Welcome back to campus – Winter semester edition!

Welcome to the New Year and the new term! As we embark on the winter semester, the Office for Teaching and Learning wants you to know about all the exciting resources we have to support you. This edition will highlight key resources, introduce new staff, and provide you with some quick tips for starting the semester strong.

Resources

• Consultations: Schedule a consultation with the OTL to get one-on-one support with course design, pedagogy, or Canvas.
• Mid-Semester Assessment Program (MAP): Participate in a MAP this winter to get timely student feedback and OTL support for improving your course.
• Virtual Resource Hub: Explore our Hub for interactive training, instructional videos, recorded webinars and additional resources.
• OTL Events Calendar: Explore our Calendar for upcoming programming and discussions.
• Welcome Wednesday: Each Wednesday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the OTL’s doors will be open for questions, concerns or troubleshooting. Come to the Teaching Commons in the Purdy/Kresge Library, and we will have staff waiting to help you.

New staff

Lee Benjamins, Educational Development Specialist

Michael Bota, Educational Development Specialist

Rachel Bowens, Educational Development Specialist

Andrew Moser, Educational Development Specialist

Jessica Paruch, Educational Development Specialist

Trevor Sutherland, Multimedia and Technology Specialist

We are thrilled to announce the hiring of six new staff members. Growing our team means we have more resources and experiences to support you. Our new hires come from a variety of backgrounds, bringing with them skills in instructional technology, course design, e-learning, user experience and more. Click on their names to read more about their individual biographies. If you see us around campus, please say hello!

Planning for success

Whether teaching in-person, synchronously, asynchronously or a hybrid mix, planning a strong first day can set the tone for the semester. If you want your students to be active participants in their learning over the course of the semester, you will want to build community and engage them in active learning from the start. Self-enroll in our Virtual Resource Hub to see the following resources for ideas:

• First Day of Class
• Building Community and Inclusivity
• Community Guidelines
• Active Learning

Start the semester Warrior Strong

As we begin the winter semester, let’s embrace the opportunity for new beginnings. The OTL is committed to helping you start the semester Warrior Strong. Here are some recommendations:

• Breathe: Amidst the responsibilities, take deep breaths between meetings. It works wonders for your mind and body. Check out Wayne State’s Healthy Living Resources, as well as mindful.org to support your well-being.
• Be flexible: Expect technological mishaps, student confusion, and unexpected situations. Be flexible and plan ahead. Check out the Universal Design for Learning page on our Virtual Resource Hub for flexible and equitable learning design.
• Remember, we are in this TOGETHER: Your success is our success. We are here to support you.

Warrior Strong! You’ve got this.