On Friday, Aug. 20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Drake University’s Learning Symposium will convene with the theme “Returning.” Programming for the day will support faculty and staff as we begin working back on campus, welcoming students back to in-person learning, and transitioning to post-pandemic campus life. We’ll explore the impacts of COVID-19 on higher education, learn about projects and initiatives on campus, and gather to celebrate our return.
— Drinda Williams, Office of the Provost
Drake faculty/staff golf league will be a doubles league held at Grandview Golf Course/A.H. Blank Golf Course in Des Moines. Nine holes will be played each week on Wednesdays with tee times starting at 4 p.m. for Grandview and 4:30 p.m. for A.H. Blank. The first day of play will be May 19 and will continue through July 28 (10 weeks).
To register, email Ryan Parriott at ryan.parriott@drake.edu.
— Emily Madsen, Rec Services
Drake University is excited to offer a Drake semester study abroad program in Seville, Spain, starting Spring 2022. As a part of the semester experience, a Drake faculty member will teach and serve in various other capacities to support the program abroad as Faculty-in-Residence.
The DU Spain Faculty-in-Residence application is live through Qualtrics for Spring 2022. A call for future terms will be forthcoming. To learn more about this opportunity including eligibility, compensation, responsibilities, and to apply, please go to: http://drake.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eR8Iq4KW7Qsswqq
Submissions are due Monday, May 24, 2021. If you have questions, please reach out to Maria Rohach, director of education abroad, at maria.rohach@drake.edu.
— Annique Kiel, Global Engagement and International Programs
Each month, a faculty member, nominated by their dean, is recognized for their efforts to integrate innovative technology into their classroom. April’s digital faculty member of the month is Alisa Drapeaux, assistant professor in health sciences/director of health sciences internship, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Read an interview with Alisa below:
What course do you use this technology in? Human Anatomy
What type of technology do you use? Blackboard Collaborate Ultra (BB Collaborate), Panopto, Kahoot, and Anatomage
In what context do you use this technology? Human Anatomy Lecture
How does this type of technology align with your teaching pedagogy? Prior to lecture, I am using Panopto to record each lecture. I release the recording on Blackboard 48–72 hours prior to lecture, so students have a broad understanding of the content before coming to class.
In lecture, I use BB Collaborate to provide both my in-person and remote students a synchronous format. BB Collaborate permits lecture slides, PDF files, and anatomical diagrams to be uploaded to the live session prior to lecture, which promotes instructor organization and preparation. Furthermore, BB Collaborate includes the digital whiteboard, which I use to draw flow charts, anatomical features, or create interactive study guides for both the remote and in-person students to view. All of these strategies help align with my teaching pedagogy to promote student interaction, engagement, and a flipped classroom.
Where did you get the inspiration to make a change? The change to BB Collaborate was prompted by the pandemic, in order to provide a synchronous component for our 10-15% remote students in Human Anatomy. In addition, I partnered with Anatomage to provide interactive, cadaver 3D images to allow the students to improve visualization of the organ systems for the students.
How long did it take for you to implement this technology? BB Collaborate was easy to navigate and configure for Human Anatomy. The tool bar, uploading of files, sharing screen, and creating the weekly sessions for lecture took minimal time. In addition, ITS provided several guides to assist with set up.
Since transitioning to remote teaching, how has your use of this technology changed, if at all? Technology, Panopto and BB Collaborate, have improved my teaching pedagogy by improving student engagement and interaction in lecture. With pre-recording the lectures through Panopto for student viewing prior to lecture, the students are able to have a base understanding of the specific content prior to coming to lecture. Therefore, I am able to create a more ‘flipped classroom’ by using BB Collaborate in lecture with using the whiteboard features.
Since transitioning to remote teaching, have you started using any new technology in your teaching? BB Collaborate, Panopto, and Anatomage are all tools that I have started to use to enhance pre-class preparedness and also engagement in class. With transitioning to full, in-person lectures, I plan to maintain the same format and utilize each of these technology tools as I believe it aligns with my teaching pedagogy to improve student engagement and learning.
Overall, what lessons (if any) do you think you have learned while transitioning to remote teaching? Although remote teaching is a challenge, there are several technology tools that exist that create an active, engaged lecture. Instead of being a “sage on the stage,” the above technology tools promote a “guide on the side” if you utilize the interactive features (e.g., smartboard, breakout groups).
Both before and during this transition, did Drake ITS assist you in implementing any of these technologies? If so, how? Drake ITS is “always there” to assist with any technology issues in the classroom, responding to a submitted IT ticket quickly, and also providing several guides on the ITS website.
Are you interested in trying out new technology in your classroom? Want help from ITS staff? Schedule a technology adoption consultation.
Want to learn more about using Blackboard Collaborate Ultra or Panopto in your course? Explore these resources from the ITS Knowledge Base:
—Jon Hurdelbrink, CPHS, and Carla Herling, ITS
Join All Staff Council for a fun virtual event featuring Griff II (George), the new live mascot, and Erin Bell, director of the Live Mascot Program. Erin will talk about how Griff II is settling into the role, what Griff I is doing in retirement, and how the Live Mascot Program serves campus and the Des Moines community.
Please join us on Microsoft Teams at noon on Wednesday, April 21. You can bookmark the event and find the streaming link on the University Calendar. We look forward to seeing you there!
— All Staff Council Events and Community Service Committee
Alanah Mitchell, associate professor and chair of information management and business analytics in the College of Business and Public Administration, is serving as Drake’s inaugural Global Virtual Learning Faculty Fellow. This new fellowship program is sponsored by the Principal Center for Global Citizenship.
The Global Virtual Learning Fellowship is designed to facilitate and support the development of global virtual learning experiences within the Drake community. Specifically, the fellowship position is designed to:
Professor Mitchell’s primary research area relates to the use of technology for virtual collaboration as she has taught and studied global, virtual learning projects for almost 15 years. Specifically, she has developed and led global virtual student projects with partners from South Africa, Belgium, China, India, Poland, Taiwan, New Zealand, and others. Additionally, Professor Mitchell participated in Drake’s Fall 2020 “Facilitating Intercultural Learning” training program sponsored by the Nelson Institute.
Interested in adding Global Virtual Learning to your course? For faculty considering or already planning to offer a global virtual collaboration project in their course, or looking to brainstorm or ask questions about virtual learning activities (including partner identification, assignment design, technology choice, reflection activities, or assessment), Professor Mitchell will be holding virtual office hours from 12–3 p.m. on May 7. Please contact alanah.mitchell@drake.edu for the Zoom link.
New to the idea of adding Global Virtual Learning to your course? Look for more details in a future OnCampus regarding an upcoming summer workshop.
— Annique Kiel, Global Engagement and International Programs
Faculty, please submit your textbook selections using the Follett Discover tool. Here are three reasons why it is important to submit your adoptions in a timely manner:
Please follow the steps below to submit your information. To Access Follett Discover:
— Kyle McVay, University Bookstore
Due to the overwhelming response we had to the shout-outs last month, we are going to continue this program. If there is a shout-out you would like to give, please email it to linda.feiden@drake.edu, and we will publish them once a month in OnCampus.
Shout-outs are a great way to recognize your colleagues for their hard work, talent, support, and creativity. Giving a shout-out is quick and easy—simply write one or two sentences thanking a co-worker or team for a job well-done, going the extra mile, or showing support during an ever-changing year.
Submit a shout-out today!
— Linda Feiden, Human Resources
On Thursday, April 15, we will honor six of our faculty colleagues retiring from Drake at the end of this academic year.
Professors Sally Beisser (Education), Ed Bell (Pharmacy), Ramesh Dhussa (Geography), Dorothy Pisarski (Advertising), Nancy Reincke (English), Michael Rieck (Computer Science), and John Rozycki (Finance) have amassed nearly 200 years of collective experience and wisdom about Drake and higher education. On Thursday, April 15, we’ll honor their service to Drake and mark their retirement at an online event co-hosted by the Office of the Provost and the Center for Teaching Excellence.
“Famous Last Words” will air from 3 to 5 p.m. and will allow us to spend some time with Sally, Ed, Ramesh, Dorothy, Nancy, Michael, and John. Drawing on their experience and observations over the years, they will briefly share their insights about how Drake, as an institution, can continue to thrive in the midst of new and pressing challenges to higher education in the U.S. Following their remarks, we’ll open the (virtual) floor for Q&A.
Too often, we have allowed our departing colleagues to take their wisdom with them. Please take advantage of this opportunity to hear this year’s retirees’ “Famous Last Words,” to learn from them one last time, and to wish them well.
Please register in advance. Login information will be sent by email prior to the event.
— Sandra Harris, Provost’s Office
We know that the end of the semester is a busy time, so these will be the final modules released during the spring semester. Module 8 is focused on Bulk Editing and Communication Tools and Module 9 (optional, but highly recommended) dives deeper into best practices for course design including Accessibility and Accommodations.
If you want additional resources beyond the instructor orientation self-paced course, there are more training options available:
As a reminder, we are providing these training opportunities now to allow you sufficient time to prepare your Fall 2021 courses in the Ultra Course View. You are expected to complete the self-paced training well before Fall. If you wait until just before the semester, it will be challenging to get your questions answered. In addition, you must complete the self-paced training prior to participating in any advanced training opportunities.
— Karly Good, ITS