Professional Week

Facilitator(s): Philip Bonner

This session covers the basics of Blackboard Learn Ultra, from the interface and navigation to best practices when building a new course.

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Facilitator(s): Tom Cantu

This session introduces converting an existing course from Blackboard Learn Original to Blackboard Learn Ultra. Two recommended course copy approaches and the benefits of each approach are explained step-by-step.

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Facilitator(s): Anna Donohoe

This session provides an overview of the Gradebook in Blackboard Learn Ultra, including best practices, workflows and how to set up the gradebook. The MC Learn Ultra Transition team will provide answers to FAQs and information about additional resources. 

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Facilitator(s): Gloria Barron 

Grading writing assignments can take a lot of time, but with helpful strategies and the right tech tools, you can make it faster and easier. This one-hour workshop will discuss and demonstrate useful tools and methods for grading more efficiently while still giving quality feedback. We will cover a variety of methods that aim to save you time and support student learning. Join us to explore ideas and tools that will make your grading process smoother and more effective.

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Facilitator(s): Megan Calvert

In this hands-on workshop, we will walk through the basic steps to ensure documents are accessible and inclusive for all. Focusing on Microsoft Word, participants will learn to format documents using accessibility best practices, such as headings, alt text, meaningful links and proper contrast. We’ll also learn common pitfalls to avoid and use Word’s Accessibility Checker to identify and resolve issues. Once completed, we will show you how to convert a Word document to a PDF and ensure that the accessibility features are properly preserved.

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Facilitator(s): Angela Lanier 

Whether you view Artificial Intelligence as a disruptive nuisance or a useful tool, it has likely impacted your teaching in some way. So how do we manage the prevalence (and use) of AI tools while promoting learning in the different disciplines? In this session, we will reflect on the different ways AI has impacted both learning and industry and explore ways to build a learning culture that acknowledges the role of AI while honoring ethical standards and authentic learning experiences.

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Facilitator(s): Paul Miller

This workshop is designed for faculty seeking effective strategies to create and maintain a productive and respectful classroom environment. Participants will gain practical tips for managing classrooms, addressing challenging behaviors, and cultivating a positive atmosphere that supports learning and student engagement. Through interactive discussions and scenario-based activities, faculty will leave with actionable tools to handle classroom dynamics confidently and empathetically.

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Facilitator(s): Daniel Jenkins, Pabitha Gnanamani, Sharon Anthony, Silvia Vargas

During this workshop, faculty will explore the purpose and use of case studies as high-impact activities across disciplines.  Sample case studies involving ethical decision-making will be presented as a means to enhance students’ critical thinking abilities and collaborative learning skills.  After a review of sample case studies, faculty will be invited to draft potential case study scenarios.

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Facilitators: Metta Lash and Rachel Sullivan

In this interactive workshop, participants will explore strategies to incorporate gender inclusivity into their teaching and professional practices, enhancing student engagement and critical thinking. Through exploration and analysis of curated resources as well as group brainstorming, participants will learn to identify and address gender bias, integrate interdisciplinary perspectives, and develop inclusive course materials. This session will provide practical insights that help foster a more comprehensive and inclusive approach, helping participants see how diverse perspectives on gender can be part of the classroom experience.

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Facilitators: Maria Sprehn and Kimberly Driver

This workshop will explain the value of the new Career Readiness microcredential for students, future employers and the College. It will also provide guidelines for faculty to support students interested in pursuing this badge. the overall goal of the Career Readiness badge is to better position MC students and recent graduates to be successfully employed. And finally, it will support piloting the badge this coming semester.

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• Basics of Assessment Center Services - Patricia Cooper, Diana Benson, Yvonne Hu-Cotto
• Gateway to Wonders: Exploring the MC Library Resources for Your Personal and Professional Development - Amy Trost
• Leveraging LinkedIn Learning for Professional Growth – Richard Forrest
• Organizational Efficiency – Cynthis Mauris
• Quality Assurance at Montgomery College - Tia Roebuck
• Stress Management – Megan Cooperman
• Using OERs to Support Instruction – Shinta Hernandez

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Facilitiator(s): Anna Donohoe

Join the MC Learn Ultra Transition team for an overview of important Blackboard Learn Ultra updates, followed by an engaging panel discussion with MC Faculty who have taught courses in Blackboard Learn Ultra. The MC Learn Ultra Transition team will take you on a tour of MC’s Blackboard Learn Ultra resources and provide answers to FAQs.

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Facilitiator(s): Nell Feldman, Kristen Roe, Paul Miller 

Recent updates to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) signal significant changes in how educational institutions address accessibility. This session will provide a comprehensive overview of these changes and their implications for Montgomery College. Facilitators will explore how these updates affect physical spaces, digital environments, and instructional practices, as well as the steps MC is taking to ensure compliance. Participants will learn about the college’s strategies for fostering accessibility, equity, and inclusion in response to these new requirements.

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• Pegging Your Memory 
  
• Zoom Refresher 
  
• Making Your Classroom Welcoming for All 
  
• Student Mental Health and Well-Being Resources 
  
• Pressbooks and Open Publishing 
  
• Basics of Assessment Center Services 
  
• Introduction to CITI Training 

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Facilitator(s): Philip Bonner

This session covers the basics of Blackboard Learn Ultra, from the interface and navigation to best practices when building a new course.

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Facilitator(s): Tom Cantu

This session introduces converting an existing course from Blackboard Learn Original to Blackboard Learn Ultra. Two recommended course copy approaches and the benefits of each approach are explained step-by-step.       

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Facilitator(s): Anna Donohoe

This session provides an overview of the Gradebook in Blackboard Learn Ultra, including best practices, workflows and how to set up the gradebook. The MC Learn Ultra Transition team will provide answers to FAQs and information about additional resources. 

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Facilitator(s): Megan Calvert and Sara Kalifa

Research has demonstrated that students in classes with active learning are 1.5 times less likely to fail than students in traditional lecture-based classes (Freeman et al, 2014) and that active learning can narrow achievement gaps for underrepresented students (Theobald et al, 2020). In this workshop, we’ll look at several quick and easy ways any instructor can incorporate active learning into their classroom, including round robins, concept mapping, peer teaching, and collaborative documents. You will be able to try some of the techniques yourself and reflect on ways you might adapt them for your teaching context.

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Facilitator(s): Paul Miller

In this session, explore strategies to cultivate a welcoming and supportive classroom environment that enhances student motivation, collaboration, and academic success. Participants will engage in activities that demonstrate how to build trust, promote inclusivity, and encourage active participation in their courses. This workshop will provide tools to create a strong sense of belonging for students from diverse backgrounds.

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Facilitator(s): Gloria Barron       

Join us for an interactive session where you'll discover how AI can serve as a powerful ally in your teaching toolkit. This workshop goes beyond basic AI awareness to provide practical, immediate applications for your courses. You will use AI tools to improve your teaching materials, make learning more personalized, and refresh your course design—all while keeping high standards and best practices in mind.

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Facilitator(s): Gina Wesley, Tracie Babb

This workshop will assist attendees with crafting rubrics for writing assignments that foster clarity, equity, and engagement across disciplines. We will explore best practices for designing rubrics that clearly articulate expectations, criteria, and performance levels while promoting student success. By emphasizing transparency, rubrics help demystify academic standards, empower students to take ownership of their work and reduce grading subjectivity. Attendees will learn to align rubrics with course objectives, ensure accessibility for diverse learners, and provide actionable feedback to enhance writing skills. Examples from various disciplines will illustrate how transparent rubrics improve student outcomes and streamline grading processes for instructors. Participants will leave with practical tools to create and implement rubrics tailored to writing assignments in their respective disciplines.

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Facilitator(s): Lucy Laufe & Zhou (Jojo) Dong

Letters of recommendation are key components to getting into transfer institutions, receiving scholarships, and getting a job. This workshop, led by STEM faculty, focuses on the STEM disciplines to create stronger content in letters for students, discussing best practices regarding what makes an effective letter of recommendation.  It will also cover tips to help students ask for letters and get strong references.  And finally, it will discuss the difference between letters for an academic opportunity versus employment. Focus points include:  knowledge of student, evaluation of student – intellectual and character -using examples to back up noted traits or strengths, avoiding clichés, finding ways to emphasize strengths other than academic/intellectual. Strategies for supporting students who did not do well in your class will also be explored.

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Facilitiator(s): Bonnie Saunders & Rabbee Awan

PowerPoint presentation and questions/answer session regarding the grant application and submission process.

Participants will learn about the MC Foundation Innovation Grant theme, application process, tips, and available resources.

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• Five Team Building Exercises Each Supervisor Should Know
• Power Up with Microcredentials
• SMARTIE Goals to Start the New Year
• Using Zoom Polling Tools for Instant Feedback

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Facilitator(s): Philip Bonner

This session covers the basics of Blackboard Learn Ultra, from the interface and navigation to best practices when building a new course.

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Facilitator(s): Tom Cantu

This session introduces converting an existing course from Blackboard Learn Original to Blackboard Learn Ultra. Two recommended course copy approaches and the benefits of each approach are explained step-by-step.       

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Facilitator(s): Anna Donohoe

This session provides an overview of the Gradebook in Blackboard Learn Ultra, including best practices, workflows and how to set up the gradebook. The MC Learn Ultra Transition team will provide answers to FAQs and information about additional resources. 

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Facilitator(s): Angela Lanier

Assets are resources that have valuable and future benefits. How can we transform learning assessments into assets that have ongoing benefits for both instructors and learners? In this workshop we will review several metacognitive practices that promote reflection, goal setting, or tracking learning progress.

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Facilitator(s): Paul Miller

This workshop introduces faculty to the principles of backward design, enhanced by the capabilities of generative AI. Participants will learn how to start with clearly defined learning outcomes and use AI tools to inform the development of assessments and instructional strategies that align with those outcomes. This hands-on session will demonstrate how generative AI can streamline course design, foster creativity, and ensure a cohesive learning experience for students.

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