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Spartan Fireside: April 21, 2020
Hosted by Mark Largent, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education & Jeff Grabill, Associate Provost for Teaching, Learning and Technology. Featuring special guests Chris Gray, Director of the Veterinary Medical Center and Rachel Reams, Director of the Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health.
 


Access the audio-only of this chat here.

Spartan Fireside: May 6, 2020
Hosted by Mark Largent, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education & Jeff Grabill, Associate Provost for Teaching, Learning and Technology. Featuring special guest Thomas Glasmacher University Distinguished Professor & Laboratory Director and Project Director for the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB).
 

 
Access the audio-only of this chat here.

Spartan Fireside: May 14, 2020
Hosted by Mark Largent, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education & Jeff Grabill, Associate Provost for Teaching, Learning and Technology. Featuring special guest Laurie Van Egeren, Interim Associate Provost for University Outreach and Engagement.
 

Access the audio-only of this chat here.
 

The ISB202 course is asynchronous, and thus one of the main ways that the teaching team (i.e., the ULAs and instructor [Dr. Bierema]) interact with students is on the discussion board. This guide was created for ULAs, but much of it might also be helpful for instructors that are new to participating in a discussion board.
 
You can read more about the instructions provided to students as well!
How is Participation Different for a ULA vs. a Student?

In some ways, participation looks the same for a student or ULA, but the purpose of posting is different. As a student, the goal of participating (whether the student realizes it or not), is to engage with the material of the course in a meaningful way. As a ULA, it is to further discussion so that students engage with the material on a deeper level.
Some ULA posts may be representative of a student post. For instance, if students are posting about a specific topic and you know of a great resource for them to check out, the resource should be cited properly. This allows the students to see what a good post looks like.
Other ULA posts are different from a student post. For instance, sometimes we need to ask students to think more deeply or research an idea further. Although these posts would not count as a student participation post, they are essential for furthering that student’s engagement with the material.
Some types of posts may or may not be representative of a student post. For instance, if a discussion is moving off-track, then a student or a ULA may bring it back to the course objectives by asking a meaningful, detailed, possibly leading question. A student may do this, but they are not in charge of this. It is our responsibility as a teaching team to bring the discussion back to the course objectives.

Why Participate in the Discussion Board?

Interact with and form relationships with students.
Illustrate how to setup a meaningful and detailed post.
Move off-topic discussions back to course objectives.
Have students think more deeply about their posts.
Offer new information and new resources relevant to student posts.
Relate posts to what was covered previously in class or what will be covered in the future.
Encourage students to look up information rather than guess.

 
When do I Participate?

Start at the beginning of the discussion week. It can be overwhelming to start later in the week when there are so many posts.
Have the goal to participate more during the beginning than later in the semester (not vice versa). If we do a good job in our posts and feedback early on, then students should need less of our help later in the semester.
If the class is divided into multiple discussion board groups and there is more than one ULA, then self-assign yourselves to different groups and change it each week. Make a calendar to keep track.

 
How do I Format the Post?

Address the student and, if posting something for the entire class, also refer to the class.
Change the text color of the post. Everyone in the teaching team can use dark blue to make it clear which posts come from the teaching team.
Italicize components of a post that address the entire class. See examples throughout this document.
There may be a few students that posted something similar for which you would like to address. If so, acknowledge all of them in your post.

Example response:

Interesting point, [student], about using greenways to connect areas for nature. Although we tend to only think of paths being used by humans, there are also non-human animals that might use these paths. Class, do a little research and let us know which animals might benefit from having these paths and which ones might not benefit. Explain your reasoning and don’t forget to cite your sources. 





 
What do I Post?
The following is a list of different types of possible posts.

Request that the student think more deeply about their post and provide additional information.

Example response to one student:

Student initial post: My family does our best to limit of carbon footprint. We recycle more than we throw away, reuse as much as we can but aim to reduce our plastic consumption, and limit our mat consumption (I consider myself a flexitarian) There are still a lot of adjustments to be made. 
I really like the term "flexitarian," [student]! What are some ways that you and your family are working to reduce your plastic consumption?


Example response to the class:

Context: Students were posting generic concepts regarding ecological footprints.
[Student], you brought up an important point about how overwhelming it can be to make these steps. Some of the points brought up by others, such as remembering to turn off the lights or trying a vegan meal once a month, as [student] mentioned earlier, are things are not too drastic. Class, look back at your reflections- or if you haven't written one yet, consider this question: are the ideas that you brought up actually likely to happen? Which specific things could you start doing now that wouldn't be too costly or too life changing?


Provide a more specific question than what a student originally posted.

Example response:

Student’s question: “I wonder if in the United States they implemented more options in more places, if people would be less likely to litter.”
Great question, [student]! Class, do some research in your own area. What are the recycling capabilities in your area? Does it match what you see? Explain.


Re-route the conversation to class objectives with leading questions.

Example response:

Context: A course focus was on environmental impacts and a discussion on Covid-19 drifted off-topic.
Nice job [student] and others for relating the topics to a truly "current event." Class, how much has delivery increased during these times? How is that overall impacting the environment compared to the positives of so fewer people driving and less manufacturing? Do some research and get back to us!


Provide more information. Make the post representative of the ideal student post: cite properly and hyperlink as needed.

Example response without a citation:

Great point, [student], about avoiding plastic bags at grocery stores. This point, though, reminded me of another interesting point- Class, how have your behaviors that affect the environment been impacted by COVID 19? For instance, I have used reusable bags for years- this is why it got me thinking- but now many stores will not allow them during this pandemic. On the flip side of things, I live in Kalamazoo and used to commute to East Lansing three to five days a week, but since campus closed, I barely drive my car at all.


Example response with a citation:

Great point, [student], regarding how we also need to consider our impact on water when we are determining our ecological footprint quiz. There is actually a calculation for determining our water footprint! Class, check out the Water Footprint Calculator created by the Grace Communications Foundation (2020). What did you find out? Compare it to the ecological footprint quiz- why do you think those similarities and differences exist?











Citation: Grace Communications Foundation. (2020). Water footprint calculator [web interactive]. Retrieved from https://www.watercalculator.org/

Ask the class to think about topics in different ways.

Example response:

Context: Each student had to choose a specific stakeholder to represent, and after the first day of discussion everyone had chosen the same stakeholder.
Hi class,we've heard from a couple of "environmental scientists" now and they have opposing views. After reading through them and critiquing their explanations, what do you think? Would one area be better than another? Those that have written the posts from the perspective of an environmental scientist- what do you think? (Please note that I am not leading to one right answer- the goal is to evaluate the evidence.)


Admire and acknowledge a great post

Example response:

Interesting question, [student]- it takes the idea of our case study this week and really scales it up. I look forward to hearing students' responses!







How do I Build Relationships?

Address the specific student that you are replying to.

If more than one student posted a similar idea, then state all of their names.
Or, if it is more than a few students, use the person’s name for which you are replying and add “others” or “and other classmates.”
If posting a question to the entire class, then address the class, not just the student who you are responding to.
See the various examples in this document.


Acknowledge the good work that students do, such as participating early in the week.

Example response to a student that posted early and thoroughly:

Thanks for starting the conversation, [student]! [student] concluded that this greenway "would help all of the public in many ways."Class, which stakeholders are part of the "public" and which ones benefit from this greenway being between 2 and 5 (besides City Bicycling Club, as [student] thoroughly described)?


Example response to a student that posted a detailed question:

Great questions, [student]!Class, I look forward to your thoughts!


Example response to a student that posted a useful resource:

Thanks for sharing the infographic, [student]! I'm going to post it in the announcements so that students in all of the DB sections are aware of it!


Encourage students to bring in information specific to their discipline.

Example response:

Very interesting question, Sean! Any engineers in the class (or engineer enthusiasts)? How could Houston approach this problem? Feel free to bring in ideas learned from other classes!


If a student seems to be struggling with developing thorough posts, then send the student an email with the included post. Do not wait until grading the following week.

Example Email:

Thank you, [name], for participating in the discussion board. Although I noticed that you have already done a few posts, they are not quite yet demonstrating critical thinking. For instance, rather than posting that someone should look into a topic, do the investigation on your own. What did you find and where did you find it? Post a reply with your findings and citations and explain how it relates to what your peer posted. Please see the rubric on D2L for details on what we look for in posts and contact us if you have any questions. We are here to help!

Spartan Fireside: April 16, 2020
Hosted by Mark Largent, Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education & Jeff Grabill, Associate Provost for Teaching, Learning and Technology. Featuring special guests Barbara Roberts and Jaimie Hutchinson, Work Life Office.
 

Access to the full video transcript is available here.
Access the audio-only of this chat here.

There are a variety of considerations when it comes to course content. Now, if you’re close to the start of the semester, it is likely that you have already chosen (and submitted to the Registrar Office) your textbook and/or required materials for student purchase. Please consider the following when selecting your supplemental course content (additional materials, case studies, scenarios, etc.)... and for your primary texts next term. 
Diversifying voice - who is represented?
“Does your syllabus demonstrate to students that everyone has a place in your field of study? … Pedagogically, we might find it challenging to create a sense of belonging in a course when some students cannot imagine themselves as part of the community of scholarship and practice” (Marcella Addy et al., 2021, p. 52). Wow, that statement is really powerful, especially considering some recent scholarship. Schucan Bird and Pitman (2020) found, after an analysis of reading lists, that the reading lists did not represent the diverse local student body but came closer to representing the demographic profile of academic staff (dominated by white, male, and Eurocentric authors). Despite challenges across disciplines and settings, educators should make every effort to center students in their course design and make course materials a descriptive representation of the student body itself (Schucan Bird & Pitman, 2020). This shift can include showcasing the contributions of marginalized groups (Blackburn, 2017) with greater representation of perspectives, histories and approaches of scholars (Le Grange, 2016), along with adopting efforts to decolonialize teaching and learning (Phillips & Archer-Lean 2018). 
Looking for ways to get started? Colleagues at Tufts University Libraries (according to this Inside Higher Ed article) have noted that diversifying your course materials to include content about and by marginalized scholars (groups whose characteristics result in the systematic denial of equal rights and opportunities within a community or society including but not limited to race, socioeconomic status, gender identity, sexual orientation)  helps to “foster an environment that includes knowledge that has been systematically excluded from academia.” You might…

Considering diverse authorship of readings (ethnicity, gender, geographic location)
Inviting guest speakers who bring different perspectives
Using diverse audio and visual materials, such as films, interviews and TED talks
Incorporating readings that challenge standard approaches
Using primary research with authorship that reflects local collaborators
Offering multiple perspectives in assigned readings and letting students choose what to read or discuss at times.

Faculty members “can identify resources that highlight historically underrepresented researchers and activists in our fields,” she suggests. “We can include statements and topics in syllabi to decode our courses, structures and expectations. We can work to decolonize the power dynamics of our classrooms so what students already know and experience is also seen as a valuable contribution to the learning environment,” said Bridget Trogden (presently serving as Dean of Undergraduate Education at American University). Improving diversity and inclusion of voices in educational materials isn’t necessarily difficult, educators just need to be intentional. Fuentes et al. (2021) go beyond centering authors of mariginalized backgrounds, and recommend educators transparently acknowledge their intentional material selections. The example they provide in their article Rethinking the Course Syllabus: Considerations for Promoting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion is, "The following text/articles for the course have been chosen in efforts to highlight the important work of historically underrepresented and marginalized scholars in the field" (Fuentes et al., 2021, p.75).
“The proof is in the data: children are more likely to have a more productive learning experience and thrive in the classroom, throughout the school and in their communities when they see themselves represented in curriculum and library materials,” said Lessa Kanani'opua Pelayo-Lozada, President of the American Library Association. If data supports diversifying reading may boost a student’s development and well-being, WHILE ALSO increasing a sense of belonging and breaking down barriers to collegiate success… what reasons do we have not to reimagine our course materials?
Accessibility of digital content
The experts at MSU IT who manage the Digital Accessibility page recommend that educators ask the following questions before adopting digital content (adapted with permission from UC-Boulder’s Digital Accessibility Program):

Ask for Publisher Information: Contact the publisher to ask them for details about the accessibility of your particular textbook and/or digital content. This should include all known accessibility issues, any workarounds that the student can use, a named point of contact, and any guidance on how to ensure any content you create within the platform is accessible.
Review your Assessments: If you use digital online quizzes, ask the publisher for a list of quiz question types that are accessible. Review your own quiz content to ensure that none of your questions rely on drag-and-drop actions, images without alt text, or other inaccessible mechanisms.
Consult with Digital Accessibility Specialists: Contact your local Accessibility Policy Liaison for support and reach out to the MSU IT Digital Experience (DigitalX) team for help evaluating your digital content at webaccess@msu.edu or call the IT Help Desk at 517-432-6200.
Notify your Students: If the digital content (including texts, assignments, tests, or online homework systems) used in your course are not fully accessible, please notify your students in your syllabus with the following statement: “This course requires the use of [name of software or service], which is currently not accessible. Michigan State University is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services and activities. Accommodations for persons with disabilities, with documentation from the MSU Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities, may be requested by contacting [insert Professor name or "me"] at the start of the term and/or two weeks prior to the accommodation date (test, project, etc). Requests received after this date will be honored whenever possible. For questions, contact the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities at 517.884.7273”

For more information on Digital Accessibility check out the “Course Accessibility: Commitments, Support, and Resources” article, visit the Accessibility Evaluation Questions for Digital Content page, or contact your college/department’s Web Accessibility Policy Liaison. 
Cost as a barrier to access
Buying school materials can cost a lot, creating a barrier for students and impacting their collegiate success. Taking measures to curtail expenses on mandatory learning resources is not only a stride towards rendering college more cost-effective and attainable but also promotes equity. Embedding no-cost course materials into a syllabus provides the avenue to diminish financial burdens on students, foster more inclusive access to education, and enables the repurposing, blending, and creation of course content specifically tailored to each class. According to MSU Libraries Open Educational Resources (OER) Program, OER are “teaching, learning, and research resources that are copyright-free (public domain) or have been released under an open license that permits others to reuse, revise, remix, retain, and redistribute them. Examples of OER include open textbooks, videos, images, course modules, lectures, homework assignments, quizzes, lab and classroom activities, games, simulations, and other resources contained in digital media collections from around the world.” 
Diversifying Course Materials: A How-To Guide on Inside Higher Ed (previously linked) shared four additional considerations for instructors when considering their course materials.

Accessibility, affordability and adaptation
Relatability and reflection
Clarity and intentionality
Alternative perspectives

Read more about each of these four considerations at the link above and check out the resources below for more in depth from authors cited throughout this article. 
Resources

Marcella Addy, Dube, Mitchell & SoRelle (2021) What Inclusive Instructors Do. Stylus Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003448655
Schucan Bird, K. & Pitman, L. (2020) How diverse is your reading list? Exploring issues of representation and decolonisation in the UK. Higher Education, 79, 903–920. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-019-00446-9. 
Le Grange, L. (2016). Decolonising the university curriculum. South African Journal of Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.20853/30-2-709.
Blackburn, H. (2017). The status of women in STEM in higher education: a review of the literature 2007–2017. Science & Technology Libraries. https://doi.org/10.1080/0194262X.2017.1371658.
Phillips, S. R., & Archer-Lean, C. (2018). Decolonising the reading of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writing: reflection as transformative practice. Higher Education Research & Development, 38(1), 24–37. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2018.1539956.
Fuentes, M. A., Zelaya, D. G., & Madsen, J. W. (2021). Rethinking the Course Syllabus: Considerations for Promoting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Teaching of Psychology, 48(1), 69-79. https://doi.org/10.1177/0098628320959979


Photo by Paul Hanaoka on Unsplash

Teaching and Effective Classroom Practices for any Educator
2022-23 Graduate Teaching Assistant Preparation
The Graduate School Teaching Development Unit offers all international, new, and returning graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) an orientation and preparation program to get familiar with teaching in the U.S. as well as learn about important policies and their implementation, about supporting student success, being culturally responsive and communicate effectively and set healthy boundaries. In addition, accomplished educators deliver pedagogy workshop for educators.
This year, the Pedagogy Workshops and Best Practices in Teaching Sessions are offered in person at the STEM Teaching & Learning Facility (642 Cedar Rd.). Any educator can register and participate. Find the link to register for any of the workshops underneath the table with all workshop titles.




Workshops Round 1 (Select one)




Time (all ET)


Workshop Title 




  9:00 – 10:30 am
  Room 2130


Preparing for Your First Day of Teaching & Cultivating Student Learning (Presenters: Stefanie Baier and Ellen Searle)




  9:00 – 10:30 am
  Room 2202


Promoting Student Engagement in Large Lecture-Based Courses
(Presenter: Kirstin Parkin)




10:30 – 11:00 am


BREAK




Workshops Round 2 (Select one)




11:00 – 12:30 pm
Room 2130


“What’s in Your Syllabus?”: Creating and Using Syllabi for Successful Teaching and Learning
(Presenter: Mary-Beth Heeder)




11:00 – 12:30 pm
Room 2202


Developing a Plan for Effective Grading: Technology, Communication, and Time-Management (Presenters: Seth Hunt and Chase Bruggeman)




12:30 – 1:00 pm


BREAK




Workshops Round 3 (Select one)




 1:00 – 2:30 pm
 Room 2130


Scientific Teaching and Assessing What’s Important in STEM Learning (Presenter: Diane Ebert May)




 1:00 – 2:30 pm
 Room 2202


Navigating Challenges: How to Be a Trauma-Informed Educator 
(Presenter: Hima Rawal)




 Register for your Workshops HERE   
For more information about Graduate Student Teaching Professional Development Opportunities, go to https://grad.msu.edu/gtap and check the Graduate School calendar for sessions throughout the year.

Title: Welcome to my classroom: COILPresenters: Antoinette Tessmer, Guanglong Pang (Education)Format: WTMCDate: May 11th, 2023Time: 2:45 pm - 3:45 pmClick here to viewDescription:COIL is an innovative online tool for international and intercultural learning among instructors and learners. It allows instructors and learners to enjoy many benefits of international and intercultural learning without the costs and implications of international travel. However, designing and running a successful COIL activity remains challenging because such a task is non-traditional, often requiring instructors to plan and teach outside of their comfort zone. We propose to run a COIL activity with a mock group of remote partners. Attendees will be grouped with remote collaborators to complete a collaborative project. Our session comprises steps that are typically present in a COIL activity. Attendees will participate in (a) an ice breaker activity followed by (b) a group discussion to identify a common topic based on their shared teaching/research interests. Groups will (c) brainstorm a hands-on project related to their topic. We then invite groups to (d) share their ideas with others. We will end with a general discussion about the logistics, challenges and lessons learned while participating to the COIL activity. As teleconference technology will be needed, participants will need to bring a laptop. We recommend that interested participants consider attending the “Workshop: COIL” session as an introduction to this “Welcome to My Classroom: COIL” session.