Professional Development: Faculty

Teaching online can be exhausting. In this conversation, let's talk about the things you do to help keep the workload sustainable. 

Our instance of Canvas comes with many tools to support your online class. In this workshop, we'll look at some of the different tools you can use with Canvas. Integrated tools include (but are not limited to) Flipgrid (for video discussions), MyOpenMath (for…math…), Labster (for science labs), ConferZoom (for meetings integrated into a Canvas course), Office 365 (for file submissions and collaboration), Perusall (for social reading and annotations), Films On Demand and Alexander Street Video (for embedding videos), New Analytics (for assessing engagement), and access to peer tutoring and the CR Library. Is there something else you're interested in? Let us know! Let's take a look! 

Support future CE instructors at Pelican Bay State Prison (PB) and the Humboldt County Correctional Facility (HCCF) for the Spring 2021 semester. Here, we can discuss packet and mailing logistics, regular and effective contact specific to correspondence, ADA compliance and Universal Design for Learning (UDL), successful teaching strategies and assignments from fall, successful assessment or evaluation practices, and sample packet and syllabus items. We would also like to highlight the varying resources available for CE faculty and staff on Canvas. Ideally, the end of the session will allow for a brief Q & A where new CE faculty can seek support from current CE faculty. 

Learn about the relationship that has developed between CR’s HCCF and PB programs; through highlighting this relationship, we hope to articulate the impact that we expect these programs have to have on our campus and community. Faculty from both programs share joint experiences in teaching in carceral settings and recognize the different experiences of teaching at correctional institutions that vary in the level of restrictions or degrees of security. Through the collaboration between CR’s programs for our incarcerated students, we’ve been able to discuss and better understand our relationship with one another. Through sharing our experiences, our goal is to bring awareness to the importance of our non-credit and for-credit incarcerated student programs. We're all well aware *at least, we hope so) that these programs exist, but the impact they have on our college and on our immediate community, especially the Eureka community, remains relatively undiscussed. With the recent development of Humboldt State's Project Rebound for formerly incarcerated students, we fund it essential that we need to keep discussing way in which College of the Redwoods can continue to develop space in our community.

The purpose of this FLEX session is to listen to our students’ experiences from the emergency shift to CE last spring, as well as the full semester of CE this past fall. By hearing our student’s perspectives and experiences, we hope to learn, reflect, and continue to discuss ways in which we can better develop our CE courses for the Spring 2021 semester. 

Facilitating meaningful synchronous sessions in your online class can present significant challenges. In this workshop, we'll look at some strategies to make the most of your (and your students') time and energy. 

Providing students with meaningful and robust feedback in your online class can provide a powerful opportunity for rich learning. Finding the time to deliver rich and substantive feedback can be daunting. In this discussion, we'll share strategies for accomplishing this important work…without breaking the time bank. 

The Canvas discussion tool provides a robust opportunity to engage with your students (and facilitate their engagement with each other) around your course content. In this workshop, we'll discuss the pros and cons of different ways you can use the tool, as well as time-saving strategies for providing robust feedback. 

Using low cost or free textbooks and other instructional materials is a proven way to help students succeed – but finding good ones can be difficult. The library may be able to help. Come join a discussion on OERs, textbooks, and textbook options for your classes. 

Learn how Molly Blakemore makes the magic happen (note that Molly did not write this about herself)! From holiday cards to academic fliers, she knows how to get your attention. Learn the strategies used, the most effective media outlets, and current and future marketing initiatives. You will also have an opportunity to ask questions. 

Ally is a tool that helps you improve the accessibility of your online course content. In this workshop, we'll talk about how to generate an accessibility report for your class, as well as how to interpret the data. 

Learn about what eLumen for assessment looks like from the faculty perspective. While your Associate Deans, Directors, and Assessment Coordinator are working in the late hours of the night to make this happen, come and learn how easy the new assessment process will be for you. 

Guest speaker Gene Holloway will cover the following topics followed by time for Q & A 

● How can you leverage the different experiences and backgrounds that CR faculty and staff bring to the community to better serve students? 

● What drew you to CR, and what experiences did you bring to CR? 

● Where do you see CR students, their successes, and the community moving forward?

This is not a typical division meeting. We’ll start with a few brief updates from the VP of Instruction, the EOPS Director, and your Dean(s). Then we’ll welcome featured speaker Gene Holloway to continue his discussion of Unity & Diversity, with a focus on instruction and faculty. 

Come and support CR Alumni and students as they strive to support you! Here is the objective of the student panel formed by CR alumni: 

A group of seven CR students have been assembled to provide the faculty and staff of CR with the opportunity to hear constructive feedback regarding online courses. The goal of this student panel is to further develop and foster an equitable online learning environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. This group consists of parents, re-entry students, and first time community college students. Panelists are majoring/have majored in a wide array of subjects from Art History to Molecular Biology. The panelists were all given the opportunity to prepare their responses to discussion topics prior to the meeting date. The student panel will hole a 20 minute Q&A at the end of the meeting to answer any attendee questions

The Educational Master Plan (EMP) Committee is hosting this forum/listening session to get your input as to how the College might adapt to the many challenges and opportunities we will be facing over the next ten years or so. Early in January, before the forum, all members of the CR community will receive an Email with several very important questions all we need to consider as we move forward as a college in these uncertain times. 

I’m sure you are aware of the Klamath Trinity Instructional Site located in Hoopa. But do you know about the unique partnership that College of the Redwoods has with the Hoopa Valley Tribe? Come learn about how we make it happen. It isn’t easy, but the effort is so very rewarding for both communities. 

This is not a typical division meeting. We’ll start with a few brief updates from the VP of Instruction, the EOPS Director, and your Dean(s). Then we’ll welcome featured speaker Gene Holloway to continue his discussion of Unity & Diversity, with a focus on instruction and faculty.