Center for Teaching and Learning Deep Dives

 

 

 

 

Deep Dives are interactive sessions that explore a specific teaching strategy or learning technology feature. Each Deep Dive session consists of:

    • An introductory overview of the session’s topic.
    • An opportunity to experiment with the concept, either by trying out new technology or through guided design activities.

Eight to ten Deep Dive sessions are scheduled each term, each focused on a different topic or strategy. The Center for Teaching and Learning adds new topics over time but also repeats popular offerings regularly so don’t worry if you can’t make a session. You will likely see it scheduled again in the future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deep Dive Format

Canvas workshops are synchronous, facilitated trainings. Canvas workshops are held on Zoom.


Accommodations

If you would like to request disability related accommodation(s) to participate in a WOU activity or event, please notify Disability Services (ODS) at 503-838-8250 or ods@wou.edu at least three (3) business days in advance. For ASL interpreting, Typewell transcribing, or captioning services please complete the online request form.

For any questions related to programs and workshops, please email CTL@wou.edu.

 


 

Current Deep Dive Offerings:

 

 

 

Gamification: Using Requirements, Prerequisites, and Badges in Canvas

This workshop walks you through the process of setting requirements and prerequisites on your Canvas modules, which will then allow you to set up a badging system on your course. Awarding badges is one of the ways to “gamify” your class, which research shows could support students’ engagement (Alsawaier, 2018; Kingsley & Grabner-Hagen, 2015).

 

 

 

 

Diving into Neurodivergent Learning

 In this Deep Dive, we will learn about Neurodiversity and how you can help support neurodivergent students. Specifically, discuss Neurodiversity as a framework for understanding neurological differences. Through that lens, we’ll look at how those differences might be impacting some students’ learning experience. Finally, we’ll explore some strategies and best practices for designing and delivering instruction to neurodivergent learners and how those strategies can benefit all learners.

 

 

 

 

Creating Accessible Content

Are your course materials accessible to all students? Do the pictures you import in your course have “Alt” tags? Do you use headings to organize your content? Do you attach Closed Captions files to videos? This workshop introduces you to some Canvas affordances for creating accessible content.

 

 

 

 

Classroom Assessment Techniques (CATS)

 

Do you find yourself using a few usual ways to assess your students (e.g., quizzes or discussions)? This workshop aims to introduce you to some alternative classroom assessment techniques to further diversity your assessment practices. Techniques such as storytelling, journaling, role-plays, scavenger hunts, etc.

 

 

 

 

Social Interaction & Connection

 

Social interaction is a key component in creating engaging teaching and learning experiences (Egbert et al., 2019). This workshop walks you through some of the tools (Groups, Collaborations, and Discussions) in Canvas that support your students’ social interaction, as well as strategies for using this tools in a meaningful way with your students. We’ll talk about why social interaction is important and how to develop connection among students through robust conversations, engaging collaborations, and invitations to share.

 

Click Here to Watch this Deep Dive

 

 

 

Synchronous Online Teaching Strategies

 

Some online courses meet regularly using Zoom to cover course content or engage in real-time. You may find you need to shift some of your teaching strategies to thrive in an online classroom. This workshop covers strategies you can employ to encourage active learning in your synchronous online course meetings. This includes tools, like breakout rooms, polling, shared documents, and games, you can incorporate into your session. We will also talk about ways you can adapt the structure of your course meeting to more intentionally carve out time for questions, classroom assessment, and discussions.

 

 

 

 

Game-Based Course Design

 

What can course design learn from game design? Maybe an assessment strategy that provides students multiple opportunities to demonstrate mastery, leveling up as the course progresses? How about creating deep connections with concepts through role-playing and scenario-based games that challenge students to apply learning in different contexts? Challenging student groups to become a squad that combines its powers to complete complex challenges? This Deep Dive will explore how game design strategies can inform your course design to encourage engagement (and fun) in your course.

 

 


 

Course Mapping Strategies

 

Learning outcomes are the destination and the course is the journey! This session will help you develop a map that clearly lines up the content, activities, and assessments in your course with its schedule and learning outcomes. We’ll talk about ways to break down outcomes into clear objectives, scaffold student learning to ensure foundational skills lead to more complex tasks, and how to make sure your assessments clearly measure students’ progress. The Deep Dive will explore resources, templates, and approaches that support strong course mapping.

 

 

 

 

Flipped Learning

 

Flipped Learning challenges us to think about our course design in terms of “spaces”: in-person/online, group/individual, self-paced/facilitated, synchronous/asynchronous. Once we’ve identified those spaces, our next task is to intentionally divide the work of the course into the spaces for which it’s best suited. What’s the best use of your face-to-face time with students? What activities are best for students to work independently? When does the just-in-time clarifications afforded by synchronous engagement make sense? When might it be better to build in asynchronous time for reflection, processing, and student-led troubleshooting?

This Deep Dive will provide an opportunity to talk through the different sets of “spaces” that exist in our courses and provide some resources that support planning/outlining a “flipped” course.

 

 

 

 

A Different Way to Grade: Contract & Specification Grading

 

Learn about some different approaches to evaluating mastery in your course. Contract or specification grading approaches can help clarify your outcomes, reduce bias, and focus student attention on the process by which skills are mastered.

 

 

 

 

Activate Active Learning

 

Active learning techniques position students as a partner in their learning, asking them to engage with material during the learning process through short activities. These activities are geared to encourage application, synthesis, and reflection. Learn more about active learning and ways to infuse it in your course, regardless of delivery mode.

 

 

 

 

Rubric Revolution

 

Rubrics are powerful tools for teaching! A well-crafted rubric can help you grade more efficiently and objectively. Rubrics also help focus your students’ work, providing clarity and transparency that assists learners in understanding and meeting expectations. In this deep dive, we will go over different types of rubric and their application, how to write rubric criteria and ratings, and how to build rubrics in Canvas. Participants will have the opportunity to practice creating rubrics for assignments in their own courses.

 

 

 

 

Transparency in Teaching & Learning (TILT)

 

TILT (Transparency in Teaching & Learning)’s transparency framework provides a mechanism for laying out the Purpose, Task, and Criteria for Success when designing assignments and assessments. This transparent, explicit approach helps deconstruct “unwritten” rules for academic achievement to set all learners up for success. Join us to explore how greater transparency can increase your students’ consciousness of how they learn and how your course activities support specific learning outcomes and academic growth.

 

Click Here to Watch This Deep Dive

 

Hyped for Hybrid: Unleashing the Power of Blended Learning

 

The need to integrate in-person and online instruction has become paramount as the use of technology continues to reshape the educational paradigm. Hybrid learning, also known as blended learning, is an educational approach that combines traditional in-person classroom instruction with online learning activities, leveraging the benefits of both face-to-face and digital learning methods to create a more flexible and effective learning experience. This deep dive seeks to empower educators with strategies and practical insights for creating effective and engaging hybrid learning experiences, catering to faculty who are navigating the challenges and opportunities presented by hybrid teaching models. In this deep dive, our focus will be on pedagogical best practices, technological tools, and instructional design principles that foster a dynamic and cohesive learning environment.

 

 

Enrichment Through Experiential Learning

Experiential learning occurs when carefully chosen experiences are supported by reflection, critical analysis and synthesis. It’s a hot topic in higher ed these days, but what does it actually mean in a practical sense, and how can it be incorporated into college courses? In this deep dive, we’ll explore what experiential learning is; how it can benefit students; and how to align it with your course outcomes. We’ll explore what experiential learning can look like beyond internships and practicums and how to think through what type of experiential learning might work well for your specific courses.

 

So You’re A Teacher Now: An Overview of Theories and Terminology in Teaching and Learning

Pedagogy, andragogy, heutagogy, oh my! There are a lot of terms that get thrown around the educational space, and it can be hard to keep track of them all. Join us as we set some foundations and build a robust tool belt of skills for teaching and learning. In this deep dive, you will learn about core concepts in education and how they might apply to you and your courses. This deep dive is designed to provide educators with a comprehensive understanding of essential educational terminology, helping you become more effective in your teaching practice. By gaining insight into these terms and their practical applications, you gain new lenses through which to view your teaching methods and courses.