Distance Ed Training Newsletter

New Quizzes:

Thanks to all who attended this month’s training session on the changes to Canvas with the release of the New Quizzes tool. The tool includes new question types and allows for more detailed assessment of student learning. Additionally, those who wish to collaborate with members of their department will have the ability to send another instructor a new quiz easily.

For those who could not attend the session but would like to explore New Quizzes ahead of the Fall semester, below are some resources to help you navigate the changes and prepare online assessments moving forward:

1. New Quizzes introductory video

• The following Canvas-created video breaks down the changes you’ll find in the New Quizzes tool and highlights the major differences between the new version and Classic Quizzes.
• Link to Canvas Video

2. Migrating Classic to New Quizzes

• The following page, created by Utah State University, offers instructions on migrating Classic Quizzes into the New Quizzes tool
• Link to Quizzes Migration Explanation Page

3. Engaging Content Interactive Elements: Include multimedia elements like videos, podcasts, infographics, and interactive quizzes to make learning engaging. Keep videos SHORT. Studies show students stop watching after 6 minutes.

• Active Learning: Incorporate activities that require learners to actively engage with the
• Interactive Elements: Include multimedia elements like videos, podcasts, infographics, and interactive quizzes to make learning engaging. Keep videos SHORT. Studies show students stop watching after 6 minutes.
• Active Learning: Incorporate activities that require learners to actively engage with the

Course copy:

As we approach the start of the Fall 2024 semester, now is a good time to copy existing courses and work on any changes you might like to make to your class.

You may easily copy an entire course or select specific content to be moved from a previous semester to the upcoming one. You can also allow Canvas to shift due dates for the new semester, or you can specify that due dates be removed in the new copy, which can be helpful as the semesters’ lengths do not always line up exactly (Spring includes a week-long break, for example, while Fall does not).

For full directions on copying a previously used course in whole or in part, see the link below. As always, if you have any questions about your Canvas course or you run into any difficulties along the way, don’t hesitate to reach out to the distance ed team for assistance.

Link to course copy directions

Module Design:

Thanks to all who attended this month’s training session on effective module design for interactive online learning. For those who could not attend, the session will be repeated prior to the start of the Fall semester. In the meantime, listed below are some widely accepted design principles to keep in mind as you design your Fall courses:

1. State Clear Learning Objectives

• Define Goals: Clearly state what learners are expected to achieve by the end of the module.
• Align Content: Ensure that all activities, assessments, and materials align with these objectives.

2. Chunk Content

• Modular Design: Break down the content into manageable, bite-sized chunks to avoid cognitive overload.
• Focused Units: Each chunk should cover a single topic or concept, making it easier for learners to grasp and retain information.

3. Include Engaging Content

• Interactive Elements: Include multimedia elements like videos, podcasts, infographics, and interactive quizzes to make learning engaging. Keep videos SHORT. Studies show students stop watching after 6 minutes.
• Active Learning: Incorporate activities that check understanding & require learners to engage actively with the content in EVERY module.

4. Use Uniform Layout

• Canvas Tools: Hide files, assignments, and quizzes. Present all materials and assessments in the module to help learners navigate the content easily and prevent confusion.
• Sequential navigation: Organize the module sequentially. Edit module requirements to prevent jumping to assignments without completing preparatory materials.

5. Provide Feedback and Assessment

• Formative Assessments: Include regular assessment opportunities to help learners gauge their understanding and get immediate feedback in every module. (This may include quizzes, Edpuzzle, discussions, page contributions, etc.). Use Canvas rubrics to provide regular feedback.

TRAINING NOTES:

At the end of a busy semester, everyone is immersed in calculating and submitting final grades. Therefore, we have not held an on-campus training session this month. However, summer is a great time to revise your Canvas courses or supplemental shells. One way to ensure all students have access to the wonderful and challenging materials you present is to ensure ADA compliance for course videos.

To meet ADA requirements, all videos included in your Canvas courses should have closed captions and/or a transcript of the presentation included. Videos uploaded to YouTube can enable closed captions, but what if you recorded a video using the Canvas media recorder? There is no need to retype the transcripts of those videos. View this video for instructions on using the dictate function of Word to create an editable transcript draft for your instructor-created videos.

MAY TOPIC: 

“New Quizzes” is available in Canvas

Some faculty have already experimented with the new version of quizzes, which Instructure has indicated will replace the classic quizzes format at an as-yet-unspecified date. The new tool allows instructors to incorporate different types of questions, such as labeling, equations, and drag/drop, in their quizzes and tests for a more robust assessment of student learning.

To enable New Quizzes in your Canvas course, go to Settings and complete the following:

1. Select “Feature Options” from among the tabs in Settings.
2. Scroll down and click the circle next to “New Quizzes.”
3. If you wish to make New Quizzes the default in your course rather than Classic Quizzes, select “Default to New Quizzes.” (You may return and do this later if you’re not ready to commit just yet).
4. Refresh the homepage, and you’ll be ready to go

How to use New Quizzes. View the video for tips on getting started.

Remember to reach out to the distance learning team for one-on-one assistance.

<h3">TRAINING SESSION:

EdPuzzle is a tool that allows instructors to pause instructor-created or online video content and check for understanding through free-response or short-answer questions! And yes, it integrates with Canvas, with scores sent to the grades feature. TRAINING MATERIALS

APRIL TOPIC

Ethical use of AI and AI plagiarism are the hottest topics in higher education, and the field is rapidly evolving.

Did you know new “humanizer” websites will rewrite AI-generated content to be flagged as “human” when run through AI detection programs? Keeping up with technological advances and revising assignments to encourage students to compose their work, especially online, will ensure academic honesty in the classroom.

One free resource for assignment redesign and academic honesty policies is the downloadable Guide to AI Plagiarism in Higher Education, published by Kritik.io. Click the link above to access the text and see what suggestions others have for detecting AI-generated content, citing AI-written work, and the ethical issues that arise when using AI in the classroom.

SCCC has an institutional subscription to TurnItIn, which is embedded in Canvas. Contact the distance education team if you need assistance setting up a Canvas assignment using TurnItIn. TurnItIn does include AI detection, but as is the case for any detection program, it is a starting point for a discussion with a student rather than proof of academic dishonesty.