Provides basic and practical directions, tips, and other insights for teaching in Higher Education. The series is produced primarily for Canisius College faculty, but also may help professors or instructors elsewhere.
We try to have at least one new episode each month. You can also find and subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.
Episodes
Music Credit: Gunnar Olsen (via YouTube)
Episode 1
Basic considerations and tips for communicating instructions, and updates to your students. Develop consistent procedures that simplify the learning process and focus energy on course substance.
Related Links and Resources
The Basics: Adding Modules, Uploading Files, and Rearranging Modules and Topics - Transcript
Building and Editing Web Pages in D2L's Content Area - Transcript
Embedding Google Docs in D2L (Close Captioned)
Topic and Module Descriptions - Transcript
Try using Video!
Record Webcam Videos to Communicate with Students - Transcript
Some Good Reading
Major, Claire. Teaching Online: A Guide to Theory, Research, and Practice. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2015. Link.
Nilson, Linda B. Teaching at its Best: A Research-Based Resource for College Instructors. San Francisco: Josey-Bass, 2016. Link.
Episode 2
A good syllabus is the cornerstone of a great course.
Related Links and Resources
Canisius College Griff Center for Academic Engagement
Accessibility Support Office at Canisius College
Tutoring Services at Canisius College
Writing Center at Canisius College
Get a quick list of calendar dates for your course outline using Caleb McDaniel's brilliant "Syllabus Maker."
Episode 3
Consider some basic course design principles.
Relevant Links and Resources
A Quick Guide to Basic Course Design
Module 1 and Module 2 of the COLI Guide to Teaching Online has some basics for course design.
Some basic guidelines for determining appropriate student effort in a three-credit course, from the New York State Department of Education.
Organizing your course within D2L begins with understanding modules and topics in the Content area. Here's the tutorial for that.
More D2L Tutorials for faculty at Canisius College.
Some Good Reading
Nilson, Linda B. Teaching at its Best: A Research-Based Resource for College Instructors. San Francisco: Josey-Bass, 2016. Link.
Episode 4
Part 1 of a two-part look at Asynchronous Discussions, a useful style of communication most commonly associated with online or hybrid courses, but also useful in face-to-face classes.
Relevant Links and Resources
COLI Guide to Teaching Online Module 4: Communication & Creation.
Here's some helpful documentation for asynchronous discussion instructions for students. You may adopt or adapt these to your classes.
Our D2L Self-Paced Training for Faculty has a video series that shows how to organize, manage, and optimize your asynchronous discussions within D2L.
Some Good Reading
Leiberman, Mark. "Discussion Boards: Valuable? Overused? Discuss." insidehighered.com. March 27th, 2019.
Major, Claire. Teaching Online: A Guide to Theory, Research, and Practice. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2015. Link.
Peery, Tammy Stuart and Samantha Streamer Veneruso. "Balancing Act: Managing Instructor Presence and Workload When Creating an Interactive Community of Learners." March 15th, 2012.
Episode 5
Part 2 of a two-part look at Asynchronous Discussions.
Relevant Links and Resources
COLI Guide to Teaching Online Module 4: Communication & Creation.
Here's some helpful documentation for asynchronous discussion instructions for students. You may adopt or adapt these to your classes.
Community Standards and Polices at Canisius College.
Some Good Reading
Ten Best Practices for Teaching Online. Taken from Judith Boettcher and Rita-Marie Conrad's The Online Teaching Survival Guide. Among other things, this article includes great basic tips for online asynchronous discussions.
Episode 6
We are joined by Dr. Graham Stowe, Director of the Writing Center and Assistant Professor English at Canisius College. Professor Stowe helps us determine how and why we assign writing as part of our courses, and offers tips on managing writing assignments.
Relevant Links and Resources
Canisius College Writing Center. https://www.canisius.edu/academics/office-academic-affairs/academic-institutes-and-centers/canisius-college-writing-center
Dr. Graham Stowe. https://www.canisius.edu/academics/our-schools/college-arts-sciences/directory/graham-stowe
Chapter 4 of the COLI Guide to Teaching Online: Communication & Creation. https://sites.google.com/my.canisius.edu/ofdc4/1
Episode 7
This episode features a conversation with Dr. Richard Reitsma, director and founder of the Borders and Migrations Initiative at Canisius College as well as the Chair of Modern Languages, Literature, Culture. In this conversation, we talk about how borders, migration, and Jesuit pedagogy can impact learning experiences in and out of the classroom.
Relevant Links and Resources
Dr. Reitsma’s Faculty page: https://www.canisius.edu/academics/our-schools/college-arts-sciences/directory/richard-reitsma
Borders and Migrations Initiative Link: https://blogs.canisius.edu/border/
Borders & Migration Initiative Toolkit: https://blogs.canisius.edu/border/border-and-migration-teaching-toolkit/
Borders and Migration Events: https://blogs.canisius.edu/border/blog/
Spanish Program Page: https://www.canisius.edu/academics/programs/spanish
Kino Border and Migration: https://www.kinoborderinitiative.org/
Episode 8
We are joined by Dr. Malini Suchak, Associate Professor in the Animal Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation, and Anthrozoology Programs at Canisius College.
Professor Suchak, a long-time advisor to COLI's pedagogy development program, reflects on her experiences teaching online, face-to-face, and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her insights and perspective inspires us to draw upon and blend these experiences into better teaching and learning in the future.
Relevant Links and Resources
Professor Malini Suchak at Canisius College
Animal Behavior, Ecology, and Conversation (ABEC) at Canisius College
Anthrozoology at Canisius College
Online Faculty Development Course
Episode 9
This episode features a conversation with Mrs. Sarah Galasso, Associate Professor of Digital Media Arts at Canisius College.
In this conversation, Mrs. Galasso reflects on her life experiences related to transitioning from the private sector to freelancing to Villa Maria College and finally to Canisius College.
Relevant Links and Resources
Mrs. Sarah Galasso’s Faculty Page
Episode 10
Professor Yvonne Widenor joins the podcast to discuss students’ diverse ways of discovering and appreciating art, both in and outside the classroom, and connecting art to their day-to-day lived experience. Along the way she provides some great tips on fostering student creativity and employing popular culture in course activities. She also discusses the benefits of campus-centered art promotion programs, both for the University and for its communities.
Relevant Links and Resources