Author: CELT Communications Coordinator
Fall 2022 Message for Instructors (SVPP Memo, Aug. 10, 2022)
Deploy Summary – Canvas Notes (June 22, 2022)
The June 22, 2022 Canvas deploy notes included updates to the interface and features.
The interface update included:
- Assignments: Assignment Availability Window Display Update: This update allows students to view the exact availability window of an assignment in hours and minutes when the availability window is 24 hours or less.
The feature updated included:
- Rich Content Editor Icon Maker: RCE Icon Maker Unsaved Changes Warning: This update allows instructors to be notified about unsaved changes before exiting the Rich Content Editor Icon Maker.
Ukrainian Course Design Institute Successful
Despite an active war and the 8-hour time difference, 30 Ukrainian scholars virtually joined CELT at Iowa State University for the first internationally offered Course Design Institute (CDI). This offering marked the sixth CDI offering from CELT overall.
The bridging of CELT with instructors at the Nizhyn Gogol State University in Nizhyn, Ukraine during the week of May 24-27 was led by Lesya Hassall, Instructional Specialist with CELT.
“For me, personally, this was a small way to support my alma mater. It provided the opportunity to support my friends who teach there, instructors who became colleagues many years later, and my mentor, Svitlana Volodymyrivna Tezikova, Dean of the Department of World Languages and Cultures,” Hassall said.
In addition to Hassall’s work and initial CDI presentation, three Iowa State instructors joined her and led sessions at CDI: Drs. Cristina Bonaccorsi (Department of Chemistry), Sayali Kukday (Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology), and CELT Faculty Fellow Monica Lamm (Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering).
Following the morning sessions, participants had the option to meet with members of the CELT instructional design team for 30-minutes, allowing for one-on-one course design feedback and assistance.
“Where do I start? The speakers, the materials, the kindness, the emotional roller coaster…[it was] a week of hard work and distraction from this horrible, horrible, horrible war,” reported one participant.
Another participant commented on the session leaders and topics covered.
“Thank you for choosing such experienced speakers…[and] for the opportunity of learning from you and with you,” they said.
CDI is typically offered in the Summer and Winter terms for Iowa State University instructors. There is both an online and face-to-face option. The goals of CDI center on providing instructors with added skills, time, and space for designing or revising their courses. You can find more information about CDI on the CELT website.
Many thanks to the Provost’s office, CELT leadership, and staff members who supported and contributed to the first international CDI.
Deploy & Release – Gradebook: Message Observers – Canvas (June 8 & 18, 2022)
The June 8, 2022 Canvas deploy includes interface and feature updates associated with the Rich Content Editor and Syllabus areas.
Interface
- Rich Content Editor: Vector Button in Equation Editor: This change allows instructors and students to include vector arrows with a button when creating an equation in the Rich Content Editor Equation Editor.
- Syllabus: Icon Display in Syllabus Update: In the Syllabus, users can view updated icons for assignments, discussions, and quizzes in the Course Summary.
Feature
- Rich Content Editor Icon Maker: Single Color Image Color Picker Update: In Rich Content Editor Icon Maker, instructors can edit the color of a single color image on a button after saving with the Single Color Image Color Picker.
The June 18, 2022 Canvas release includes a new feature associated with the Gradebook.
Gradebook: Message Observers of Students Who will allow instructors to include observers when sending messages from the Message Students Who link in Gradebook.
In the Gradebook, find the assignment. Click Options. Then select Message Students Who. By default, Canvas will show names from the Haven’t submitted yet category.
In the For Students Who drop-down menu (see 1 in the photo below), select the category of students you want to message. Based on real-time data, Canvas will show the names of the observers who fall in the category you selected (number 2 in the photo below). You can also remove observers from the message by clicking the Select icon (number 3 in the photo).
The full June 18, 2022 Canvas Release message is available online if you would like to read the full memo.
Upcoming Canvas Features Release
The Learning Technologies Administration Team will be updating Canvas on May 18, 2022, with the following updates:
General Canvas Features
- Apply Score to Ungraded: Instructors can apply scores to ungraded submissions en masse from an assignment group.
- Rich Content Editor Icon Maker: Instructors can incorporate simple icons for their courses.
- Emojis in Submission Comments: Instructors and students can use emojis in SpeedGrader and add emojis in the context tray from Gradebook.
- Assignment Enhancement: This change allows the interface to be more user-friendly with the file upload experience.
New Quizzes Specific
- Course Item Bank Filter: This update allows a new item bank filter in New Quizzes.
- Fill-in-the-Blank Question Type Allows Rich Content Editor: Enabling this feature allows instructors to add content as part of the question stem and make portions of the content fillable in the student response.
Five Things to End the Spring 2022 Semester (Teaching Tip)
As you prepare for finals next week and plan ahead for the end of the 2021-2022 academic year, we have compiled a list of five things we wanted you to know – with resources! – before we wrap up the year:
- Grades are due on May 17: Grades are due by 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17. If you need help or a review on how to submit grades, review our ISU AdminTools page for grade submission.
- Prepare your Canvas course for course conclusion: Your Spring 2022 Canvas Course will be concluded in January 2023. Review Course Conclusion in Canvas to ensure you’re prepared ahead of time.
- Manage incomplete students: You can follow these steps or watch the video to help guide you through managing any incomplete students in your Canvas course.
- New Quizzes will be available soon: Canvas New Quizzes will be available for the entire ISU campus on June 1. There are several upcoming training opportunities. If you’d like CELT to visit your department for a department-specific demonstration or training, please fill out this Qualtrics form and we will reach out to schedule that training.
- CELT summer hours begin May 16: CELT will remain open this summer, with modified summer hours. You can find us in 3024 Morrill from 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. all summer. You can also email celt@iastate.edu or call (515) 294-5357. Normal hours of operation will resume on August 15.
For those who are teaching during the summer session or getting a headstart on future courses, you can always access our Start of Semester checklist.
Best wishes on the end of the semester!
Full Teaching Tip
View the published CELT Teaching Tip: Resources for Success (May 5, 2022 – Constant Contact) page.
Prefer a Print Version?
To view the Teaching Tip as a printable document with web addresses, download the CELT Teaching Tip for May 5, 2022 (PDF).
Canvas New Quizzes Release and Deploy Notes – May 21
This update will contain the Canvas release and deploy that are specific to New Quizzes in Canvas for May 21. To review the release and deploy notes for the overall features of Canvas during this timeframe, you can review a separate post that contains that information.
If you’re looking for more information on New Quizzes, you can review the New Quizzes in Canvas webpage.
May 21
- New Quizzes: Fill in the Blank Question Type Allows Rich Content Editor: In Quizzes, this feature allows instructors to add content as part of the question stem and make portions of the content fillable in the student response. This change allows instructors to create fill-in-the-blank questions with rich content such as scientific or mathematical formulas or a table. Additionally, instructors can format fill-in-the-blank questions to appear on separate, distinct lines.
You can read the full May 21 Canvas Release Notes on their website.
Encouraging Student Ratings of Teaching (Teaching Tip)
We are rapidly approaching the end of Spring 2022, which means in part, seeking, end-of-course feedback from students. Student ratings are not perfect measurements of teaching effectiveness but can create an opportunity for students to reflect on their perceptions of the learning and the classroom environment.
Strategies for better course ratings include:
- Seeking constructive feedback. Student input is most helpful when it is specific, focused, and respectful. Suggest a focus on observable behaviors and practices that the instructor can control, rather than remarks or criticisms based on identity.
- Use class time to complete evaluations. Provide a bit of class time at the end of a session for students to complete their ratings (while you are not in the virtual or physical classroom).
- Ensure students understand the importance of the feedback. Share with students an example of how you’ve used past feedback to make changes or provide examples of constructive feedback comments.
- Explain how ratings are used. Share with students how these evaluations are used by you to improve teaching, and how they are used at the department-level.
- Consider offering an incentive. For example, once a percentage of the entire class has completed the evaluation, offer a small amount of extra credit.
To help make sense of the student ratings, consult the CELT Student Ratings Analysis Worksheet or work with a CELT Faculty Fellow or staff member.
If you have questions about end-of-course student ratings, contact your departmental SubUnit administrator.
Full Teaching Tip
View the published CELT Teaching Tip: Resources for Success (April 21, 2022 – Constant Contact) page.
Prefer a Print Version?
To view the Teaching Tip as a printable document with web addresses, download the CELT Teaching Tip for April 21, 2022 (PDF).
CELT Staff and Affiliates Recognized
Over the past week, a number of CELT staff members and faculty affiliates have been recognized for their contributions to the campus community. We would like to further recognize them for their efforts and congratulate them for their awards and promotion!
- Lesya Hassall, Instructional Strategist, Board of Regents Award of Staff Excellence
- Cindy Haynes, CELT Faculty Fellow, Promotion to Full Professor
- Ann Gansemer-Topf, Former CELT Faculty Fellow, CHS Mid-Career Achievement Award
- Meghan Gillette, CELT Faculty Affiliate, CHS Online Teaching Award
- Monica Lamm, CELT Faculty Fellow, 2022 Student Affairs Layton Faculty Award
Congratulations, again, to all of those who were recognized!