March 24, 2022Spring 2022

Welcome to this semester’s edition of Teaching with Technology, a newsletter from the Instructional Design Center. Here you will find the latest technology-related news and resources at Ramapo College. This newsletter also features a profile on Dr. Sharon Leathers, Assistant Professor of Literacy.

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March 24, 2022YuJa for Lecture Capture and Screen Recordings

The Techsmith Knowmia platform is being retired and will no longer be accessible after this semester. Starting with Summer I, the only screen recording/screencasting platform supported on campus will be YuJa. YuJa has already been embedded into Canvas, is available to use now, and will eventually be added to our single sign-on system. 

All of your content from Knowmia created before 02/16/22 will be automatically migrated to your YuJa account by the end of this semester. If you create content in Knowmia after 02/16/22, you will be responsible for downloading the content to your computer and then uploading it to YuJa. The links in your Fall 2021 and Winter 2022 Canvas courses will be revised for you, allowing for an easy import to 2022. However, instructors using YuJa this summer will need to manually update their Canvas course links to the appropriate YuJa videos. 

YuJa FAQ   

YuJa Training
YuJa training was offered at Faculty Development Day on February 9, 2022 by a YuJa trainer. The training was recorded in case you were unable to attend, or if you would like to review the sessions.

To watch the recordings: login to Canvas > navigate to any course > click the YuJa link in your course navigation > once YuJa launches navigate to Shared Folders > Shared – All Instructors. Below are the topics covered in those three trainings:

• Overview and Embedding in Canvas
• Video Editor and Captioning
• Quizzes, Usage and Analytics

YuJa Help Center – Video Tutorials and Quick Start Guides

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March 24, 2022Faculty Profile: Sharon Leathers

When the IDC discovered how Dr. Sharon Leathers, Assistant Professor of Literacy, was using Canvas Pages in unique and creative ways, we immediately invited her to lead workshops and present at the annual faculty conference. (See the workshop recording here: Watch Video –  password: TzAkSbr5) This outstanding use of our Learning Management System is just one example of how Dr. Leathers leverages technology in her teaching practice. Her embrace of technology began early in her career as an elementary school teacher in Los Angeles. There was one computer in the classroom, and she needed to figure out how to make it work for the benefit of her students. Dr. Leathers reflects, “I never let the amount of technology or type of technology in a classroom limit my thinking about the use of it and how it could enrich student learning.”

Just as technology platforms and tools change over time, Dr. Leathers has transformed her use of technology as an instructional tool. Most recently she has focused on how social media (including Tiktok and YouTube) could be harnessed for dynamic learning opportunities, particularly in light of the pandemic. “Things have truly changed,” says Dr. Leathers. “I’m realizing it’s no longer about how our students access and interact with social media but how they can become content creators, not just consumers.” Dr. Leathers plans to explore how Teacher Education students can enhance their own learning as well as contribute content to the field through social media outlets. 

Dr. Leathers has also evolved as an instructional designer. When it comes to helping students navigate content in her course, she says, “Two clicks are too many.” She emphasizes the importance of instructors to understand how today’s students are wired for instant access to information and digital communication. Dr. Leathers believes we need to make some adjustments as educators and consistently talk with students to help us understand how they learn. 

Are you nervous about bringing technology into your classroom? Dr. Leathers has three important pieces of advice:

1. 1. Start Small: “Don’t try to tackle too many technologies at once. Aim to use one new technological tool each semester and find what works best for you.”
   2. Rely on Students: “Give your students some room to help you with technology for a particular project. Allow them to suggest apps or platforms that could be utilized for an assignment or class project.”
   3. Have Fun: “Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Technology isn’t scary as long as you are willing to have fun with it.”

Thank you, Dr. Leathers!

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March 24, 2022Canvas Tip: How to Validate Links in a Canvas Course

As you prepare your courses for next semester, it’s a good idea to check your courses for broken links. The course link validator searches course content for invalid or unreachable links and images by simply pressing a button.

Guide: How Do I Validate Links in a Canvas Course?

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March 24, 2022Save the Date: May 16-17 — Faculty Teach and Share Conference

The Annual Faculty “Teach and Share” Conference, co-sponsored by the FRC and IDC, will take place on May 16-17, and will feature Ramapo faculty presenters. Look for a call for presentations, and more information to follow.

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March 24, 2022IDC Drop-in Office Hours — Spring 2022

• Mondays: 1:30 – 4 p.m. 
• Tuesdays: 9:15 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 
• Wednesdays: 1:30 – 4 p.m. 
• Thursdays: 2 – 4:30 p.m. 
• Fridays: 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Drop in using the link below via Webex, or in-person in LC-201

Access Virtual Office Hours Link: https://ramapo.webex.com/meet/training16

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March 24, 2022Upcoming IDC Workshops

Be sure to check out the upcoming workshops offered by IDC this semester:

4/7/22 – Qualtrics Online Survey Reports
4/14/22 – Excel Basics
4/21/22 – Introduction to Excel Pivot Tables
4/28/22 – Introduction to Canvas Commons and Blueprints  

To view the full workshop schedule and to register with your Ramapo email, visit our Web site at: training.ramapo.edu. Upon registration you will receive an email with the Webex meeting information needed to join the workshop.

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March 24, 2022TLTR Applications Due March 31

The Teaching, Learning and Technology Roundtable (TLTR) awards “Technology in Teaching and Learning” grants to encourage faculty, librarians, and professional staff who teach to integrate technologies, throughout the disciplines, into teaching and learning at Ramapo College. Visit https://www.ramapo.edu/tltr/ for more information and the grant application.

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October 6, 2021Fall 2021

Welcome to this semester’s edition of Teaching with Technology, a newsletter from the Instructional Design Center. Here you will find the latest technology-related news and resources at Ramapo College.

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October 6, 2021Profile: Deb O’Connell

The IDC is thrilled to announce the hire of our new Assistant LMS Administrator, Deb O’Connell! Deb brings a wealth of experience and expertise to Ramapo related to LMS implementation, instructional design, and educational technology. Deb first began her career in this field while working at Pearson Education. There she created companion websites for textbooks and study guides. She then became a media editor at Pearson, creating digital content and products for history, sociology, philosophy, and other areas. As the trend moved toward online learning, Deb developed numerous online courses for Pearson’s Pegasus platform. After starting her own company, Deb worked with other major publishers to help them build their online content: McGraw-Hill, Wiley, and again with Pearson, this time for nursing courses. Before joining Ramapo, Deb worked for an ed-tech company focused on bringing Augmented Reality, or AR, to the classroom and science labs. (Deb promises to give us an AR workshop in the Spring!)

Some of you may have already met Deb in 2020 when the Provost hired her as an Instructional Design consultant during the transition to Canvas. Deb worked with programs like the Master of Arts in Educational Leadership to develop a Canvas “blueprint course” to serve as a template for the MAEL instructors. Deb also mentored individual faculty members as they created their courses in Canvas for the first time. Professor of Psychology Tilahun Sineshaw says, “Deb assisted me in navigating Canvas at a time when I needed it most. She successfully had me uncover the complexities of Canvas. Humane in her persona and approach, Deb is certainly an effective tech person and educator who can guide anyone through the technical maze. Thank you Deb and welcome to the Ramapo family.” Professor of Spanish Iraida Lopez says, “Deb helped me make the transition from Moodle to Canvas at the end of the Spring 2020 semester when I was getting ready to teach an online course during the Summer.  Being totally unfamiliar with Canvas, I’m sure I tested Deb’s patience more than once. Yet she guided me calmly through the process of setting up my course, rubrics included!  I have no doubt Deb will make a positive contribution.”

As Deb gets settled into her new position in the IDC, she is excited to meet faculty and learn about their technology needs. She says, “I like to keep current with the latest technology for higher education and how it’s effectively used for course delivery and student engagement. I look forward to sharing this knowledge with the Ramapo community.” Deb is also looking forward to reaching out to the schools and programs to understand their needs and support their use of Canvas and other technologies. Welcome, Deb!

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