As we begin a new fall semester I’m pleased to share an update on classroom renovations that were completed during the summer.
EERC 2nd. floor
The entire second floor of the Electrical Energy Resources Center (EERC) was renovated and all existing classrooms were impacted. The renovation included new wall and ceiling work, new light fixtures and new flooring. Furniture was replaced in all rooms with the exception of EERC 218 which received new active learning furniture as part of a pilot last spring semester. If you are teaching in this area now, we’d love to hear your comments about these updates.
Rekhi G006
Rekhi G006 is a new 54 seat active learning classroom. It features 6-person tables with stacked monitors that can display both instructor content as well as local student group work. Both wall-mounted and personal size whiteboards are also available. The room technology includes a document camera and room cameras for recording presentations or for Zoom sessions.
ChemSci 104
Room 104 in the Chemical Sciences and Engineering building was renovated, combining what was previously two separate smaller classrooms (104A/B). The new 60-seat classroom features multi-level seating options for groups of six students with plenty of whiteboard space. The room technology includes a classroom camera and ceiling microphones for Zoom or recording applications.
The large classroom in Dow 641 also received much needed new furniture this summer. It features larger tabletop works surfaces with available power to better support students who use laptops/tablets and better supports active learning activities.
Contact the CTL (elearning@mtu.edu) if you’d like more information about these classroom updates or to arrange for a room orientation.
The Essential Ed Leadership Team is setting up weekly “Office Hours” to support our campus community as we implement the new Essential Education curriculum. Individuals, department committees, and other working groups are welcome to attend to consult with Essential Ed leaders about adapting degree audits, planning Essential Ed minors, developing new courses, assessment, ePortfolios, and any other Essential Ed questions.
Location: Library Conference Room 103
Time: Noon until 1:00 p.m.
Dates:
| Wednesday | Thursday | |
| September 4 | September 12 | |
| September 18 | September 26 | |
| October 2 | October 10 | |
| October 16 | October 24 | |
| October 30 | November 7 | |
| November 13 | November 21 | |
| November 27 | December 5 | |
| December 11 |
Empowering Educational Equity: Affordable, Open, and Inclusive Course Materials
Creating Impact: How to Fall in Love with Teaching Again with Dr. Angela Trego
Are you ready for Fall semester? A new school year brings students back to campus and the chance to review and refresh our courses. Consider taking this opportunity to refresh your course syllabus.
Tone
Take a moment to read over the first paragraph of your syllabus. What is the tone? Does it sound like you are encouraging your students and looking forward to the course? According to Zakrajsek and Nilson (2023), “studies show that students prefer a learning-focused syllabus that states strong student learning outcomes and [has] a positive, motivating-tone over a traditional content- and policy-focused syllabus (p. 66). There is no need to reduce course rigor to create a warmer or more positive syllabus. Instead, focus on introducing course requirements using positive and supportive language.
The President and Fellows of Harvard College (2023) share several suggestions for creating a syllabus with a positive tone. These include:
- Using friendly language
- Providing a rationale for assignments
- Sharing a little bit about who you are
- Showing your enthusiasm
- Expressing compassion
For more information about each of these, take a look at the full article Syllabus Language Sets the Tone for Your Course.
What to Include
There are a variety of opinions about what to include in a syllabus and how long it should be. However, Michigan Tech’s Senate Policy 312.1 provides a list of content required in MTU course syllabi. This list includes:
- Instructor information
- Course information
- Grading information
- A schedule of course assignments
- References to three university policies
- Academic integrity
- Disability
- Equal opportunity
- Course policies
To help you create a syllabus that includes this required content, the Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning provides a syllabus template that you can use as a starting point for your own syllabus.
Taking time now to review and revise your syllabus can help you set your students up for success by effectively providing them with important information and motivating them to actively engage in your course.
Resources
For additional information about what to include in a syllabus and how to do so, consider reviewing:
- Kevin Gannon’s advice guide on How to Create a Syllabus
- Maryellen Weimer’s collection of A Potpourri of Syllabus Ideas (Courtesy of Our Readers)
If you have questions about creating or refreshing your syllabus, contact a member of the Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning team at 487-3000 or ctl@mtu.edu.
References
Michigan Tech University Senate Policy 312.1 (2015). https://www.mtu.edu/senate/policies-procedures/list-policies/312.1/
The President and Fellows of Harvard College. (2023). Syllabus language sets the tone for your course. Retrieved from https://teachingandlearning.knowledgeowl.com/docs/syllabus-language-sets-the-tone-for-your-course
Zakrajsek, T. D. & Nilson, L. B. (2023). Teaching at its best: A research-based resource for college instructors (5th ed.). Jossey-Bass.
CTL Open House: Journey to Teaching Excellence (Your Path with the Center for Teaching and Learning)
Rich Content Editor – Find and Replace
A longtime requested tool from the Canvas community is nearly here! If you’re a Canvas user and you’ve created a quiz, discussion, or assignment, you’re probably familiar with the Canvas Rich Content Editor tool. Coming next month as a Canvas update, the RCE tool will have a new plugin tool Find and Replace which will work throughout Canvas wherever the RCE can be utilized. It will be similar in functionality to Find and Replace in other applications. When it’s available, choose Tools from any RCE toolbar and enter the text you’d like to find and replace; it’s quick and simple!
Discussion Redesign
This video from Instructure will share with you the updated features to include Full and Partial Anonymity for Graded Discussions, Improved Accessibility, Split View, Reply Reporting, and Quoting and @ Mentions along with all the existing functions! Additional information is available from Canvas here! Whatever your role, this information will ensure you make the best use of the Discussion redesign; stay tuned for more information!