Welcome to the Faculty Development Center!
We look forward to learning with you during our sessions soon!
The Faculty Development Center provides opportunities for ongoing discussions about pedagogy and instructional design. These are accomplished in one-on-one and group settings through faculty consultations, classroom visits, faculty learning communities, workshops, and conferences. We collaborate with people and programs on Murray State’s campus and beyond to support the advancement of engaging pedagogy and effective instructional design. We support the university’s core mission of teaching excellence by helping cultivate an institutional climate that values, promotes and rewards teaching excellence at Murray State University.
INCLUSIVE ACCESS EDUCATION SESSION WITH MCGRAW-HILL
Are you interested in finding out how you can help your students get the best pricing and have access to their course materials on day one?
This session will highlight the benefits of Inclusive Access, a course material affordability program, designed by institutions and guided by the Department of Education (DOE) to deliver digital learning resources to students, at a significantly reduced cost, on or before the first day of class. It offers students maximum choice in selecting the learning resources that are right for them, at the lowest market price, including the choice to “opt out.”
Session participants will be able to review information regarding the following:
Reducing student cost
Helping students choose what’s best for them
Improving student grades
Bolstering student success by DOE guidelines
Presenters:
Andrew Dowdy, Director, University Store
Katie Ambrose, Account Manager, Learning Technology Representative/Business and Economics McGraw-Hill
Kim Maiden, Customer Success Consultant McGraw-Hill
Kory Neal, Learning Technology Representative/History, Social Science and Language McGraw-Hill
Stephanie Cheatham, Learning Technology Representative/Science, Engineering and Math McGraw-Hill
Cody Lopez, Director of Customer Success, RedShelf
Annie Callaghan, Assoc. Customer Success Manager, Redshelf
When: Tuesday, March 26, 9:30 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.
Where: Via Zoom
Register to receive a calendar invite: https://forms.gle/
LEADING THE CHARGE: THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE FOR
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
Are you interested in discovering the keys to leading a successful grant?
If you answered yes, you are invited to join us for an exclusive two-part series that is tailored specifically for individuals, like you, who are interested in discovering the keys to success in grant projects, from mastering project management to fostering collaboration and overcoming challenges.
Session 1: Foundations of Leadership: Essential Training for Principal Investigators (PI)
Session Objectives:
Recognize the responsibilities of the Principal Investigators (PIs) in grant projects, including ethical considerations and compliance requirements.
Manage various aspects of grant projects, including budgeting, reporting, and compliance.
Discuss strategies for effective project planning and timeline management.
Discuss the importance, benefits and challenges of interdisciplinary collaboration, including how to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and leverage external partnerships.
Review the key steps for implementing grants successfully
Ask questions to help you lead a grant as a PI successfully.
When: Tuesday, March 26, 2:00 - 2:50 pm
Friday, March 29, 10:30 - 11:20 am
Presenter: Dr. Laura Bennett, Director, Sponsored Programs
Where: Online Via Zoom
Register to receive a calendar invite: https://forms.gle/
Session 2: PI Forward: Strategies for Success Beyond the Basics
Session Objectives:
Address challenges encountered before and after receiving the grant.
Review strategies for effective proposal development and addressing reviewer feedback.
Discuss potential barriers and problems
Discuss the role of sub-awards in grant projects, including best practices for managing sub-awards, including budget oversight and performance monitoring.
Review components of grant implementation.
Ask relevant questions to help you succeed with serving as a PI
When: Tuesday, April 2, 2:00 - 2:50 pm
Friday, April 5, 10:30 - 11:20 am
Presenter: Dr. Laura Bennett, Director, Sponsored Programs
Where: Online Via Zoom
Register to receive a calendar invite: https://forms.gle/
USING INSTRUCTIONAL PROTOCOLS IN CANVAS TO STRUCTURE LEARNING AND ENGAGE STUDENTS
Are you seeking ways for your students to lead their own learning?
Using an instructional protocol, such as think-pair-share, in your learning environment is a solid way to increase learner engagement, providing a structure for learning that creates the conditions of motivation, participation, and progression. There are protocols for every learning activity. In this workshop, Dr. Melony Shemberger, a Canvas Certified Educator and Facilitator, will highlight eight protocols that can be implemented in Canvas.
By the end of this workshop, faculty participants will be able to do the following:
Select a protocol that will be used to create a learning experience in Canvas.
Consider a process for effectively planning and implementing the selected protocol.
Presenter: Dr. Melony Shemberger, Professor, Journalism & Mass Communication
When: Thursday, March 28; 2:00 p.m. - 2:50 p.m.
Wednesday, April 3, 10:30 - 11:20 a.m.
Where: Via Zoom
Register to receive a calendar invite: https://forms.gle/
WRITING GROUP CHALLENGE
Spring and Summer are great times to work on your publications or other writing projects. Are you interested in joining other faculty to work consistently toward your writing goals in a quiet virtual space.
Consider joining the FDC's Writing Group Challenge to get your important work done in a space with like-minded individuals! Whether you need to work on your articles, books, grants, book chapters, or other writing projects, you will be challenged to commit to your most important goals and receive encouragement, accountability, and much more along the way.
Facilitator: Dr. Firm Faith Watson, Director, Faculty Development Center
When: Mondays: April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Wednesdays: June 5, 12, 19, 26; July 3; 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Where: Online: Via Zoom
Register to receive a calendar invite: https://forms.gle/
TENURE AND PROMOTION SYSTEM FOR REVIEWERS
Are you reviewing tenure and/or promotion applications this year?
This session is intended for tenure and promotion applications reviewers. Participants will learn to review an application portfolio, submit recommendations, communicate in the committee, vote in the committee, and forward an application.
Presenter: Riza Marjadi, Academic Systems Analyst
When: April 9, 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Where: Online: Via Zoom
Register to receive a calendar invite: https://forms.gle/
SOCIAL MEDIA BEST PRACTICES
Interested in learning more about how to use social media to help promote your specific area on campus?
Unlock the secrets of social media algorithms and learn how to effectively promote your campus area or program on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Discover strategies to make your social media presence thrive and engage with your target audience like never before. Join Jennifer Cline, Associate Director of Marketing and Communication to discuss best practices for promoting your campus area or program via social media platforms.
This session will provide an overview on the following:
Presenter: Jennifer Cline, Associate Director of Marketing and Communication
When: Thursday, April 18, 11:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m.
Wednesday, May 1, 10:30 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.
Where: Via Zoom
Register to receive a calendar invite: https://forms.gle/
SoTL BOOK GROUP - ENHANCING LEARNING THROUGH THE SCHOLARSHIP OF TEACHING AND LEARNING: THE CHALLENGES AND JOYS OF JUGGLING
Are you interested in enhancing student learning through the scholarship of teaching and learning while navigating the challenges and embracing the joys of academic inquiry?
Join Dr. Firm Faith Watson, Director of the Faculty Development Center and MSU faculty from disciplines for an enlightening book group experience centered on "The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)."
Participants will have a safe intellectual space to explore topics that include but are not limited to the following:
Join us as we delve into the transformative potential of SoTL and empower you to excel in teaching and scholarship.
Facilitator: Dr. Firm Faith Watson, Director, Faculty Development Center
When: Tuesdays: June 4, 11, 18, 25; July 2; 16 (Lightning Session); 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Where: Online: Via Zoom
Register to receive a calendar invite: https://forms.gle/
VIRTUAL GRANT WRITING CHALLENGE
Are you interested in knowing the keys to writing a successful grant while improving your research productivity? Do you need step-by-step guidance to help you to systematically achieve your grant writing goals?
We are pleased to invite you to observe or participate in a Virtual Grant Writing Challenge that includes weekly meetings via Zoom and learning modules in Canvas!
What’s in it for you? During the Challenge, participants will receive practical help to do the following:
Review the fundamentals of grant writing
Conceptualize your proposal idea
Write the narrative for your grant proposal
Develop your budget, including writing the narrative
Submit your grant proposal to a relevant funding agency
Participants who complete the challenge will write at least one grant proposal, and receive a certificate of achievement that may be included in their annual performance appraisal!
View Schedule:
Get a New Challenge on Mondays: June 17, 24; July 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29, 10:30 - 11:30 am (via Zoom) View Big-Picture Schedule
Access Learning Modules in Canvas
Attend Group Consultation on Thursdays: June 20, 27, July 3, 11,18, 25; 10:30 - 11:30 am via Zoom (Optional)
Participate in a Virtual Grant Proposal Showcase: Monday, July 29 at 10:30 am
Facilitator: Dr. Laura Bennett, Director, Sponsored Program
Where: Via Zoom:
Register to receive a calendar invite: Virtual Grant Writing Challenge, June - July, 2024
To help you design or redesign your course with the flexibility to facilitate it in various formats, (including face-to-face, hybrid, hyflex, or online) you are invited to observe or participate in a Virtual Course Design Challenge that includes weekly meetings via Zoom and learning modules in Canvas.
What’s in it for you? During the Challenge, participants will receive practical help to plan their course, write measurable learning objectives, develop assessments, select appropriate learning materials and technologies, design learner interaction and engagement in various modalities, and more. Participants will be challenged to design at least one learning module in Canvas, and a certificate will be awarded that may be included in their annual performance appraisal.
View Schedule: July to August, 2024
Get a New Challenge on Mondays: July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and August 5, 2024
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm (via Zoom) View the Big-Picture Schedule
Access Learning Modules in Canvas
Attend Group Consultation on Wednesday July 3, Thursdays: July 11, 18, 25, and August 1, 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm via Zoom (Optional)
Participate in a Virtual Course Design Showcase: Wednesday, August 7 at 1:30 pm
Facilitator: Dr. Firm Faith Watson, Director, Faculty Development Center
Where: Online: Via Zoom:
Register to receive a calendar invite: https://forms.gle/okFRSrGH7C31hnQ46
THE FACULTY DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY
Good news! We have organized the Faculty Development Academy (FDA), a virtual space (via Canvas) for you to access on-demand professional development resources in areas that include, but are not limited to, the following: Strategies for Teaching and Learning, Teaching Well With Technology, Scholarly Activities, Promotion and Tenure, Leadership, Wellbeing and Work-Life Balance.
What else is in this FDA for me?
In this self-paced academy, you have opportunities to do the following:
Access on-demand resources (e.g., session recordings and handouts)
Reflect on your learning (including personal application or plans to apply what you learned), and earn badges and certificates
Access the FDA featured sessions and more by self-enrolling in the FDA via Canvas: https://murraystate.instructure.com/enroll/WTGYHH
ANNOUNCEMENTS
JOIN CAREER SERVICES AFTER-HOURS EMPLOYER,
FACULTY, STAFF - MEET & MINGLE!
Faculty and Staff are invited to meet and mingle with hiring organizations and have light refreshments after the All Majors and Grad School Fair. Employers and organizations are always interested in interacting with faculty and learning what is happening in the various programs we offer.
We kindly request that you RSVP at the link below to help us with the number count.
When: Tuesday, March 12, 5:30 - 7:30 pm
Where: CFSB Center, Burton Family Hall of Champions (just to the right of the main box office entrance)
RSVP: Click here to RSVP!
Are you interested in learning about being a Canvas Certified Educator (CCE)? Do you need additional help to make your course stronger and amp up your instructional techniques?
Good news! Our very own Dr. Melony Shemberger is a Canvas Certified Educator! She now helps facilitate courses in the CCE program and can help you!
Contact: Dr. Melony Shemberger
Department of Journalism and Mass Communications
211 Wilson Hall
270-809-6874
mshemberger@murraystate.edu
How would you evaluate the quality of a student's work? If you were to judge a chocolate chip cookie contest, how would you determine the winning cookie?
Most likely, you would be given a rubric to help you. Just as a rubric is important in deciding the best cookie, a rubric also can be instrumental in assessing a student's work. This micro-learning training will guide you through the main parts of a rubric and how to create a rubric in Canvas.
Session Objectives:
Presenter: Dr. Melony Shemberger, Associate Professor, Mass Communication
When: This is a self-paced multimedia video.
Where: This micro-learning opportunity was created in Adobe Captivate and uploaded in a Canvas course for participants to self-enroll at this link: https://murraystate.instructure.com/enroll/7G3KMT.
ACCESSIBILITY AND USABILITY RESOURCE SITE
Murray State subscribes to Quality Matters (QM), a non-profit organization that is focused on helping faculty with continuous improvement of online and blended courses.
QM created a research-based rubric to help faculty determine the quality of their online and blended course design.
The QM rubric standard number 8 indicates that "The course design reflects a
commitment to accessibility and usability for all learners."
To help you meet this standard, the QM community built the Accessibility & Usability Resource Site that addresses key accessibility and usability concerns such as:
The resource also includes forums that provide you with the opportunity to connect directly with accessibility experts. It also includes videos with step-by-step guidance to help you increase the accessibility of your course.
If you do not yet have a QM account, please follow the steps below.
FDC OPPORTUNITIES, RESOURCES AND SERVICES
Murray State University has subscribed to Quality Matters (QM), a non-profit organization focused on helping faculty with continuous improvement of online and blended courses.
Quality Matters created a research-based rubric to help faculty determine the quality of their online and blended course design.
Subscription Benefits includes (but are not limited to):
Access the QM Automated Rubric Tool
Faculty may conduct self-reviews of their online courses using the QM’s self-review tool. These reviews will be seen by only the faculty who conducts the self-reviews (unless the faculty decides to share the reviews). There is no limit on the number of self-reviews that each faculty may conduct. To access the self-review tool, complete the following steps:
SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTIONAL FEEDBACK (SGIF)
Need feedback to improve your students’ learning experiences and potentially improve your end-of-course ratings?
You might be interested in participating in the FDC's Small Group Instructional Feedback (SGIF).
About SGIF: SGIF provides the opportunity for faculty to work with a facilitator to gather feedback from groups of student in their course (for about 25-30 minutes) about what is helping them learn and what could be improved. It also places extremes student opinions in context which, in turn, increases the validity of students' feedback and improve students' motivation.
Facilitator: Firm Faith Watson, Director, Faculty Development Center
When: Midway in the semester
Register: https://tinyurl.com/SGIF-Registration
View Flier: https://tinyurl.com/SGIF-Flyer
1-on-1 Consultations
Do you need individual help (e.g., to design your face-to-face, online or blended courses)?
Please reach out to Dr. Firm Faith Watson to arrange one-on-one virtual consultations at fwatson2@murraystate.edu.
Does your department have a need that the FDC could help you to meet?
The Faculty Development Center offers customized sessions that cater directly to your department's needs. Contact Dr. Firm Faith Watson at fwatson2@murraystate.edu to make arrangements.