Workshop Topics

Arts and Technology: Access, Aesthetics and Applications
Kerrie Bellisario and Lisa Donovan
Wolfard 202

In this presentation, Kerrie and Lisa share the results of their year-long Academic Technology Fellowship. Their research highlights how issues of arts, aesthetics and creativity theory are woven into the online learning environment. They specifically provide two examples of how they integrated their research into technology-based components for their courses Drama and Critical Literacy (Donovan) and Art and Culture in Community (Bellisario).

Beyond the Brainstorm: Deepening Online Dialogue for Learning
Sarah Haavind
Library 403

Successful online learning depends on instructors facilitating learner collaboration in text-based asynchronous dialogue. Focusing and deepening online dialogue among learners is a challenge. Many instructors are satisfied to stop at active brainstorming. The potential for deepened learning using online tools is largely untapped. Clear guidelines are needed for using voice (conceptual facilitator, personal muse, mediator) and critical thinking strategies (identifying a direction, making connections, sorting for relevance) to leverage early brainstorming toward deeper learning goals. How does an online instructor focus dialogues where postings about new content are widely divergent? What course of action might an instructor take if discussants do not engage directly with content or begin to wander off-topic? Sarah will introduce a practical approach to addressing these challenges and provide specific examples of how to effectively facilitate online collaboration.

The session will include interactive components, whole group discussion and presentation. Bring your online teaching challenges, questions and insights to share.

Get Tapped In: A Web-Based Learning and Community Environment for Educators
Mary Mindess, with Lauren Dodge and Michael Sustick
Library 401

Explore the possibilities for making community and learning connections through Tapped In, a free online resource for educators and students. Session participants will learn how to enhance their teaching with Tapped In and hear directly from Lesley students how they have used Tapped In as an avenue of collaboration outside of the Lesley University environment.

Audubon Ecological Teaching and Learning Program: Experiences Extending the Learning Community Online
Coleen O'Connell
Library 301

Coleen will share and provide examples of what have been simple but successful experiences extending the face-to-face community online. A discussion and sharing time will follow. This session is especially geared toward beginners who are looking for ways to connect between face-to-face meetings.

The New myLesley Discussion Board Hands-On
The Center for Academic Technology
Library 401

There are a number of new and exciting options available to both instructors and students in the latest myLesley discussion board upgrade. In this workshop we will examine changes to the user interface while exploring the options that have expanded this tool beyond its primary use as a communication medium. Participants will see first hand how the addition of these tools can transform online discussion into a comprehensive and true interactive teaching tool that fosters deeper academic exchange, collaboration and dialogue.

Linking Full-Text Articles from Library Databases to your myLesley Course
Constance Vrattos
Library 301

In this session, participants will learn how to make stable, secure and legal web links to full-text articles from their myLesley course site. Ludcke librarians will show how to enhance courses by providing links to scholarly and relevant full-text articles available from the library databases. This session will enable participants to save time and provide durable links that students can access both on and off-campus.