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| If you would like to see the information that was shared at the Affordable Content Panel on January 22nd, click here to see the slides which also include a summarized transcript of what the panelists shared. Chloe Armstrong talked about her OhioLink Course redesign grant. Ashwin Lall shared about his experience publishing an affordable textbook. Rebecca Homan spoke on creating in-house materials. |
Tech Tips from ETS
A quick technology tip to help you engage your students whether in the classroom or remotely.
Setting Up Automatic System and Software Updates
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| Software updates are like oil changes for your car: critical maintenance to keep your digital systems running in an optimal state. We all know how easy it can be to put off system updates–they take up valuable computer time and can be snoozed with a single click. However, it’s important to keep up with updates for Google Chrome, your downloaded apps and software, and your operating system as updates often include bug fixes, performance and stability improvements, and patches that fix security vulnerabilities. |
End-of-Semester Tech Wrap Up
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As the semester comes to a close, here are 5 things you can do now to tie up loose ends and prepare yourself for a smooth start next semester:
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Make Informed Electronics Purchases
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| This time of year, many people consider purchasing new electronics. But how do you know what to buy?
Start by researching your options using trusted sources such as: Look for comprehensive reviews or comparison guides rather than simple ranked lists. Comparative reviews allow you to see how products perform relative to one another, rather than relying solely on a single author’s preference. |
Fudge Points: A Quick Way to Change Grades in Canvas
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While using SpeedGrader in Canvas you can adjust scores after they have been autograded. This allows for quick manual score correction due to autograder issues, like partial answers or other situations that warrant a positive or negative change in scores.
When manually grading in SpeedGrader, you need to click the green checkmark in order for the grade to save in the gradebook.
From ETS: A smorgasbord of Canvas tools
A smorgasbord of Canvas tools
Although not as enticing as the image above, Canvas has numerous apps, plug-ins, or LTIs (Learning Tools Interoperability) that can be integrated into courses. Some tools are already configured; you only need to enable visibility on your courses’ left navigation menu: Settings > Navigation > Enable > Save. Examples of tools added this way include:
The window for requesting new LTIs/apps/plug-ins for spring semester closes in a week and a half on October 15th.
Tech: Commitment Planning Tool for Time Management
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| Time management is an important skill for academic success. If your students are struggling to plan ahead or are interested in leveling up their time management skills, consider sharing the Commitment Planning Tool with them.
This Google Sheets-based visualization tool has three key advantages:
If your students use this tool, please encourage them to complete the pre-use survey before they start using it and the post-use survey at the end of the semester. |
AI Symposium Handbook
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| Did you miss the Fall Faculty Symposium? One of our resources was this Faculty Handbook for AI in Teaching and Learning. It includes information from the different interactive sessions. Please keep in mind, this isn’t a rule book. It’s meant to spark ideas and open conversations about how AI might fit into your teaching. Inside, you’ll find examples and considerations to help you reflect, adapt, and experiment as you see fit. |
Tech: LockDown Browser
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A new tool to ensure secure assessments in CanvasDenison has a new Canvas tool that will enable students to type their assessments on their own computer without access to electronic sources, websites, or AI: LockDown Browser. Instructors can create a LockDown assessment within Canvas quizzes, choosing whether students will have no access to websites or whether they have access to specific websites. |
Tech: Help Your Students Keep Time During Exams
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| Last week we held a student focus-group to hear their thoughts on our campus learning spaces. One topic that came up: wall clocks. Students appreciate being able to quickly tell how much time is left, especially when taking an exam. One student appreciated an instructor who digitally projected the time on the classroom screen. Here are a few websites that enable you to do so: |