September 14, 2022

This message is distributed to All-Instructors, Academic-Assistant-Deans, and Academic-Department-Managers. (Click here to view description of distribution groups.)

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

The IS Team is looking forward to the Great Return next week as students and faculty arrive for Week of Welcome and Fall quarter! We’ve got a few updates and reminders in advance of Week 0.

Student arrivals and COVID testing - potential impacts on week 1 attendance
Students have been asked to test themselves for COVID immediately before coming back to campus. If a student is not in your class during week 1(+), please do not drop them from the course. You and/or your TAs might want to contact students via Peachmail/Canvas mail to welcome them, ensure that they have access to course resources and materials, and let them know how to contact you and/or TAs with any questions. Feel free to adapt this sample language if useful.

Classroom Demo Days
Get acquainted with the classroom you’ll be teaching in during Classroom Demo Days. Find which type of room you are assigned to by referencing our Key Classroom Information Document or visiting the Instructional Development Classroom Services Office Website

Monday, September 19, 2022: 
Generation 3 (G3) rooms - Girvetz 1119, 9:00AM - 11:00AM
Wall Box 3 rooms (WB3) - Girvetz 1119, 9:00AM - 11:00AM
Generation 4 (G4) rooms - Girvetz 1116, 1:00PM - 3:00PM

Tuesday, September 20, 2022:
Generation 5 (G5) rooms - Phelps 1508 - 1:00PM - 3:00PM
Generation 6 (G6) rooms -North Hall 1006, 9:00AM - 11:00AM
Generation 7 (G7) rooms - North Hall 1006, 9:00AM - 11:00AM

Prior to attending your demo day, please review our key classroom information to complete vital tasks that will allow you to utilize our technology.

DUO Two-Factor Authentication Now REQUIRED for GauchoSpace and Canvas
A reminder that as of September 12, DUO MFA authentication is now required for access to GauchoSpace and Canvas (as well as most other campus functions). Please let your students know that they will need to use two-factor authentication to access your course site for all functions, including (and not limited to) accessing assignments, assessments, and submitting materials. If any student loses access to an external device (i.e., if a cell phone breaks or is damaged), they will need to contact help@collaborate.ucsb.edu or visit a Collaborate Student Support Center Help Desk in order to regain access. The Collaborate HelpDesk will now provide extended email support on nights and weekends to resolve DUO MFA access issues during nights and weekends to ensure timely access.

Pre-Fall Workshops: There’s Still Time!
Join us for interactive pre-Fall workshops focused on pedagogy and educational technologies. We encourage instructors and TAs to participate in these sessions, which run from Aug. 19-Sept. 20, to arrive prepared and relaxed to your first day of class.

  • Pedagogy: Course Design with UDL, Backward Design, Collaborative Learning in STEM, Boosting Participation, Assessments Students Appreciate and Teaching Troublesome Topics.
  • Educational Technology: i>Clicker (polling), Gradescope, Eli (peer) Review, Nectir (IM+discussions), Canvas Basics and GauchoSpace.  

GauchoSpace End-of-Quarter Updates and Maintenance - GauchoSpace will be updated for end-of-quarter updates and maintenance on Friday, September 16 and will be unavailable from 6:00am to 2:00pm.