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Syllabus

New Faculty Orientation to CGPS (Spring 2021)

Credits - n/a

Description

Course participants will work through the self-paced learning modules that introduce the College of Graduate and Professional Studies (CGPS), its programs, students and units, and the important tools and skills needed for success as an online instructor for CGPS. The course is primarily designed to introduce the Blackboard learning management system. 

All new faculty will practice in the role of instructor through experience in a “Faculty Sandbox.” The faculty will start using the Faculty Resources website to learn new skills, tools, and improve their teaching practice.

Course Format:

This course is facilitated through Blackboard, UNE’s online learning management system. In addition to the reading and multimedia materials, there are interactive quizzes and tutorials.

Materials

All instructional materials are included in the course.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

  • Work within the structures of CGPS as teaching faculty
  • Establish instructor presence and effective communication in the online courses
  • Encourage reflection and inquiry through discussions and assessments in the online course
  • Manage and support online learners

Assignments

Discussion Board

This course is self-paced. Discussion forums will be used as vehicles for sharing ideas as well as for practice.

Faculty Guide Quiz

After reading the Faculty Guide, participants will complete a short quiz.

Faculty Sandbox Practice

For this assignment, participants will leave this course and go to the CGPS Faculty Sandbox. In this Sandbox course, the faculty will explore the Blackboard environment and use its most relevant features. A Sandbox contains all of the basic features and functionality of a real course. Rather than being assigned the role of a student, participants will be assigned the role of an instructor. They will also use the Student Preview mode to submit assignments and discussion posts for them to grade later in the instructor role.

Faculty Sandbox Guide

To facilitate successful practice in the Sandbox, a faculty sandbox guide contains instructions and tutorials for just in time learning and support.

Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

AssignmentModulesPoints = Complete/Incomplete
Discussion BoardModule 3Complete/Incomplete
Faculty Guide Quiz Module 3100 points
Faculty Sandbox Assignment Module 4Complete/Incomplete

Schedule

 

Module

Learning Objectives

Activities & Assignments

Module One
  • Reflect on the history and guiding principles behind UNE’s College of Graduate and Professional Studies and how these intersect with your own experience.
  • Review the Blackboard Learning Management System and its higher-level functionalities.
  • Complete readings
  • Watch videos

Module Two
  • Employ best practices for establishing an online presence and communicating with students.
  • Use different tools to communicate with students.
  • Explore methods of course personalization, including selection of a custom avatar and the creation of announcements.
  • Complete readings
  • Watch videos
  • Create and upload an avatar

Module Three
  • Define areas of instructor responsibility
  • Connect students to the right services at CGPS and UNE 
  • Complete reading materials
  • Access linked resources and view informational videos and tutorials
  • Complete Faculty Guide Quiz
  • Pick one scenario and address the prompt in the discussion forum

Module Four
  • Post announcements in the Faculty Sandbox in Edit Mode
  • Use Student Preview Mode to view the course and submit assignments
  • Publish discussion posts (and comments, as applies)
  • Grade student assignment submissions and discussion posts using the Blackboard grading tools, including inline grading and rubrics.
  • Evaluate student assignments in order to practice effective feedback strategies.
  • Complete reading materials
  • Access linked resources and watch informational videos
  • Review the Faculty Sandbox companion
  • Complete assignments in the Faculty Sandbox: 
    • create an announcement
    • record and insert a video in the announcement
    • practice using Student Preview Mode
    • submit assignments and discussions in Student Preview
    • grade and give feedback on the submitted assignments and discussions using Grade Center tools

Student Resources

Contact your Program Manager for more information, questions or concerns.

Policies

Contact your Program Manager for more information, questions or concerns.