We offer many different services to our faculty and staff. Whether you are looking for a professional development workshop, a one-on-one consultation, classroom observations, or course design assistance, you will find it here.
Educational Technology
At Laurel Ridge our CEITL team manages Canvas, our learning management system (LMS), provides basic troubleshooting, training, instructional design, and administration of other learning technologies.
Canvas LMS Management
Creation of non-academic sandboxes and organizations; course merge requests; adding colleagues to a Canvas course; general help request for Canvas, Zoom or other instructional technology.
- Review a list of common Canvas resources including: student tutorial course, Canvas mobile app information, how to use the Canvas help guides, and 24/7 access to Canvas support.
Google for Education
Every faculty member in the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) automatically receives a Google for Education account with the full suite of products like, Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Calendar, and more.
Review the resources below for more information on how to use the tools and services as part of your Google for Education account.
- Google for Education (MyLaurelRidge credentials required for access)
Zoom
Use Zoom to participate in online, real-time, interactive class meetings, and conduct student engagement hours. In Zoom, you can share your computer screen, participate in poll questions, type messages in the chat, and participate in smaller group discussions with breakout rooms.
- Join a test Zoom meeting to test your Internet connection, microphone/speakers, video, and familiarize yourself with the Zoom meeting controls.
Review the resources below for more information on how to use Zoom, learn about features, and get support.
- Zoom (MyLaurelRidge credentials required for access)
- Submit a Help Request
Consultations
CEITL offers one-on-one consultations to faculty who wish to:
- Reflect on their approach to teaching
- Assessing and enhancing a current course
- Redesign existing course content/components
- Exploring new pedagogical/andragogical techniques or different approaches to class or course design
- Develop an existing course in a new format
- Interpreting comments and numerical results from End of Course Evaluations
- Develop their teaching into a source of research and inquiry
What is involved? Consultations are tailored to the individual faculty members needs. The individual consultation process begins with an initial meeting to determine project goals. Upon determining your goals and outcomes, the CEITL consultant will provide available support, knowledge, and resources to complete the mutually agreed upon tasks. Our goal is simply to help – however you may need it.
How? Simply schedule your consultation, and a CEITL team member will contact you. Depending on the nature of the request and the specific needs, the appropriate available consultant will be assigned to you.
When? Anytime, but we do recommend that you allow adequate time to meet, plan, and develop projects. We are available year-round. It is perfectly acceptable to reserve time for the following summer during the prior fall.
Observations
CEITL offers formative, confidential, and voluntary in-class observations upon request.
These observations:
- Provide an opportunity to discuss challenges and success in a confidential environment
- Support the sharing of teaching practice between colleagues
- Help us discover new ways to approach the subjects we are passionate about
What is involved? The first question you will be asked is, “What do you want us to look for while you teach?” In other words, what are your needs and goals? In addition, we know the classroom is a complex environment; therefore, do not expect any observation to a one-size-fits-all ‘checklist’ of actions to be a good teacher. The observation and feedback process is designed to explore the instructor’s approach to pedagogy/andragogy and communication of their discipline. Supplementary evidence of teaching (syllabus, class session plans, class learning goals, and learning activities) will be reviewed prior to the observation to better understand the learning environment.
The CEITL Observation Process:
- Pre-Observation Meeting: mutual expectations and protocols are set, which includes gathering of contextual evidence (syllabus, class session plans, class learning goals, learning activities, etc.)
- Observation: descriptive notes of behaviors, classroom set-up, techniques, and student interactions are collected to supplement instructor reflection
- Post-Observation Meeting: discussion to determine an action plan to build on teaching practices and connect with personal and professional growth goals
- Follow-up/Reflective Summary: locate resources for future goals, to support faculty through planning and accountability, and to create a culture of ongoing professional practice.
How? Schedule an observation, and a CEITL team member will contact you. You will be assigned an observer based on scheduling needs and qualifications.
Classroom Instructional Feedback
CEITL offers Classroom Instructional Feedback sessions to faculty who wish to:
- Provide an anonymous method for formative classroom feedback
- Collect and act on student feedback before or around mid-semester
- Gain confidential insight into the classroom learning environment through the lens of a trained professional
What is involved? Classroom Instructional Feedback takes approximately 20 minutes and is conducted while faculty members are not in the classroom learning environment. CEITL team members conduct a brief survey that includes questions like, “What aspects of the class do you feel are particularly effective for helping you learn the course materials?”, and “What suggestions do you have for improving your learning in this class?”. This information is then collected and reported back to the faculty member.
What do CEITL Team members tell the students? We introduce ourselves and explain that a) we are there at the faculty member’s request, because they really want to know how they can improve their learning; b) we want honest, specific, and constructive feedback; c) this class time must not be used as a complaint session; d) information will be collected and randomly ordered to protect anonymity; and e) students can expect a follow-up classroom discussion on the collected information.
The Process: Faculty members will meet with a CEITL Team member before and after the Classroom Instructional Feedback session. Post-collection meetings will occur within one week of the event.
Why? By all accounts a Classroom Instructional Feedback session positively impacts student-faculty relationships and emerging research indicates they also positively impact faculty’s end-of-semester evaluations. Note: There is one exception to this rule: CIFs can work against faculty members if they do not follow up with students afterward and discuss how the learning environment will change in response to the information collected.
Workshops, Events, and Training Opportunities
CEITL offers many informative workshops, events, and training opportunities each year.
Workshop topics range from technology to pedagogy/andragogy and offer a hands-on approach to faculty and staff development. Participants will interact with other Laurel Ridge community members and leave with the tools they can use in their classrooms or offices. The goal of each CEITL workshop is to improve the teaching and learning here at Laurel Ridge.