UConn Educational Technologies
Dedicated to the support and advancement of best practices in teaching and learning at the University of Connecticut.
Technologies to Enhance Teaching and Learning at UConn
Video Conferencing
Use a variety of video conferencing tools to meet with your students.
Recording Technologies
Use technologies such as Kaltura and the Lightboard room to create and share videos.
Collaboration & Engagement
Use a variety of tools to engage students in the classroom and outside it
Testing & Assessment
UConn offers a variety of testing and assessment solutions to better enhance
your teaching.
Accessibility
UConn is committed to providing an accessible digital environment for everyone.
Workshops
Register Today
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Jun
1
Inclusive Classroom: Facilitating The Success Of International Students10:00am
Inclusive Classroom: Facilitating The Success Of International Students
Wednesday, June 1st, 2022
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Other Oline
What are some ways to make courses work better for international students? How can instructors foster belonging and activate diversity to enhance learning? In this interactive workshop, we will share experiences, scenarios, and opportunities that often arise when students and instructors from diverse parts of the world gather in a class. Tools and strategies will be suggested for promoting interaction and helping international students learn.
The goal of the workshop is to enhance participants' recognition of:
• cultural and linguistic diversity
• implicit bias
• international students' challenges
• effective course activities for openness and trust
• tools and strategies for equitable participation
Depending upon the interests of participants, the discussion may also include:
• Dual-language learning, thinking, and note taking
• Difficult dialogues and teaching in the context of geopolitical conflict
• Things that are on your mind
Register- https://fins.uconn.edu/secure_inst/workshops/workshop_view.php?ser=2480Contact Information: stacey.valliere@uconn.edu
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Jun
1
Class Activities Demo Series (With Opportunity To Practice!)2:00pm
Class Activities Demo Series (With Opportunity To Practice!)
Wednesday, June 1st, 2022
02:00 PM - 03:15 PM
Other Oline
In this demo series, you will discover and practice effective teaching strategies to improve students' active learning. You will enjoy different teaching strategies in a creative way with other participants. Each section will take 20 minutes, you can choose the one you are interested in and attend the section.
Section 1: Activities for Medium Size Groups: Circle of Voices, Round Robin, Elevator Pitches
Before this section, you are recommended to watch this short video example that represents the Activities for Median Size Group - Circle of Voices: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fuLSU3bE-w
During this section, you will practice Timed Round Robin: Every participant is given the same amount of time (e.g., 30 seconds) and takes turns to share responses on an open-ended question.
Section 2: Think-Pair-Share
Before this section, you are recommended to watch this short video to understand Think-Pair-Share: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mig4olzUy4M
During this section, for a question, participants will have a few minutes to think it over (e.g., 2 minutes) and then turn to a peer for discussion. After a brief discussion (e.g., 5 minutes), you will be asked to share your peer's opinion in front of the class.
Section 3: Jigsaw
Before this section, you are recommended to watch this short video to understand Jigsaw: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dvi0ZvOhZs0
During this section, everyone will be assigned into an "expert group" to discuss a piece of an assignment. After reaching consensus (5 minutes), participants will be rearranged to "jigsaw group" so there's one person from each "expert group" at each "jigsaw group" to explain his or her group's discussion and conclusion (5 minutes) to form a finished project.
Register - https://fins.uconn.edu/secure_inst/workshops/workshop_view.php?ser=2482Contact Information: stacey.valliere@uconn.edu
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Jun
7
Managing Anxiety, Yours and Theirs6:45pm
Managing Anxiety, Yours and Theirs
Tuesday, June 7th, 2022
06:45 PM - 07:45 PM
Other Online
Participants will come away with specific strategies for managing their own and their students’ anxieties
We will discuss topics such as:
• Causes of anxiety: Lack of confidence, Lack of knowledge, lack of preparation, lack of experience, the unknown…
Solutions:
• Prioritize tasks (It’s not ALL vital or ALL immediate)
• work with a partner or friend, seek help from a colleague, a friend, a professional,
• establish and follow routines,
• move (exercise), get enough rest,
• consider how to change the environment to make it more effective for you, breathe,
• think positive thoughts and believe in yourself, consider accommodations, laugh- esp. when you want to cry (crying is okay, too)
• Managing Student Anxiety:
• Give choices
• Be Flexible
• Listen
• Share all relevant information regarding grades, assignments, policies…
• Make a connection with your students
Register - https://fins.uconn.edu/secure_inst/workshops/workshop_view.php?ser=2514Contact Information: stacey.valliere@uconn.edu
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Jun
15
Giving Effective Feedback, Multiple Assessment Strategies 10:00am
Giving Effective Feedback, Multiple Assessment Strategies
Wednesday, June 15th, 2022
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Other Online
We will discuss such topics as:
How and when to give the most effective feedback
Following up on feedback as needed
Less is more
Assessments that allow students to be more successful
The positive effects of using a variety of assessment tools
Formative vs. summative assessment
Register - https://fins.uconn.edu/secure_inst/workshops/workshop_view.php?ser=2515Contact Information: stacey.valliere@uconn.edu
More
Noteworthy News
Upgraded Version of HuskyCT Coming Summer 2022
UConn has introduced the new version of Blackboard into our HuskyCT platform, and instructors will be able to begin using it in Summer 2022. Blackboard calls the new product "Blackboard Learn Ultra," although UConn will continue to refer to it as HuskyCT.
Courses will not switch to the upgraded version automatically. For Summer 2022 and Fall 2022, only those instructors who choose the new version will have their courses switched over. Workshops and more information will be offered through CETL-Educational Technologies throughout Summer 2022 and into Fall 2022.
As we begin to roll out the new version of HuskyCT, we anticipate that it will appeal primarily to new users of HuskyCT, instructors who want a pared-down, more intuitive system, and courses with relatively uncomplicated course designs. Blackboard Learn Ultra is designed such that course sites are easier for instructors to build and for students to navigate, but some users may find the overall course layout is less customizable. In the early semesters of transitioning to the upgraded version, instructors of courses that rely on custom visual layouts and designs may choose to stick with "old" HuskyCT, aka Blackboard Learn Original.
If you'd like to learn more about upgrades to HuskyCT, keep an eye on this page and the Daily Digest, attend a HuskyCT workshop, or contact the CETL-EdTech office.
Migrating Collaborate Recordings to Kaltura
Since the beginning of the pandemic, UConn has surpassed its Collaborate storage quota (used over double the allotted storage) and need to better manage space.
Our immediate approach to address this issue is to reduce the number of files stored on Collaborate. The ITS-HuskyCT team has moved all recordings that were created in 2020 to Kaltura. You will be able to find the transferred recordings in HuskyCT or Kaltura. You can search for them with the following tags: CourseID, Course name, Group name (if applicable) and the word “Collaborate”. The instructor is assigned as the owner. If the course has multiple instructors, ownership is assigned to the instructor whose NetID is first in alphabetical order. You can request changes to ownership or have files removed from your account by completing the “Ownership Changes Form”. Please note that any recording not played in Kaltura for four years will be deleted automatically.
You also have the option to download any of your recordings and their chat history locally. You need to download these files by February 13, 2022. On Monday, February 14, 2022, all 2020 recordings will be deleted from the Collaborate server.
As a long-term approach to remaining below the quota, we will begin deleting recordings biannually, starting the Spring 2022 semester. All recordings older than 120 days will be deleted on June 1st and November 1st every year without prior notice. Instructors should download their Collaborate recordings before these dates. You can manually upload these recordings to Kaltura after downloading them from Collaborate and share the recording with others, if needed.
Thank you for your understanding. If you have any questions, please email huskyct@uconn.edu.
New Gradescope Integration
Gradescope is a feedback and assessment tool that reduces some of the difficulties and time associated with grading exams, homework, and other assignments. It is widely used for delivering assessments remotely and enables instructors and graders to provide better and more timely feedback, resulting in improved learning outcomes. UConn now has a Gradescope license and the platform is integrated with HuskyCT. For more information, visit our Gradescope info page.
What's New in Webex
HuskyCT instructors can now integrate Webex directly into their course page, allowing instructors to create/begin scheduled meetings, list class recordings, and facilitate office hours directly through HuskyCT. Also, instructors can now pre-assign breakout session groups. Users in breakout sessions will also be able to move between breakout sessions without the instructor manually moving them, leading to increased flexibility with larger discussion sections. The hand-raising feature in Webex has moved to the emoji section for mobile users. In addition to hand-raising, users will now be able to use thumbs up/down and clapping emojis along with other seasonal emojis. Finally, Webex now utilizes Slido for their polling feature.
iClicker Integration
Instructors and students will no longer need to use iClicker Sync because iClicker Cloud will integrate into your HuskyCT course.
iPad loan program for BYOD testing
For classes administering computer-based assessments in the classroom, the instructor can reserve iPads from ITS as back-up devices. The iPads can be checked out from ITS up to 48 hours before the test and returned within 48 hours after it. To reserve iPads: https://confluence.uconn.edu/ikb/loan-of-ipads-to-instructors-for-exams
New software review process
Procurement has developed a new software and technology service review process to ensure the safety of FERPA-protected data.