OTL Teaching and Course Prep Resources

We hope you’ve had a restful and restorative break. As you begin to teach your classes, the Office of Teaching and Learning (OTL) has tips and friendly reminders to share. Don’t forget that you can also reach out to us with questions or schedule a consultation by contacting OTL staff directly or booking 1:1 time with the OTL Instructional Designer.

Canvas

Access your spring courses and add them to your Canvas Dashboard.
Edit your course navigation menu to make sure the organization is clear for your students.
Ensure that all Canvas course materials are accessible.
Visit our OTL Canvas web page for resources, our Canvas Knowledge Base and the Canvas Help guides for step-by-step instructions, and contact Canvas Help for 24/7 support.
Don’t forget to publish your course to ensure your students have access!

Accessibility and Student Accommodation Support

Student Disability Services (SDS) is happy to answer any questions you may have about implementing accommodations or navigating the Faculty Accommodate Portal. You can book an appointment by emailing [email protected]. More information about the student accommodation process can be found on the Student Disability Services
The Office of Teaching and Learning provides support in Instructional Accessibility and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Schedule an appointment with Ellen Hogan, OTL Faculty Developer of Instructional Accessibility today!
Designed to enhance the inclusivity of your Canvas Course experience, UDOIT Accessibility offers comprehensive feedback on the digital accessibility of your course content and materials. This tool is already integrated into your Canvas courses! Schedule an appointment with Jeff Schwartz, OTL Instructional Designer or Ellen Hogan, OTL Faculty Developer of Instructional Accessibility to learn more.

OTL's 25th Anniversary Celebration - April 16

Join the Office of Teaching & Learning on April 16th as we honor 25 years of teaching and learning at DU and our founding director, Julanna Gilbert!

4:30 p.m. Museum Exhibit Opening

Cocktail hour in Anderson Academic Commons, top floor

We look forward to celebrating with you!

Choose Your Own ADDventure Conference With the LEP

The 13th annual Choose Your Own ADDventure Conference is happening Saturday, April 20th, 2024!

Since 2009, the Learning Effectiveness Program (LEP) has partnered with other DU departments as well as community resources to host "Choose Your Own ADDventure" for learning differences (LD)/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) families and professionals. It's a FREE, half-day conference that explores and increases the understanding of the many nuances of ADHD and LD. Please register using the link below.

Choose Your Own ADDventure Conference

Saturday, April 20th, 8:45 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Katherine A. Ruffatto Hall, 1999 E Evans Avenue, Denver, CO 80208

Important Technology Updates

Digication

Digication is now Digication Kora! This upgrade brings exciting new features, especially for Canvas users, including:

New dashboard widgets: Stay organized with new dashboard widgets displaying "My Assignments and Activities," "My Works," "My Courses and Groups," and even a section for ePortfolios created in the previous Digication version.
Streamlined grading: Score assignments directly within Digication Kora and see those scores reflected in your Canvas gradebook.
Effortless assignment creation: Easily create assignments from your course templates for more opportunities to scaffold assignments and give feedback on student work.

Looking for help?

Contact Kellie Ferguson, the OTL's Faculty Developer of Integrative and Experiential Learning ([email protected]) or schedule an appointment here.
Digication Basics Webinar: Register for the "Digication Basics" webinar on April 25th to explore these features and more!

Kaltura and My Media Video Updates

My Media has now been moved from your Canvas course navigation menu to the Canvas global navigation menu. You can still add your My Media videos to your Canvas courses using the steps outlined in our Knowledge Base article Kaltura – How to share media through Canvas Media Gallery?

Kaltura was recently updated, however videos that were embedded between March 10 – March 28 did not get updated. Some Kaltura video quizzes are also not working. For technical support with Kaltura, My Media, or your Canvas course Media Gallery, please contact [email protected]. To discuss using videos as an effective teaching practice, schedule a consultation by contacting OTL staff directly or booking 1:1 time with the OTL Instructional Designer.

AI and Teaching

We are looking forward to seeing you on Friday at the AI-Try-Athon! As we are planning for faculty development opportunities related to AI and teaching for next year, consider filling out our 2024-2025 interest form if you are looking for more purposeful engagement.

Contact Lexi Schlosser, Faculty Developer of Online Learning, with any questions.

Register for the Teaching and Learning Online (TLO) Foundational Badge Program

The Office of Teaching and Learning is excited to officially launch the Teaching and Learning Online (TLO) micro-credential program for Summer 2024. The TLO program will allow faculty participants to complete a set of criteria to earn a digital badge. Digital badges allow earners to showcase skills, competencies, or achievements gained directly from their learning experiences.

This year's program will begin with an asynchronous cohort community building and introductory course on May 6. Through this introductory course, faculty participants will be asked to unpack their understanding of online learning, connect with colleagues, and register for two short courses offered asynchronously throughout the summer. This summer, we will be offering three total short courses including Creating Community Online, Digital Accessibility, and Teaching with Technology. Faculty do not have to be enrolled in the TLO program to take a short course. For more information about each course and to get registered, access each individual short course through the links below:

Creating Community Online Short Course – June 17-July 1

Digital Accessibility Short Course – July 15 – July 29

Teaching with Technology Short Course – August 12-26

As a part of this launch, we want to celebrate our pilot badge earners. Check out their final deliverables through the hyperlinks below:

Brad Benz | University Writing Program

Carrie Olson | Morgridge College of Education

Clayton Kuklick | Graduate School of Professional Psychology

Kathleen Novak | Daniels College of Business

Mei Yin | Department of Mathematics

Michael Gallagher | Department of Communication Studies

Stefan DuBois | Center for World Languages and Cultures

To learn more about the program, check out the TLO webpage. To apply for the program, complete the Qualtrics application.

9th Weekend Academic Courses Opportunity at the Kennedy Mountain Campus

Are you planning ahead for future quarters and how you will ignite inspiration and creativity in your classroom? Experience the magic of learning in a breathtaking new setting! At the Kennedy Mountain Campus (KMC), DU's faculty are invited to expand their horizons and reimagine their curriculum for a trip the 9th Weekend of each quarter. Surrounded by the majesty of nature, educators have the opportunity to infuse their teaching with fresh perspectives and invigorating experiences.

Proposed 9th Academic Weekends should bridge in-class and out-of-class experiences to enhance students’ learning. You can submit your proposal now for a KMC 9th Academic Weekend experience for Fall Quarter 2024, Winter Quarter 2025, and Spring Quarter 2025. Learn more about academic opportunities at KMC here!