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Preparing for the New Year!

We would all trade lower COVID infections rates in Shelby County (or a zero infection rate!) for an on-time start this Spring. The delayed semester start, however, does give more time to prepare for whatever comes our way by January 30th -- the first official day of the semester. 

Here are a few items you'll want to know for the Spring semester. You can read more about each of these announcements in this newsletter. 
  • All Canvas shells will auto-publish on the official first day of class. 
  • The Canvas shell template has been revised for the Spring semester 
  • CDI recommends and CBU Office of Academic Affairs requires that all classes have some digital presence in Canvas this Spring (a syllabus at minimum)
  • Canvas has rolled out its new RCE (Rich Content Editor). 
We've all endured enough changes for a lifetime since last Spring but know that the entire CDI team is here to support you through the above changes... and any others that might come your way in 2021! Contact us at CDI@cbu.edu or (901) 321-4004. 

Most of all, we wish you a Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

Dale Hale, Center for Digital Instruction Director
Canvas Updates
Auto-Published Canvas Shells

All Canvas course shells will be auto-published the morning of the first official day of the semester, Saturday, January 30th. This is a step toward creating a "digital campus" for CBU students. Whether the course is online, hybrid or traditional, students will see basic information about all
CBU courses in which they've enrolled in one place. If you have content in your Canvas course that you do not want students to have access to on the first official day of class, keep those modules or pages unpublished until you are ready to release them to students. Click here to see an example. If your course is ready for publication and you'd like to publish before the first day of class -- we encourage you to do so! 

As announced by the Office of Academic Affairs last Fall, all CBU courses must include syllabi published in corresponding Canvas course shells, regardless of course format. All CBU courses, whether online, hybrid or traditional, are automatically given a shell in Canvas. Click here to read more about putting your syllabus into your Canvas course shell.  If you'd like to include more information about your course -- you'll help make Canvas an even more useful hub for students! See this website to learn about adding more digital elements to any CBU class. 

Revised Canvas Template
Because CBU is currently offering such a variety of course formats, we have revised the Canvas course template to provide more clarity for students. We recommend that instructors update all default language in their Canvas course shells, regardless of course format. But if you forget or are unable to update the default language before your course has been auto-published on January 30th, the template has been revised so that the students will be guided to their professor for more information. You can read more about the revisions here. 
Rich Content Editor Update
 
The Rich Content Editor (RCE) is the toolbar and editing window used to edit Canvas pages, quizzes, announcements, assignments, and discussions. It’s a feature used quite a bit. If you are familiar with Canvas, the changes made to the RCE make it easier and more intuitive to use.
It also clears desktop real estate to give you more room to work. We invite you to watch this 5-minute video to see how the new RCE functions. If you have any questions about the RCE’s functionality, contact us at CDI@cbu.edu  
Batch Adjusting Due Dates
 
Canvas has a relatively new feature in “Assignments” that allows for a batch edit of dates, allowing you to select all assignments and then bump them all up a set number of days. Click here to learn how. 
Digital First
CBU 'Digital First' Campaign

A more agile classroom means a better experience for students and professor, no matter what happens. The CDI team has created this website to move your class further along the digital instruction spectrum to prepare for anything. 
CDI Town Hall: Digital Formats 

Last summer, CDI held its first "Town Hall" about the different ways you can add more digital components to your classroom to increase agility in case of a move to remote learning and to provide better social distancing in your classroom.
Watch the recording here. 
CDI also held an advanced town hall on digital course formats this Fall. It explored how to choose course formats based on your learning objectives. Click here for the recording and complementary material. 
Preparing for the First Day!
Crosslisting Requests
 
If you need a Spring course crosslisted or uncrosslisted, please contact us as soon as possible. Once students start entering, performing either of these functions can cause problems with your course.  Contact: CDI@cbu.edu
(901) 321-4004.  
Canvas Course Checklists
 
Whether you are importing a Canvas course or creating a new one, we have a checklist to make sure your students will enter a well-organized, digital space in Canvas. 
CDI Training
We have all kinds of ways for you to get started on Canvas:
  1. Canvas Basics Course. We highly recommend you choose this method, our most comprehensive Canvas short course. Learn how to create discussions, quizzes and how to develop modules. This on-demand class can be started at any time and completed at your pace! Begin here! 
  2. Canvas Quick Start. We developed this Quick Start guide when professors had to quickly convert all classes online in the Spring. If this type of learning works for you, here's the Canvas Quick Start. 
  3. Canvas Video Tutorials. If you learn best by watching a series of videos, we put together this series of short videos created by CDI Instructional Designer Tyler Isbell. Watch here.
  4. Canvas Job Aids. Print out these Job Aids if you like to have succinct instructions with you, while you learn. Or, if you just have to relearn one part of Canvas. Click here
If you have Canvas questions that are more advanced or need to speak to one of our trainers, we're here. Contact: CDI (901) 321-4004  CDI@cbu.edu
Tools to Enhance Your Course
 
CDI has developed two new resources to assist you in developing high-quality online courses.

Click this link to view our Video Editing Course and Seat Time Estimator. 
Starfish Training
CDI has collaborated with CBU Academic Services to bring you asynchronous training for our university's new student success platform -- Starfish! Complete Phase One asynchronous training by enrolling in the course here! Suggested completion date is January 15th. 
Synchronous
If you plan on using synchronous lectures in a class this Spring, or it's your back-up plan if CBU moves to remote learning, we've developed guidelines that can help you and your students have a better synchronous experience. 
Course Resources
Consider assigning your students to take this QuickStart guide for Canvas. It has a tool to assess tech readiness for Canvas and WebEx, guides your student through the Canvas template and provides tips on succeeding in an online class! 
Plough Library has put together an excellent list of remote resources for both you and your students! Go to their special COVID-19 Library Support page. You can also check the Library Staff list to find your school Liaison for specialized assistance!
This is a guide to student resources provided by CBU and beyond. Adding this link to your course can help students continue to navigate physical separation from campus. This guide is currently dated for the Winter Break, but will be updated for Spring. 
Respondus LockDown Browser is a tool that proctors student testing remotely. It should be introduced to students early in the semester, to ensure that students have adequate equipment to use it and time to make necessary adjustments. Start the process here More resources here
Since February, CDI has been adding to this robust resource of Canvas, WebEx and Remote Teaching guides created for faculty.  You can add this guide to your Canvas Dashboard by clicking here
Little Digital Library
Better Breakout Rooms
Read Here
Geeky Pedagogy (BOOK) 
Read Here
Leverage Student Feedback
Read Here
Increase Student Engagement 
Read Here
Academic Impressions Webinar

CBU has an institutional membership with Academic Impressions - register for your account with your CBU email, and you can sign up for high-quality, virtual webinars, conferences and institutes for free!
Feature Webinar: Foster Inclusion in the Classroom via Formative Assessment
When: Tuesday, January 19th, 12-2 CST
Enroll: Registration is free with this link once you activate your AI account. 
Connect with Us!
Find Us on MyCBU!
Find our newsletter archive, Canvas resources, trainings and more on the MyCBU website under "Campus Resources." Click here!
We want to share information and connect with you wherever you are! Follow our CDI page on LinkedIn. We also invite you to join our LinkedIn CBU Faculty Forum where you can share with your colleagues in a closed group about what's working, what's not and inspire one another. Invite fellow CBU faculty and adjuncts to join!
 
Enter Canvas
Enter Canvas Here
The Center for Digital Instruction (CDI) Team is here to partner with you to create, manage, and facilitate significant digital learning experiences for your students.

Contact us:
CDI Team: CDI@cbu.edu (901) 321-4004
Dale Hale, CDI Director: Dale.Hale@cbu.edu (901) 321-3264
Tyler Isbell, Instructional Designer & Trainer: Tyler.Isbell@cbu.edu (901) 321-4455
Lurene Kelley, Online Student Success Specialist: Lurene.Kelley@cbu.edu (901) 321-4456
Kyle Purpura, Instructional Designer & Trainer; kpurpura@cbu.edu (901) 321-4457
Shontale Bryan, Instructional Designer & Trainer; sbryant3@cbu.edu (901) 321-4458
 






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