SURVEY RESULTS: Faculty Acceptance of Online Learning from Inside Higher Ed

In Professors' Slow, Steady Acceptance of Online Learning: A Survey, Inside Higher Ed dives deeply into the data. Sometimes revolution feel more like evolution. But that's okay, because we're moving in the right direction! Fascinating read for those with opinions on either side of the debate.

“Embrace” is probably too strong. “Acquiescence” suggests too much passivity. Whatever word you choose, though, the data indicate that American faculty members -- whether grudgingly or enthusiastically -- are increasingly participating in and, to a lesser extent, accepting the validity of online education.

ePortfolio Tip Sheet for Students

I love using the e-portfolio as a final project in my courses, regardless of what I teach. Each module is intended to build a piece of that final deliverable that mimics authentically the challenges a student might face in their professional roles after graduation.

As students submit module assignments and incorporate feedback over the semester, they aggregate their feedback-applied final products into a linear or montage collection of samples of real work. Because I stress its value to them in applying for scholarships, programs, degrees, and jobs, they put a bit more time and energy into getting it right. And because I provide the rubric at the beginning of the semester by which the final product will be graded—and timely incremental feedback through the building stages—the final product is almost invariably A-quality.

5 Design Principles for Building Your First Portfolio is a tip sheet for e-portfolio construction that might help you help your students. We will be adding it to the broader Student Learning Guide to Multimedia Production that is available to any instructor to insert into their course who wants to provide it as instruction and support with assignments that involve multimedia production. We welcome comments (and questions via comments) on the document itself or by emailing OnlineLearning@uah.edu!

VIDEO: Accessibility & Academic Continuity (+ Video editing strategies!)

This week I created a 20-minute presentation for New Faculty Orientation, to be delivered in a face-to-face setting for those full-time faculty able to attend. But for those not able to attend, and for part-time faculty also not able to drop in, I recorded this quick Screencast-o-Matic master video shared in Canvas.

I captioned and posted it quickly to ensure immediate access to the content, but will further refine it by dividing it into two videos (one for each topic) that can be used individually or in conjunction with each other.

Best practice for video length is generally 5-7 minutes, but two 10-minute videos would work well here as well. This video can be used until my updated versions are ready. I'll need to recheck my captions for accuracy, and update anyplace where it has been embedded. This is why spreadsheet records of each video (and where it is placed) are such a timesaver!

Silencing Voices

Julian Stodd, "writer, researcher, (and) Captain at Sea Salt Learning" writes in "Silencing Voices:"

Perhaps when we consider the silent voices, we should distinguish between those that are drowned out, and those that simply never shout out at all. Self censured, not silenced.

If you need help finding ways to create and sustain dialog in your classes, contact ETL by emailing helpdesk@uah.edu and letting us know how we can help!

More free graphics!

Need additional resources for spicing up your course content visually? Here are 7 best illustration resources to use in your web design projects (including course work!).

Still can't find what you need? Drop us a line at OnlineLearning@uah.edu and we'll do our best to help!

UDL-IRN: It's happening!

Anyone interested in learning more about Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is encouraged to check out this virtual (one-day online) conference and the organization forming around implementation of and research within the UDL community. You'll be hearing a lot more about UDL and ADA accessibility in coming months! These are great resources to bookmark even if you don't have the time this semester. The conference fee is only $20, so you really can't lose!

For more information on how to implement UDL and ADA accessibility into your course, contact HelpDesk@uah.edu to schedule an appointment with the specialists best suited to your needs.