Stay Informed!
We promote upcoming professional development opportunities in this newsletter, on the portal, and on our Faculty Center Facebook Group. The Facebook Group allows you to receive reminders of upcoming events that you are interested in participating in, enjoy photos from various events, and interact with your colleagues.

Tech Day: Friday, January 7, 2022

*Sessions will be recorded and published to bucks.edu/techday

*Attendance qualifies as professional development.

*Attendance by full-time faculty qualifies as spring in-service participation.
 
Schedule of Events:

9:30am – 10:20am

  • Bucks+   Can Add Value to our Students Education and Engage them too!
  • Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81253824751
  • Learn how our students can find and participate in live events and virtual activities throughout Bucks County and beyond. You can create them as well! Your students can earn points for activities, attendance, and accomplishments at varying levels. You can easily align them with your course learning goals and give them course credit. Join us to discover Bucks+, create associated assignments, and more!
  • Diane Darling, Instructional Designer and Mathematics Instructor
  • Sarah Jakub, Associate Professor, Sociology and Criminal Justice
  • Michelle Pierson, Adjunct, Language and Literature 
  • Kelly Sell, Associate Professor, Management/Marketing
  • Lori Sullivan, Professor, Kinesiology and Sport Studies

  • OneDrive and Office365
  • Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81411721229
  • Attend this session to learn more about using OneDrive for backing-up, saving and sharing files. During this session, there will be significant time devoted to Q and A for all things Office365. Bring your questions!
  • Glenn Elliott, HelpDesk Technician II  

10:30am – 11:20am

  • Workday: Position Requisitions and Hiring Tools
  • Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85089776522
  • This session provides information for all those involved or interested in the hiring process now facilitated through Workday. Learn the procedures for position requisitions. Also, identify the new the tools in Workday for hiring committees.
  • Amy Balbi, Senior HR Generalist

  • Understanding our Adult Students: A Workplace Perspective
  • Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87983449861
  • In Bucks County, 64% of the population are between the ages of 24 to 74 which means that many of our students are working adult learners with unique characteristics. In this session, our community college faculty can learn strategies for creating assessments using Canvas and Zoom that meet the needs of our adult students and allow them to flourish in the workplace.
  • Susan Darlington, Associate Dean, Bucks Online

11:30am – 11:45am

  • Securely Logging-in to Bucks Applications via Multifactor Authentication
  • Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82958234922
  • This brief, informative session reviews the procedures for completing the multifactor authentication process.
  • Michael Hunsche, Executive Director, ITS Operations     

11:45am – 12:35pm

  • Technology for All
  • Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85357471592
  • In this session, you will learn how assistive technology and Microsoft tools available at Bucks County Community College meet the needs of BCCC neurodiverse student population. This session will include a summary of adaptive equipment provided to students through TAO, a review of accessibility-related software available throughout the college, and an overview of outside apps accessed through the TAO webpage.
  • Robert Bowers, Software Test Analyst / Adaptive Technology Specialist
  • Debbie Carney, Adjunct Reference Librarian, Accessibility Liaison
  • Deborah Hoelper, Assistant Director, Accessibility Office
  • Jennifer Osinski, Director, Accessibility Office

  • Hyflex: Modalities for meetings, classes and events
  • Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84559977052
  • This discussion and demonstration of our new hyflex technologies highlights specifications and best practices for conducting hyflex and synchronous remote courses, events, and meetings. Additionally, technology resources and support services for staff, faculty and students will be shared.  
  • Jackie Burger, Associate Professor, Learning Technologies Liaison
  • Damon Hunnicutt, Director, Classroom and Emerging Technology
In-Service Professional Development
Sessions at a Glance

Full-time faculty are required to attend three hours of professional development plus attend the day of the in-service program. Part-time faculty are not required to attend these sessions but are welcome to do so. All sessions are one-hour in length unless otherwise noted. 
 Links to Register and Connect Are Below 

Sessions Descriptions, Sign-Ups, and Links
 
An Introduction to Culturally Relevant & Sustaining Pedagogy 
Presented by Dr. Cherrissa Gibson, Teach4Equity
January 3, 2022, 2pm-4pm (counts as 2 of the three hours)
 
Topics for this session include:
  • Understanding Equity and Culture (20-30 mins)
  • Define equity and equity mindedness
  • Define bias and racism
  • Understand the role that identity and culture play in the learning environment
  • Examining Your Personal Cultural Lens (30-45 mins)
  • Acknowledge our personal and institutional cultural lenses
  • Discuss cultural blindness and cultural mismatches and their impact on the educational environment
  • Culturally Relevant & Sustaining Pedagogy and Instructional Practices (45-60 mins)
  • Examine tools and practices that support culturally relevant and sustaining practices.  
  • Application activity to contextualize the learning.
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Inviting High School Students to Your Students' Special Events/Activities
Presented by: Marianne Kepler 
January 4, 2022, 9am-10am
 
The Psychology Faculty host the Annual Psychology Career Panel, and we realized that by using Zoom to host the event, we could invite all of the high schools in the county. We would like to share how we did this with our colleagues and to brainstorm more ideas. 
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Access to Bucks for Historically Under-represented Racial, Ethnic and Socioeconomic Groups: Mission Review 2.0
Presented by: Maureen McCarthy
January 4, 2022, 11am-noon
 
Examine data and discuss access to education at Bucks for racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups who have been historically under-represented in higher education
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Round Table Session to Discuss a Plan to Recruit Students from Underrepresented Groups into STEM programs Phase II
Presented by: Christine Delahanty
January 5, 2022, 10am-11am
 
This is a follow up to a session we held in August of 2021 to discuss a plan to recruit students from underrepresented groups into STEM fields, particularly in the area of technician education. We will continue this discussion and develop an outline of steps as a start to this plan.
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TAO: Why Accommodations Matter
Presented by: Jennifer Osinski and A Bucks Student
January 6, 2022, 1pm-2pm

Jennifer Osinski and a current student will present information from the student perspective and how accommodations affect a student in the classroom. Application of accommodations and universal design in the classroom will also be addressed to help faculty in keep Bucks an accessible learning environment for all students.
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Racial Wealth Gap Simulation with the United Way
Presented by: Katie Matarazzo, United Way
January 6, 2022, 10:00am-11:30am
 
Please find detailed information here: https://www.uwbucks.org/racial-wealth-gap-simulation/
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Tech Day
January 7, 2022, times vary
Attend any session. See details in block above.
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DWF Grades: A Conversation
Presented by: Samantha Gross
January 10, 2022, 7pm-8pm
 
What are DFW grades? Join Samantha Gross in a discussion about DFW grades and what we can do to address this issue. General best practices will be shared, and participants are encouraged to talk about how these best practices might relate to their own academic disciplines.
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Trending Health Topics: How this Impacts You and Your Students
Presented by: Felicia Porrazza
January 11, 2022, 2pm-3pm
 
With the New Year rapidly approaching, crash diets and weight-loss programs are at an all time high. While these quick-fix approaches may be tempting, they can be damaging to your wallet and your health. This presentation will go through trending health and wellness topics, what's true and what's not, and strategies for healthier living. This presentation will also dive into the connection between health, productivity, and learning outcomes.
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­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Quality Matters at Bucks
Presented by: Diane Darling
January 12, 2022, 2pm-3pm
 
This session will introduce or re-introduce, you to Quality Matters (QM). The session will provide answers to questions like…What does QM provide me as faculty of a subscribing member organization? What is a QM course review and how do I sign up? How can I design or revise my online course(s) to reflect the QM standards without signing up for a full QM review? All levels of QM interest/experience are welcome – from you’ve never heard of QM to you are a QM-certified peer reviewer and/or have the QM-certified seal on a course.
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Build Relationships to Increase Student Success and Retention
Presented by: Kate D’Auria
 
Hear about the research on the importance of building relationships and the strategies in the Persistence Project. What are some strategies we can try to help students connect with each other, with us, and with the coursework from day one? Leave with a plan to implement ideas in your spring classes.
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Student Research at Bucks County Community College in Ecological Restoration
Presented by: Joann Corn and Kathi Knight
January 13, 2022, 1pm-2pm
 
Students in Biological Principles II, Principles of Ecology, and Introduction to Environmental Science have been engaged in two ecological restoration projects within Tyler State Park. The projects, "Monarch Butterfly and All Pollinator Meadow Restoration" and "Covered Bridge Forest Restoration" have been funded by the STEM Department, the BCCC Foundation and various outside sources including PECO, DOW, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. This collaborative partnership has resulted in ecological restoration of approximately 16.5 acres of habitat. 
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Not For Profit: The Importance of a Humanities Education for the Development of Democratic Citizens
Presented by: David Brahinsky
January 13, 2022, 3pm-4pm
 
Dr. Brahinsky will be citing research by a number of scholars on how the humanities are needed for the development of good citizens in our democracy, something that is being neglected at all levels of educational policy.
Faculty Learning Communities by Kate D’Auria

The Persistence Project has begun! 22 faculty are already working on plans to begin one spring course with the strategies in place to support student persistence. Want to learn more about these strategies that have demonstrated results in student success and retention? Take a look at these resources and contact kate.dauria@bucks.edu for more information. 

First Three Weeks of Class
  • Set clear, high academic standards but not policies that easily doom students.
  • Learn names and have students learn one another’s names.
  • Give feedback on an assignment or quiz.
  • Hold 15-minute, one-to-one “get-to-know-you” conferences with each student.

Rest of the Semester
  • Acquaint students with resources and opportunities at Oakton.
  • Attend at least one co-curricular event with students.
  • Contact students who are struggling in class and offer them help.
  • Talk with students about completing an associate degree or certificate.
  • Participate in assessment activities for the project as a whole.
ProctorU Training Webinars Scheduled in Early February
 
Save the Date! Two “live” training webinar opportunities will be presented by our ProctorU Training Specialist on Tues., February 1 and Wed., February 2.
 
Learn how to create a ProctorU “Auto/Record + ” and “Live +” Exam.
 
Auto/Record + Exams
Webinar held on:
Tuesday, February 1at 3:00PM
 
Live + Exams
Webinar held on:
Wednesday, February 2 at 3:00PM
 
Already utilizing one of these ProctorU exam options? Bring your questions for the Q&A opportunity.

Both sessions will be recorded. Look for more information in January.  
FaST LANE

FaST LANE – Zooming Online Now!

Support from Bucks Online, Instructional Designers, Accessibility Advocate, Instructional Technology. Click on the appropriate tabs.
Instructional Tech Tuesday for Spring 2022
Create Collaborative Conversations Asynchronously with VoiceThread
In a one-on-one remote session, learn how to build VoiceThread assignments in your Canvas course space to facilitate asynchronous conversations and presentations. More information at https://bucks.libguides.com/voicethread. Please contact jacqueline.burger@bucks.edu to schedule a one-on-one.
 
Synchronous and Asynchronous Engaging Lectures with Nearpod
In a one-on-one remote session, learn how-to use Nearpod to gather real-time insights into student understanding through interactive lessons, interactive videos, gamification, and activities. More information at: https://bucks.libguides.com/nearpod. Please contact jacqueline.burger@bucks.edu to schedule a one-on-one.
 
VidGrid for Recording, Uploading and Creating Engaging Multimedia
In a self-paced modality, learn how to use our newly licensed video hosting platform VidGrid. Instruction available at: https://bucks.libguides.com/vidgrid. One-on-one training available. Please contact jacqueline.burger@bucks.edu to schedule.
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Bucks Wellness

Yang Yoga and Meditation with Melissa Mooney—Recording Available until Feb. 2022

Bring in the New Year with a body and mind connection through Yoga and Meditation. We hope that you enjoy it and join us again in the Spring Semester.


Access Passcode: BuckWellness12/09
Stitch-in via Zoom
For Spring, we will be back in person and on Zoom on January 26th, Noon-1pm. (No Stitch-in on January 19th, the first day of classes.)
Need Help? Visit the Help Desk and Services Center LibGuide
Check out this link to locate useful information including contact information, hours, and tutorials for the technology used at Bucks.
Feedback and Ideas? Contact Us!
If you have an idea for a topic you'd like to present, or one that you would like to see presented by someone else, contact any of us!

We promote upcoming professional development opportunities in this newsletter, on the portal, and on our Faculty Center Facebook Group.
The Facebook Group allows you to receive reminders of upcoming events that you are interested in participating in, enjoy photos from various events, and interact with your colleagues.
We hope you’ll join our Facebook Group- Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning

CONTACT US

Linda McCann
Faculty Development Coordinator
Karl Carter
Director, Personal and Professional Development
Kate D'Auria
Associate Professor, Education
Faculty Learning Communities
Samantha Gross
Associate Dean, Academic Initiatives
Jacqueline Burger
Learning Technologies Liaison