Primarily Education-Focused Sessions and Resources

Going Hybrid: The Latest Strategies in Developing Blended Courses

Date: June 3, 2014
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Location: GEB A304

Presenter: Jill Schiefelbein (Arizona State University)

Session Overview:

Transitioning your class from a traditional, in-person class to a hybrid course is no easy task but more and more educators are making the move to blended learning. What must you consider when designing and implementing a hybrid course? How can you develop successfully blended classes that combine the right elements of in-person and online content? Join Jill Schiefelbein for a live, interactive, 60-minute webinar where you will discover:

• Hybridizing your class – strategies for design & implementation
• What should you move to online & what should you keep face-to-face
• Pedagogical design strategies that fosters student interaction
• Critical tools & resources for successful class design
• Assessment in blended classes: How to measure learning outcomes

To register for this session go to http://tinyurl.com/uthsccalendar

Opening the Box: Building Online Learning Communities with Multiuser Blogging Environments

Date: June 18, 2014
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Location: GEB A304

Presenter: Michael Wilder (University of Nevada)

Session Overview:

Although blogging is not new to education, current improvements to blogging systems have enabled this technology to be applied in innovative and creative ways. Instead of simply being mechanisms for individual reflection or announcement, newer features allow open-source blogging systems to become full-fledged virtual communities that enable sophisticated social interaction, collaboration, and peer evaluation.

A combination of the open-source blogging software, WordPress, with the free BuddyPress plugin, creates an environment in which students can create academic publications with a full-range of contemporary word-processing features (including the addition of images, video, and podcasts), share resources, work collaboratively, and comment and evaluate each other’s work.

At the same time, this system allows students to have direct control of their learning environment (through customized themes), to participate in Facebook-like social interactions (“friending,” “liking,” commenting, user profiles), to integrate social media (such as Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, Flickr), and to collaborate (via document sharing, group support, and wikis). In addition this educational practice allows mobile access (via smartphones and tablets) as well as badges and gamification.

Participants in this webinar will be able to:

• Describe some of the major affordances of multiuser blogging environments
• Evaluate application of this technology in education,
• List basic technological requirements and enhancements,
• Identify other institutions currently using this innovation.

To register for this webinar go to: http://tinyurl.com/uthsccalendar

Save The Dates – Faculty Development Seminar: Active Learning and the Flipped Classroom

Dates: June 25 – 26, 2014

Location: College of Medicine TBL Room

Session Overview:

The UTHSC College of Medicine and the Office of Academic, Faculty and Student Affairs will be hosting a two-day seminar led by Deirdre Bonnycastle from the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine. Ms. Bonnycastle has been involved in adult education and program development for 42 years. In her former position as a faculty member in the Extension Division, University of Saskatchewan, she researched the effects of disabilities on participation in university programs and worked extensively in the development of online credit courses. For the last 10 years, she has been responsible for faculty development at both the UGME and PGME level at the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine and regularly delivers faculty development seminars on topics focusing on teaching in preclinical and clinical settings, incorporating active learning, and strategies for flipping the classroom.

Ms. Bonnycastle summarizes the best practical information from the international literature in her popular blogs: Medical Education Blog (Teaching in Medicine) and Medical Education Canada

Sessions taking place during this two-day seminar will be interactive, will require group discussion/work, and will focus on:

• Learning objectives (Creating student-centered learning objectives and creating assignments that align with learning objectives)
• Creating an effective flipped learning environment (Using out of class time for teaching and how to use class time in a flipped classroom)

Use the following links to register to attend:

Day 1 (June 25, 2014; Tentatively scheduled for 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM) – http://tinyurl.com/facultydevday1

Day 2 (June 26, 2014; Tentatively scheduled for 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM) – http://tinyurl.com/facultydevday2

Professional Sessions

Toastmaster’s Brain Builders UTHSC Chapter

Date: Every Tuesday
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Location: The Urban Child Institute, 600 Jefferson Avenue, 1st Floor Conference Room, Conference Room 4

A Toastmaster’s meeting is a learn-by-doing workshop in which participants hone their speaking and leadership skills in a no-pressure atmosphere. Everyone is welcome!

For more information about Toastmaster’s contact Detlef Heck (dheck@uthsc.edu).

Conferences

International Association of Medical Science Educators – IAMSE (Annual Conference)

Conference Dates: June 7-10, 2014
Location: Nashville, TN

Conference Overview:

The IAMSE meeting offers opportunities for faculty development and networking bringing together medical sciences and medical education across the continuum of health care education. Plenary topics for the 2014 meeting will include the use of simulation in medical education, giving effective and meaningful feedback, interprofessional education and the promotion of active learning in the classroom.

For additional details or to register for the conference please visit: http://www.iamseconference.org/

Additional Resources

2014: The Year of Active Learning at UTHSC
To access a variety of active learning resources visit https://academic.uthsc.edu/faculty/2014.php

UTHSC’s Faculty Resource Center
View schedule of professional development opportunities and read out latest blog post at https://uthsctlc.wordpress.com/