We found 521 results that contain "information literacy"
Posted on: Catalyst Innovation Program
CIP: QR Code-Based Instruction in Engineering and Biology Laboratories
Project Title: Opening New WindowsProject Leads: Sunil Kishore Chakrapani and Jenifer Saldanha
College/ Unit:
Department of ECE, College of Engineering and Biological Science Program, College of Natural Sciences
Elevator Pitch:Quick response or QR codes are machine readable (typically by smart phone/tablet cameras) systems similar to bar-codes that can contain information within the image. They are used to provide an easy, fast and concise way to connect to information via the internet. QR codes are used in stores as payment options, and to display information, especially becoming commonplace during the COVID-19 pandemic. This project explores the use of QR codes in improving the delivery of instructional content in engineering and biology laboratories. The specific objective of this project is to implement QR code-based instruction strategies for laboratories, which will help to make “lab-manuals” more accessible and engaging. Standard laboratory manuals can be overwhelming due to clutter and overloading of information. Students can find it unengaging, and accessing specific information can be challenging. This project will utilize sequentially programmed QR codes placed at different locations in the lab to “walk” students through experimental procedures. The QR codes will be linked to interactive web pages which will display the course content in an engaging manner. When students want to find information regarding a specific instrument or experimental protocol, they can simply scan the associated QR code which will lead them to the information along with a video of how it works. This project also employs this QR code concept to design interactive assessments. Students will answer questions by identifying and scanning the correct QR codes. Team Bios: Dr. Sunil Kishore Chakrapani is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Mechanical Engineering in the College of Engineering. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in both departments in the topics of computer aided manufacturing, and mechanics. His research interests include use of ultrasonics for nondestructive evaluation. Dr. Jenifer Saldanha is an Assistant Professor in the Biological Sciences program in the College of Natural Science. She is the Curriculum Coordinator for introductory molecular and cellular biology labs. Her broad research interests include student success and retention in STEM disciplines, life science education research, and stress biology.What are some of the successes?QR coded links for videos and initial course content were embedded in HTML pages and these work well. The use of sequential QR codes for activities was tested and we found that these work well and smoothly. QR coded assignments were developed for the lab and they work as expected. What are some of the challenges that you have experienced on this project?The QR coded assignments work for the engineering lab, but will require more time and effort to adapt for the biology lab. Web design requires a lot of effort. Using the tools from this project requires a smooth web interface. In the future, it’ll be great if the project resources can be used for web design and development in the form of undergrad hours. Supply chain issues delayed our ability to order tablets for the courses.Image attribution:QR Code for Object Taggingby preetamrai is licensed under CC-BY-2.0
College/ Unit:
Department of ECE, College of Engineering and Biological Science Program, College of Natural Sciences
Elevator Pitch:Quick response or QR codes are machine readable (typically by smart phone/tablet cameras) systems similar to bar-codes that can contain information within the image. They are used to provide an easy, fast and concise way to connect to information via the internet. QR codes are used in stores as payment options, and to display information, especially becoming commonplace during the COVID-19 pandemic. This project explores the use of QR codes in improving the delivery of instructional content in engineering and biology laboratories. The specific objective of this project is to implement QR code-based instruction strategies for laboratories, which will help to make “lab-manuals” more accessible and engaging. Standard laboratory manuals can be overwhelming due to clutter and overloading of information. Students can find it unengaging, and accessing specific information can be challenging. This project will utilize sequentially programmed QR codes placed at different locations in the lab to “walk” students through experimental procedures. The QR codes will be linked to interactive web pages which will display the course content in an engaging manner. When students want to find information regarding a specific instrument or experimental protocol, they can simply scan the associated QR code which will lead them to the information along with a video of how it works. This project also employs this QR code concept to design interactive assessments. Students will answer questions by identifying and scanning the correct QR codes. Team Bios: Dr. Sunil Kishore Chakrapani is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Mechanical Engineering in the College of Engineering. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in both departments in the topics of computer aided manufacturing, and mechanics. His research interests include use of ultrasonics for nondestructive evaluation. Dr. Jenifer Saldanha is an Assistant Professor in the Biological Sciences program in the College of Natural Science. She is the Curriculum Coordinator for introductory molecular and cellular biology labs. Her broad research interests include student success and retention in STEM disciplines, life science education research, and stress biology.What are some of the successes?QR coded links for videos and initial course content were embedded in HTML pages and these work well. The use of sequential QR codes for activities was tested and we found that these work well and smoothly. QR coded assignments were developed for the lab and they work as expected. What are some of the challenges that you have experienced on this project?The QR coded assignments work for the engineering lab, but will require more time and effort to adapt for the biology lab. Web design requires a lot of effort. Using the tools from this project requires a smooth web interface. In the future, it’ll be great if the project resources can be used for web design and development in the form of undergrad hours. Supply chain issues delayed our ability to order tablets for the courses.Image attribution:QR Code for Object Taggingby preetamrai is licensed under CC-BY-2.0
Authored by:
Sunil Kishore Chakrapani and Jenifer Saldanha

Posted on: Educator Development Network (EDN)
MSUIT Staff Bio - Mark Hodgins
Mark W. Hodginshodgins@msu.eduInstructional Technology and Development TeamResponsible for the instructional development of both video and computer-aided instruction. Joint coordination with other staff members within ITS and the Innovation HUB as well as other technical support people on campus. Technical consultant to the faculty, students and staff on the design/development/delivery of all forms of mediated instruction and administrative information systems. Technical knowledge in the configuration and use of Learning Management Systems (i.e. Angel, Blackboard, and D2L) as well as Cloud services like Microsoft Office 365, Google Apps, Apple iCloud. Apple University and Kultura MediaSpace. Extensive experience in relational database system design and development.
Education:
Master of Arts in Educational Systems Development - Instructional Computing
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Bachelor of Arts in Telecommunications
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Associates of Applied Science (Digital Electronics)
Lansing Community College, Lansing, MI
Experience:
Instructional System Designer - Michigan State University, IT Services | Instructional Technology and Development. Responsible for the instructional development of both video and computer-aided instruction. Joint coordination with other staff members within ITS and the Innovation HUB as well as other technical support people on campus. Technical consultant to the faculty, students and staff on the design/development/delivery of all forms of mediated instruction and administrative information systems. 2017 – Present
Training Program Developer III - Michigan State University, Health Information Technology. Responsible for the instructional development of both video and computer-aided instruction. Joint coordination with other staff members within HIT as well as other technical support people on campus. Technical consultant to the faculty, students and staff on the design/development/delivery of all forms of mediated instruction and administrative information systems. 2003 – 2017
Training Program Developer II - Michigan State University, College of Osteopathic Medicine. Responsible for the development of video and computer-aided instructional programs. Joint-coordination with other staff members of the Learning Resource Center and Interactive Computer Lab. Technical consultant to the faculty, students and staff of COM on the design/development/delivery of all forms of mediated instruction and administrative information systems. 1991 – 2003
Television Production Engineer - Michigan State University, College of Osteopathic Medicine. Responsible for the operation of the college’s media production facility. Co-supervisor of Media Services and Learning Resource Center and in charge of Technical Services. Involved in the design and production of instructional video programs for the college's faculty. 1981-1991
Technical Production Assistant - Michigan State University, College of Osteopathic Medicine. Assisted staff engineer on television studio operations. Involved in A/V system designs and installations. Assisted program director with the production of educational videotape programs. 1978-1980
Attended Conferences
Interactive HealthCare Conference & Exposition - Washington, D.C.
Information Technology in the Health Sciences - Memphis, TN, Houston, TX, New Orleans, LA.
Society of Applied Learning and Technology (SALT) -Orlando, FL
Slice of Life Conference - Salt Lake City, UT, Chicago, IL, Philadelphia, PA, Portland, OR, Munich, Germany
Campus Technology Syllabus Conference -San Jose, CA, Boston, MA.
Apple World Wide Developers Conference – San Francisco, CA
Published Research
Lovell K, Haf J, Hodgins M. Development of neuropathology interactive videodisk instructional units. Teaching and Learning in Medicine 1991;3:156-8.
Bean P, Lovell K, Hodgins M, Parkhurst P, Sprafka S. Quantitative and Qualitative Evaluation of Interactive Videodisk Instructional Modules in Preclinical Neuropathology Education Teaching and Learning in Medicine 1993;5:3-9.
Oommen J Z, Hodgins M, Hinojosa R, et al. (June 21, 2021) Accuracy of Weight Estimation Using the Broselow Tape in a Peruvian Pediatric Population. Cureus 13(6): e15807. doi:10.7759/cureus.15807
Current Projects
Part of MSU's Institute for Global Health team working on curriculum revisions for the Armed Forces College of Medicine in Cairo Egypt.
Serving as an Instructional Technology Advisor for MSU's Global Health Studies Program.
Remediation of Medical Administrative Systems to integrate with MSU's new Student Information System.
International Travel
Travele extensively around the world to attend Instructional Technology conferences, conduct project site visits, as well as pleasure trips to visit family.
Destinations include British Columbia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Egypt, France, Germany, England, and Ireland.
Education:
Master of Arts in Educational Systems Development - Instructional Computing
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Bachelor of Arts in Telecommunications
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Associates of Applied Science (Digital Electronics)
Lansing Community College, Lansing, MI
Experience:
Instructional System Designer - Michigan State University, IT Services | Instructional Technology and Development. Responsible for the instructional development of both video and computer-aided instruction. Joint coordination with other staff members within ITS and the Innovation HUB as well as other technical support people on campus. Technical consultant to the faculty, students and staff on the design/development/delivery of all forms of mediated instruction and administrative information systems. 2017 – Present
Training Program Developer III - Michigan State University, Health Information Technology. Responsible for the instructional development of both video and computer-aided instruction. Joint coordination with other staff members within HIT as well as other technical support people on campus. Technical consultant to the faculty, students and staff on the design/development/delivery of all forms of mediated instruction and administrative information systems. 2003 – 2017
Training Program Developer II - Michigan State University, College of Osteopathic Medicine. Responsible for the development of video and computer-aided instructional programs. Joint-coordination with other staff members of the Learning Resource Center and Interactive Computer Lab. Technical consultant to the faculty, students and staff of COM on the design/development/delivery of all forms of mediated instruction and administrative information systems. 1991 – 2003
Television Production Engineer - Michigan State University, College of Osteopathic Medicine. Responsible for the operation of the college’s media production facility. Co-supervisor of Media Services and Learning Resource Center and in charge of Technical Services. Involved in the design and production of instructional video programs for the college's faculty. 1981-1991
Technical Production Assistant - Michigan State University, College of Osteopathic Medicine. Assisted staff engineer on television studio operations. Involved in A/V system designs and installations. Assisted program director with the production of educational videotape programs. 1978-1980
Attended Conferences
Interactive HealthCare Conference & Exposition - Washington, D.C.
Information Technology in the Health Sciences - Memphis, TN, Houston, TX, New Orleans, LA.
Society of Applied Learning and Technology (SALT) -Orlando, FL
Slice of Life Conference - Salt Lake City, UT, Chicago, IL, Philadelphia, PA, Portland, OR, Munich, Germany
Campus Technology Syllabus Conference -San Jose, CA, Boston, MA.
Apple World Wide Developers Conference – San Francisco, CA
Published Research
Lovell K, Haf J, Hodgins M. Development of neuropathology interactive videodisk instructional units. Teaching and Learning in Medicine 1991;3:156-8.
Bean P, Lovell K, Hodgins M, Parkhurst P, Sprafka S. Quantitative and Qualitative Evaluation of Interactive Videodisk Instructional Modules in Preclinical Neuropathology Education Teaching and Learning in Medicine 1993;5:3-9.
Oommen J Z, Hodgins M, Hinojosa R, et al. (June 21, 2021) Accuracy of Weight Estimation Using the Broselow Tape in a Peruvian Pediatric Population. Cureus 13(6): e15807. doi:10.7759/cureus.15807
Current Projects
Part of MSU's Institute for Global Health team working on curriculum revisions for the Armed Forces College of Medicine in Cairo Egypt.
Serving as an Instructional Technology Advisor for MSU's Global Health Studies Program.
Remediation of Medical Administrative Systems to integrate with MSU's new Student Information System.
International Travel
Travele extensively around the world to attend Instructional Technology conferences, conduct project site visits, as well as pleasure trips to visit family.
Destinations include British Columbia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Egypt, France, Germany, England, and Ireland.
Posted by:
KJ Downer Shojgreen
Posted on: #iteachmsu
NAVIGATING CONTEXT
Safety
Below is a list of resources that promote student success. All links provided are direct links (ONE CLICK) connecting you to contact information or an educator who can respond to your questions and/or help students whose safety you're concerned about. Thank you for helping our students achieve their goals.
MSU Community Policing Focuses on unity between MSU police officers and the MSU community
Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) Provides information for mandatory reporters, including when to and how to file a report; click on the link for a directory
MSU Community Policing Focuses on unity between MSU police officers and the MSU community
Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) Provides information for mandatory reporters, including when to and how to file a report; click on the link for a directory
Authored by:
Educators Empowering Student Success Committee (part of t...

Posted on: #iteachmsu

Safety
Below is a list of resources that promote student success. All link...
Authored by:
NAVIGATING CONTEXT
Friday, Jul 29, 2022
Posted on: #iteachmsu
EASE Report Upload Tutorial
What are EASE Reports?
EASE (Enhancing Academic Success Early) Reports are a great way to provide students- and their advisors- feedback on how they are doing in your class. Instructors post students' current grades, attendance and engagement, and comments. The instructor chooses if the information is sent just to the advisors or to both students and advisors. I complete the reports during the third week, fourth week (prior to the last day to drop with a refund), halfway through the semester (before the last day to drop without a grade reported), and toward the end of the semester.
How are EASE Reports Completed?
EASE reports are completed on the Registrar's website. There are two options for posting them: entering grades and comments individually for each student in an online form or uploading a file. Uploading a file is the most efficient way to provide feedback for large classes because information can be quickly copied and pasted for multiple students. This way, you can provide feedback to every student. The tutorial below describes 1) how to download a student list EASE report template from the Registrar's website, 2) how to export grades from D2L, 3) how to combine the student list file and the D2L file, 4) tips and tricks to consider while working on the file, and 5) how to edit and upload the final file for an EASE Report upload to the registrar's website.
Notes to Consider
Make sure to upload it as a CSV.D2L calculates the final grade. Just note that if you have any drops already set up in your gradebook, that it will adjust the grade for those drops. Because of this, when I complete reports at the beginning of the semester, I manually calculate the grade so that drops are not set up. This way, they have a more accurate reflection of how they are doing in the course. Then I add a comment to anyone with a grade below 4.0 that their grade on D2L may be higher than what is reported here because the lowest grade for select assignments is dropped. In the video, I mentioned an equation that I use to check that the D2L and the EASE student list files match. Make sure to delete the demo students from the D2L list and put them both in order by NetID/email. Here is the equation: =if(G2=O2,1) You may need to change "G" and "O" depending on your columns. In my example, the MSU Net ID is in the G column of the file and the Email from D2L is in the O column of the file.I briefly went over the different columns in the EASE report file. Here is a description of each one (do not change the heading of any of the columns):
The first several columns contain information that you do not change:
Term_Code: semester roster
Subj_Code: the subject of your course
Crse_Code: the course code
Sctn_Code: the section number
Student_ID: students' PIDs
Student_Name: last name, first name of each student
MSUNet_ID: The student's Net_ID; the first part of their email address
Require: Does the student require an EASE report? There will be a "yes" for each student that requires an EASE report and nothing entered for those that do not. Try to complete a report for more than just those that require one.
You enter information for the next several columns:
Grade: Enter a grade for each student (0, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4). One easy way to calculate this is to add a percentage grade column from D2L and then put it in order of percentage (make sure to delete this extra column before uploading the file).
Attendance: enter "yes," "intermittent," or "no." If needed, add any clarifications to the comments column.
Engagement: enter "yes," "intermittent," or "no." If needed, add any clarifications to the comments column.
MeasuresDoNotApply: enter "yes" if the measures "grade," "attendance," and "engagement" do not apply to your course or for that student.
Comments: This is where you type useful feedback to the student's advisor and the student, if applicable. Try to be as specific as possible. Consider having a separate document of feedback that you can copy and paste from each semester.
ShareComments: Enter "yes" if you want students to also see the comments that you provided.
Additional information is provided on the EASE report file upload page on the registrar's website.
EASE (Enhancing Academic Success Early) Reports are a great way to provide students- and their advisors- feedback on how they are doing in your class. Instructors post students' current grades, attendance and engagement, and comments. The instructor chooses if the information is sent just to the advisors or to both students and advisors. I complete the reports during the third week, fourth week (prior to the last day to drop with a refund), halfway through the semester (before the last day to drop without a grade reported), and toward the end of the semester.
How are EASE Reports Completed?
EASE reports are completed on the Registrar's website. There are two options for posting them: entering grades and comments individually for each student in an online form or uploading a file. Uploading a file is the most efficient way to provide feedback for large classes because information can be quickly copied and pasted for multiple students. This way, you can provide feedback to every student. The tutorial below describes 1) how to download a student list EASE report template from the Registrar's website, 2) how to export grades from D2L, 3) how to combine the student list file and the D2L file, 4) tips and tricks to consider while working on the file, and 5) how to edit and upload the final file for an EASE Report upload to the registrar's website.
Notes to Consider
Make sure to upload it as a CSV.D2L calculates the final grade. Just note that if you have any drops already set up in your gradebook, that it will adjust the grade for those drops. Because of this, when I complete reports at the beginning of the semester, I manually calculate the grade so that drops are not set up. This way, they have a more accurate reflection of how they are doing in the course. Then I add a comment to anyone with a grade below 4.0 that their grade on D2L may be higher than what is reported here because the lowest grade for select assignments is dropped. In the video, I mentioned an equation that I use to check that the D2L and the EASE student list files match. Make sure to delete the demo students from the D2L list and put them both in order by NetID/email. Here is the equation: =if(G2=O2,1) You may need to change "G" and "O" depending on your columns. In my example, the MSU Net ID is in the G column of the file and the Email from D2L is in the O column of the file.I briefly went over the different columns in the EASE report file. Here is a description of each one (do not change the heading of any of the columns):
The first several columns contain information that you do not change:
Term_Code: semester roster
Subj_Code: the subject of your course
Crse_Code: the course code
Sctn_Code: the section number
Student_ID: students' PIDs
Student_Name: last name, first name of each student
MSUNet_ID: The student's Net_ID; the first part of their email address
Require: Does the student require an EASE report? There will be a "yes" for each student that requires an EASE report and nothing entered for those that do not. Try to complete a report for more than just those that require one.
You enter information for the next several columns:
Grade: Enter a grade for each student (0, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4). One easy way to calculate this is to add a percentage grade column from D2L and then put it in order of percentage (make sure to delete this extra column before uploading the file).
Attendance: enter "yes," "intermittent," or "no." If needed, add any clarifications to the comments column.
Engagement: enter "yes," "intermittent," or "no." If needed, add any clarifications to the comments column.
MeasuresDoNotApply: enter "yes" if the measures "grade," "attendance," and "engagement" do not apply to your course or for that student.
Comments: This is where you type useful feedback to the student's advisor and the student, if applicable. Try to be as specific as possible. Consider having a separate document of feedback that you can copy and paste from each semester.
ShareComments: Enter "yes" if you want students to also see the comments that you provided.
Additional information is provided on the EASE report file upload page on the registrar's website.
Authored by:
Andrea Bierema

Posted on: #iteachmsu

EASE Report Upload Tutorial
What are EASE Reports?
EASE (Enhancing Academic Success Early) Repo...
EASE (Enhancing Academic Success Early) Repo...
Authored by:
Thursday, Sep 14, 2023
Posted on: #iteachmsu
NAVIGATING CONTEXT
Taking Time Off
Originally posted in response to the burn-out as a result of the pandemics of 2020, this post is as relevant as ever. Juggling ever changing contexts and considerations at work, while setting boundaries to keep ourselves healthy can really wear a person down. And that's not even considering additional responsibilites in caregiving, at home and in our communitites. Needless to say as we approach the end of the calendar year, and with it a short break, here is some advice from MSU's Well-being at Work Guide: Taking time away from work, in the forms of breaks, vacation time, or strengthening boundaries around employees’ workdays, is important. Breaks throughout employees’ days have many benefits. Employees should also remember to take a break for lunch. There are additional resources that walk employees through how to maximize lunch breaks, as well as the benefits from doing so. Taking vacation time, whether vacationing away or staying at home, helps employees increase their productivity and improve their health. This information is important for both supervisors and employees in order to work toward supporting employees and creating a healthier workplace. Vacation TimeGoing on a vacation or taking time away from work improves employees’ productivity, as well as their energy and focus within the workplace. Employees then can come back to the office refreshed and excited to get back to work, which translates into better productivity, higher quality work, and more energy in their workplace. Organizations and supervisors supporting employees taking vacation time increases the retention of employees and their loyalty to the organization, as well as increasing their job satisfaction (Vinocur, n.d.; Mohn, 2014). Almost 70% of employees feel more satisfied with their jobs if they take regular vacations, and more satisfied employees will stay at their jobs longer, reducing high turnover and costs associated with hiring (Vinocur, n.d.). Taking vacation time also strengthens employee relationships with their families and those they care about outside of work (Hutchison, n.d.c; Kasser & Sheldon, 2009). Taking vacation time also improves employees’ health, preventing heart disease and other illnesses, helping manage anxiety and depression, and improving their sleep by almost 20%. This can result in lower healthcare costs for employers and reduced stress for employees (Vinocur, n.d.). Taking vacation time should be encouraged, as it leads to a happier heather work climate. For employees to get the most out of their vacation time, they should prepare their workspace for their absence. Taking care of any final emails, setting up their “out of office” email, and organizing their work area allows employees to step away from their work for their vacation and come back to as little catch-up work as possible. If an employee must work during their vacation, they should set up certain time periods to work, then not work outside of that time, including checking their email (Hutchison, n.d.c). Taking these steps helps employees focus as much of their time as possible on their vacation, to step away from work and de-stress, and be excited to jump back into work upon their return. For more information on MSU’s vacation policies, visit MSU’s Human Resources Solution Center for walk-in services in Suite 110 of Nisbet Building or email them at SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu.
Benefits of taking vacation time:
Improves productivity
Improves employees’ focus and energy in the workplace
Increases retention of employees and employees’ loyalty to the organization
Increases job satisfaction
Almost 70% of employees feel more satisfied with their jobs if they take regular vacations
Strengthens relationships with those outside of work
Improves sleep by almost 20%
Helps manage anxiety and depression
Helps prevent heart disease and other illnesses
Gives the body a break from constant stress
Lowers healthcare costs
How to set yourself up to get the most out of your vacation time:
Take care of any final emails
Set up your “out of office” email
Organize your work area so you come back to a clean space
If you have to work during your vacation, try to set a certain time period that you work, and do not work outside of that time period, including checking your email
For more information on MSU’s vacation policies, the HR Solution Center offers walk-in services in Suite 110 of Nisbet Building and answers questions via email at SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu Additionally, in Focus on Can and Serve, educator Erica Venton shares her own tips for being present this time of year, even if it brings difficulties, stress, or sadness. She includes being giving the gift of kindness and reflecting on what you have control over in her recommendations. Read the full article here.
Resources Supporting Wellness on Campus
Health4U
Rest with Music classes
Emotional wellbeing classes and one on one coaching
Walking paths across campus can be useful for employees to practice grounding strategies throughout the workday. See Health4U’s maps to chart walks, runs, or bike paths: https://health4u.msu.edu/resources/msu-campus-walking-tour
See https://health4u.msu.edu/wellness for more information
Employee Assistance Program
Free, confidential, up to six sessions of counseling, per issue
For MSU employees (faculty and staff), their spouses or partners, and their children (insurance eligible)
Counseling on work and employment situations
Stress reduction classes
Emotional wellness classes
See https://eap.msu.edu/ for more information
WorkLife Office
Professional staff offer one-on-one consultations to help employees deal with many issues, including stressors at work and at home
See the introduction page of this guide for information on how to request a consultation
The office also offers many presentations and trainings on a variety of topics, including stress and grounding strategies
See the introduction page of this guide for information on how to request a presentation
Sources
Hutchison, J. (n.d.c). Why vacations matter. Michigan State University WorkLife Office. https://worklife.msu.edu/news/why-vacations-matter
Kasser, T., & Sheldon, K. M. (2009). Time affluence as a path toward personal happiness and ethical business practice: Empirical evidence from four studies. Journal of Business Ethics, 84, 243–255. http://dx.doi.org.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/10.1007/s10551-008-9696-1
Vinocur, L. (n.d.). 10 reasons why vacations matter. Take Back Your Time. https://www.takebackyourtime.org/why-vacations-matter/10-reasons-to-vacation/
Mohn, T. (2014, February 28). Take a vacation: It’s good for productivity and the economy, according to a new study. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/tanyamohn/2014/02/28/take-a-vacation-its-good-for-productivity-and-the-economy-according-to-a-new-study/#7652f6a85a33
Photo by Kira auf der Heide on Unsplash
Benefits of taking vacation time:
Improves productivity
Improves employees’ focus and energy in the workplace
Increases retention of employees and employees’ loyalty to the organization
Increases job satisfaction
Almost 70% of employees feel more satisfied with their jobs if they take regular vacations
Strengthens relationships with those outside of work
Improves sleep by almost 20%
Helps manage anxiety and depression
Helps prevent heart disease and other illnesses
Gives the body a break from constant stress
Lowers healthcare costs
How to set yourself up to get the most out of your vacation time:
Take care of any final emails
Set up your “out of office” email
Organize your work area so you come back to a clean space
If you have to work during your vacation, try to set a certain time period that you work, and do not work outside of that time period, including checking your email
For more information on MSU’s vacation policies, the HR Solution Center offers walk-in services in Suite 110 of Nisbet Building and answers questions via email at SolutionsCenter@hr.msu.edu Additionally, in Focus on Can and Serve, educator Erica Venton shares her own tips for being present this time of year, even if it brings difficulties, stress, or sadness. She includes being giving the gift of kindness and reflecting on what you have control over in her recommendations. Read the full article here.
Resources Supporting Wellness on Campus
Health4U
Rest with Music classes
Emotional wellbeing classes and one on one coaching
Walking paths across campus can be useful for employees to practice grounding strategies throughout the workday. See Health4U’s maps to chart walks, runs, or bike paths: https://health4u.msu.edu/resources/msu-campus-walking-tour
See https://health4u.msu.edu/wellness for more information
Employee Assistance Program
Free, confidential, up to six sessions of counseling, per issue
For MSU employees (faculty and staff), their spouses or partners, and their children (insurance eligible)
Counseling on work and employment situations
Stress reduction classes
Emotional wellness classes
See https://eap.msu.edu/ for more information
WorkLife Office
Professional staff offer one-on-one consultations to help employees deal with many issues, including stressors at work and at home
See the introduction page of this guide for information on how to request a consultation
The office also offers many presentations and trainings on a variety of topics, including stress and grounding strategies
See the introduction page of this guide for information on how to request a presentation
Sources
Hutchison, J. (n.d.c). Why vacations matter. Michigan State University WorkLife Office. https://worklife.msu.edu/news/why-vacations-matter
Kasser, T., & Sheldon, K. M. (2009). Time affluence as a path toward personal happiness and ethical business practice: Empirical evidence from four studies. Journal of Business Ethics, 84, 243–255. http://dx.doi.org.proxy2.cl.msu.edu/10.1007/s10551-008-9696-1
Vinocur, L. (n.d.). 10 reasons why vacations matter. Take Back Your Time. https://www.takebackyourtime.org/why-vacations-matter/10-reasons-to-vacation/
Mohn, T. (2014, February 28). Take a vacation: It’s good for productivity and the economy, according to a new study. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/tanyamohn/2014/02/28/take-a-vacation-its-good-for-productivity-and-the-economy-according-to-a-new-study/#7652f6a85a33
Photo by Kira auf der Heide on Unsplash
Authored by:
WorkLife Office

Posted on: #iteachmsu

Taking Time Off
Originally posted in response to the burn-out as a result of the pa...
Authored by:
NAVIGATING CONTEXT
Thursday, Dec 1, 2022
Posted on: #iteachmsu
June 2021 Online Workshops from MSU IT
Course Design: Modality & Technology
Our June workshops are focused on planning courses for Fall semester. We are hosting 6 workshops, 4 vendor demonstrations, and 3 "office hours" sessions. The workshops and demonstrations will be recorded and shared by email to all registrants and also posted to the MSU Tools and Technologies D2L self-enrollment course (enroll here). As always, if you would like a one-on-one consultation on course design or academic technologies, please submit a service request to the MSU Help Desk and ask for the Instructional Technology & Development team.
Defining and Exemplifying the Modalities
Tuesday June 8th, 10 am – 11:30 am ET
What do Hybrid, Hyflex, Flipped, etc. mean? What do they look and feel like in action for you and for your students? Some of these intersect, like a flipped hybrid class, what does that look like? In this workshop, we will define and discuss these terms and faculty will showcase how they implemented these modalities in their courses.
Register for Defining & Exemplifying the Modalities
Choosing your Instructional Technologies
Tuesday June 15th, 10 am – 11:30 am ET
How do you pick instructional technologies? Which ones will work best for your modality and goals? When should you compromise on the performance of a technology to increase versatility and reduce the number of different technologies you use? In this informational workshop, we will discuss the intersections of teaching modalities, course platforms, & other instructional technologies to help answer these questions. We will also review what other external considerations should inform your design decisions.
Register for Choosing your Instructional Technologies
Course Design “Office Hours”
Friday June 18th, 10 am – 12 pm ET
For 2 hours, the Instructional Technology and Development Team will be on hand to individually answer questions about course modalities and choosing your instructional technologies.
Register for Course Design “Office Hours”
Choosing a Course Platform
Tuesday June 22nd, 10 am – 11:30 am ET
In this informational workshop, we will discuss the different course platforms commonly used in MSU courses: D2L Brightspace, LON CAPA, Microsoft Teams, Google Classroom, etc. We will summarize the strengths & weaknesses of each course platform, best use cases, tool integrations, and where to go for more information.
Register for Course Platform Overview
Overview of D2L Brightspace
Wednesday June 23rd, 10 am – 11 am ET
D2L is one of the main technologies used at MSU to deliver online and remote classes. This workshop will cover the basics of D2L. This includes an overview of the interface, how to create and manage the grade book, assessment tools, external technology integrations, and uploading and creating your course content.
Register for D2L Brightspace
Overview of Microsoft Teams for Education
Thursday June 24th, 10 am – 11:30 am ET
In this informational workshop, we will have and in-depth presentation on using Microsoft Teams as a course platform. Topics will include:
Integrating Teams into instruction
Student engagement
Formative assessment
Advantages of Teams
Video
File sharing
Chat groups
Register for Microsoft Teams for Education
Course Platform “Office Hours”
Friday June 25th, 10 am – 12 pm ET
For 2 hours, the Instructional Technology and Development Team will be on hand to answer any questions you have about selecting and setting up your course platform.
Register for Course Platform “Office Hours”
Assessment Technologies Overview
Tuesday June 29th – 10 am – 11:30 am ET
In this informational workshop, we will introduce the wide array of assessment technologies supported by MSU, provide example use cases, and compare & contrast similar tech. The goal is to summarize your options and inform your selection of assessment strategies & the tools you want to use (e.g., discussions, quizzes/exams, creative projects/essays).
Register for Assessment Technologies Overview
iClicker Demo
Wednesday June 30th, 10 am – 11 am ET
Join us for a vendor demonstration of iClicker, a tool for student engagement, formative assessment, attendance, quizzing, and polling. iClicker has undergone many major updates recently, including mobile-device usage options, new question types, and D2L integrations. Even iClicker veterans are encouraged to attend.
Register for iClicker Demo
Crowdmark Demo
Wednesday June 30th, 1 pm – 2 pm ET
Join us for a vendor demonstration of Crowdmark, an online collaborative grading platform that allows for grading of a number of different assessment types, integrates with D2L, and provides robust analytics. The Crowdmark team will walk you through how to set up a remote assessment, grade and distribute grades using a variety of question types (multiple choice questions as well as text entry and image/pdf uploads for student responses). We will provide some tips and tricks for student troubleshooting and answer any lingering questions.
Register for Crowdmark Demo
Gradescope Demo
Wednesday June 30th, 2 pm – 3 pm ET
Join us for a vendor demonstration of Gradescope, a tool to design and deliver assessments via D2L integrations, including handwritten work and online problem sets, projects, worksheets, quizzes, exams, and more.
Register for Gradescope Demo
DigitalDesk Demo
Wednesday June 30th, 3 pm – 4 pm ET
Join us for a vendor demonstration of DigitalDesk, Inc. - Instructor Tools/Student Portal, an intuitive, multi-modal learning platform that provides a seamless pathway between paper/pencil, scan based, and online testing. Test builder includes item banking, rich content, as well as fully integrated monitor/review and remote proctoring solutions. Rubric Creator facilitates instructors’ scoring of essays and portfolio submissions. Comprehensive reporting features include exam analysis, on-demand score reports and automatic reporting. Customizable reports can be emailed whenever students submit assignments or complete exams, or at designated times.
Register for DigitalDesk Demo
Assessment Technology “Office Hours”
Thursday July 1st, 10 am – 12 pm ET
For 2 hours, the Instructional Technology and Development Team will be on hand to answer any questions you have about choosing and using assessment technologies.
Register for Assessment Technology “Office Hours”
Our June workshops are focused on planning courses for Fall semester. We are hosting 6 workshops, 4 vendor demonstrations, and 3 "office hours" sessions. The workshops and demonstrations will be recorded and shared by email to all registrants and also posted to the MSU Tools and Technologies D2L self-enrollment course (enroll here). As always, if you would like a one-on-one consultation on course design or academic technologies, please submit a service request to the MSU Help Desk and ask for the Instructional Technology & Development team.
Defining and Exemplifying the Modalities
Tuesday June 8th, 10 am – 11:30 am ET
What do Hybrid, Hyflex, Flipped, etc. mean? What do they look and feel like in action for you and for your students? Some of these intersect, like a flipped hybrid class, what does that look like? In this workshop, we will define and discuss these terms and faculty will showcase how they implemented these modalities in their courses.
Register for Defining & Exemplifying the Modalities
Choosing your Instructional Technologies
Tuesday June 15th, 10 am – 11:30 am ET
How do you pick instructional technologies? Which ones will work best for your modality and goals? When should you compromise on the performance of a technology to increase versatility and reduce the number of different technologies you use? In this informational workshop, we will discuss the intersections of teaching modalities, course platforms, & other instructional technologies to help answer these questions. We will also review what other external considerations should inform your design decisions.
Register for Choosing your Instructional Technologies
Course Design “Office Hours”
Friday June 18th, 10 am – 12 pm ET
For 2 hours, the Instructional Technology and Development Team will be on hand to individually answer questions about course modalities and choosing your instructional technologies.
Register for Course Design “Office Hours”
Choosing a Course Platform
Tuesday June 22nd, 10 am – 11:30 am ET
In this informational workshop, we will discuss the different course platforms commonly used in MSU courses: D2L Brightspace, LON CAPA, Microsoft Teams, Google Classroom, etc. We will summarize the strengths & weaknesses of each course platform, best use cases, tool integrations, and where to go for more information.
Register for Course Platform Overview
Overview of D2L Brightspace
Wednesday June 23rd, 10 am – 11 am ET
D2L is one of the main technologies used at MSU to deliver online and remote classes. This workshop will cover the basics of D2L. This includes an overview of the interface, how to create and manage the grade book, assessment tools, external technology integrations, and uploading and creating your course content.
Register for D2L Brightspace
Overview of Microsoft Teams for Education
Thursday June 24th, 10 am – 11:30 am ET
In this informational workshop, we will have and in-depth presentation on using Microsoft Teams as a course platform. Topics will include:
Integrating Teams into instruction
Student engagement
Formative assessment
Advantages of Teams
Video
File sharing
Chat groups
Register for Microsoft Teams for Education
Course Platform “Office Hours”
Friday June 25th, 10 am – 12 pm ET
For 2 hours, the Instructional Technology and Development Team will be on hand to answer any questions you have about selecting and setting up your course platform.
Register for Course Platform “Office Hours”
Assessment Technologies Overview
Tuesday June 29th – 10 am – 11:30 am ET
In this informational workshop, we will introduce the wide array of assessment technologies supported by MSU, provide example use cases, and compare & contrast similar tech. The goal is to summarize your options and inform your selection of assessment strategies & the tools you want to use (e.g., discussions, quizzes/exams, creative projects/essays).
Register for Assessment Technologies Overview
iClicker Demo
Wednesday June 30th, 10 am – 11 am ET
Join us for a vendor demonstration of iClicker, a tool for student engagement, formative assessment, attendance, quizzing, and polling. iClicker has undergone many major updates recently, including mobile-device usage options, new question types, and D2L integrations. Even iClicker veterans are encouraged to attend.
Register for iClicker Demo
Crowdmark Demo
Wednesday June 30th, 1 pm – 2 pm ET
Join us for a vendor demonstration of Crowdmark, an online collaborative grading platform that allows for grading of a number of different assessment types, integrates with D2L, and provides robust analytics. The Crowdmark team will walk you through how to set up a remote assessment, grade and distribute grades using a variety of question types (multiple choice questions as well as text entry and image/pdf uploads for student responses). We will provide some tips and tricks for student troubleshooting and answer any lingering questions.
Register for Crowdmark Demo
Gradescope Demo
Wednesday June 30th, 2 pm – 3 pm ET
Join us for a vendor demonstration of Gradescope, a tool to design and deliver assessments via D2L integrations, including handwritten work and online problem sets, projects, worksheets, quizzes, exams, and more.
Register for Gradescope Demo
DigitalDesk Demo
Wednesday June 30th, 3 pm – 4 pm ET
Join us for a vendor demonstration of DigitalDesk, Inc. - Instructor Tools/Student Portal, an intuitive, multi-modal learning platform that provides a seamless pathway between paper/pencil, scan based, and online testing. Test builder includes item banking, rich content, as well as fully integrated monitor/review and remote proctoring solutions. Rubric Creator facilitates instructors’ scoring of essays and portfolio submissions. Comprehensive reporting features include exam analysis, on-demand score reports and automatic reporting. Customizable reports can be emailed whenever students submit assignments or complete exams, or at designated times.
Register for DigitalDesk Demo
Assessment Technology “Office Hours”
Thursday July 1st, 10 am – 12 pm ET
For 2 hours, the Instructional Technology and Development Team will be on hand to answer any questions you have about choosing and using assessment technologies.
Register for Assessment Technology “Office Hours”
Authored by:
Natalie Vandepol

Posted on: #iteachmsu

June 2021 Online Workshops from MSU IT
Course Design: Modality & Technology
Our June workshops are foc...
Our June workshops are foc...
Authored by:
Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Posted on: #iteachmsu
PEDAGOGICAL DESIGN
Spartan Studios Playkit: Introduction
Introduction to Spartan StudiosThis is the first article in our iTeach.MSU playlist for the Spartan Studios Playkit.
Spartan Studios are experiential interdisciplinary courses at Michigan State University where students respond to real life situations or wicked problems and design solutions in partnership with local stakeholders. Faculty members design and plan these courses with support from the Hub for Innovation in Learning and Technology, and we want to expand the number of experiential course offerings across campus. By experiential, we mean that students learn through experience as well as reflecting on their experiences. Studios experiences support student success by providing more accessible high-impact educational practices. Interdisciplinary courses are co-taught by multiple faculty members coming from different disciplinary backgrounds and/or departments across campus, exposing students to approaches/methods not normally part of their major. These courses are a response to the problem of the siloed university and complement students’ developing disciplinary training.
About the Playkit
This playkit, a combination of playbook and toolkit, is a resource for faculty interested in developing their own Spartan Studios course or expanding aspects of their interdisciplinary, experiential teaching. This resource was developed by the Spartan Studios project over 2020-21 with extensive feedback from MSU faculty members, external partners, and consultations with experiential education programs at other institutions. You will find descriptions of:
▶️Plays: our best practices for planning, implementation, assessment, and evaluating your experiential course.
🔧Tools: resources for developing elements of your own experiential interdisciplinary course
How to Use this Playkit
We encourage you to approach this Playkit in a spirit of experimentation and to play with these suggestions as you think through your own potential Studio course and reflect on how these components could inform your teaching and impact your students. Our research suggests that the arrangement of components we present here following the Studios model can lead to transformative student outcomes, and we’ve compiled an Appendix of emerging scholarship on these benefits. We’ve also observed that faculty members who incorporate a few or only one of these evidence-based practices can still generate benefits to student outcomes. If designing an entirely new experiential course is too much, you have the option to treat these as à la carte suggestions for experiences that students tell us matter to their learning and growth beyond MSU.
The Hub runs yearly workshops on experiential, interdisciplinary teaching and how to plan and teach your own Studio course. You are welcome to connect with the Hub if you have questions about elements of the Playkit or how to apply them in your own teaching.Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash
Spartan Studios are experiential interdisciplinary courses at Michigan State University where students respond to real life situations or wicked problems and design solutions in partnership with local stakeholders. Faculty members design and plan these courses with support from the Hub for Innovation in Learning and Technology, and we want to expand the number of experiential course offerings across campus. By experiential, we mean that students learn through experience as well as reflecting on their experiences. Studios experiences support student success by providing more accessible high-impact educational practices. Interdisciplinary courses are co-taught by multiple faculty members coming from different disciplinary backgrounds and/or departments across campus, exposing students to approaches/methods not normally part of their major. These courses are a response to the problem of the siloed university and complement students’ developing disciplinary training.
About the Playkit
This playkit, a combination of playbook and toolkit, is a resource for faculty interested in developing their own Spartan Studios course or expanding aspects of their interdisciplinary, experiential teaching. This resource was developed by the Spartan Studios project over 2020-21 with extensive feedback from MSU faculty members, external partners, and consultations with experiential education programs at other institutions. You will find descriptions of:
▶️Plays: our best practices for planning, implementation, assessment, and evaluating your experiential course.
🔧Tools: resources for developing elements of your own experiential interdisciplinary course
How to Use this Playkit
We encourage you to approach this Playkit in a spirit of experimentation and to play with these suggestions as you think through your own potential Studio course and reflect on how these components could inform your teaching and impact your students. Our research suggests that the arrangement of components we present here following the Studios model can lead to transformative student outcomes, and we’ve compiled an Appendix of emerging scholarship on these benefits. We’ve also observed that faculty members who incorporate a few or only one of these evidence-based practices can still generate benefits to student outcomes. If designing an entirely new experiential course is too much, you have the option to treat these as à la carte suggestions for experiences that students tell us matter to their learning and growth beyond MSU.
The Hub runs yearly workshops on experiential, interdisciplinary teaching and how to plan and teach your own Studio course. You are welcome to connect with the Hub if you have questions about elements of the Playkit or how to apply them in your own teaching.Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash
Authored by:
Ellie Louson

Posted on: #iteachmsu

Spartan Studios Playkit: Introduction
Introduction to Spartan StudiosThis is the first article in our iTe...
Authored by:
PEDAGOGICAL DESIGN
Monday, Jun 21, 2021
Posted on: MSU Academic Advising
NAVIGATING CONTEXT
Event Ideas and Resources for Academic Advisors
Are you interested in creating an event or program to build community for your students population? There are a variety of ways to actively connect with your students and foster a sense of community. In this article, explore programming ideas and additional tools that can assist. Event and program ideas:
Information sessions on important curriculum information
Career/alumni panels
"Creating Your Next Semester Schedule" workshop
Webinar on locating co-curricular opportunities
Study skills workshop
Navigating test anxiety discussion with representative from CAPS
Group advising for first year students
Graduate/professional school preparation seminars
Registered Student Organization fair that relate to a specific topic
Study spaces during mid-terms and finals week
Semester kick-off and end-of-year celebration
There are free resources available to MSU staff and faculty to support your events and programs. These include:
MSU Brand Studio provides a variety of tools and downloads that adheres to MSU branding guidelines. This includes color palettes, typography, logos, signatures and office toolkits, flyers, manuals, facts sheets, and more.
25LivePro is MSU's room reservation system. If hosting an event on-campus, check 25Live for open classrooms.
A job aid for using 25LivePro is available here(this link downloads a file).
Zoom is an excellent tool to host virtual meetings and webinars. You can also record and share sessions in Zoom for anyone that was not able to attend the live session.
Kaltura MediaSpace is MSU's media hub designed to store and share media collections. For video recordings that you wish to share, upload to Kaltura MediaSpace to create a shareable link or embed code, and add closed captioning. A video tutorial for using Kaltura MediaSpace is available here.
Canva is a versatile design tool that offers many free templates for flyers, infographics, worksheets, and so much more.
Camtasia provides faculty with the ability to create, edit, and upload their screen recordings or presentations. This helps students navigate their online courses, provide assignment feedback, and more. This program is offered free through MSU IT Services.
TechSmith SnagIt allows faculty, staff and students to create beautiful documentation, images, screen captures, diagrams, and other media that can be used along with D2L. This is also free through MSU IT Services.
Information sessions on important curriculum information
Career/alumni panels
"Creating Your Next Semester Schedule" workshop
Webinar on locating co-curricular opportunities
Study skills workshop
Navigating test anxiety discussion with representative from CAPS
Group advising for first year students
Graduate/professional school preparation seminars
Registered Student Organization fair that relate to a specific topic
Study spaces during mid-terms and finals week
Semester kick-off and end-of-year celebration
There are free resources available to MSU staff and faculty to support your events and programs. These include:
MSU Brand Studio provides a variety of tools and downloads that adheres to MSU branding guidelines. This includes color palettes, typography, logos, signatures and office toolkits, flyers, manuals, facts sheets, and more.
25LivePro is MSU's room reservation system. If hosting an event on-campus, check 25Live for open classrooms.
A job aid for using 25LivePro is available here(this link downloads a file).
Zoom is an excellent tool to host virtual meetings and webinars. You can also record and share sessions in Zoom for anyone that was not able to attend the live session.
Kaltura MediaSpace is MSU's media hub designed to store and share media collections. For video recordings that you wish to share, upload to Kaltura MediaSpace to create a shareable link or embed code, and add closed captioning. A video tutorial for using Kaltura MediaSpace is available here.
Canva is a versatile design tool that offers many free templates for flyers, infographics, worksheets, and so much more.
Camtasia provides faculty with the ability to create, edit, and upload their screen recordings or presentations. This helps students navigate their online courses, provide assignment feedback, and more. This program is offered free through MSU IT Services.
TechSmith SnagIt allows faculty, staff and students to create beautiful documentation, images, screen captures, diagrams, and other media that can be used along with D2L. This is also free through MSU IT Services.
Authored by:
Katie Peterson

Posted on: MSU Academic Advising

Event Ideas and Resources for Academic Advisors
Are you interested in creating an event or program to build communi...
Authored by:
NAVIGATING CONTEXT
Sunday, Nov 19, 2023