HuskyCT Ultra Course View: Transitioning Your Courses For Upcoming Terms
Tuesday, July 9, 2:30-3:30
Online
Facilitator: Daniel Facchinetti, CETL-EdTech

As we work towards transitioning HuskyCT courses to the new version of Blackboard (called “Ultra Course View”, aka “Ultra”), this workshop will help faculty get started with their own courses. This session will provide an overview of Ultra Course View and we’ll cover the basics of building content, copying content from Original Course View courses, as well as introduce faculty to key features such as assessment tools and grading.

Register - https://fins.uconn.edu/secure_inst/workshops/workshop_view.php?ser=3072

In this workshop we will discuss:

• The purposes of a syllabus
• UConn-specific syllabus requirements, resources, and templates
• Ways to improve your syllabus
• The syllabus as contract, blueprint, reference, or inspiration

You are encouraged to share your questions, ideas, and experiences. We hope you will walk away with new ideas for making your syllabus more interactive and engaging.

Register - https://fins.uconn.edu/secure_inst/workshops/workshop_view.php?ser=3104

In this workshop, faculty members will learn the necessary skills to create dynamic PowerPoint presentations that elevate their teaching and inspire student participation.

Focusing on strategies for inclusive class material for students’ engagement, participants will learn how to design visually compelling slides that convey complex concepts clearly and concisely. The topics covered will include slide layout, typography, color selection, imagery, and multimedia integration.

Furthermore, this workshop will address best practices for structuring PowerPoint presentations to maximize impact and facilitate learning. Participants will receive guidance on organizing content logically, pacing the presentation effectively, and utilizing storytelling techniques to create a cohesive narrative.

Whether new or not to PowerPoint design, this workshop will empower you to create class materials that leave a lasting impression on your students.

August 6th (Tuesday) / 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM / Online
Register - https://fins.uconn.edu/secure_inst/workshops/workshop_view.php?ser=3077

Can students meet your course objectives without reading the texts? If so, what is the value of assigning reading in your course? What learning objectives does reading help students meet? These foundational questions will frame our discussion. Tools and approaches will be shared for:

• Creating reading guides and worksheets
• Choosing texts
• Annotation tools (Perusall, Voicethread)
• Activities such as games, remixes, and Generative AI
• Modeling engagement

Ideas will be shared for curating a reading list, including: alphabetic texts vs. audio and video; amount of reading assigned; and organizing access to course readings. This is an interactive session and participants are encouraged to share their experiences and questions.

Register - https://fins.uconn.edu/secure_inst/workshops/workshop_view.php?ser=3102

During a three-day workshop spread over two weeks, attendees will use their smartphone or laptop cameras to record and edit a one-minute horizontal video introducing themselves to their students.

Through interactive discussions and examples, participants will learn how to craft compelling digital stories that resonate with students and create meaningful connections.

We will explore the principles of effective digital storytelling, having the opportunity to plan, script, record, and edit your own one-minute introduction videos. Guidance will be provided through one-on-one and group meetings to incorporate these elements with authenticity and enthusiasm.

By the end of the three group meetings, you will have produced a polished introduction video ready to be shared with your students before the semester starts.

Equipment to be used: Your smartphones or laptop cameras, no professional equipment is required!

Meeting schedule: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Group Meeting 1) - August 8 (Thursday) - First meeting/introduction to the workshop and next steps.

Group Meeting 2) - August 13 (Tuesday) - Planning your recording and editing your scripts.

Group Meeting 3) - August 19 (Monday) - Review and group feedback on videos.

Note: follow-up meetings can be rearranged according to the group schedule.

Thursday, August 8 / 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM (90 min)
Register - https://fins.uconn.edu/secure_inst/workshops/workshop_view.php?ser=3076