Faculty Workshops, Fall 2010

The CAID, with partners across campus, is pleased to offer the following workshops for faculty for the fall 2010 term. To learn more about any of these workshops and to register, please e-mail CAID@smu.ca. All workshops will be held in Atrium 212 unless otherwise noted.

Blackboard 101

Tuesday September 7th, 11am-12pm

Thursday September 23rd, 11am-12pm

Atrium 107 (CAT lab)

In this introductory workshop, we will explore what Blackboard is and how you can use it to enhance student learning. You will learn how to set up Blackboard with your course, get an overview of its various functions and tools, [think about what to tell students about Blackboard,] and see some quick and easy things that you can do to get started – including uploading your course syllabus, and post readings and other files. 

Building Bridges: Teaching International Students in a Canadian Classroom

Kathi Thompson, M.Ad.Ed., ESL Specialist

Friday September 17th, 10am-12pm

The increasing number of international English Foreign Language (EFL) students on campus makes Saint Mary’s University an exciting microcosm of our current global environment. How does this growing EFL population impact our classrooms? Is it a rich and exciting contribution to your classroom or does it create stressful demands on your teaching? 

Building Bridges is a workshop designed to explore both sides of this question. We will examine:

• Challenges faculty face engaging EFL learners in the classroom
• Struggles students have adapting to Saint Mary’s and what this means in their day-to-day life
• Teaching success stories
• Practical tools to integrate into your teaching practice

If you would like to explore ideas, questions and practical approaches, to better engage international students in your classroom, this workshop is for you.

Using Stats Canada and other Statistics for Teaching and Research  

Peter Webster, Associate University Librarian, Information Technology Services

Xuimei Li, Digital Services Librarian

Thursday September 30th, 1pm-2:30pm

Real world Canadian statistics can be an engaging primary source for classroom use.   A wealth of statistical materials are available for use by students, faculty and  researchers.  These materials are easier than ever to access and use.  Objectives for this session are to:  

• highlight the broad range of social, economic, business statistics resources available to SMU scholars,
• look at the wealth of historical statistical sources,  
• demonstrate how easy it can be  to access statistical sources for use in your classroom,
• explore the more advanced and in-depth data sources available to researchers,
• answer questions about the statistical services and resources  available at Saint Mary’s, and
• see your feedback on statistical resources needed for the future.

What You Need to Know about Privacy and Confidentiality in the Age of Technology

Marie DeYoung, University Librarian and FOIPOP Administrator

Friday October 1, 10am-11am

Freedom of information and protection of privacy legislation has implications for everyone. This workshop will provide an overview of what you need to know when using Facebook or other social networking sites within teaching, wikis, writing reference letters, giving back assignments and e-mails.

Elluminate Live!

Stefani Woods, Program Director, Distance Education

Wednesday October 6th, 1pm-2pm

Elluminate Inc. is a leading provider in real-time web-based solutions for education. Elluminate Live is a virtual classroom or meeting room that adds a synchronous component to on-line courses or a collaborative alternative to classroom-based courses.  Come to this demonstration of Elluminate Live and get your questions answered.    

Classroom Technology Essentials

Thursday October 7th, 10am-11am

Friday October 29th, 10am-11am

Have you ever all been in a class when the presenter couldn’t seem to get the data projector turned on, the mouse to function, or the volume to work? It can be frustrating for students and unnerving if you are trying to teach. Get familiar with what is or may be available in your classroom, how to use it, and where to turn for immediate help when it’s needed. We will address everything from adjusting the lights, raising or lowering projection screens, operating a document camera and using the SMART podium with the interactive pen.

This session may be particularly helpful if you are teaching in a recently renovated classroom in McNally.

Managing Student Grades through Blackboard

Friday October 15th, 1pm-1:30pm

Atrium 107 (CAT Lab)

This hands-on session is designed to help you become comfortable working with the Grade Book within Blackboard and tailor it to your needs. After setting up the Grade Book, you will learn how to view, enter, change, and manage student grades. 

Preventing, Detecting, and Responding to Plagiarism

Cindy Harrigan Librarian, Instructional Development

Carol Roderick, Instructional Development Associate

Friday October 22nd, 11am-12pm

Description not yet available.

Integrating Online Readings, Library Searches and More into Blackboard: Easier than you think

Peter Webster, Associate University Librarian

Friday November 5th, 1pm-2pm

Looking for alternatives to texts, paper handouts, and course packs? Looking to get your students into searching relevant databases? Did you know that the library has a ton of online material that you can upload into Blackboard or CourseTools? Research databases can be searched within Blackboard as well. The library offers everything from E-journal articles, pictures and news images, charts, tables, video clips, and subject specific fulltext searching. With online licensed library materials you can sleep easy at night:  you don’t have to worry about copyright, as it is licensed for this purpose, and it is free to your students to use. In this session you will learn what these resources are and how to incorporate them into your courses.

Podcasting: Pods aren’t just for whales…

Stefani Woods, Program Director, Distance Education

Carol Roderick, Instructional Development Associate

Wednesday November 17th, 1-1:45pm

While whales congregate in pods or social groups to interact, educators use a collection of pre-recorded audio or video segments called podcasts to disseminate information to students. Podcasts can be used to benefit student learning, reinforce specific topics, interview guest speakers, etc. In this session, we will explore what podcasts are, some of their uses in teaching and learning, and what you need to know to create your own. 

Designing Multiple-Choice Questions and Exams

Carol Roderick, Instructional Development Associate

Friday November 19th, 1pm -2pm

Come explore the benefits and drawbacks of multiple-choice tests, learn the common problems and pitfalls to watch out for, and leave being able to create more effective multiple-choice test items – even those that test students’ critical thinking. The session will conclude with information, and a brief question and answer period on in-house scanning for multiple-choice exams.

Shop the World for Research (WorldCAT)

Cindy Harrigan, Librarian, Instructional Development

Friday November 26th, 10am -11am

72,000 libraries, millions of articles. Google? No, WorldCat.  This database and discovery tool, simultaneously opens the online catalogues of the world's leading libraries and databases containing full-text articles -- all searchable through the Library's home page. Learn basic and advanced search techniques and see the new face of interlibrary document delivery. Why search Amazon for what you might buy, when you can scour WorldCat for what you might borrow?