Feeling overwhelmed at the thought of next semester? Does the dust on your teaching syllabi send you further under the covers? Rest assured, the Office of Curriculum and Instructional Support has your back (and a plan to help!). Here, we share how and when to best reach us and highlight some of our favorite resources. We’ll also share some things you can do, and things we can do that will save you time, maximize your efforts, and set you up for a smooth(er), strong(er), spring semester.
Reach out. Call, email, or visit us in the Park Library 413 office suite; connect with us however you prefer. Instructional support staff and services are available during standard business hours (M-F 8am-5pm) when the university is open. While our team will be away during the university closure starting at 5 pm December 22nd, 2021, we’ll be back and ready for a new semester of support at 8 am January 3rd, 2022.
Plan ahead. Schedule support for tomorrow (and beyond), today! Submit your requests and be “first in line” when we reopen after the break. In the meantime, you can also register for upcoming events and schedule future support services for your teaching later next semester. Planning now can help you meet deadlines later! Here are some opportunities to schedule CIS assistance:
- Sign up for Teaching and Learning Professional Support (TL Pro) services. ProTip: Simply request a consultation to meet 1 on 1 with a Teaching and Learning Consultant or other specialty support staff.
- Send us your teaching syllabus and apply our Syllabus Review feedback to inform next semester’s course prep.
- Request a Blackboard Review of past teaching shells and obtain strategic feedback and actionable advice for improving user and learner experiences in your future course shells. ProTip: CIS even offers implementation assistance based on Blackboard Review feedback.
- Open a DesignPro request to meet your aesthetic and accessible design needs for all your academic artifacts—from course syllabi and assignments to slides and custom graphics.
- Use a CIS media maker space or request MediaPro assistance. Learn more and book online to use our maker spaces whenever Park Library is open.
- Submit a CoursePro ticket for help with adding and configuring content in Blackboard. ProTip: For help copying Blackboard content from a previous class into another, just request a course copy. Be sure to check out these Blackboard Hacks, and consider how features like Date Management could streamline this process… forever!
Curate your own OnDemand resource playlist: Our collection of OnDemand Resources are available online ready to support your instruction 24/7. Peruse our full catalog, identify a selection of resources that interest or inspire you, and engage with those first. Prioritizing how you spend your course prep time and starting with pieces that most interest you will make the overall process more rewarding and fruitful. Wondering what to add to your between-semester playlist? Here are some of our staff favorites:
- Review and apply the principles of Learner-Centered Design to your course and syllabus. Don’t forget to update your syllabi with information about your course format and logistics, and be sure to include relevant resources for students from these materials from the Office of Information Technology (CMU login required).
- Enroll and participate in one of our many self-paced instructional trainings. We recommend:
- BrightSpots, a robust blackboard shell of resources for instructors modeling best practices for course shell design and content presentation centered on the learner. Enroll to access sample course materials, as well as tips and how-to’s that empower instructors to replicate these measures in their own course shells.
- The Multi-Modal Teaching Methods Certification (MTMC) is a self-paced training that examines evidence-based strategies to translate content and expertise across multiple teaching modalities. Enroll to gain access to resources that explore practical techniques for teaching and learning in diverse settings. Watch this short video to learn more (2:40).
- Reflect on the past, prepare for the future, explore instructional methods that bridge gaps and support students, as you watch this ~20minute video interview between Hybrid Flexible instruction expert, Dr. Brian Beatty, and Teaching and Learning Consultant, Dr. Sarah Learman.
- Finally, revisit our learning collection of resources, focusing on instructional topics, and offering support for:
If you do not see what you need above, please reach out to us at cis@cmich.edu; we will respond as soon as we are able.
Best wishes for a rejuvenating break and a successful semester ahead!