Today is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
U of T Engineering is committed to truth and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. Everyone is encouraged to participate in their own way on September 30: by wearing an orange shirt, taking a moment of reflection, or discussing this day in class. September 30 is also known as Orange Shirt Day, a nation-wide movement rooted in the story of Phyllis Webstad.
Four "techy" ideas to commemorate today:
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Use an U of T Engineering National Day for Truth and Reconciliation background
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Share a slide (downloads automatically) in your course to promote awareness of the Indigenous Cultural Competency Toolkit*
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Watch (and encourage your students to watch) the video "Indigenous Design, Ethics and Role Models"
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Visit U of T’s online Indigenous portal to learn more about the university’s response to the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
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Happy Fall!
Amidst the hustle and bustle of the great return to campus, the ETO took a moment to pause and think about what our work looks like post emergency online teaching and learning. Over the past month, the ETO dropped in on departmental meetings (and one lunch 'n' learn, thank you ECE!) to share how our new (and still under development) value statement reflects what we've learned and underpins the work we do at the Faculty. Here it is:
We want to inspire, support, and empower FASE faculty in the thoughtful use of educational technologies.
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1. Preview the Minerva Safety modules in new Quercus course
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The Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering (FASE) has licensed a series of four online Online Health and Safety Courses from Minerva Canada Safety Management Education. The (just published) Minerva Safety Modules Preview Quercus course is designed to let FASE instructors preview the Minerva modules as a student, before requesting access to the modules and uploading them to their own Quercus course. |
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Already know you want to upload the modules to your course? Request access to the safety modules directly.
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2. Meet the ETO's newest AV Technician - Kris Calanza
We're happy to welcome a new member to the ETO team! Kris is joining us as the ETO's Audio Visual Technician. You'll see him across campus doing lecture capture and supporting our media development projects. Let's learn a bit more about Kris! |
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3. Make a lightboard video in the ETO's studio space
The ETO lightboard (located in the Bahen Studio, 3116) is back in action! We have upgraded our lighting and moved the lightboard to a more open and flexible space. Added bonus? There's now room for more than one instructor. In the below photo, you'll see a behind-the-scenes shot of Prof. Shai Cohen and Prof. Philip Asare as they break down the math behind how audio travels from your computer to your headphones. We're still editing this particular video; check out the October Tip Sheet for the final product! |
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Curious about recording your own Lightboard video? Read our blog post "Why not try a lightboard video?" and email us to get started! This modality is ideal for a one-off or series of videos and is especially effective for concepts that lend to being visualized (e.g., problem solving, diagrams, graphs). |
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4. Check out Episode 05 of the MADE for U of T Podcast
In the fifth episode of MADE for U of T, Starting the Conversation on Media Accessibility (see all episodes), we hear from Steven Scott, a broadcaster and tech reviewer who is legally blind and has spent most of his adult working life promoting how accessible technology can enable the lives of blind and partially sighted people, as well as the wider disability community. He hosts Double Tap TV and a radio show for AMI (Accessible Media) in Canada as well as hosting a daily accessible tech podcast out of the UK called Blind Guy Talks Tech. |
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5. Consider production support for your non-academic hybrid events and activities
The ETO does not currently support the technical setup of in-person hybrid events but we do have resources and tips for supporting engaging synchronous sessions. Hosting and moderating hybrid (some attendees in person, some online; varying degrees of interactivity) lends an extra layer of complexity for planning and managing your event (not to mention the non-technical side of designing an engaging and equitable session for those in person and online).
For the technical set up of your session, if possible, we highly recommend working with a team who can provide specific support for your needs. Typically, this type of support includes a cost per hour and requires lead time; planning and budgeting early is key.
The ETO has put together a guide of U of T groups who offer support for hybrid events: |
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6. Register for "Integrating Online Assessment into your On-campus Class" session
During the pandemic, assessment was online by necessity. However, with teaching back on-campus, online assessment can be incorporated by design, as part of your course assessment strategy.
In this virtual session, we’ll look at the online assessment tools available to you as part of U of T’s Academic Toolbox and explore how to use these tools in ways that provide students with multiple ways to connect with course content outside of the classroom.
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Import your docs or PDFs as an MS Form (or Quiz)
Have a quiz or survey that you want to convert to MS Forms (or Quizzes)? No need to copy/paste or - worse! - type it all out...again. You can import and convert your existing Word or PDF surveys or quizzes, on your local hard drive, directly into Microsoft Forms. You can also review and edit the form or quiz in Microsoft Forms before you send it out.
How to import an existing document or PDF
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Go to https://forms.office.com
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Select on the "Quick Import" button
Learn more about how to convert a Word or PDF form or quiz to Microsoft Forms. |
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September's Faculty Question(s)
Each week we answer a real question that we've received about Quercus and other Academic Toolbox tools, keeping the questions timely and relevant to you. You can select on the question to read the full inquiry and response or see all previous faculty questions of the week.
Read the Faculty Question of the Week
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 How can I give partial marks for a correct response on Multiple Answer Quiz Questions? (September 22, 2022) Students are deducted the full point instead of getting a partial mark when selecting a correct response. |
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 Can I change the name of my course after combining (cross-listing) all the LEC sections? (September 15, 2022) | Now the two sections are combined inside the LEC01 section and this can be confusing for the students. |
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This month's articles that we think you should read:
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12 ideas to refresh your teaching in less than 10 minutes | The Educationalist. These activities don’t take more than 5 to 10 minutes to implement, work in classroom, online and hybrid environments and require minimal (if at all) prior preparation.
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Subtitle the world | Morning Brew. New tech is helping change what accessibility means for the deaf community.
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How to Use Edtech to Engage Introverted Learners | EdSurge. Educator Stacey Roshan believes that when schools prioritize students who are most vocal and quickest to raise their hand, the perspectives of too many are lost. That's why she uses edtech tools in the classroom to provide a safe space where she can encourage all types of learners to contribute.
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Cameras On or Off? It Depends! What We’ve Learned from Students about Teaching and Learning on Zoom | Faculty Focus. Our goal for this article is not to tell you whether you should require students to be on camera or not, but rather to provide you with research-based insights that can help inform your camera policy and course design decisions.
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How can the EdTech Office help?
Check out our service catalogue to get started:
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Book a consultation - We're happy to meet with you to discuss any element of your course (related to technology, of course!). We can help with your Quercus course, planning your online assessments, setting up your home recording station and more!
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Request a new Quercus course - We can create courses for both academic and administrative purposes (though for the latter you might also consider a Microsoft Team). If you're running a program, committee, group (especially one that has students), this might be a great hub for your work.
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Request guest Quercus Accounts - These temporary accounts (up to 300 days) can be used to provide access to external guests or be used in testing (for more complex course configurations and features).
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Participate in the Remote Editing Process - We've designed a remote editing process that begins with support as you to record your own content (from wherever) and ends with the Education Technology Office to provide editing services and posting to your Quercus course. This is ideal for trimming and cutting webinar recordings. Due to demand, we've decided to continue this service as a regular offering from the ETO.
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Looking for 1:1 support? We're happy to schedule individual (or teaching team) consultation(s) to review your course and current stage of design. You can also email us to get started! |
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Wondering about those photos in the banner?
Each month, in the Tip Sheet Banner, we feature photos from the ETO's outside-of-work adventures. |
 
Photos by Anna Limanni (Out for a walk)
 
Photo by Inga Breeda (left; U of T Soccer) and Irina Belaya (Right; Chicago Skyline) |
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