Resource Category
Talking to your students about Brightspace – Fall 2017
Aug. 17, 2017—Many instructors have asked us where students will go to learn about Brightspace, Vanderbilt’s new course management system. While students are always welcome to reach out for support, we put together a list of four important resources that students will find helpful as they navigate this new course management system. Instructors can feel free to share this post...
HASTAC Scholars program now accepting applications!
Jun. 29, 2017—HASTAC (Humanities, Arts, Science, and Technology Alliance and Collaboratory) is a global network of individuals and institutions brought together by their shared interest in the intersections of digital media, 21st-century education, the digital humanities, science, technology, and the arts. Up to nine Vanderbilt University graduate students will be appointed as HASTAC Scholars. Scholars will be matched to...
Newly Revised CFT Guide on Course Design
Jun. 5, 2017—The Understanding by Design teaching guide was recently updated by Ryan Bowen, a graduate teaching fellow at the Center for Teaching. Understanding by Design is a book written by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe that offers a framework for designing courses, content units, and lessons. The teaching guide walks readers through “backward design” which is...
BOLD Fellow’s Work Highlighted on American Society for Microbiology Education Blog
Apr. 24, 2017—by Rachel Biel, CFT Undergraduate Intern In this edition of the CFT blog, we want to highlight the work of a past Blended & Online Learning Design (BOLD) Fellow, Noah Green. Noah was a BOLD Fellow during the 2014-2015 academic year, and finished his doctoral studies in biological sciences in May of 2015. He currently...
Upcoming Deadlines for VIDL Faculty Grants.
Apr. 14, 2017—The Vanderbilt Institute for Digital Learning (VIDL) offers support for faculty for research and instructional improvement, and support for students in the form of fellowships and internships. Support takes the form of limited monetary support, technical consulting, equipment loans and production services. Faculty Programs MacroGrants (Deadline April 28) VU faculty and staff may apply for a seed-funding...
How is the current political climate impacting your interactions with your students?
Apr. 3, 2017—A group of about 35 current and former Junior Faculty Teaching Fellows recently met at the Center for Teaching to discuss this question, looking for ways to promote dialog and learning that can help students navigate our highly polarized world. The participants teach classes across the university, within Peabody School of Education, the School of...
Encouraging Engagement and Enthusiasm– One student’s perspective on online course design
Mar. 1, 2017—By Rachel Biel, Undergraduate Intern My first interaction with the online classroom came in the fall of 2012, my senior year of high school. With my sights set on attending Vanderbilt, I enrolled in four AP courses, each of which my school only taught one section. This left my daily schedule completely inflexible: I had...
Teaching in Response to the Election
Nov. 10, 2016—by Joe Bandy, CFT Assistant Director Before and certainly after Tuesday’s election, there has been much discussion in higher education about the incivilities and conflicts of this electoral season, and the potential impacts they are having on our students, particularly those students who are least represented on our campuses and most vulnerable to trauma. Many...
Blackboard Blogging for the Classroom
Oct. 5, 2016—by Brandon N. Crawford, CFT Instructional Technologist The Vanderbilt Center for teaching recently released a comprehensive guide to Teaching with Blogs. Blackboard users on campus will be interested to know that a blog tool is included in every Blackboard course, and can be used to support student learning inside of the secure course management environment....
Link Your Online Textbook Content with Blackboard
Sep. 29, 2016—Does your textbook have online materials for students? Did you know that Blackboard can create a seamless link between many publishers’ content and your course allowing you to download content and import grades? Two new resources from the CFT will help you make the connection between your Blackboard course and textbook-based online platform. ...