August 26, 2021

HyFlex FAQ

Reading Time: 4 minutesHow do I start the HyFlex classroom up? Visit our HyFlex Rooms post to learn about these innovative new teaching and learning spaces. Is every classroom a HyFlex classroom?   Currently there are 4 rooms at the Doon campus (3A507, 2E35, 3E39, WW16) and 5 rooms at the DTK campus (007, 012, 013, 030, 032). Below, you can see some of the classroom layouts. Click an image to enlarge the view. Conestoga also...

Categories Hybrid/Teaching with EdTech/Tech-Enhanced Teaching

May 20, 2021

Icebreakers for Your Zoom Classrooms

Reading Time: 4 minutesIn the era of synchronous online learning, it is important to create a community of learning. Using icebreakers can foster communities, promote positive teacher and student relationships, and lay the groundwork for classroom interaction (Serembus & Kemery, 2020). Studies in pedagogy encourage teachers to use icebreakers in their classes. The following icebreakers are quick and easy to run both in...

Categories Inclusive EdTech Use/Online Synchronous/Teaching for Learning/Teaching with Teams/Tech-Enhanced Teaching

May 5, 2021

Read & Write Gold

Reading Time: 2 minutesRead&Write is a literacy toolbar that helps students enhance their reading, writing, studying, and research skills. Commonly presumed as a type of assistive tech, Read & Write is unique in that it is available to all students at Conestoga. This app can support a variety of learning, studying, and research habits. By using Read&Write, students can proactively develop their literacy...

Categories Accessible Teaching/Effective Teaching/Inclusive EdTech Use/Tech-Enhanced Teaching

April 20, 2021

Teaching Software, Hardware, and Cybersecurity

Reading Time: 2 minutesApply these tips in your teaching to engage students and to monitor their progress during lessons.  1. Show students the Big Picture Always start with the big picture for a new unit of learning. Bridge-in with a case, a metaphor, a job advertisement – something to help the students see the why of the learning.  2. Clarify outcomes Be clear with the outcome and the benefit of the learning, and if...

Categories Effective Teaching/Lesson & Course Planning/Teaching with EdTech/Tech-Enhanced Teaching

March 8, 2021

Encouraging Online Group Work Management with Microsoft Planner

Reading Time: < 1 minuteOnline Group Work Students’ ability to organize tasks and manage time can affect their online group work experiences. In online team situations, Hurst and Thomas (2008) explain that group members “must engage in self-monitoring, team process monitoring, and proactive commitment to the work of learning” (p. 460). To enact these methods and foster positive group work experiences, Teach Me Tech...

Categories Effective Teaching/Student Engagement & Communication/Teaching with EdTech/Tech-Enhanced Teaching

January 15, 2021

Bring Your Best: Advice from Faculty About Sync Online Teaching

Reading Time: 3 minutesTips suggested by faculty in a workshop, “Bring Your Best to Remote Teaching”

Categories Effective Teaching/Faculty Stories/Hybrid/Online Synchronous/Reflective Practice/Teaching with Teams/Tech-Enhanced Teaching

January 13, 2021

Boost Engagement with Zoom Text Chat

Reading Time: 2 minutesIdeas and tips for using text chat to boost engagement and clear communication during remote synchronous meetings

Categories Effective Teaching/Teaching for Learning/Teaching with Teams/Tech-Enhanced Teaching

December 1, 2020

Putting Your Best Face Forward in Zoom Meetings with Students

Reading Time: 6 minutesThe clothing we wear, the setting we present ourselves in, and the camera view have a profound impact on our students’ impressions of us and on how comfortable and respected they feel.    We might ask ourselves the following questions: What is the balance between formal and casual on Zoom? Ben Marder and Sebastian Oliver (2020) at the University of Edinburgh...

Categories Online Synchronous/Teaching with Teams/Tech-Enhanced Teaching

November 25, 2020

Random Selectors for Group Breakout Activities

Reading Time: 3 minutesA teaching tip for selecting groups with a fun random selector during remote classes

Categories Effective Teaching/In-Person/Online Synchronous/Teaching for Learning/Teaching with Teams/Tech-Enhanced Teaching

November 11, 2020

Using an External Whiteboard to Replicate the In-Person Experience

Reading Time: < 1 minuteAre you missing your in-class whiteboards to write the formulas, solve the math problems or draw the flowcharts? Is Zoom’s whiteboard not giving you enough flexibility of writing and drawing? This teaching tip offers you ideas of using external white boards in our remote classrooms.   Using College-Issued Devices Surface Pro or a Touchscreen tablet  For a college-issued Microsoft Surface Pro or a touchscreen tablet (single screen)  Download the Microsoft Whiteboard app and sign in...

Categories Online Synchronous/Teaching with EdTech/Tech-Enhanced Teaching

November 2, 2020

Optional and Occasional Student Webcam Use

Reading Time: 3 minutesThis tip shares some information about why students may be turning off their web video cameras (webcams) during synchronous classes, how to monitor learner presence without webcams, and strategies for promoting engagement with optional and occasional web cam use. Reasons Students Turn WebCams Off In The Conversation, Tabitha Moses (2020) lists five reasons why many students are keeping their webcams...

Categories Accessible Teaching/Effective Teaching/Hybrid/Inclusive EdTech Use/Online Synchronous/Teaching with Teams/Tech-Enhanced Teaching

October 2, 2020

Student Expectations for Online Engagement

Reading Time: 2 minutesAn overview of the Student Expectations for Online Engagement Policy

Categories Inclusive EdTech Use/Online Asynchronous/Online Synchronous/Teaching with EdTech/Tech-Enhanced Teaching

September 17, 2020

About Teach Me Tech Services

Reading Time: < 1 minuteLooking for information to support students with technology? Complete and up-to-date tech support and services for students can be found on the Library’s Teach Me Tech website. Services Available At the Teach Me Tech site, students can: access live chat tech support, book one-on-one virtual tech consults with tech reps, find tips and instructions for using Zoom or Teams, or LinkedIn Learning,...

Categories Teaching with EdTech/Tech-Enhanced Teaching

September 17, 2020

Encourage Students to Develop their Digital Skills

Reading Time: < 1 minutePost contributed by Conestoga Library Services. Do your students need help in enhancing their digital skills? Then consider connecting them with self-paced resources and workshops that can help! To serve this need, the Library has developed the Digital Skills Toolkit. This resource, designed in collaboration with The Learning Portal and Conestoga’s IT Services, provides you and your students with self-paced modules for learning various digital skills...

Categories Teaching with EdTech/Tech-Enhanced Teaching

September 9, 2020

The Power of PowerPoint

Reading Time: 2 minutesMany studies have investigated the value of using PowerPoint as a lecture tool. PowerPoint’s strength is often the comfort we have as educators and learners with this lesson delivery format. But sometimes, our comfort level with PowerPoint can lead us to over-anticipate the role it plays in communicating complex ideas.  Most research on the effectiveness of PowerPoint shows that the...

Categories Teaching with EdTech/Tech-Enhanced Teaching