WELCOME BACK IOWA STATE

START OF SEMESTER GUIDE

First time teaching? A seasoned instructor looking to enhance student success?

 

The Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) offers powerful resources to empower educators to foster a culture of student-centered excellence at ISU. We support instructors across their career trajectories. From Canvas support to grant opportunities, to one-hour webinars and extended professional development opportunities, we promote, enhance, and recognize teaching excellence and student success regardless of modality.



LEARN MORE & REGISTER HERE

Large Enrollment Learning Community

As a new program this year, the Large Enrollment Learning Community is open to anyone who teaches a large enrollment course at Iowa State. In conjunction with the development of a Teaching Toolkit and through community, instructors will build connections across disciplines and share solutions for teaching large enrollment courses. 

 

Large Enrollment Learning Community meetings will occur monthly on the first Friday at 1:00 pm. The first meeting will be held Friday, September 1, at 1:00 pm.


Email Krista Klocke (klklocke@iastate.edu), CELT Instructor Development Coordinator, with interest or questions.

New Instructor Teaching & Learning Community

As a new program this year, the New Instructor Learning Community is open to anyone with a teaching role, regardless of whether or not they are a new instructor or new to Iowa State. Using the newly developed Teaching Toolkit and through community, instructors will build connection across disciplines and demystify the mechanics of teaching through the discussion of effective teaching and learning processes.


The first New Instructor Learning Community meeting will be held Monday, September 11, at 2:00 pm.


Email Krista Klocke (klklocke@iastate.edu), CELT Instructor Development Coordinator, with interest or questions.

NEW SOFTWARE FOR EXAM REGISTRATION

ISU Test Center Enables RegisterBlast

The ISU Test Center has engaged with instructors on enhancements that could be made to our operations. We are excited to announce the use of RegisterBlast which adds efficiencies and creates a better user experience. To that end, we have also made some changes to our instructor use policies that we hope you will review before registering for your exams for this fall semester. 


Our new software, RegisterBlast, is now available and must be enabled in Canvas to use. This is where you will submit exam requests AND where students will go to schedule their appointment with the test center once an exam request is approved. Information on this process can be found at the following links:


Instructor Submission Guide


Student Appointment Guide


A few other changes to note:

  • We are no longer proctoring low-stakes exams (weekly check-in quizzes, reading quizzes, etc) – please only register for mid/high-stakes exams.
  • Exams can be open anywhere from 2-5 days. 
  • Assessment length should be no longer than class length unless otherwise arranged.
  • Assessment length should be appropriate for the exam with no added time built in.
  • Exams are approved on a 1st come, 1st served basis
  • Final exams can be submitted but will not be approved at this time as we navigate our new system
  • Some exams may not be approved due to center capacity issues and/or non-conformity to the instructor use policies


Please visit our new website: testcenter.iastate.edu, for the information you or your students may need related to the Test Center.

IMPORTANT REMINDER

Gradescope Has Replaced Bubble Sheets

Gradescope, a Canvas-integrated assessment feedback platform that includes automated bubble sheet scoring, is now available should you wish to continue to use bubble sheet assessments. 


Important Note: As with any technology, it is highly recommended instructors do a practice exam with their students before using it for high-stakes testing. 


What are the benefits of using Gradescope?

  • Provide targeted and specific student feedback   
  • Apply retroactive scoring adjustments to all submissions   
  • Auto-grade late submissions  
  • Recognize and grade bubble sheet forms that Scantron would reject (damaged, bent, folded, marking errors)  
  • Digital file retention, no need to hold on to paper bubble sheets


Need more assistance? 

  • Schedule a consultation with a CELT technology specialist to learn more. 
  • Contact your department to identify scanning and printing resources.  
  • For questions related to existing Scantron bubble sheet disposal, contact tes@iastate.edu.  

AFFORDABILITY JUMPSTART INITIATIVE

OER Proposals September 8, 2023

Iowa State University is investing in several Jumpstart Initiatives that align with the new ISU Strategic Plan. The second of two CFPs for the Affordability Jumpstart initiative, this call is focused on content. The overarching goal of this opportunity is to enhance the affordability of course materials across the university. 


This second round of funding will support the integration of no-cost course materials at Iowa State.


  • Total allocation for content projects: $220,000 
  • Timeline for content projects 
  • CFP released: April 25, 2023 
  • Proposals due: September 8, 2023 
  • Funding decisions announced: October 9, 2023 
  • Grant period: November 2023 - June 30, 2025


See the entire Affordable Course Materials Jumpstart Initiative Proposal, Part II: Content for Review Criteria and Guidelines for Submission.

Important Information

CONTACT US HERE





Help is available for instructional design and learning technologies (Canvas, New Quizzes, and Top Hat) on demand. Send your request to celt-help@iastate.edu, and a team member will be in contact shortly.


24/7 Canvas Support

As always, Canvas support is available 24/7 for assistance while our offices are closed. Follow the "? Help" icon in your left navigation bar in Canvas for all the support options available.

CELT MEDIA PRODUCTION

CELT’s Media Production team supports students and faculty with accessible course delivery and digital education technology providing professional multimedia content production services to instructors for online courses and media services for various projects beyond academic coursework, including marketing initiatives and grant proposals.


Media Production Information

Media Classroom Request Form

ISU TEST CENTER CLIENT SUPPORT

ISU Test Center now has a phone number for client support should you or your clients have questions related to the Test Center.


Clients are able to reach us during business hours or leave a voicemail during non-business hours, which will be followed up on the next business day.


515-294-7398

testcenterhelp@iastate.edu


Prefer a print version? Click below to view our Teaching Tip as a printable pdf.

CELT Teaching Tip for August 17, 2023


Stay connected by visiting our CELT website.

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