April 21, 2020

This message is distributed to All-Instructors and SBADM-L.  (Click here to view description of distribution groups.)  

The following is being sent on behalf of the Instructional Support Team
**************************************************************
Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to week 4! A few events and updates from the Instructional Support Team:

Join us for a remote teaching check in/coffee/tea with other instructors and TAs!  Friday, April 24th, 9:30-11am 

Stop in to say hello, talk with others, and share your experiences! No RSVP required – stay as long (or short) as you’d like. Linda Adler-Kassner will host. https://ucsb.zoom.us/j/93254679838

Mid quarter feedback from your students

During this quarter of rapid adaptation it can be particularly important to get feedback from your students about their experience in your course(s) using a GauchoSpace Feedback survey or a Google Form. This will enable you to respond to students’ feedback and make real-time changes in your course.  It also offers you a chance to (re) explain your approach to teaching the course, show empathy towards students, and position yourself as a learner.

  • You can add a GauchoSpace mid-quarter feedback survey template to your course and edit the questions, if desired.  There is a longer, 15-question template and a shorter template with three open-ended questions.
     
  • Consider writing custom questions to learn about specific teaching approaches, learning activities, assessments, or technologies that reflect the most important aspects of your course that you are willing and able to adjust mid-quarter. Students will also be asked to complete other surveys. Keep your questions short, focused and personal.

    For example:

    This quarter, I am [what you are doing] in order to [purpose].  How effective has this been for you?

    This quarter, I am using [specific course activity, e.g., “short lecture videos”, “live Zoom meetings”; “short weekly quizzes”] in order to [reason you are using them, e.g., “make course content accessible;” “facilitate collaboration;” “provide frequent feedback.”].  How effective has this been for you?

    → Ask as open-ended questions for smaller classes or use Likert-scale for larger classes (e.g. Not effective, Somewhat effective, Effective, Very effective)

GauchoSpace Activity Settings Expert Guidance:  Doing a timed assessment with students? Ready to publish a GauchoSpace quiz or assignment but uncertain that you have everything set up as you intended? Have an expert look at your activity settings to verify this for you. Reach out to help@collaborate.ucsb.edu for email assistance with your activity or to schedule a Zoom consultation.

Gradescope Timed Online Exams:  Because the Gradescope online exam tool is still in beta, there are some elements still missing.  One of those is the ability to extend the time for one or more students (e.g. DSP) to have on a timed exam.  For now, the only way to provide more time for some students, you will need to create a different exam (either completely different or a copy of the primary exam), and set the time limit for the second exam to provide those students who need it the extra time.


Have a great rest of the week!

The Instructional Support Team