WWU's Teaching-Learning Academy announces spring quarter offerings

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WWU's Teaching-Learning Academy announces spring quarter offerings

April 22, 2025

This spring, Western's Teaching-Learning Academy hopes you will find something in its offerings that energizes your teaching and inspires learning for you and your students. As always, please reach out if you would like to consult with us (see How to Get Help).

Quick Poll

Maybe you have always wanted to make your Canvas content more accessible for your students. Did you know that starting in one year, it's going to be a rule? Please tell us by answering one question how we can help you in this quest. Learn more if you missed our session: New Federal Accessibility Rules (33 min or Slides).

Learning Opportunities

To best meet your needs, our presentations are released directly as videos, to view when you have time (WWU login may be required). Watch for announcements for these recordings plus access to relevant resources by joining the ATUS-CIIA Self-Enroll Canvas course. All resources are free and are presented online.

• Available Now:
  • Discussion Check Points in Canvas (10 min.) - Learn about a new Canvas feature involving discussions with different due dates for posts and replies.
  • Large File, New Warning (3 min) - Find out about the new warning students see when uploading files larger than 25 MB.
  • In case you missed it: Maneuvering Points, Percentages, & Extra Credit in Canvas (45 min)
    
    
• Coming soon:
  
  • Enhanced Rubrics in Canvas - Explore the new rubric interface which leveraging features like drag-and-drop functionality, rating order customization, and the ability to save rubrics as drafts.
  • Series of Short Video Reels on Accessibility in Canvas:
    • Canvas + Pope Tech: Setting up the Accessibility Dashboard - Learn how to enable the Pope Tech Dashboard in your Canvas course and run your first accessibility scan in your courses.
    • Walkthrough on Fixing Accessibility Alerts and Errors with Pope Tech - A quick guide on understanding, reviewing, and resolving common accessibility issues with Canvas courses flagged by Pope Tech.
    • LLATCH: Making Text and Images Accessible in Canvas - Easy and quick strategies for formatting text and adding image alt text using our LLATCH accessibility framework: Lists, Links, Alt Text, Tables, Color contrast, and Headings.
    • CATCH: Making Videos Accessible for All Viewers - Learn how to make your course videos accessible and "catch" these basics: Captions, Audio descriptions, Transcripts, Checking for readability, Helping with playback options and more.
    • Converting PDFs and Files with SensusAccess for Better Accessibility - Have an old PDF or document that isn't accessible? Using SensusAccess to convert PDFs, Word docs, and more into accessible formats for all learners.
  • Look for these in May:
    • Learning about Creative Commons and Copyright for Alternative Textbooks (self-paced Canvas course)
    • Claiming and Using Your Free LibreTexts Account to Create Open Educational Resources (May)
    • Creating Welcoming Spaces Innovative Teaching Showcase (early June)

DIY Learning Options

• Monday Morning Mentor Weekly Videos (self-enroll MMM Canvas course) - Most sessions have transcripts available after the video expires (each video is available for 1 week).
  • 4/21-4/27: How Can I Teach AI Prompt Engineering to My Students?
  • 4/28-5/4: How Can I Assess Active Learning Strategies in the Classroom?
  • 5/5-5/12: Recharging Your Personal and Professional Batteries
• Teaching & Learning Co-op - strategies, tools, and practices for innovative teaching and learning
• CANVAS
  • Canvas Foundations (self-enroll Canvas course) - for anyone who is new to Canvas & WWU; 8 videos in about an hour!
  • WWU Canvas Orientation for Faculty (self-enroll Canvas course) - everything teachers need to know to be successful users of Canvas
  • See also: Beginning-of-Quarter Course Checklist
• PANOPTO
  • Advancing Video Instructional Design with Panopto (self-enroll Canvas course) - tips and techniques for bringing class videos to the next level
  • Getting Started with Panopto (self-enroll Canvas course) - Western's video management platform which is integrated into Canvas

Key Resources for Students

• Syllabi at WWU - WWU policies and campus resources written for students (Tip: link to this from your syllabi!)
• Study Spaces - places for students to study between classes or participate in a virtual class in between in-person classes
• WWU Canvas Orientation for Students (self-enroll Canvas course) - to help students be successful users of Canvas
• Stay Connected - ATUS & community resources options for computer access and accessing the Internet
• STC Online Workshops (self-enroll Canvas course) - an extensive collection of self-paced learning modules

Best wishes as you wrap up the academic year in the coming months!