Winthrop Office of Online Learning

Apply for a position in Winthrop's Office of Online Learning: Learning Technologist https://buff.ly/3W7MK00 or Online Learning Support Specialist https://buff.ly/3w4aFmu

We are hiring!

We Are Hiring! Check out this Instagram Post designed by WU Instructional Design.

Mark your calendars for our upcoming CPE Session offerings for the week of March 18, 2024! 🗓️ Here's what we have lined up:

📅 March 19, 2024 at 3:00 PM: Dive into the world of Blackboard Ultra with Bootcamp 2! 💻 In this session, you'll get hands-on experience developing one module, covering everything from creating learning modules to adding content and activities.

📅 March 20, 2024 at 11:00 AM: Get ready for Bootcamp 3! 🚀 This session is essential for facilitating courses in Ultra, focusing on creating assignments, viewing gradebooks, grading assessments, and more.

📅 March 22, 2024 at 11:00 AM: Learn to create accessible documents using Blackboard Ally! ♿ Enhance your course materials' accessibility to better meet the needs of your students. Join us as we demonstrate the powerful Ally tool in both Ultra and Original course views.

Register now at apps.winthrop.edu/CPE/

Winthrop University's Blackboard experience is going Ultra this Fall!

Blackboard Ultra offers an unparalleled experience compared to Blackboard Original. Here's why:

1️⃣ Intuitive Interface: Ultra's sleek design and user-friendly interface make navigation a breeze for both instructors and students. Say goodbye to clunky layouts and hello to seamless interaction!

2️⃣ Mobile Compatibility: Learn on the go with Ultra's fully responsive design. Access your courses anytime, anywhere, from any device. Learning has never been more flexible!

3️⃣ Enhanced Collaboration: Ultra brings students and instructors closer together with its robust collaboration tools. From interactive discussions to real-time feedback, collaboration has never been easier or more effective.

4️⃣ Streamlined Course Management: Simplify your workflow with Ultra's streamlined course management features. Easily organize content, create assignments, and track student progress—all in one place.

5️⃣ Accessibility at its Core: Ultra is committed to accessibility, ensuring that all students can fully participate in the learning experience. With built-in accessibility features and tools like Blackboard Ally, inclusivity is at the forefront.

Experience the future of online learning with Blackboard Ultra. Upgrade your teaching and learning experience today by signing up for our Ultra Bootcamps on the CPE calendar or signing up for One-on-One sessions with our Learning Designers! 💫

Join us for a series of enriching CPE session webinars designed to enhance your Panopto skills and elevate your online teaching experience. Here's what's coming up:

1️⃣ Getting Started with Panopto
📅 Date: February 27th, 2024
🕚 Time: 11:00 am
🔍 Dive into the basics and discover how Panopto can revolutionize your teaching methods!

2️⃣ Panopto Advanced Editor Training
📅 Date: February 28th, 2024
🕚 Time: 11:00 am
💡 Take your Panopto proficiency to the next level with advanced editing techniques!

3️⃣ Panopto Graded Activities
📅 Date: February 29th, 2024
🕚 Time: 11:00 am
📝 Learn how to integrate graded activities seamlessly into your Panopto sessions!

4️⃣ Ultra Bootcamp 3: Blackboard Ultra Essentials
📅 Date: February 29th, 2024
🕒 Time: 3:00 pm
🚀 Part of the Ultra Bootcamp Series, this session is crucial for mastering Blackboard Ultra essentials! Learn to create assignments, tests, navigate the gradebook, grade assessments, and manage content visibility effectively. Gear up to maximize your Ultra experience!

Ready to enhance your online teaching toolkit? Register now at apps.winthrop.edu/cpe/ and explore more session details.

Working on finishing touches for The Graduate School at Winthrop University video.

Always double check your work!

Join us Friday, February 16 at Blackboard Ultra Day! We will show off courses in the Ultra experience, provide resources, and Anthology will join us to answer questions about the future development of Blackboard Learn Ultra. RSVP at https://bit.ly/RSVP_BBUltra2024

Faculty and Staff, please join Winthrop's Office of Online Learning and Anthology for Blackboard Ultra Day 2024 from 9:00am – 12:15pm in Owens 101-104!

FAQs
Who should attend? Faculty and Staff

What should I expect?
• An opening session followed by opportunities to attend up to three 30-minute breakout sessions, as your schedule allows. You will be able to choose from among the following session topics:
o Tips for Converting to Ultra
o Best Practices for Designing in Ultra
o Blackboard Ultra Course Showcase Co-Facilitated by Faculty Innovators and Winthrop Students
o Making Ultra Courses Accessible using Ally
o Blackboard Ultra Roadmap and What's New
• Collaboration with colleagues and representatives from Anthology
• Refreshments and Swag

Can I come for part of the event?
Yes! Feel free to drop-in for as long as you are available. A schedule will be provided in advance of the event.

What if I can’t attend?
Fill out the RSVP form and we will send you information on additional opportunities to prepare to transition to Ultra.

RSVP at bit.ly/RSVP_BBUltra2024 or scanning the QR code in the image provided.

Happy Monday! We have multiple session offerings of the Ultra Bootcamps this week.

Go to apps.winthrop.edu/cpe/ to learn more about the sessions and to register.

If you missed the opportunity to join us yesterday for Blackboard Ultra Bootcamp 1, don't worry! We are offering another virtual session today at 3:00 pm. You can register at apps.winthrop.edu/cpe/. If you would like to schedule a group session or a one-on-one session, contact [email protected].

Blackboard Ultra Bootcamp 1 is designed for faculty and staff that are not yet using the Blackboard Ultra experience for their courses, but all are welcome. This session will introduce the Ultra experience and cover topics such as the major differences between the Original and Ultra course experience, best practices for designing in Ultra, and tips for streamlining course navigation.

We hope you had a restful three day weekend. We are starting up the week offering a virtual version of Blackboard Ultra Bootcamp 1 today at 3:00 pm. To register for the CPE event, visit apps.winthrop.edu/cpe/.

Blackboard Ultra Bootcamp 1 is designed for faculty and staff that are not yet using the Blackboard Ultra experience for their courses, but all are welcome. This session will introduce the Ultra experience and cover topics such as the major differences between the Original and Ultra course experience, best practices for designing in Ultra, and tips for streamlining course navigation. I

Happy Friday!

Next week, we are offering two boot camps for converting courses to Blackboard Ultra. These will be held Tuesday 1/16 and Wednesday 1/17 at 3:00. Blackboard Ultra Bootcamp 1 is designed for faculty and staff that are not yet using the Blackboard Ultra experience for their courses, but all are welcome.

This session will introduce the Ultra experience and cover topics such as the major differences between the Original and Ultra course experience, best practices for designing in Ultra, and tips for streamlining course navigation. If you have already taken the Getting Started with Blackboard Ultra session, then you can skip Blackboard Ultra Bootcamp 1 and sign up for Blackboard Ultra Bootcamp 2.

You can find all CPE training offerings on the CPE
calendar at https://apps.winthrop.edu/cpe/. For any assistance, please reach out to [email protected] or call 803-323-2212.

Happy Monday!

Welcome back instructors and students. To help with the beginning of the semester, the Office of Online Learning is offering the following CPE sessions this week. On Friday, we will post the upcoming week of CPE trainings.

Tuesday 1/9/24 11:00 am Webinar: Getting Started with Panopto
Wednesday 1/10/24 3:00 pm Webinar: Panopto Advanced Editor Training
Thursday 1/11/24 11:00 am Webinar: What's New in Blackboard Ultra Gradebook

You can find all CPE training offerings on the CPE calendar at https://apps.winthrop.edu/cpe/

Welcome back, Eagles! 🦅 As we dive into another semester at Winthrop University, here are five quick tips to excel in your online courses:

Know Your Virtual Space:
Get familiar with your online platform. Understand how to navigate and access course materials efficiently.

Time Management Rules:
Create a schedule that balances classes, study time, and breaks. Consistency is key for online success.

Engage with the Virtual Community:
Participate in discussions, join virtual clubs, and connect with classmates. Building an online network enhances your experience.

Stay on Top of Assignments:
Set reminders and deadlines. Proactive planning ensures you submit your work on time and stay ahead.

Self-Care Matters:
Prioritize self-care. Take breaks, stay organized, and reach out for support when needed.

Ready to conquer your online courses, Eagles? Let's make this semester a success! Remember the Office of Online Learning is here if you need any help!

You can visit our website: https://www.winthrop.edu/onlinelearning/student-training-and-resources.aspx

Email us at [email protected]

Call 803-323-2212

The 2023 Learning Design & Technology Holiday Gift Guide is here!

Our Learning Design & Technology graduate students have researched the hottest trends and tools in AI for you this season. This guide will provide you with helpful tools for you and everyone on your list!

You can see the full gift guide here: https://www.canva.com/design/DAF1qNZ9rzU/IMHBBiCPrzd6imUWjyo9Yw/view #1

We hope you had a restful Thanksgiving break! For our instructors and staff, we wanted to remind you of the Blackboard Ultra boot camps being offered this.

To sign up, go to apps.winthrop.edu/cpe/.

Any questions, please reach out to us by emailing [email protected].

In observance of Thanksgiving, the Office of Online Learning will be closed Wednesday November 22 through November 24. The office will reopen on November 27.

We are grateful for our Winthrop faculty, staff, and students! Happy Thanksgiving!

Good morning everyone,

Here are the next set of dates for Ultra Bootcamp Series before winter break. When we get back, there will be more offerings for instructors. To sign up, go to apps.winthrop.edu/cpe/.

Any questions, please reach out to us by emailing [email protected].

The Office of Online Learning will be hosting 2 series of Ultra Bootcamps to help instructors with transitioning from Original view of courses to Ultra view. The first series will be held November 13th, 14th, and 15th in Tillman 17 at 3:00 pm.

Sign up now at apps.winthrop.edu/cpe! For any questions, please email [email protected].

Happy Monday! The Spring semester will be here before we know it. For those who are putting together their courses for next semester, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind.

These tips can be used for completely online courses and courses that use Blackboard for hosting their learning materials and communication.

1. Limit videos to at most 15 minutes.
Anything longer, and you risk disengagement.
2. Diversify learning materials.
By providing different ways for students to learn the material, they can take ownership of their learning and are more likely to engage with the content more easily. This can be done with videos, podcasts, gamification, and more.
3. Use Blackboard tools.
These tools are designed to help students keep up with deadlines and provide a consistent way of communicating. One example is setting up due dates to automatically sync with their calendar and allowing them to manage their time for multiple courses.
4. Use third-party tools.
Panopto is integrated into our system automatically. This will provide audio and videos with captioning and transcripts for students. Panopto also allows students to record themselves for submission and to upload their own media for assignments.
5. Chunk information.
This process creates more meaningful and manageable groups of different information together.
6. Create Asynchronous Feedback.
We cannot always be available to give feedback to students. By creating automatic feedback, students can explore how to expand on their thinking or identify where they made a mistake in their learning journey.

These examples are just some of the many tools available, and not all of them are mentioned here. If you need help, reach out to [email protected]. Our learning designers and technologists are here to help and support your online learning needs.

Our education technologist at the airport working while waiting for flight to Washington DC for .

Tomorrow we will be offering a live virtual CPE session about Getting Started with Blackboard Ultra. This session will provide an overview of Blackboard Ultra features that can be used as a supplement to an in-person course or for a fully online course as well as any organizations on campus. This session is geared towards new users but all are welcome. This session will focus on the Blackboard Ultra Course Experience.

This is an informational session to demonstrate the course and give you the opportunity to ask questions about the Ultra experience. Register at apps.winthrop.edu/cpe. If you have any questions or need assistance, you can reach out to us by email at [email protected] or by calling 803-323-2212!

Do you use Canva for your office and/or classroom needs? Canva can be used for a variety of reasons. This session will be focusing on how to make your Canva designs accessible for anyone to be able to interact with. We will be focusing on the free version of Canva and have a live demo of the accessibility features.

This session is especially important for those using Canva for social media, advertisements, infographics, brochures, and other products to relay information to the public and to students.

If you cannot make this session, please email [email protected] and we can send you a recording. For more personalized assistance, reach out to [email protected] to schedule a one-on-one consultation session.

Interested in working with Winthrop? Follow Winthrop University Human Resources for updates on job postings.

If you currently work for Winthrop, follow them as well for wellness opportunities, tips and tricks for Winthrop employees, current events and more!

Job Alert 🚨
Winthrop University is looking to hire an experienced locksmith. Does this sound like you or someone you know?
Apply today: https://winthrop.peopleadmin.com/postings/13141

Happy Friday! Today you could have found most of our staff with ceshs , Outdoor Leadership, Geoff Morrow and team with team building exercises! Our Ed Technologist at the same time was presenting with about enhancing art education with ChatGPT.