Michael Christie

Smeal Academy Newsletter: End of Semester Edition

Photo by Keith Luke on Unsplash

Happy Finals Week!

Once the grading is done, it will be time to upload your final grades to LionPATH. Are you ready?

1. Step 1: Complete Prerequisites in Canvas
   • Set a Penn State Compatible Grading Scheme
   • Enter Zero for All Unsubmitted Assignments
   • Post Grades for Hidden Assignments
2. Step 2: Verify the Accuracy of Your Grades
   • Export your Canvas Gradebook and verify that your Current Grades and Final Grades match
3. Step 3: Import Grades into LionPATH
   • Import your Canvas Gradebook into LionPATH or
   • Manually enter your grades into LionPATH

Want more advice on how to finish end-of-semester tasks? Check out this week’s new podcast, Meet the eLDIG Team – Mark DeLuca, Manager of Resident Instruction Technology Services by clicking below! Smeal Academy Podcasts will be released weekly and housed on our eLDIG website, or follow the Smeal Academy Podcast on your preferred podcatcher!

Upcoming Smeal Academy Sessions

• Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Business Education and Research Reading and Discussion Group – John Liechty, Facilitator
  Join us for the fourth session of a Smeal series on the role of artificial intelligence in our teaching and research, which will focus on our shared commitment to preparing leaders to leverage artificial intelligence responsibly in business. John will share some trends in fields related to marketing and how they impact his approach to teaching at Smeal. Join us on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. EST via Zoom.
• Smeal Academy Summer Book Club – Session 1
  This summer, we will read The Spark of Learning by Sarah Rose Cavanagh. We will meet three times over the summer to discuss the book. Join us for our first discussion on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. EST via Zoom.

NOTE: Recordings and resources from previous Smeal Academy sessions can be found on our eLDIG Website.

eLDIG ID Tips

• Tip #1: Check our eLDIG’s Video Tech Tips Series
  Chris and Mark talked about the Video Tech Tips series curated by eLDIG. There are a variety of videos that will help you post your final grades! Check them all out on our website.
• Tip #2: Be Aware of PSU Approved Courseware
  Chris and Mark also talked about instructional technology. Did you know that there is an approval process for instructional technology used at Penn State? Check out PSU’s Courseware website and/or reach out to eLDIG to learn more!

Contact Us

Email us at eldig@smeal.psu.edu or fill out the eLDIG Contact form and we will be in touch.

Smeal Academy Newsletter: ‘The Finish Line Is in Sight’ Edition

Photo by David Griffiths on Unsplash

It’s the Last Week of Classes!

We are almost there! Here are a couple of practical recommendations to consider before students head home after the term:

• Get Student Permission. Did any student submissions stand out as exemplars? Future students can benefit from having concrete examples of what you are looking for in student work (Scoles, Husman, & McArthur, 2013). Ask for permission now while students are still around, and their work is fresh in your mind.
• Ask Students for Advice for Next Semester’s Students. Use Canvas or Microsoft Forms to create a simple anonymous survey for students to submit their best advice for students who follow. It could even be set up to award a precious few extra credit points to those who need them!

Need a break from grading? Check out this week’s new podcast, Meet the eLDIG Team – Eileen Grodziak, Instructional Designer, by clicking below! Smeal Academy Podcasts will be released weekly and housed on our eLDIG website, or follow the Smeal Academy Podcast on your preferred podcatcher!

References:

Scoles, J., Huxham, M., & Mcarthur, J. (2013). No longer exempt from good practice: Using exemplars to close the feedback gap for exams. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 38(6). 631-645

Upcoming Smeal Academy Sessions

• Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Business Education and Research Reading and Discussion Group – John Liechty, Facilitator
  Join us for the fourth session of a Smeal series on the role of artificial intelligence in our teaching and research, which will focus on our shared commitment to preparing leaders to leverage artificial intelligence responsibly in business. John will share some trends in fields related to marketing and how they impact his approach to teaching at Smeal. Join us on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. EST via Zoom.
• Smeal Academy Summer Book Club – Session 1
  This summer, we will read The Spark of Learning by Sarah Rose Cavanagh. We will meet three times over the summer to discuss the book. Join us for our first discussion on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. EST via Zoom.

NOTE: Recordings and resources from previous Smeal Academy sessions can be found on our eLDIG Website.

eLDIG ID Tips

• Tip #1: Add this book to your summer book list. Several members of our team are currently reading Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI, by Ethan Mollick, an associate professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he studies and teaches innovation and entrepreneurship. The book was highly recommended as an AI resource by Joseph Yun, who recently presented at Penn State on preparing the University for a future with AI.
• Tip #2: Have students write a letter to their future selves. This is a terrific opportunity for students to personally reflect. This online tool allows your students (or you!) to send an email message to yourself in the future. What a fantastic way to support the development of our future selves! https://www.futureme.org/

Contact Us

Email us at eldig@smeal.psu.edu or fill out the eLDIG Contact form and we will be in touch.

Smeal Academy Newsletter: Canvas Discussion Redesign Edition

The Smeal Academy is brought to you by the eLearning Design & Innovation Group (eLDIG) at the Smeal College of Business at The Pennsylvania State University. The goal of the Smeal Academy is to equip the Smeal community with best practices and strategies for teaching and learning with technology to support Smeal’s business education and research needs.

Photo by Sergey Zolkin on Unsplash

Canvas Redesigned Discussions and Announcements

On May 7, Canvas’ Discussions and Announcements Redesign will be forced on for all Penn State courses. There is no migration or transition needed from the old format to the new one, but this change will affect the look and feel of Canvas discussions and announcements.

You can learn more about this update by listening to this week’s new podcast, Meet the eLDIG Team – Heidi Watson-Held, Instructional Designer, by clicking below! Smeal Academy Podcasts will be released weekly and housed on our eLDIG website, or follow the Smeal Academy Podcast on your preferred podcatcher!

Smeal Academy will also focus on this change in our session on April 23rd. Details are below!

Book Club Reminder – Sign Up by April 22nd

This year’s summer read is Sara Rose Cavanagh’s The Spark of Learning: Energizing the College Classroom with the Science of Emotion (2016). A limited number of paperback copies of the book are available from the Schreyer Institute on a first-come, first-serve basis by completing this sign-up form by April 22nd. Electronic copies are available at no cost through Penn State Libraries at catalog.libraries.psu.edu/catalog/22100755.

Upcoming Smeal Academy Sessions

• Discussions & Announcements Redesign: Worth the chatter?
  Have you heard? On May 7, Canvas’ Discussions and Announcements Redesign will be forced on for all Penn State courses. There is no migration or transition needed from the old discussion format to the new one, but this change will affect the look and feel of Canvas discussions. Join us to learn more about this important change to Canvas! Join us on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. EST via Zoom.
• Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Business Education and Research Reading and Discussion Group – John Liechty, Facilitator
  Join us for the fourth session of a Smeal series on the role of artificial intelligence in our teaching and research, which will focus on our shared commitment to preparing leaders to leverage artificial intelligence responsibly in business. John will share some trends in fields related to Marketing and how they impact his approach to teaching at Smeal. Join us on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. EST via Zoom.

NOTE: Recordings and resources from previous Smeal Academy sessions can be found on our eLDIG Website.

eLDIG ID Tips

• Tip #1: Try Canvas Discussions Redesign
  In their podcast conversation, Heidi and Chris talked about the redesign of Canvas Discussions. Would you like to see what it looks like? You can try it now! Canvas has instructions posted online. Then listen to the Smeal Academy podcast and attend our Smeal Academy session on April 23rd!
• Tip #2: Opt Out of Canvas Archiving
  Penn State IT will perform its regular archiving of older Canvas courses on May 29th. You may choose to delay courses from being archived by using the in-Canvas Course Archive Manager tool. Archiving on May 29 includes:
  • All LionPATH courses taught prior to and including Spring 2023 (LionPATH term 2231)
  • All LionPATH courses that you may have previously opted out of archiving between Fall 2022 (LionPATH term 2228) and before, inclusive

  Non-LionPATH courses, including Master, Manually Created, and Sandbox courses will not be archived.  Use Canvas’s Course Archive Manager to opt out.

Contact Us

Email us at eldig@smeal.psu.edu or fill out the eLDIG Contact form and we will be in touch.

Smeal Academy Newsletter: Summer Book Club Edition

The Smeal Academy is brought to you by the eLearning Design & Innovation Group (eLDIG) at the Smeal College of Business at The Pennsylvania State University. The goal of the Smeal Academy is to equip the Smeal community with best practices and strategies for teaching and learning with technology to support Smeal’s business education and research needs.

The Smeal Academy Summer Book Club

This year’s summer read is Sara Rose Cavanagh’s The Spark of Learning: Energizing the College Classroom with the Science of Emotion (2016). In this book, she argues that the emotional impact your teaching style and course design have on your students is important, and by keeping this in mind you can create more effective learning experiences.

A limited number of paperback copies of the book are available from the Schreyer Institute on a first-come, first-serve basis by completing this sign-up form. Electronic copies are available at no cost through Penn State Libraries.

You can learn more about the book club by listening to this week’s new podcast, Meet the eLDIG Team – Emily Baxter, Instructional Designer, by clicking below! Smeal Academy Podcasts will be released weekly and housed on our eLDIG website or follow the Smeal Academy Podcast on your preferred podcatcher!

Upcoming Smeal Academy Sessions

• Discussions & Announcements Redesign: Worth the chatter?
  Have you heard? On May 7, Canvas’ Discussions and Announcements Redesign will be forced on for all Penn State courses. There is no migration or transition needed from the old discussion format to the new one, but this change will affect the look and feel of Canvas discussions. Join us to learn more about this important change to Canvas! Join us on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. EST via Zoom.
• Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Business Education and Research Reading and Discussion Group – John Liechty, Facilitator
  Join us for the fifth session of a Smeal series on the role of artificial intelligence in our teaching and research, which will focus on our shared commitment to preparing leaders to leverage artificial intelligence responsibly in business. John will share some trends in fields related to Marketing and how they impact his approach to teaching at Smeal. Join us on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. EST via Zoom.
• Smeal Academy Summer Book Club
  This summer, we will read The Spark of Learning by Sarah Rose Cavanagh. Fill out this form to sign up and request your free copy of the book!  Discussion sessions will be held throughout the summer. Stay tuned for dates and times!

NOTE: Recordings and resources from previous Smeal Academy sessions can be found on our eLDIG Website.

eLDIG ID Tips

• Tip #1: Discover Open Educational Resources (OER)
  Our Smeal Academy Summer Book Club book is available online for free through our library. Have you considered the availability of free educational resources at Penn State? Explore OER and low-cost materials at Penn State. Looking for cases? Sage provides thousands of case studies for free online via Penn State Libraries. Offering free, open, or reduced-cost materials makes a big difference for our students.
• Tip #2: Nurture in Nature
  In their podcast conversation, Emily and Chris discussed the importance of student well-being. Did you know that Penn State just launched a Nurture in Nature initiative for students? There are established Nurture in Nature Trails at Penn State’s Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm, Stone Valley Recreational Center (East Entrance), and Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center. Stone Valley and Shaver’s Creek are hosting a launch party for their trails on April 20th. Find more details and share the info with your students!

Contact Us

Email us at eldig@smeal.psu.edu or fill out the eLDIG Contact form and we will be in touch.

Smeal Academy Newsletter Podcast Premiere Edition!

The Smeal Academy is brought to you by the eLearning Design & Innovation Group (eLDIG) at the Smeal College of Business at The Pennsylvania State University. The goal of the Smeal Academy is to equip the Smeal community with best practices and strategies for teaching and learning with technology to support Smeal’s business education and research needs.

The Smeal Academy Podcast Premiere

It is time to tune in for tangible teaching tips! What’s new in Canvas? How do we respond to the emergence of generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) in the classroom? How can we help struggling students? And what does eLDIG do, anyway?

Enter the Smeal Academy Podcast – your weekly dose of actionable wisdom from the eLearning Design & Innovation Group (eLDIG) at the forefront of teaching, learning, and instructional technology in the Smeal College of Business. Join us for quick, digestible dispatches packed with practical tips and innovative approaches to elevate your educational game.

You can listen to Meet the eLDIG Team – Dr. Renee Ford, Instructional Designer by clicking below! Smeal Academy Podcasts will be released weekly and housed on our eLDIG website or follow the Smeal Academy Podcast on your preferred podcatcher!

Upcoming Smeal Academy Sessions

• Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Business Education and Research Reading and Discussion Group – Art Jones, Facilitator (April 5)
  Join us for the fourth session of a Smeal series on the role of artificial intelligence in our teaching and research, which will focus on our shared commitment to preparing leaders to leverage artificial intelligence responsibly in business. Art will share some trends in fields related to MIS and how they impact his approach to teaching at Smeal.Join us on Friday, April 5, 2024, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. EST via Zoom.
• Discussions & Announcements Redesign: Worth the chatter? (April 23)
  Have you heard? On May 7, Canvas’ Discussions and Announcements Redesign will be forced on for all Penn State courses. There is no migration or transition needed from the old discussion format to the new one, but this change will affect the look and feel of Canvas discussions. Join us to learn more about this important change to Canvas!Join us on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. EST via Zoom.

Smeal Academy Summer Book Club

This summer, we will read The Spark of Learning by Sarah Rose Cavanagh. Fill out this form to sign up and request your free copy of the book!

Discussion sessions will be held throughout the summer. Stay tuned for dates and times!

eLDIG ID Tips

• Tip #1: FIRST@Smeal
  In our first podcast episode, Renee Ford shared some of her experiences as a first-generation college student. Did you know that the Smeal College of Business has a program for first-generation Smeal students? FIRST@Smeal provides support, leadership opportunities, and specifically assigned academic advisers to first-generation college students. Contact Kelly Swigert for more information.
• Tip #2: Microsoft Copilot
  Renee and Chris also discussed generative AI in our first podcast. Microsoft Copilot, formerly Bing Chat, was recently deployed site-wide as a generative AI accessible by all Penn State faculty, staff, and students. For more information, please see the Penn State announcement. Stay tuned for continuing Smeal Academy sessions on the role of AI in Smeal teaching and research.

NOTE: Recordings and resources from previous Smeal Academy sessions can be found on our eLDIG Website.

Contact Us

Email us at eldig@smeal.psu.edu or fill out the eLDIG Contact form and we will be in touch.

Smeal Academy Newsletter March Madness Edition: What Riles You Up?

The Smeal Academy is brought to you by the eLearning Design & Innovation Group (eLDIG) at the Smeal College of Business at The Pennsylvania State University. The goal of the Smeal Academy is to equip the Smeal community with best practices and strategies for teaching and learning with technology to support Smeal’s business education and research needs.

March Madness: What Riles You Up?

It’s that time of year when many in our country go crazy for basketball! Here in eLDIG, we are looking at “March Madness” from a teaching perspective. As an instructor, what are the biggest distractions that take up your time and cause you stress? The Smeal Academy wants to help!

Please take this anonymous survey to share your challenges and frustrations. What are the most pressing issues we face in Smeal? This anonymous survey will help us better understand the needs of our instructors.

Please take our survey here: https://forms.office.com/r/48s4PAZEDt

The eLDIG team is here for the Smeal community. If you want to discuss an idea or need for your course(s), please don’t hesitate to contact us to schedule a consultation at eldig@smeal.psu.edu.

Upcoming Smeal Academy Sessions

• Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Business Education and Research Reading and Discussion Group – Art Jones, Facilitator

  Join us for the fourth session of a Smeal series on the role of artificial intelligence in our teaching and research, which will focus on our shared commitment to preparing leaders to leverage artificial intelligence responsibly in business. Art will share some trends in fields related to MIS and how they impact his approach to teaching at Smeal.

  Join us on Friday, April 5, 2024, from 9 to 10 a.m. EST via Zoom.

Smeal Academy Summer Book Club

This summer, we will read The Spark of Learning by Sarah Rose Cavanagh. Information will be coming soon about reserving your free copy of the book! Discussion sessions will be held throughout the summer. Stay tuned for dates and times!

NOTE: Recordings and resources from previous Smeal Academy sessions can be found on our eLDIG Website.

eLDIG ID March Madness Tips!

• Tip #1: Add your profile picture to your SEEQ.
  This is the second semester that Penn State is administering the SEEQ (Student Educational Experience Questionnaire) to students at the end of the semester. Instructors may now opt-in to display their official University photo at the top of their SEEQs. Students fill many of these out, so adding your profile picture to your SEEQ survey can serve as a subtle reminder to students about which course they are evaluating. Follow these steps to add your photo: https://www.srte.psu.edu/Add_Photo.
• Tip #2: Give students nudges.
  It is frustrating for students and instructors when assignments are not turned in on time. The Canvas gradebook includes a feature that can help keep students on track. Use the “Message Students Who…” feature in the Canvas gradebook to quickly and efficiently reach out to students. A good strategy is sending the nudge the day before an assignment is due to anyone who has not submitted. That may help encourage some of your stragglers to get their assignments in before the due date!

Contact Us

Email us at eldig@smeal.psu.edu or fill out the eLDIG Contact form and we will be in touch.

Smeal Academy Special Valentine’s Day Edition: Our Podcast Recommendations for You

The goal of the Smeal Academy is to equip the Smeal community with best practices and strategies for teaching and learning with technology to support Smeal’s business education and research needs. On this special day, eLDIG would like to send you our sincerest appreciation. Thank you for being the heart and soul of our college. Our Valentine’s treat for you is this collection of some of our favorite podcasts. Click on the image below to open your treat!

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The eLDIG team is here for the Smeal community. If you want to discuss an idea or need for your course(s), please don’t hesitate to contact us to schedule a consultation at eldig@smeal.psu.edu.

Upcoming Session

Smeal Academy Session: Responsible use of Artificial Intelligence in Business Education and Research Reading and Discussion Group – Session Led by Ed Jenkins

Join us for the third session of a Smeal series on the role of artificial intelligence in our teaching and research, which will focus on our shared commitment to preparing leaders to leverage artificial intelligence responsibly in business. This session will be led by Professor Ed Jenkins, Professor of Practice in Accounting & Professor-In-Charge, in collaboration with the eLDIG team. Please join us on Thursday, February 29, 2024, 12-1 pm EST via Zoom.

NOTE: Recordings and resources from previous Smeal Academy sessions can be found on our eLDIG Website.

Contact Us

Email us at eldig@smeal.psu.edu or fill out the eLDIG Contact form and we will be in touch.

Smeal Academy Special Superbowl Weekend Edition – Game Day Teaching Strategies

The goal of the Smeal Academy is to equip the Smeal community with best practices and strategies for teaching and learning with technology to support Smeal’s business education and research needs. This newsletter provides a few “game day” strategies for face-to-face teaching and live, synchronous sessions.

Image Source: ChatGPT. (2024). A group of business school faculty members in football gear in the classroom [Digital image]. OpenAI DALL-E.

A 6-Pack of Game-Day Teaching Strategies

Strategy 1: Incorporate interactive and hands-on activities into your lessons. This can include group discussions, collaborative projects, experiments, or interactive simulations. Engaging students in active learning captures their interest and helps them apply and internalize the concepts being taught. This approach fosters a dynamic and participatory classroom environment, making the learning experience more enjoyable and memorable for students.

Strategy 2: You can never go wrong with encouraging conversation and collaboration in the classroom! Give students a discussion prompt to talk about in pairs or small groups. This can ease students into adopting the right mindset for the class and even help students feel more comfortable sharing in the classroom over time. Topics that focus on personal perspectives, insights, or reactions to the topic create a supportive and inclusive environment where students feel comfortable expressing themselves. Need ideas for discussion prompts? Try using these free online cards.

Strategy 3: Consider “flipping” your classroom. Focus on creating purposeful pre-work that sets the stage for in-class engagement. Design relevant pre-class materials, such as pre-recorded videos or readings, and ensure they align with upcoming activities. During class time, use problem-solving or discussions rather than simply delivering content. Use technology tools for polling, collaboration, and feedback, and maintain flexibility in scheduling. The flipped classroom thrives on student participation and deeper understanding.

Strategy 4: How about problem-based learning (PBL)? PBL focuses on creating authentic and engaging experiences for students. Encourage students to apply your content while exploring real-world problems, collaborate, and apply their knowledge and skills to meaningful projects. PBL fosters critical thinking, creativity, and teamwork, preparing students for the complexities of the modern world.

Strategy 5: Consider collaborative notetaking! Encourage collaborative notetaking using tools like Google Docs or OneNote. Assign groups of students to take notes together during lectures, allowing them to collaborate in real-time and share their insights and questions.

Strategy 6: Use platforms like Poll Everywhere or Socrative to facilitate peer instruction during lectures. Pose multiple-choice questions or conceptual problems, and have students discuss their answers with their peers before voting on the correct response.

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The eLDIG team is here for the Smeal community. If you want to discuss an idea or need for your course(s), please don’t hesitate to contact us to schedule a consultation at eldig@smeal.psu.edu.

Upcoming Session

Smeal Academy Session: Responsible use of Artificial Intelligence in Business Education and Research Reading and Discussion Group – Session Led by Ed Jenkins

Join us for the third session of a Smeal series on the role of artificial intelligence in our teaching and research, which will focus on our shared commitment to preparing leaders to leverage artificial intelligence responsibly in business. This session will be led by Professor Ed Jenkins, Professor of Practice in Accounting & Professor-In-Charge, in collaboration with the eLDIG team. Please join us on Thursday, February 29, 2024, 12-1 pm EST via Zoom.

NOTE: Recordings and resources from previous Smeal Academy sessions can be found on our eLDIG Website.

Contact Us

Email us at eldig@smeal.psu.edu or fill out the eLDIG Contact form and we will be in touch.

Smeal Academy Fall 2023 Connections Newsletter 5 – Student Wellness

The goal of the Smeal Academy is to equip the Smeal community with best practices and strategies for teaching and learning with technology to support Smeal’s business education and research needs. This newsletter provides some tips and pointers to support student wellness as we move through the semester.

Supporting Student Wellness

A recent survey conducted by Inside Higher Ed and College Pulse revealed that college students want their professors and advisers to be very involved in promoting their mental health and well-being. What does that mean for us as instructors? There are course design choices we can make that support our curricular goals while at the same time supporting student wellness. There are two approaches to this that we can explore:

• Being flexible about assessment
• Encouraging access to mental health resources

There are a couple of easy ways to make our assessments more flexible to reduce pressure on students and encourage healthier choices.

• Avoid assessments worth fifty percent or more of the final grade. More frequent, lower-stakes assessments provide better pathways to durable learning and eliminate the pressure caused by high-stakes assessments. When employing this strategy, consider dropping students’ lowest score(s). Everyone has days that don’t go as well as others, and this approach can reduce the pressure students feel to perform at their highest level on every assessment.
• Consider offering extra credit opportunities to offset lower scores. Extra credit might even be awarded to students who complete stress-reduction activities outside of class. An added benefit is that these approaches may reduce the likelihood of academic integrity violations.

Connecting students with mental health resources and regularly checking in with them about how they are doing are easy ways to stay on top of student well-being:

• Find opportunities in class to talk about stressors and stress management and direct students to available resources.
• Course syllabi should include a Counseling and Psychological Services Statement.
• Consider adding additional information to your course materials, such as links to Penn State’s Health Promotion and Wellness or the Red Folder initiative. These resources provide a wide variety of offerings designed to support students at all levels and locations.

Penn State is offering a weekly webinar series from October 30 to December 4 to explore strategies to support student mental health and wellness.

Flaherty, C. (2023, July 17). Supporting Student Wellness: What’s Enough and What’s Too Much? Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs.

Loving Life. (2023). Why are Wellness Wednesday Quotes Beneficial For Companies? [Image]. Health and Wellbeing. 

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The eLDIG team is here for the Smeal community. If you want to discuss an idea or need for your course(s), please don’t hesitate to contact us to schedule a consultation at eldig@smeal.psu.edu.

Upcoming Sessions

Smeal Academy Session: Supporting Student Wellness Through Course Design on November 1 at 11am

A recent survey conducted by Inside Higher Ed and College Pulse revealed that college students want their professors and advisers to be very involved in promoting their mental health and well-being. What does that mean for us in higher education? In this session, we will share some easy teaching strategies that you can implement today to support students that might make your job a little easier, too. It will be recorded and made available on the eLDIG website following the session. Please join us on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. EST via Zoom.

Smeal Academy Session: Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Business Education and Research Reading and Discussion Group – Session 1

Join us for the first session of a Smeal series on the role of artificial intelligence in our teaching and research, which will focus on our shared commitment to prepare leaders to responsibly leverage artificial intelligence in business. This session will be led by Dr. Michelle Darnell, Director of the Tarriff Center for Business Ethics and Social Responsibility, in collaboration with the eLDIG team. Readings for Session 1 are available on SharePoint. Please join us on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, 10-11 am EST via Zoom. Be sure to mark your calendars for Session 2, led by Jiro Yoshida, on December 12th from 2-3 p.m.

eLDIG ID Tips

• Tip #1: Stay Connected to Your Students. Our recent Smeal Academy Newsletter detailed a variety of communication strategies. Use the Canvas Gradebook “Message Students Who…” feature to reach out to students who are missing assignments or lagging behind. A caring message can go a long way in helping struggling students feel seen.
• Tip #2: Clarify Expectations. You can reduce student (and instructor) confusion about assignment expectations with rubrics and work samples. This eLDIG Assessment Series video will help you learn more about Canvas rubric design. You may also consider providing work samples by anonymizing and asking permission to share work samples from prior semesters.

Canvas New Quizzes

Instructure has implemented some of the changes Penn State and other institutions requested, and we are re-entering the preview period for New Quizzes. The updated timeline is as follows. Please note that we will not be able to deliver quizzes to students using the New Quizzes platform until at least Fall 2024. The eLDIG team is not aware of any discussions about discontinuing the use of Classic Canvas Quizzes.

Contact Us

Email us at eldig@smeal.psu.edu or fill out the eLDIG Contact form and we will be in touch.