The Center for Teaching creates and promotes professional development opportunities for Tunxis faculty, administrators and staff who teach. We sponsor everything from informal discussions to intensive training.  Our priorities are set by and for faculty, so let us know if there’s an issue or opportunity we might highlight.

 

 

 

iTeach Badging Series – 2022

Blackboard Competencies

#1 – Course Design/Communication (Not Recorded)

#2 – Assignments and Tests

#3 – Gradebook

January 20, 2021 – Student Success Panel
Tunxis students give advice on how to be successful while taking classes online and remotely.

February 12, 2018 – Student Success Panel
“Stories and Strategies of Successful Students” on February 12th, 2018. sources and ways to make connections on campus.

March 10, 2016 2:30 – 4:30 Open Educational Resources: Faculty Showcase
An introduction to Open Educational Resources and how they are being used at Tunxis Community College, sponsored by the Tunxis Center for Teaching and the Tunxis ‘Going Open’ committee. Kevin Corcoran, Executive Director of the Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium (CTDLC), will provide the initial overview, followed by a faculty showcase of Tunxis faculty.

February 18, 2016 Helping Us Help Others – College Mental Health
A Representative from the National Alliance of Mental Illness – CT. A collaborative effort brought to you by Center for Teaching, Student Accessibility Services, Academic Advising & NAMI Connecticut.

Center for Teaching Workshops
-iTeach Essentials
Online teaching is not about knowing which buttons to push in Blackboard.  Although technical proficiency supports online teaching, the ability to communicate effectively online, facilitate community and interaction, design effective online assignments, learning objectives, and course structure are paramount to the success of online learning.  Topics in this course include both pedagogical, as well as technical practices of online teaching and classroom management.  For more information and additional details, visit the website at http://www.ctedu/iteach  To find out what it is like to take the iTeach program, please talk to Susan Gentry at 860-773-1651 or [email protected]

-Pathways Workshops
The State Center for Teaching generally offers 4 workshops in the months of October, November, February and April.  If you are interested in registering for one or all of the sessions, please follow the directions at the bottom of the announcement.  The Pathways Workshops are well presented and typically provide valuable information and opportunities to talk with colleagues about teaching.  The workshops last half day and are open to all Tunxis faculty including adjuncts and administrators who have instructionally related responsibilities.  You just need to register!  If you have any questions, please contact Colleen Richard at 860-773-1637 or [email protected]

-Barnes Seminar
A free 3-day intensive workshop in a beautiful natural setting typically in May.  This event is open to adjuncts, full-time faculty, and administrators who are engaged in some form of teaching.  Applications due in February, with participants announced April.  Details to be announced.  For more information, contact Colleen Richard at 860-773-1637 or [email protected]

-Instructional Skills Workshop
Highly interactive 3-day workshop, in which each participant makes three 10 minute presentations.  These are the basis for discussions about effective pedagogy.  Experienced or brand new faculty can benefit greatly from these sessions.  It is an opportunity to experiment with new approaches to instruction.    Contact Susan Gentry  [email protected], Debbie Bradford [email protected] or Sue Lounsbury [email protected]

-Spirit of Teaching
A day-long workshop for mid-career faculty who will appreciate a discussion that reminds them why they went into teaching and helps them express their enthusiasm for what they do.  Offered in September.  Contact Colleen Richard at 860-773-1637 or [email protected]

-Schwab Leadership Program
A full-day Schwab Leadership Institute featuring a nationally-recognized speaker as keynote and interactive breakout workshops on leadership-related topics. These informal conversations with experts and colleagues from across the state are designed to give participants new perspectives and a local network within which the conversation can continue. Participants leave the conference with enhanced theoretical knowledge and practical advice. This Institute is open to all members of the CSCU and is usually held in early spring.  For more information visit the Connecticut Center for Teaching.

Teaching Topics
-Advising
An academic advisor is a faculty (or staff) member at the college assigned to you that will help plan your course schedule and provide additional information about reaching your educational and career goals.
Academic Advising Essentials

-Assessment
Assessment tips and issues shared by Tunxis colleagues.
Harsh Take on Assessment…From Assessment Pros
A Push for Equitable Assessment

-Discipline Specific
Teaching tips and resources recommended for specific disciplines.

Math
American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC) Webinars: https://amatyc.org/page/Webinars#AMATYC
Mathematical Association of Two Year Colleges in Connecticut (MATYCONN) Website:  http://matyconn.matyc.org/
TED Talk:  Dan Meyer: Math class needs a makeover
https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_meyer_math_class_needs_a_makeover?utm_campaign=tedspread&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=tedcomshare

-Instructional Strategy
The Teaching Top 10 is a collection of 10 teaching tips on specific subjects, originally published weekly.  It was written and published by Bill Searle and Joseph Finckel of Asnuntuck Community College as an activity of the CT. Community Colleges Center for Teaching.
The Teaching Top Ten (Vol. I) – Connecticut Center for Teaching
The Teaching Top Ten (Vol. II) – Connecticut Center for Teaching
Adjunct Faculty Crash Course
Inclusive Teaching Resources

-Instructional Theory
A compilation of the latest articles on teaching and learning topics in higher education.
Inside Higher Education – Teaching and Learning

-Students
A roundup of helpful links related to our student population that can be shared to assist students needing instruction in these areas.
Tunxis Online/Distance Learning
Tunxis Online Education
Online Course Information for Students (video)
Blackboard Help for Students (PDFs)
Welcome to the Virtual New Student Orientation

-Student Veterans
Helpful links related to Student Veterans.
Veterans & National Guard Benefits
Supporting Veterans at the Community College

-TED Talks
Favorites of Tunxis instructors.
What Teachers Make
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
Inside the Mind of a Procrastinator

-Library Instructional Technologies

What is assessment?

How can we speak assessment? How do the campus-wide curriculum decisions fit together? Where do you fit into the puzzle? Find Out

NILOA DPQ: Degree Qualifications Profile – What college students should know at different degree levels.

Bloom’s Taxonomy: a review of terms used in assessment (for assignments and rubrics).

What is direct and indirect assessment? What are the different types of assessments we can create for our students? Find Out

Tool Kits for creating and reviewing various levels of assessment work

Curriculum Mapping: NILOA Curriculum Mapping Tool Kit

Assignment Charrette: How to facilitate assignment design and revision in a workshop or workshop series.

NILOA Assignment Tool Kit

Shortened version in Word Doc: [Jen’s file]

Signature Assignments: Guides and samples for creating signature assignments at a campus.

Blueprint for assessment: a table that helps develop and review curricular goals for a test.

Guides and tools for assessing group work or projects.

Equity minded assessment: resources, case studies, and research studies.

“The Time Is Now” from studentaffairsassessment.org

“It’s Critical To Assess Social Justice Programs” from studentaffairsassessment.org

“Equity in Assessment” from NILOA

Institutes: Dig into these well-established resources to find specific information you need.

AAC&U

NILOA

Assessment Commons

The New England Educational Assessment Network Webinar/Conference Schedule

Technical Support

To troubleshoot for on campus issues including WiFi, classroom technology (computers, keyboards, mice, projection equipment…), internet access, security issues, Office 365 authentication for students, password reset for faculty with ID, SANS Securing the Human.  Call 860-773-1390 or email  [email protected]

ConnSCU Support Center  – Staff support hours are Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm
For assistance with a covered service (Blackboard, myCommNet, Banner Self Service, Office 365, NetID, Wireless, Library) visit us at the CCC Online Help Desk to chat or create a case or by phone (860.723.0221).
Statewide support center for myCommnet and Blackboard. Submit ticket to document and report problems. Help with log in, browser check, downloads etc.

Online/Distance Learning Blackboard Resources

Review the following links to find additional information related to “Distance Learning” and “Online Education”.
Tunxis Online/Distance Learning
Tunxis Online Education

Blackboard Support and Resources for Faculty – Compilation of helpful videos, PDFs and screenshots.
Blackboard Learn On-Demand Videos for Instructors –  Learn more about “Instructor” specific Blackboard tools or features.

Tunxis > Blackboard Student FAQ Online Help – Compilation of videos, PDFs and screenshots covering most common issues students have with Blackboard.
Blackboard Learn On-Demand Videos for Students – Learn more about “Student” specific Blackboard tools or features. This is a great resource to provide to students.
Blackboard CONNSCU Student Support Center – Students can call during posted hours or submit a support ticket for help here.
ConnSCU Ed Tech Training YouTube –  Access “How-To” type video tutorials that supplement those available in the Blackboard On Demand Learning Center.

Additional Online Resources – A compilation of CT CFT additional online resources.

Community College Research Center – Website publishes original research from CCRC. “CCRC strategically assesses the problems and performance of community colleges in order to contribute to the development of practice and policy that expands access to higher education and promotes success for all students. Housed at Teachers College, Columbia University, CCRC is the leading independent authority on the nation’s nearly 1200 two-year colleges.”

Faculty Peer Support Network

This program was launched in the summer of 2020, and because it has been so successful, was approved for additional funding to support the Spring term! Sessions are available NOW! Its purpose is to address any core technology needs or questions, assist with course-building in Blackboard, help with the creation of graded assessments such as Discussions, Assignments, and Tests, or with the use Collaborate, Kaltura, SafeAssign, and other learning tasks. This program connects community college faculty (full-time/part-time) with experienced faculty peer mentors.

Appointments must be made at least 24 hours in advance. Cancellations must also be issued at least 24 hours in advance of the selected appointment date. Here is how to book an appointment – please read carefully!

    1. Review the peer mentor profiles – not all mentors are available on a given day, of course, but if you leave the tab open to this page, you can look at the profiles of the mentors who are available on the dates and times that you want.
    2. VERY IMPORTANT:  Log into your Office365 email via http://my.commnet.edu you must already be logged in BEFORE you go to the bookings site in the next step, or the Bookings site will not recognize you as a member of the CSCU organization.
    3. Go to the Bookings site and select a service (Blackboard Mentoring or Technology Mentoring)
    4. Either select a mentor from the dropdown list and look and see when he or she is available on the calendar, or leave the “select staff” dropdown set as “anyone” and then click a calendar date and see which mentors are available.
    5. Fill out your details on the rest of the form (all are required) and click Book.
    6. You will receive an invite to a Teams meeting with the mentor on your Outlook 365 calendar.

Questions? Please contact the program manager, Marci Komssi, [email protected] or for more info go to https://www.ct.edu/facultypd#resources.