By MARTY LEVINE
Four new Canvas capabilities and one future instructor-training initiative were outlined by University Center for Teaching and Learning Executive Director Michael Bridges at the Dec. 11 meeting of the University Senate’s Educational Policies committee.
Under development currently is a new initiative called TEACH@Pitt. Pitt’s research office has resource and training guides for new and experienced faculty researchers, Bridges noted, so “why don't we have some basic, fundamental training data that can be available for all faculty” concerning teaching practices?
The provost’s Advisory Council on Instructional Excellence (ACIE) has been charged with creating a Foundations of Teaching learning module for current and new faculty members as well as graduate students. Bridges says ACIE is still collecting recommendations to create specific goals, but the module will likely cover such topics as assessment, backward design and course alignment, and technology use and integration.
Multiple additional future modules may be developed as well, on such topics as online learning, project-based learning, and many other varieties of teaching. Whether and for whom such modules would be required has yet to be worked out, but Bridges said “the Teaching Center would collaborate with schools and departments to consider advanced training requirements.”
ACIE had originally considered whether the initial module should be a requirement for faculty, Bridges reported, but the provost suggested that, on launch, it should be “available and strongly encouraged.” It could end up being a requirement for new faculty or required by individual departmental leadership at their choosing. He also expects that the faculty union’s views would be a factor in such decisions.
Those who complete the first module would be invited to join an in-person Foundations of Teaching Faculty Learning Community.
Among Canvas improvements, Bridges said, are Lucidchart, a diagramming tool, and Lucidspark, a collaborative whiteboard tool. They allow instructors to use diagramming and whiteboarding exercises in their course assignments, including as asynchronous group activities.
Gradescope now lets instructors create and scan their own bubble sheet exams, eliminating the need to buy Scantron sheets from the Testing Center and then returning them to the center for assesment.
And Canvas’ Peerceptiv software offers the chance to assign peer reviews within set groups of students, called “review circles.” It also features a live-presentation mode that allows students to get quick feedback from peers on in-class presentations. Bridges said that these are particularly useful for large-enrollment courses.
Marty Levine is a staff writer for the University Times. Reach him at martyl@pitt.edu or 412-758-4859.
Have a story idea or news to share? Share it with the University Times.