Loren Tharp, Instructor, Psychology

PSYC 420: Using Active Learning Strategies to Engage Students Online: Simulation, Gamification, and Project-Based Assignments

In this session, Loren shares how she incorporates active learning strategies into her online courses and varies them to meet the needs of different session formats, beginning with a well-designed online course. 

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Leah Lindsey, Senior Instructor, Undergraduate Advisement Coordinator, Spanish

Catherine Wiskes, Senior Instructor, Spanish

SPAN 109 & 110: Redesigning Two Sequenced Carolina Core Coordinated Courses in Blackboard UCV

Both SPAN 109 and SPAN 110 are coordinated, multi-section courses that use a shared master template for all who teach online. In this session, the Course Coordinators share how they revised both courses, incorporating both new content and migrating to Bb Ultra. They’ll share applications for instructors and students.

⊕ McCausland Innovation Fund awardee

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Nicole Fisk, Senior Instructor, Associate Director of First-Year English, English Language & Literature

USC's First-Year English & Blackboard Ultra

In Spring 2024, nearly all sections of USC's first-year composition courses moved to Blackboard Ultra Course View to test the full university move in Fall 2024. As Associate Director of First-Year English, Nicole was responsible for creating template courses for ENGL 101 and ENGL 102 that our instructors (approximately 100) then customized for their students (approximately 4000). In this session, she shares tips and recommendations based on lessons learned as we move forward, together, towards the new and improved Blackboard.  

⊕ McCausland Innovation Fund awardee

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Hanne van der Iest, Instructor, Sociology

Effective Communication in Blackboard Ultra: Hacks for Positive Interaction, Engaged Students, and Happy Instructors

In this session, Hanne shares communication strategies applicable to face-to-face and distributed learning courses, particularly those delivered in large formats or across multiple course sections. 

⊕ McCausland Innovation Fund awardee

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