Welcome back to CSUN, we are so excited to begin our Fall 2023 term! The team of technologists in Instructional Technology have put together a selection of tools and concepts to assist you as we prepare for another wonderful semester.
Here is what you'll find within this packet:
- Checklist for readiness
- CSUN Canvas Template information
- Student Technology Resources Module in Canvas Commons
- New Workshops from Instructional Technology
- Mastering the Canvas Import
- Adding Interactive Elements to your Previously Recorded Videos
- Engage Your Students with PollEverywhere
- Faculty Technology Center Tech Pantry
- Helpful YouTube Playlists
- Stay in touch with CSUN's Academic Technology team!
Here are some practical readiness tips to help you manage your course:
Canvas
Canvas has all the features of a modern learning management system including functionality for managing enrollments, sharing documents, submitting assignments, and assigning grades, as well as personalized features for individual students. Faculty can receive Canvas support from the Faculty Technology Center (FTC). Check out CSUN’s Faculty Canvas Support Website for resources on getting started in Canvas or come to one of our various workshops, demos or drop-in sessions.
Zoom
Zoom, CSUN’s video and web conferencing tool, is available to all students, faculty, and staff. Zoom allows for video, audio, and screen sharing between up to 300 participants. It can be used from any computer, laptop, tablet, or phone, and it works on PC, Mac, Android and iOS devices. Any CSUN user can initiate a video or audio meeting, allowing Zoom to be used for any online meeting, whether between two or many people.
CSUN Canvas Course Template
Give yourself a head start with the CSUN Canvas Template! We are Beta testing a shell that you can import from Canvas Commons and we would love to get your feedback!
The CSUN Canvas Template is a framework of best practices to help you set up your Canvas course. This resource for CSUN Faculty was developed by Academic Technology, Faculty Development and Faculty Fellows, and was created with the CSU’s Quality Learning and Teaching Standards, equity-minded teaching, and universal design and accessibility principles in mind.
Student Technology Resources Module in Canvas Commons
Academic Technology has created a resource module in Canvas filled with information for your students! It is comprised of several resource pages covering topics from how to access the University's wireless internet to how to download and install software like Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Cloud. This module can be found in Canvas Commons and can be imported into your Canvas course with a few clicks.
Once the module is imported into your course, you can choose which resource pages to publish for your students. Each page includes guides, links, and videos as well as contact information if they get stuck and need additional help. These pages will be updated as information changes, so you never have to worry about outdated information! This module is also included in the CSUN Canvas Course Template described earlier.
Head over to Canvas Commons now and import this resource to your courses!
New Workshops with the Faculty Technology Center
Save Time by Using Generative AI in Your Class
Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT have revolutionized the teaching and learning process, offering new possibilities. As educators, there is no need to fear these advancements; instead, we can embrace them to enhance our teaching practices.
This workshop aims to equip you with various approaches and strategies to leverage these tools effectively, ultimately saving you valuable time.
Design using Generative AI in Adobe Express
Anyone can explore the generative powers of AI to create eye-catching images. Adobe Express has integrated AI generation in an easy-to-use web application. Create course images, pertinent presentations, and engaging imagery using Adobe Express.
& More!
We make it a point to provide quality professional development every term, available to CSUN faculty. Be sure to keep an eye on the Academic Technology Training Calendar. From the calendar, you are able to register for any upcoming training opportunities.
Mastering the Art of Exporting and Importing your Course Content
So you have created a great course in Canvas, but the semester is over and you want to iterate on this course for the next semester. Canvas has a great tool called "Import Course Content" which allows you to bring your entire course to your empty new course. Importing an entire course will also bring in any personalization you have made, such as a course image or menu edits, alongside all your course content like files, modules, assignments, quizzes, and more. This allows you to save time as you don't have to redo all those pages, modules, and assessments and can focus your energy on improving the course.
Adding Interactive Elements to Your Previously Recorded Videos
Adding questions to your course videos can provide many benefits to your students and yourself. For your students, it provides a means of checking in with the content and their understanding of the information and keeping engaged and on task. For yourself, it provides a way to check how effective the material is and how your students are progressing well ahead of any major assessment such as a midterm or final exam.
Panopto
For Panopto, you can add questions only to videos in Panopto but you can upload your video file to Panopto and your Zoom Cloud recordings are automatically copied to Panopto for your use. To start adding questions using Panopto, you can follow this step-by-step guide which includes a video and a written guide.
Engage Your Students with PollEverywhere
PollEverywhere is a dynamic online polling tool that enables you to incorporate interactive and engaging polls quickly and easily into your class lectures. View your students' responses and participation with real-time word clouds, polls, and Q&A sessions. Students can provide their input using any device - computer, phone, or tablet. You can effectively engage your students regardless of the course format: face-to-face, online learning or hybrid learning environments.
PollEverywhere activities can seamlessly integrate with PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Apple Keynote presentations, or they cna be accessed directly through PollEverywhere's platform. View responses in real time within your presentations and access participation reports.
Send an email to FTC@csun.edu to request access if you have not already.
FTC Tech Pantry
The Faculty Technology Center (FTC) has opened a Tech Pantry where faculty can use items like Cintiq Pro and Wacom tablets, 360 degree cameras, microphones, and more!
To learn more or sign up to use one or more of these devices, please contact the Faculty Technology Center.
Faculty Media Studio
Did you know Academic Technology has a media studio available to faculty? Work with experts to bring your vision to reality. You can film interviews, mini-lectures, grant proposal videos, and so much more!
Lightboard
Lecture, Demonstration, Explanation. The Lightboard is a glass chalkboard full of light that allows you to face students while writing on the board. You can write notes, draw sketches, and perform equations as you lecture. When you're done, the Media Studio provides you with a video file that can be uploaded to Panopto, Canvas Studio, or YouTube and embedded in your course.