2024 UNC CAUSE

In this presentation, we will review how Python can be made accessible to students and researchers. We will show the different ways we provide Python Environments on our systems, particularly emphasizing using on JupyterHub.

In this lightning talk, we will explore the powerful impact of microlectures on online education. Microlectures, short and focused video or audio segments, deliver specific content in a concise, easily digestible format. This session will cover three main concepts: the key characteristics of microlectures, their benefits, and the creation process. We will start by identifying the essential elements of an effective microlecture. Learn how clarity, brevity, and targeted learning objectives can transform complex topics into manageable, engaging content that caters to modern learners' preferences for on-demand information. Next, we will discuss the significant benefits of microlectures. These include increased student engagement, improved retention, and greater flexibility in learning. Discover how microlectures can support diverse learning preferences, enhance student motivation, and fit seamlessly into various instructional strategies. Finally, we will provide a streamlined process for creating high-quality microlectures. From planning and scripting to recording and editing, gain practical tips and tools to produce compelling content. Learn how to leverage technology to create impactful microlectures that align with your course objectives and elevate the learning experience. This lightning talk will uncover how microlectures can revolutionize your teaching approach, making your content more engaging and accessible for students.

This will be a 45 minute presentation and demo, where I share hard-earned tips, tricks, workarounds, and strategies for building course content that's easier to maintain long-term. Creating a course is already a significant time commitment. However, with small, strategic changes, we can set ourselves up for future success by creating courses that last longer and are easier to update and maintain. This session will explore practical strategies for creating sustainable content, working with media, and designing courses in a way that will save Future You a ton of time and energy.

Aspirational Session Objectives:
(These are things I hope attendees will attempt after this session.)

1. Develop Evergreen Content: Attendees will create a plan for developing evergreen content that remains relevant over time.
2. Implement Media Strategies: Participants will identify and implement at least three media strategies that enhance course sustainability and engagement.
3. Evaluate Course Design: Attendees will evaluate their current course designs and identify specific areas for improvement in sustainability and maintenance. 

This session is ideal for instructors and instructional designers who are looking to optimize their course creation processes for longevity and ease of maintenance. Join me to gain actionable insights and tips that will make your future course management more efficient and less time-consuming.

As higher education still revolves around the face-to-face lecture as the ideal (i.e. the sage on the stage), accessibility is often an afterthought, particularly in online courses. Even when the course design is accessible, student-produced artifacts are generally not reviewed for accessibility despite the increased frequency of peer -to -peer sharing and required responses, This presentation will demystify the process of creating accessible learning materials by both instructors and learners, ensuring that people of all abilities can access and utilize learning materials. Using examples from General Education courses, this presentation will share ways to build accessibility into student-produced materials therefore providing both a key career skill and ensuring access to all.

Playful learning, including gamification and gameful learning, is one of the active learning strategies that can increase student engagement and faculty joy of teaching. This session will discuss some of the different approaches to gamification and the benefits on the learning process and discuss how new tools of Artificial Intelligence can be used to play the game of learning through the process of creating, playtesting, critiquing, and improving the processes of learning and playing. Participants will walk away with real-world examples of prompts, activities, and assessment methodologies from multiple disciplines. We invite you to come and PL-AI.

The online Veterinary Technology Program at Appstate includes a clinical externship that is intended to provide students with the hands-on experience necessary to develop the skills needed by veterinary technicians. In this session, we'll explore the challenges of blending hands-on experiences with virtual learning. As part of our program’s AVMA accreditation requirements, we need to provide documentation of all the students’ skills. Students submit videos via a Moodle assignment and Kaltura integration. Join us when we discuss the methods we use to collect student artifacts, skill assessment, archiving practices, and developing clinical partnerships remotely. By addressing challenges and sharing successful strategies, we can develop stronger externship experiences. Preparing students with clinical skills is critical to their success and leadership in the workplace, but designing the best way to collect videos, evaluate the submissions, and provide clear student feedback to students in an online program can be a challenge.

In the digital age, fostering a sense of community and belonging in online courses is essential for student success. This presentation will explore three core strategies to humanize your online course: building community, creating a learner-centered syllabus, and providing opportunities for connection. First, we will explore techniques to build an online community that mirrors the support and engagement found in traditional classrooms. Through discussion forums, collaborative projects, and real-time interactions, instructors can create an environment where students feel connected and valued. Next, we'll discuss the importance of a learner-centered syllabus. By involving students in the course design and providing clear, compassionate guidelines, you can create a syllabus that not only informs but also inspires. We'll cover best practices for making your syllabus a living document that evolves with student needs. Finally, we'll examine how to provide opportunities for connection that enhance student engagement and learning. From personalized feedback and interactive content to inclusive teaching methods, these strategies ensure that every student feels welcome and embraced. Join this session to transform your online course into a dynamic, inclusive, and student-centered learning experience.

In this presentation, we present an early* and evolving exploration of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can augment the assessment development process through automated quiz questions and rubric generation. Join us to discover the potential of AI algorithms to streamline the creation of diverse and effective assessment materials. *This presentation shows early work developed and presented at the Appalachian State University Library's AI Symposium in April 2024 and how the processes have evolved since that time. The presentation covers 5 base topics: 1) Using Gemini to generate quiz questions in Aiken format (for import to an LMS), 2) Use ChatGPT to generate questions, 3) Using ChatGPT to format questions in GIFT format for import to an LMS, 4) Use AI directly in AsULearn (Moodle) to rewrite questions, and 5) Using ChatGPT to generate rubrics. Next we present an update for how these processes have been used and have evolved since they were presented in April of 2024. NOTE: Due to our teaching schedule we are requesting to present on either Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning. Thanks for your consideration.