Learn to maximize real-time collaboration while adding tools that will increase productivity and professionalism in our Exceptional Educator Google badge series. 

Complete four of these workshops to earn this badge:

• Google Classroom Basics: Learn the basics of setting up your own interactive,  online classroom and how it connects to other Google apps.

• Google Drive: This online storage and collaboration tool is accessible anywhere and can help you organize your Windows or Google-based files without taking any room on your computer.

• Google Slides as a Collaborative and Interactive Presentation Tool: Present your information in a sleek and professional way while engaging students in live, interactive activities using Slides. 

• Pear Deck: Produce live or asynchronous interactive activities using Google Slides or Powerpoint.

• Google Sites: This user-friendly tool can help you create your own website without knowing any coding.

• Google for Collaboration: Learn tips and tricks to get the most out of your Gmail, Google Docs, Slides and leverage them to collaborate with others.

Increase engagement, retention and interaction in your live Zoom sessions. Learn how by joining our Exceptional Educator Zoom badge series.

Complete four of these workshops to earn this badge:

• Hosting & Attending Zoom Meetings: Our Zoom expert will go over some of the basics of hosting great virtual meetings and classes using this dynamic software.

• Teaching with Zoom Advanced: This workshop guides instructors on how to leverage Zoom tools to create IDEAL virtual classrooms.

• Zoom Breakout Rooms (Basics): Learn the basics of breakout room management and how to take your breakout sessions to the next level and beyond.

• Zoom Breakout Rooms (Advanced): Join us for a deep dive into the more complex breakout room features.

• Advanced Zoom-Tips and Tricks: Uncover the advanced settings zoom offers that will help you personalize your Zoom office while making it more secure.  

• Near Pod: Produce live or asynchronous interactive activities using video, slide presentations and much more.

• Accessible Communication Strategies in Zoom: Learn strategies for inclusive participation and communication to help ensure your live sessions are accessible to all.

Find or create accessible resources for your courses that will reach all of your students. Learn how in our Exceptional Educator Accessibility badge series! 

Complete four of these workshops to earn this badge:

• Understanding the Accessibility Needs of UMass Global Learners: The Office of Accessible Education will share what students with registered disabilities need most in an online learning experience. 

• Creating Accessible Google Docs: Learn how to make your Google suite products fully accessible through an easy accessibility tool called Grackle. 

• Creating Accessible PowerPoints: Learn how to create accessible PowerPoints, and how to convert them into accessible PDF documents for upload into your course shell.

• Creating Accessible Word Docs: Learn how to create accessible Word Documents, and how to convert them into accessible PDF documents for upload into your course shell.

• Making PDFs Accessible: Learn how to make existing PDFs screen readable.  

• Evaluating Videos for Accessibility: Discover what makes a video accessible and where to find accessible video content for your courses.

• Evaluating Websites for Accessibility: Learn about WCAG standards and the tools you can use to check websites for accessibility.

• Accessible Communication Strategies in Zoom: Learn strategies for inclusive participation and communication to help ensure your live sessions are accessible to all.

Blackboard offers many tools to make teaching and learning efficient, collaborative and engaging. Discover how to maximize these tools in our Exceptional Educator Blackboard badge series.

Complete four of these workshops to earn this badge:

• Bb 101: Blackboard Basics for Faculty: Better navigate the Blackboard LMS with this overview that covers editing and creating new items and announcements, managing and providing feedback in discussion boards and the grade center.

• BB 101: Wikis, Journals & Blogs: Manage, grade and modify wikis, journals and blogs.

• Bb Groups for Course Developers: A comprehensive training on creating and implementing Groups in master shells.

• Bb Groups for Instructors: A walkthrough of assigning students to Blackboard Groups in live courses.

• Blackboard 101: Blackboard Basics for Students: Better understand how students navigate and learn within the Blackboard LMS.

• Teaching with Bb: Hone your skills at prepping the shell for instruction and improving student engagement. 

Discover and incorporate more of the educational tools UMass offers to help our students reach their academic potential by completing the Exceptional Educator Student Support badge series.

Complete four of these workshops to earn this badge:

• Understanding the Accessibility Needs of UMass Global Learners: The Office of Accessible Education will share what students with registered disabilities need most in an online learning experience.

• Correct English: Learn how this tool can help your student’s writing by providing authentic writing feedback.

• Online Academic Resources for UMass Global Students: Help your students access all the resources available to them by exploring what is at their fingertips.

• Teaching with E-books: Using eReaders as a Study & Research Tool: Tips on how to access and elevate the tools that are available via e-books to increase student success.

• Kaltura Basics For Students:  Discover how students can use Kaltura to create and submit video assessments.

• Students: Using eReaders as a Study & Research Tool: Teach students how to navigate and use their e-book as a research tool. 

Ensure your students are getting the most out of your course content through effective assessments. Learn more at our Exceptional Educator Assessment badge series. 

Complete four of these workshops to earn this badge:

• QM Basics: Understanding the Rubric: Explore how the QM rubric can help you evaluate the effectiveness of your assessments and course design.

• Creating Assignments Using Kaltura: Learn strategies for creating assignments using Kaltura, including In-Video Quizzing.

• Creating Effective Rubrics: Get tips on how to design, refine, and implement rubrics of your own and leave with a variety of sample rubric templates you can use.

• Employing UDL to Create Inclusive Assessments: Discover specific learning strategies and resources that can be implemented to create an inclusive learning environment through use of accessible assessments with an andragogy focus. 

• Using UMass Global's Handshake: Learn how to establish a profile and develop an e-Portfolio with this free tool.

Produce your own high quality, interactive media with the help of our media experts, or all on your own, while earning your Exceptional Educator Content Development badge.

Complete four of these workshops to earn this badge:

• Creating Podcasts: Learn how to produce your own podcasts. 

• Flip: Allows students and instructors to collaborate and engage with each other via short, shareable videos.  

• Kaltura for Instructors: Kaltura is a video tool built into Blackboard that allows students and instructors to create, store and share video content. 

• Media Development Brown Bag Discussion: Tales from faculty- Faculty share successful media projects they have created.

• Media Possibilities: Discover the possibilities of media creation with guidance from our media team. 

• Padlet: Create engagement by using this online, collaborative bulletin board.

• Quality Matters Advanced: Leveraging QM to create engaging, accessible and inclusive online courses. 

• RISE Media Possibilities: Bring your content to life with the different options available for your students through Rise.