Volume 3, Issue 5--Published: Wednesday, November 1st, 2023

Getting to Know the Center:

At the Center we understand that no place impacts students more than the classroom. We also know that faculty are asked to do a lot to support our students. We do so because we love our students, and it shows! We use this to grow our capacity for being uncomfortable and to step into the spaces our students need us to go–whether that’s pushing ourselves to be innovative, encouraging ourselves and each other, or advocating for much needed change. All of us at the Center have classroom experience, so we understand how important it is for teachers to help and support each other as we work together to help our students become who they want to be--please don’t hesitate to contact us. 

Our Work--The Center and You!

 
Friendly TAP Reminder
The Teaching Action Plan (TAP) is designed to afford you the professional respect that you deserve. The Center knows the importance of an embedded growth mindset in successful professional learning, especially as you work to incorporate your goals into the classroom. The goals that you set at the beginning of the cycle may grow and adapt as you start to implement your newly acquired professional development skill set into the classroom. The TAP allows you to capture the full process of professional learning from skills development and renewal to classroom application, so that you can reflect on what worked well, what didn’t work, what no longer works, and what could work with some adjustments.  At the Center, we recognize that effective teaching involves a quality review process that embraces all of these levels of self-reflection and feedback. The Center provides a safe and welcoming environment for you to receive support at any part of this process, so please do not hesitate to contact us. 

Part-Time Faculty–did you attend MATC Day? You can get FQAS hours!
Part-time faculty, if you attended MATC Day (or other Non-Student Contact Days), you are able to count up 10 hours towards your FQAS hours.  The suggested best practice is for you to keep track of your Professional Development activities by submitting your hours in SumTotal as you complete them throughout the cycle. Full-Time Faculty should not submit these hours, as MATC Day is a requirement.
 

MATC Professional Development Opportunities:

MATC offers a wide-range of professional development courses in a variety of delivery modes and durations as part of our efforts to design meaningful professional development that provides just-in-time training opportunities for you to explore what you need when you need it. All of our offerings are free to MATC faculty and eligible for FQAS hours, so that you can plan and develop your own professional development goals and outcomes.  

Face-to-Face Course Modality Lunch & Learn
Friday, 11/3, 11am-12pm
 
In this workshop we'll examine teaching in the Face-to-Face course modality. We'll explore scheduling, attendance, 8 & 12 week lengths, contact hours, student engagement, and other topics as we collaboratively discuss teaching in this modality.

Virtual F2F-Flexible Workshop
Tuesday, 11/7/23, 4pm-6pm
M201–Downtown campus
Are you considering teaching in the new Virtual F2F-Flexible course modality in the future?  To learn more about the Virtual F2F-Flexible Workshop, visit the Flexible Modality.  FQAS hours apply. Email to Sign Up

COS Reboot

Friday  11/10, 11am-1pm

Are you a Developer and edit the Course Outcome Summary (COS) in the WIDS and would like to learn more about writing Learning Objectives, Course Competencies, and Criteria? The CTE is hosting a workshop to address the proper way to write these. You can attend the workshop either in person at The Center (M201– Milwaukee campus) or virtually through Zoom

Want “Just-in-Time” support for Ultra? Next Session: Thursday, 11/8!

In October,  the Center for Teaching Excellence continues our support sessions in the use of Blackboard Ultra, which are designed to enhance your familiarity and proficiency with this platform.  These sessions aim to provide you with assistance with the features and capabilities of Blackboard Ultra, which can greatly enhance your teaching and engagement with students. Sessions include:

  • Navigating the Blackboard Ultra interface
  • Creating and managing course content
  • Facilitating online discussions and collaboration
  • Assessing student work and providing feedback
  • Utilizing interactive tools for a more engaging learning experience.

Whether you are new to Blackboard Ultra or looking to refresh your skills, these sessions will provide you with practical knowledge and hands-on experience. 

Online - Virtual/ Synchronous Course Modality

Lunch & Learn

Friday, 11/10, 10am-11am

In this workshop we'll examine teaching in the Online - Virtual course modality. We'll explore scheduling, attendance, 8 & 12 week lengths, contact hours, student engagement, and other topics as we collaboratively discuss teaching in this modality.

Online-Asynchronous Course Modality Workshop

Friday, 11/17/23 12pm-1pm

In this workshop we'll examine teaching in the Online (Asynchronous) course modality. We'll explore scheduling, attendance, 8 & 12 week lengths, contact hours, student engagement, and other topics as we collaboratively discuss teaching in this modality.

Training for Blackboard Ultra - Don’t Miss Out!

If you haven't attended Blackboard Ultra training yet, don't worry! The Online Learning department is offering sections of ZERD-190 'Introduction to Blackboard Ultra. In this free 1-credit professional development class, you will master navigation, content creation, assessments, gradebook management, and best practices for delivering high-quality instruction using Ultra.

Seats are available for all upcoming sections, including evenings and weekends. Register in Self-Service now to secure your spot! A video demonstration is available to guide you. If you have trouble registering, contact register@matc.edu for assistance.

Collaboration Connection:

Student-Centered Planning and Review Standing Committee Facilitator Role--Now Open!

MATC is taking steps to increase the culture of curricular, delivery, and assessment, faculty ownership to ensure that students have an awareness, direct access to, and a full understanding of: course and program competencies, learning outcomes, instructional modalities, assessment criteria, and career essentials. Through the work of Student-Centered Planning and Review Standing facilitators, an integrative space for faculty to align curriculum and assessment within and between programs and pathways and in collaboration with the operational departments within the Learn Pillar will occur. This work will help to ensure that MATC’s culture of curriculum, delivery, and assessment is reflected in a sustainable structure with processes that complete the academic and instructional application of the Plan (Curriculum), Do (Delivery), Check (Assessment), Adjust (Quality Review) cycle.  Read more about the Facilitator Role...

 

Wisconsin Technical College System
Faculty Summit
 
Featuring MATC Faculty Presenters!

The Wisconsin Technical College System Office is excited to host the first Faculty Summit. This fully virtual, free event is focused on innovations throughout the system, and is intended for faculty, presented by faculty, with topics that impact faculty!  

Join us for this event to learn about new ideas that have been implemented in the classroom that resulted in positive impacts on students and performance.  The sessions will address the core Faculty Quality Assurance System (FQAS) focuses of:

  • Curriculum & Assessment
  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
  • Student Success 
  • Teaching Methods

The summit is being held over two days, offering different times to support both full and part time/adjunct faculty:

  • Wednesday, November 8, 6:00 - 9:00 pm
  • Friday, November 10, 9:00am - 12:00 pm

Please join us for this professional learning opportunity to learn from and connect with your colleagues from across the System. This is a great opportunity to support ongoing FQAS professional development requirements. Registration is free--register by Monday, November 4!

Friendly Reminders:

Priority Registration Starts Next Week!

MATC is improving the class registration process to serve students better! To reduce slowdowns and outages that have affected our systems, students will now register by their Academic & Career Pathway. Students in a degree, diploma or certificate program who are taking classes this semester will continue to have an earlier opportunity to register. Students can visit MATC Students: Register Now! for updates and links once registration opens. 

Important Dates for Priority Registration:

  • Monday, November 6: Priority Registration starts for current degree/diploma program students who are military veterans
  • Tuesday, November 7: Community & Human Services; Healthcare pathways
  • Wednesday, November 8: General Education; STEM pathways
  • Thursday, November 9: Business & Management; Creative Arts, Design & Media pathways
  • Friday, November 10: Community Education; Manufacturing, Construction & Transportation Pathway

Registration for new students starts on Monday, November 13th, so please help students take advantage of their priority registration date! 

The Center has created an email and announcement template that you can copy and paste to help get the word out to your students.

Keeping You Posted:

Our goal with Center Connections is to keep you informed, not only about Center’s work, but to help you navigate other college-wide initiatives that directly impact faculty.

EAB Navigate Feedback
The Holistic Coordinated Care Network (HCCN) embraces the MATC WE CARE standards and mindset. Your feedback about using EAB Navigate and understanding our Student Care Referral System is requested as part of ongoing continuous improvement. Faculty are key stakeholders in processes and tools that serve students and your voice is needed.

Please complete this linked questionnaire to help the HCCN Workgroup develop better training and formalize the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for coordinating care through referrals. Your time and effort with this matter is greatly appreciated!

Additional Professional Development Opportunities:

Faculty proposals: Impact of Equitable Digital Learning on Minoritized Students
 
Every Learner Everywhere is developing a resource that highlights how digital learning can improve learning outcomes for minoritized and poverty-affected students. Every Learner will pay up to 25 faculty an honorarium of $500.00 for narratives of evidence-based digital learning usage in class that improved engagement or grades or both specifically for Black, Latino, Indigenous, or students from low-income backgrounds. This form is to submit proposals only.  If your proposal is accepted for inclusion in the resource, we will inform you via the email you provided and send a contract for the work through DocuSign. Payment will be processed upon delivery of the narrative.

Dec. 12 - 15: Dig into strategies for engaging your learners and fostering feelings of connection to course content. Interact with your peers in these hands-on workshops to incorporate active learning and match content with goals. Choose between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. start times.

Inspiration, Research, and Best Practices

Part of The Center’s mission is to keep you informed about current best practices and pedagogical approaches. Each issue of Center Connections includes links that are meant to be engaging, thought-provoking, and applicable to various classroom environments. For information on MATC's free access to Magna Commons publications, please see The Center's website.   Enjoy the rabbit hole!

Students need to learn how to interact with AI programs in the same way they learn writing processes, math strategies, or research techniques.
Say goodbye to the worries of AI-related plagiarism and embrace a future of education firmly rooted in integrity, all in just a brief 20-minute session.

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