"Beginning November 1, 2021, customers will be required to update their Zoom software to ensure it is no more than nine months behind the current version, at any given time. From that point on, users will be prompted to update their software when using the platform should their version fall behind this nine-month window. For example, if the latest version of the Zoom Client was released in September 2021, customers who try to access Zoom services with a version prior to January 2021 will be prompted to update to a more recent version before they can access the platform."

Here is the support article for your reference: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/360059429231-9-month-release-window-

Not quite sure how to update your Zoom?

Click HERE

Over the summer, eLearning has worked to consolidate our three teams to one dynamic Super Team. eLearning staff will still be located at each college; however, students, faculty, and staff will be able to access our services no matter their location. In a few short months, we developed our new Strategic Plan, consolidated operational procedures to reduce redundancy, and learned new tools to support our community with. It has been a busy summer, and I want to thank the eLearning team for their hard work and dedication.

Please note that we now have one phone number and email address for all students, faculty, and staff to use across the district.

When to Contact eLearning

• 8:30 - 7:30 PM – Monday – Thursday

• 8:30 - 4:00 PM – Fridays

How to Contact eLearning

Email: eLearning@seattlecolleges.edu

Phone: 206/934-4000

Chat: https://www.seattlecolleges.edu/programs/elearning

Make an Appointment with an Instructional Designer or Technologist: https://elearning-seattle-colleges.youcanbook.me/

As we enter Fall 2021, the instructional designers at eLearning wanted to provide a quick rundown of course modalities at Seattle Colleges and give one key accessibility tip for each.

Face-to-face or web enhanced courses are in-person courses that use some online tools as supplement, for example, Canvas. As we are returning to more in-person courses while still wearing masks, work on projecting your voice and making sure students can hear you. Accessibility tip: Projection takes practice so check in on your students periodically and get an affirmation that students furthest away from you can hear. For help with voice projection please see this helpful video. Disability services at all three campuses also have clear masks available to instructors if needed for students in your courses that are deaf or hard of hearing.

Hybrid courses replace some, but not all, face-to-face class time with web-based tools which can include Canvas or other discussion boards, live online lectures, pre-recorded lectures, and other materials. The online portion of a hybrid class is active instruction and counts towards the five hours of faculty instructional contact. Give students a clear definition of how your hybrid course operates and your expectations. Hybrid offers the opportunity for students to have some choice around what they need for learning. Accessibility tip: Consider building in choices for students so that they can engage with fully online material sometimes and can disengage from the in-person aspects if needed, without having them to provide an explanation of why. This prioritizes your and students’ health and in particular mental health, especially during a pandemic.

Online or Virtual courses use web-based tools and 100% of the instruction and interaction is done online. Instruction can be done synchronously, if listed as a Virtual course, with live video conferencing and asynchronously for online courses with recorded lectures. Accessibility tip: For all videos, including the ones you do not create, make sure they include captions. When you upload a video through Panopto or you upload and share using YouTube, captions are automatically generated. However, you need to make sure to give captions a quick edit. Platforms do a good job but need help, especially with more complicated/technical words and proper nouns.

As a reminder, regardless of modality, if you are using Canvas, you can use Ally, an educational accessibility tool that can help you make sure your uploaded files are accessible. When editing a Canvas page, you can use the built-in accessibility checker to check your Canvas pages. For more on Ally please see this video.

Instructional Designers at eLearning are here to help you with creating accessible courses/content and ready to help with all of your teaching needs. Please contact us at eLearning@seattlecolleges.edu or set up a time with us via our book me site. We can also be contacted individually via email:

Kathleen Chambers (North): Kathleen.chambers@seattlecolleges.edu

Sanja Kadrić (Central): Sanja.kadric@seattlecolleges.edu

Robin Leeson (Central): Robin.leeson@seattlecolleges.edu

Julian Barr (South): Julian.barr@seattlecolleges.edu

THE LEAD PROGRAM FOR FACULTY DEVELOPMENT IS LIVE AND OPEN!

To learn more about the program, catalog, schedule, and how you can earn a $500 stipend, please watch the video to the right.

To learn more about the LEAD program or to register, please visit the registration page. If you have questions about the program, reach out to one of our Instructional Designers—we’re happy to help!

PROMOTED LEAD COURSE: INTRODUCTION TO INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN

Are you redesigning an existing course, developing a new offering, or just want to know more about the instructional design process? Join our upcoming Introduction to Instructional Design workshop series! This workshop is being delivered over five two-hour Zoom sessions, starting Friday, October 22 from 1-3pm, and running until November 19. This workshop provides 4 credits towards the LEAD faculty development program (reminder: 10 credits earns you a $500 stipend, so this workshop gets you just shy of halfway through the program!) This workshop introduces instructional design principles and relates the principles to the development of face-to-face, online, and hybrid courses. It includes many resources, is interactive, and encourages sharing among participants of concepts, ideas and strategies for effective teaching. Can’t attend all five sessions? That’s okay! We can work with you to make arrangements as needed. Learn more and register today!