Professional Week

Facilitator(s): Paul Miller

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): Lane Schwager and Leah Sneider

In this workshop for faculty, we will explore effective communication strategies with a focus on gendered communication in micro, day-to-day interactions. We'll discuss the impact of language choices on power dynamics, highlighting how phrases like "I think" and "just" can reflect and reinforce powerless language, and examine gender-specific communication patterns. The workshop will also address the importance of inclusive language, particularly in digital and face-to-face communication, and how certain terms and phrases can perpetuate harmful societal norms. We'll discuss nuanced scenarios involving faculty-staff and faculty-student interactions, with attention to mentorship, emotional labor, and professional boundaries.

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Facilitiator(s): Anna Donohoe

This session introduces the key things instructors need to know when converting an existing course from Blackboard Learn Original into Blackboard Learn Ultra.

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Facilitiator(s): Michele Knight

In this session, we will explore innovative ways to incorporate AI tools into developing creative assignments for college students. Udio is an AI-powered songwriting engine that helps students create complete songs by generating melodies, harmonies, and lyrics. Leonardo AI is an AI image generator that creates detailed visual art, making it easier for students to illustrate concepts and bring their ideas to life.

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Facilitiator(s): Richard Forrest

Understanding and celebrating diversity in learning is key to creating inclusive classrooms and campuses. Each student brings unique learning styles, whether it's a preference for solo work or teamwork, short-term results or future planning, and different beliefs about control over life events. Join us as we examine creating environments that embrace this diversity with inclusion.

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Facilitiator(s): Cynthia Mauris & Jennifer Capparella

While faculty members are hired to teach, there are expectations and requirements to get involved and participate in committees, programs, and events beyond the classroom. Explore several options and learn what skills would be needed to be successful. Match the development of your power skills to the learning opportunities available at MC.

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Facilitiator(s): Lucy Laufe

Letters of recommendation are key components to getting into transfer institutions, receiving scholarships, and getting a job. This workshop will review the criteria and literature 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.  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): Megan Calvert

“I’m just not cut out for this.” Research shows that when students and professors bring fixed mindset words and attitudes like these into the classroom, it decreases the likelihood of student learning, engagement, persistence, and achievement. Small shifts towards a growth mindset, however, can have big impacts on student success. In this workshop, we will examine essential research and concepts that all instructors should be aware of and explore strategies that you can easily weave into your classes.

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Facilitiator(s): Pallavi Bhale, Rebin Muhammad

Obsidian is a note-taking app that is especially beneficial to educators by helping them create, organize, and share teaching material in a versatile way.

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• Academic Support for Equitable Access and Student Success
• Collaborative and Active Learning Techniques for Equity and Diversity
• Explore Artificial Intelligence with the MC Library’s AI Research Guide
• Flip Grid has Retired! Now What?
• Get HIP with High Impact Practices
• Grants 101: From the source
• Round Table Discussion: Designing AI Resistant Assignments
• Quality Assurance at Montgomery College

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Facilitiator(s): Anna Donohoe and Paul Miller

Join the MC Learn Ultra Transition team for an overview of important Blackboard Learn Ultra updates as we move into Phase 2 of our transition. We will introduce how to configure your course settings to allow you to teach in Ultra for the Fall 2024 semester if you would like to do so. Even if you are not planning to teach in Ultra this semester, this information will help you prepare for subsequent semesters. All courses at MC will be taught in Blackboard Learn Ultra starting in the Fall semester of 2025.

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Facilitiator(s): Anna Donohoe and Paul Miller

This information session and feature showcase will provide an inside look at the Blackboard Learn Ultra experience, plus an overview of MC’s ongoing three-phase transition to Blackboard Learn Ultra (which will be completed prior to Fall 2025). 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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• Flip Grid has Retired! Now What?
• Are you Ready for a Cohort?
• Teaching Strategies Using Chat GPT
• Turn Minutes into Mastery with Microlearning
  

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Facilitator(s): Paul Miller

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): Anna Donohoe

This session introduces the key things instructors need to know when converting an existing course from Blackboard Learn Original into Blackboard Learn Ultra.

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Facilitator(s): Cynthia Mauris

Email is the bane of your existence but it is an integral part of your life so you can’t get rid of it. Learn how to manage it by writing effectively the first time by using five ways to tackle email.

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Facilitator(s): Gloria Barron

In this workshop, we will explore ways to empower all users of MS Word with accessibility tools to create documents that enhance usability and productivity for everyone. In this session, we will highlight an array of features available in Word for Microsoft 365 and Word 2019. Discover how these tools can revolutionize your workflow and your initial interaction with Word to create inclusive documents faster and easier from the start. 

We will delve into helpful utilities to ensure that your documents meet the highest accessibility standards, benefiting not only those with disabilities but potentially improving readability and comprehension for all readers. 

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Facilitator(s): Laurent Ndeze

Collaborative learning activities can enhance learning and are even more effective when learners apply effective social skills. Collaborative learning provides opportunities for diverse students to work with and learn from each other as they complete course projects or assignments. In addition, well-planned collaborative learning provides the opportunity for students to expand their social skills which they can continue to use while in college and the real world upon graduation. In this workshop, we will examine techniques that support productive interaction and active learning, equitable assessment techniques, and how learning technologies can enhance social and collaborative learning.

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Facilitator(s): Brandon Muncy

A brief overview of current trends in college student mental health, and various factors that inform them. The talk will also discuss current areas of needs at MC and support for faculty and staff to learn how to refer and support students.

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Facilitator(s): Kristen Roe 

Think you understand Title IX, the federal law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in the College’s education program and activities? Have you heard that new Title IX regulations may go into effect in 2024? Do you have questions about your obligations under Title IX?

Participants will explore those questions and receive an overview of the following key topics related to Title IX at Montgomery College:

With pending rule changes that could go into effect in 2024, participants will learn about the expanded scope of sex-based discrimination under Title IX, including sex characteristics, sex stereotypes and gender expression, and the new definition of sex-based harassment.

Participants will review the resolution process the College currently uses to investigate and resolve allegations of sex-based harassment and receive an introduction to the new model that may go into effect soon.

The role of employees as mandatory reporters will be explained so they are empowered to fulfill institutional obligations when made aware of conduct that could constitute discrimination based on sex.

The rights of students experiencing pregnancy and related conditions will be explained so that participants understand their obligations to support the academic success of these students.

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Facilitator(s): Niyati Pandya

With our new information literacy tutorials, the MC library is responding to students and faculty who want device-friendly, point-of-need access to our tutorials. Faculty will also have a much simpler, seamless integration into Blackboard. During this workshop, you’ll be guided through selecting the content that fits your needs and integrating the tutorials with gradebook-enabled quiz questions.

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Facilitiator(s): Sean Wright

Unlock LinkedIn's full potential for career growth. This session will cover actionable strategies for boosting engagement, expanding your professional network, and further developing your skills and career. Whether you are a seasoned professional, just starting out, faculty, or staff, you will gain meaningful insights and tips to enhance your LinkedIn presence and strengthen your network. Stand out, thrive, succeed.

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• 2024 Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Violence
• Flip Grid has Retired! Now What?
• ELITE Professional Learning and Development Pathway Programs
• Introducing APA Academic Writer: A New Tool for Better Student Outcomes
• Let's Get to the Bottom of This with the 5 Whys
• Using MS Teams to Communicate with Students

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Facilitator(s): Anna Donohoe and Paul Miller

Join the MC Learn Ultra Transition team for an overview of important Blackboard Learn Ultra updates as we move into Phase 2 of our transition. We will introduce how to configure your course settings to allow you to teach in Ultra for the Fall 2024 semester if you would like to do so. Even if you are not planning to teach in Ultra this semester, this information will help you prepare for subsequent semesters. All courses at MC will be taught in Blackboard Learn Ultra starting in the Fall semester of 2025.

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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 learning and explore ways to cultivate authentic learning alongside the AI-literacy skills needed beyond the classroom.

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Facilitator(s): Philip Bonner

Flipped learning is a teaching approach in which the students’ first brush with new material occurs outside of class rather than in it. Students read or view materials online to gain a basic understanding of the subject, and class time is devoted to solving problems or applying new concepts. This is the inverse of the traditional mode of lecture in class and practice at home. In this one-hour course, we will explore how to flip your class!

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Facilitator(s): Tom Cantu

Using videos in courses is common, but tracking which students are actively watching them can be challenging. Yuja, the MC video platform, allows faculty to embed quiz questions directly into videos. These videos can be posted on Blackboard with quiz scores appearing in the grade center. Faculty can add questions to any video, whether it's their own or from other sources like YouTube or Films On Demand.

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Facilitator(s): Michele Knight

Creating Interactive Digital content promotes engagement with the materials in your Digital Course site in a superior way than creating text-based content. While developing this content used to be a chore, digital content creation isn’t difficult with today's modern tools. Together, we will explore simple apps for creating interactive materials with Adobe Express Video, Microsoft Sway, and Microsoft Forms.

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Facilitator(s): Richard Forrest

In this session we explore two models to apply in decision-making involving strategic time management choices and methods.

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Facilitator(s): Megan Calvert

Although language experts widely agree that all languages are equal, language discrimination is still sometimes viewed as “the last acceptable prejudice” (R.L.G., 2015). Hidden biases can create barriers for multilingual speakers, English language learners, speakers of non-standard dialects, and anyone who communicates in ways that are considered outside the norm. In this workshop, we will explore ways that linguistic bias can appear in higher education classrooms, how bias can limit academic participation, and practical strategies instructors can use to make their teaching more inclusive for all.

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