Smeal Academy Newsletter

Smeal Academy Newsletter: Keep Learning Edition

The Smeal Academy is brought to you by the eLearning Design and Innovation Group 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.

John Dziak, CCO, via Wikimedia Commons

The Power of Professional Development

This week we are focusing on the opportunities for professional development around teaching and learning and educational resources. This week’s Smeal Academy podcast features Kitt Camplese, Director of Learning Design for the eLDIG team. Kitt talks about the importance of continual learning and a willingness to adapt.

This summer, professional development opportunities abound! Consider these approaches when planning your summer learning:

Smeal Academy: This option is, of course, our top recommendation! Check out the eLDIG website for dozens of Smeal Academy recorded sessions on everything from recent Canvas updates to strategies for approaching AI in teaching. And keep reading to see the upcoming Smeal Academy sessions you can attend this month!
Library Workshops: Lauren Reiter, Interim Head of the Schreyer Business Library at Penn State, recently shared some upcoming sessions that might be of interest. See below for dates, times, and links to register:
- Using the Researcher Metadata Database: June 6, 10-11 a.m. Please register on Zoom.
- Sharing Research Software with Open-Source Licenses: June 6, 4-5 p.m. Please register on Zoom.
- Plagiarism and Attribution: June 18, 10-11 a.m. Please register on Zoom.
- Copyright and Generative AI: June 18, 4-5 p.m. Please register on Zoom.
- Copyright in Three Hours: June 20, 1-4 p.m. Please register on Zoom.
- Using Creative Commons Licensed Material: June 25, 2-3 p.m. Please register on Zoom.
- Copyright and Accessibility: June 27, 2-3 p.m. Please register on Zoom.

Want to learn more about Kitt and the eLDIG team? Check out this week’s new podcast, Meet the eLDIG Team: Kitt Camplese, Director of Learning Design, by clicking below! Smeal Academy Podcasts are released frequently, and housed on our eLDIG website, or follow the Smeal Academy Podcast on your preferred podcatcher!

Upcoming Smeal Academy Sessions

Smeal Academy Summer Book Club
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. Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://psu.zoom.us/j/710269538?pwd=VmNhWEl5R241YlloWHF5WTFpODVKZz09. Password: Smeal.
Smeal Academy: Exploring the Affordances of AI for Assignments
In this session, we will explore assignments that actively involve student use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools. We will discuss the potential affordances of AI and uncover practical strategies for integrating these AI capabilities into various types of assignments. Additionally, we will address the ethical considerations of using AI in education. Join us on Friday, June 21, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EST via Zoom: https://psu.zoom.us/j/710269538?pwd=VmNhWEl5R241YlloWHF5WTFpODVKZz09

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

eLDIG ID Tips

Tip #1: Practice Canvas Hygiene. At a recent Smeal Academy session, the eLDIG team advised attendees to remove old files from Canvas to help improve their course’s Ally accessibility score. Want to know more? Check out the recording to learn more.
Tip #2: Use AI to Jumpstart Idea Generation. Generative AI is great at brainstorming ideas. Feeling stuck? Give AI a try to get the juices flowing for creative tasks.

Contact Us

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

Michael Christie In

Smeal Academy Newsletter: Access Matters Edition

A computer with a refreshable braille display.

Photo by Elizabeth Woolner on Unsplash

Equitable Education Resources

This week we are focusing on the importance of accessibility in education. Our Smeal Academy podcast features Michael Christie from the eLDIG team who works with our team to ensure Smeal’s online course content is accessible to all learners and sums up accessibility this way: “[Accessibility is] to ensure an equal learning experience for everyone.” Whether disabilities are visible or not, all students can benefit from well-designed and accessible Canvas courses.

Summer is a great time to take a closer look at your courses and check to see that students are being offered equal learning experiences. eLDIG has a variety of resources to help!

Use Ally in Canvas: Anthology Ally is a Canvas plugin designed to enhance the accessibility and usability of courses for learners of different abilities and backgrounds. It provides “Alternative Format” tools that allow students to download different versions of course content. It also generates course accessibility reports for instructors with accessibility “scores” for individual items in the course. Learn more on Penn State Accessibility’s website. And join us for a Smeal Academy session devoted to Anthology Ally next week! Zoom connection information can be found below.
Review Course Accessibility: Michael shared his best tips for reviewing accessibility in a recent Smeal Academy Session. Check out this brief overview of easy ways to update your course over the summer to improve accessibility.
Avoid Vibrating Color Combinations: PowerPoint slides posted online for students should be accessible. Here are some tips for creating PowerPoint slides that are accessible for all. And while bright colors can be fun, they can make your slides hard to read! Here are some tips for avoiding certain color combos.

Want to learn more about Michael and eLDIG’s accessibility efforts? Check out this week’s new podcast, Meet the eLDIG Team: Michael Christie, Instructional Technology Specialist, by clicking below! Smeal Academy Podcasts are released weekly (or so) and housed on our eLDIG website or follow the Smeal Academy Podcast on your preferred podcatcher!

Upcoming Smeal Academy Sessions

Anthology Ally: What’s Your Score?
The University has enabled a Canvas feature called Ally which helps support our goals of equity and inclusion, improving course accessibility and usability. Learn more about the accessibility of the resources in your Canvas spaces, and how you can improve your Ally “score.” Join us on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. EST via Zoom. Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://psu.zoom.us/j/710269538?pwd=VmNhWEl5R241YlloWHF5WTFpODVKZz09. Password: Smeal.
Smeal Academy Summer Book Club
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. Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://psu.zoom.us/j/710269538?pwd=VmNhWEl5R241YlloWHF5WTFpODVKZz09. Password: Smeal.

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

eLDIG ID Tips

Tip #1: Include Attributions and Citations. In addition to ensuring the accessibility of course materials, it is also important to lead by example for our students and include attributions and citations when incorporating others’ work in our course materials. The PSU Libraries provide guidance on how to do this. Or reach out to eLDIG if you have questions!
Tip #2: Canvas Course Archiving May 29th. On May 29, 2024, Penn State IT will perform its regular archiving of older Canvas courses. You may choose to delay particular 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 on May 29, 2024.
Full details, including instructions on how to opt a course out of archiving or request content from a course in long-term storage, are available in the Penn State Knowledge Base.

Contact Us

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

Michael Christie In

Smeal Academy Newsletter: Inclusive Classrooms Edition

Photo by Pavlos Vaenas on Unsplash

STAC and Inclusive Classrooms

Welcome to the first week of the regular summer session! Over the next three months, the goal of the Smeal Academy will be to continue to share new ideas for teaching and learning. Whether you are teaching this summer or thinking of modifications you want to make for fall, you should find many ideas for using technology to make meaningful change in teaching and learning.

This week we are revisiting the important topic of inclusive classrooms. In this week’s podcast, Olivia and Emily talk about how to help students feel seen in your classroom. Here are some of our favorite ideas:

Who’s In Class? Olivia talks in the podcast about the importance of recognizing the many identities and roles that students bring into the classroom. It is helpful to start the semester with an anonymous survey to learn more about who is in your class. Use this example as a guide for questions you might choose to include. Then create a survey in Canvas, Forms, or Qualtrics to anonymously survey students.
Add Your Pronouns: Olivia also shared about how listing your pronouns is an important signal to your students that you are aware of their importance. Penn State has easy instructions for adding your pronouns to your Canvas course. For anyone not using Canvas, your email signature and/or LinkedIn profile are other good places to share that information.
Review Accessibility: The summer can also be a good time to review your course materials and ensure they are accessible for all, whether students have disability accommodations or one of the many hidden disabilities Olivia mentioned in the podcast. Check out this brief overview of easy ways you can update your course over the summer to improve accessibility.

Want to learn more about Olivia and Smeal’s diversity enhancement efforts? Check out this week’s new podcast, Olivia Lewis, Director of Diversity Enhancement Programs by clicking below! Smeal Academy Podcasts are 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. Contact eLDIG if you would like a meeting invitation with a Zoom link.
* NEW * Anthology Ally: What’s Your Score?
The University has enabled a Canvas feature called Ally which helps support our goals of equity and inclusion, improving course accessibility and usability. Learn more about the accessibility of the resources in your Canvas spaces, and how you can improve your Ally “score.” Join us on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. EST via Zoom. Contact eLDIG if you would like a meeting invitation with a Zoom link.
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. Contact eLDIG if you would like a meeting invitation with a Zoom link

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

eLDIG ID Tips

Tip #1: Sign up for STAC (Smeal Together Achieving Change)!
In this week’s podcast, we learned all about the STAC program at Smeal. Registration will soon be open for the summer cohort, which will be held entirely over Zoom. It is open to Smeal faculty and staff. Watch for the email and sign up!
Tip #2: Kaltura Media Player Updating May 15th
On May 15th, the V7 Player will automatically replace the player shown in several areas:
- MediaSpace: Users will encounter the V7 player when viewing MediaSpace pages.
- Canvas: My Media entry page, Media Gallery, Media Gallery Playlists, and New LTI embeds will use the V7 player.
On May 16th, all LTI Embeds added prior to May 16th will be automatically migrated to the V7 Player. Media accessed through assistive technology like screen readers can navigate the player controls using this Knowledge Base Article.

Important Note: The V7 player will not be available through the “Share” function on May 15th due to some issues found in testing. The Kaltura team will provide more information on when this function will be available. Content using the Kaltura Embed/share function will need to be migrated manually to utilize the new player. Information on that process is being developed and will be released over the coming months. Please review this Knowledge Base article comparing the new and old players for more information.

Contact Us

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

Michael Christie In

Smeal Academy Newsletter: Kickoff to Summer Edition

Photo by SOCIAL.CUT on Unsplash

Happy Summer!

Though technically we have not arrived at the summer solstice, this week marks the start of Penn State’s summer calendar, with the launch of Maymester and regular session summer courses beginning next week. Here are eLDIG’s tips for this new academic season:

Nominate a great teacher! Smeal Teaching Award nominations are open through Friday, May 10th. Anyone can nominate. Awards are given to teachers of all levels and modalities and those who support instruction. So, please visit https://forms.office.com/r/H4VWAFv4VE and nominate someone today. It only takes a few minutes and is a terrific way to support teaching excellence at Smeal!
Catch up on professional reading! Summer is a wonderful time to catch up on reading. Several members of the eLDIG team are reading Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI by Ethan Mollick. Another title catching our attention is Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning by Jose Antonio Bowen and C. Edward Watson. Contact eLDIG if you are interested in reading and discussing!

Want more book recommendations? Check out this week’s new podcast, Meet the eLDIG Team – Chris Coyne, Instructional Designer by clicking below! Chris is an avid reader and made some fiction and non-fiction recommendations in addition to his reflections on teaching and learning. Smeal Academy Podcasts are 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. Contact eLDIG if you would like a meeting invitation with a Zoom link.
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. Contact eLDIG if you would like a meeting invitation with a Zoom link

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

eLDIG ID Tips

- Tip #1: Announcements and Discussions Redesign
  If you opened a Canvas discussion today, you may have noticed it looks different! The Canvas Announcements and Discussions Redesign was forced on for all Penn State courses today. We recently held a Smeal Academy Zoom session discussing the changes. Check it out to learn more!
- Tip #2: Canvas Website Update May 9
  On Thursday, May 9th, the Canvas service website (canvas.psu.edu) will be updated and automatically redirected to a new URL (https://www.it.psu.edu/services/canvas/). The site will feature a revamped interface and improved accessibility. You will now find the Login button on the right side of the page, just below the menu bar. Links to the old site should be updated to use the new URL. Note: To access Canvas directly, bookmark psu.instructure.com.

Contact Us

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

Michael Christie In

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?

Step 1: Complete Prerequisites in Canvas
- Set a Penn State Compatible Grading Scheme
- Enter Zero for All Unsubmitted Assignments
- Post Grades for Hidden Assignments
Step 2: Verify the Accuracy of Your Grades
- Export your Canvas Gradebook and verify that your Current Grades and Final Grades match
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.

Michael Christie In

Smeal Academy Newsletter: The Finish Line Is in Sight!

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.

Michael Christie In

Canvas Discussion Redesign Edition

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.

Michael Christie In

Summer Book Club

Smeal Academy Newsletter: Summer Book Club Edition

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.

Michael Christie In

Podcast Premiere!

Smeal Academy Newsletter Podcast Premiere Edition!

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.

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

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