the discussion topic that you can use in your courses.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Video Pedagogy

     

      WMUx Accessible Teaching Series

    Elearning Document Accessibility: A Proactive Approach

    In this 60-minute virtual presentation, we will discuss the basic principles and success criteria for creating accessible electronic course documents and approaches to examining and remediating your course content for compliance.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Elearning Document Accessibility

     

      WMUx Student Engagement Series

    Exit Tickets and Course Recaps

    Exit tickets and other forms of short assessment can help you figure out if students have picked up the important parts of a class session. In this workshop, we'll go over these techniques, as well as helpful ways to keep students engaged between class sessions.

      View session recording for Exit Tickets/Recaps

     

      WMUx Student Engagement Series

    In-person Class Discussion

    Learn how to set the stage for effective discussions, as well as a variety of protocols and strategies that work best for a variety of situations.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for In-person Class Discussion

     

      WMUx Student Engagement Series

    First Day of Class/Icebreakers

    In this workshop, we will share tips on how to communicate course information clearly and facilitate icebreakers that are interactive and reinforce course content.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Icebreakers

     

      LMS Fundamentals Series

    LMS Fundamentals

    Quizzes

    In this 60 minute workshop, we will examine and walk through the the new and updated quizzing feature in Elearning. The switch to the new quiz feature will begin in fall and be permanent in Spring 2023.

      View session recording for LMS Fundamentals Quizzes

     

      LMS Fundamentals Series

    LMS Fundamentals

    Creating Discussions and Dropboxes

    These mini-trainings are aimed at first time LMS users (or those that would like a refresher) and are designed to cover the basics of Elearning. Our goal is to assist instructors in connecting with students and to make teaching and learning more enjoyable by building a welcoming and functional online space to interact, share content, collect assignments, and offer feedback. These mini-trainings are applicable to all course modalities.

      View session recording for LMS Fundamentals 3

     

      LMS Fundamentals Series

    LMS Fundamentals

    Building Modules and Content

    These mini-trainings are aimed at first time LMS users (or those that would like a refresher) and are designed to cover the basics of Elearning. Our goal is to assist instructors in connecting with students and to make teaching and learning more enjoyable by building a welcoming and functional online space to interact, share content, collect assignments, and offer feedback. These mini-trainings are applicable to all course modalities.

      View session recording for LMS Fundamentals 2

     

      WMUx Book Club Series

    Summer Book Club

    Common Read - Win or Learn

    This year's Common Read book is Harlan Cohen's Win or Learn: The Naked Truth About Turning Every Rejection into Your Ultimate Success (2021). Written specifically for university graduate students and undergraduate students, Win or Learn helps you develop strategies to ask for help and to find unconventional ways to succeed. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion—copies of the book will be available in Waldo Library or for $6.26 in the University Bookstore.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Summer Book Club 2

     

      WMUx Inclusive Teaching Series

    Inclusive Engagement

    Discussions and Other Methods

    Use the framework of "Universal Design for Learning" (UDL) to develop new techniques for deeper engagement during discussions.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Discussions and Other Methods

     

      WMUx Inclusive Teaching Series

    Inclusive Action and Expression

    Assignments, Rubrics

    Use the framework of "Universal Design for Learning" (UDL) to approach the design and evaluation of assignments that will enable all to learn.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Assignments, Rubrics

     

      WMUx Inclusive Teaching Series

    Inclusive Representation

    Syllabus and Content

    Use the framework of "Universal Design for Learning" (UDL) to assess and improve methods for representing diverse points of view.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Syllabus and Content

     

      WMUx Deck the Halls Series

    Creating Individual Activity and Assignment Cards

    Want to streamline how you provide instructions to students? Bring a traditional assignment sheet with you to this session, and we'll help you develop an activity or assignment card for use in your fall class.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Individual Activity Cards

     

      WMUx Deck the Halls Series

    Creating a Card Deck for Your Class

    Card decks integrate choice into your students' in-class or synchronous participation and help your students gain better understanding of your course goals. In addition to seeing examples, you can plan out some cards for your fall class.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Creating a Card Deck

     

      WMUx Deck the Halls Series

    Pip Deck Tactics

    Ditch Dull Presentations

    Pip Decks provides users with dozens of strategies to make their presentations more engaging. Join us for a tour through some of the most popular Pip Deck strategies that you can use in your next conference or class presentation.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Ditch Dull Presentations

     

      WMUx Approaches to Instruction Series

    Approaches to Instruction

    Jigsaw and Think-Pair-Share

    In this interactive workshop, we will explore two cooperative learning strategies, Jigsaw and Think-Pair-Share. These strategies encourage independent thinking, collaboration, and sets the stage for deeper learning by asking students to become actively engaged in the learning process.

    Session Materials

      WMUx Approaches to Instruction Series

    Approaches to Instruction

    Resolution of Conflict

    In this interactive workshop we will test out the Resolution of Conflict Model. This model is specifically designed to help students construct deeper understanding of issues, think critically and analytically about a problem, and draw conclusions based on discussion and fact finding.

    Session Materials

     

      WMUx Approaches to Instruction Series

    Approaches to Instruction

    Cause and Effect

    The Cause and Effect Model is designed to help students explore and make inferences about a specific action, situation, condition, or conflict through the development of causal models and examining patterns over time. The process helps students collectively and actively construct and deepen their understanding of the topic. Come to this interactive workshop to learn more and see how this technique can enhance your teaching!

    Session Materials

     

      WMUx Media and Design Sessions

    Make Your Elearning Course Visually Appealing

    The default for Elearning shells is very…basic. With a few easy steps, you can create a feeling of connection and community in your Elearning course shell. See examples of effective sites and plan out some changes for your next Elearning course.

      View session recording for Visually Appealing Elearning Course

     

      WMUx Media and Design Sessions

    Creating Visually Interesting Posters and Infographics

    Infographics and posters are a great way to convey complex information concisely. Learn how to turn a lecture, conference presentation, or class report into an infographic or poster using cutting-edge design principles.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Creating Visually Interesting Posters and Infographics

     

      WMUx Media and Design Sessions

    Developing Engaging Video Content

    New to making video lessons? Want to keep your students engaged as they watch course content? Join WMU's video expert as he takes you through the dos and don'ts of effective video production. No experience necessary—we'll give you pointers you can use immediately.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Developing Engaging Video Content

     

      WMUx Media and Design Sessions

    Design Basics

    Creating Presentations Using WMU Branding

    Need to develop a conference or class presentation? This session will focus on making professional slides that make an impact using WMU-branded templates.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Creating Presentations using WMU Brand

     

      WMUx Accessible Teaching Series

    Accessibility in the Digital Classroom

    Microsoft Word and PowerPoint

    Discover best practices in accessibility as you create course content using Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. You will practice and apply techniques to create and publish digitally accessible and higher quality course materials.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Accessibility - Word and PowerPoint

     

      WMUx Accessible Teaching Series

    Accessibility in the Digital Classroom

    ALLY for Elearning

    Learn via step-by-step instructions about Ally for Elearning and how accessible course content makes it easier for everyone to read and understand course materials, as well as improving the overall quality and usability of your resources.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Accessibility - ALLY for Elearning

     

      WMUx Book Club Series

    Summer Book Club

    What's New in Teaching and Learning?

    Book club participants will discuss 3 chapters from newly released texts on teaching and learning in the higher education context. The free texts will be made available through the WMU Library or as an electronic PDF and you will be contacted for your preference upon registration.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Summer Book Club 1

     

      WMUx Accessible Teaching Series

    Accessibility in the Digital Classroom

    Fundamentals

    A comprehensive overview of WMU's digital accessibility initiatives and resources. We will discuss classroom accommodations, accessible course content, and textbook and app purchasing.

    Session Materials

      View session recording for Accessibility in the Digital Classroom - Fundamentals

     

      WMUx Accessible Teaching Series

    Accessibility in the Digital Classroom

    Introduction / Global Accessibility Awareness Day Workshop

    Global Accessibility Awareness Day is an awareness day focusing on digital access and inclusion for the more than one billion people with disabilities and impairments. Learn more about how the WMU community and we can do our part as educators to create a digitally equitable learning experience for all students.

      View session recording for Global Accessibility Awareness Day