9am - 1pm
Since 2015
2025 Theme: "Teaching & Transformations"
Teaching & AI - Incorporating Students' Real Life Experiences - Canvas - Growth Mindset - Supportive Classrooms - Neuroscience of Learning - Discussion Boards - Classroom Policies - Developmental Education
9:15 - 10:00am
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Is there any value in returning to an old, "outdated" class structure where students are required to complete writing by hand, with a pencil and paper, in class? This is the question I asked myself last fall. Join me as I share my experience creating authentic/non-AI writing assessments in my classroom by requiring students to write their essays by hand in class. Topics to be covered include the value of writing, the process I used for implementing in-class writing, tried and true practices for responding to (suspected) AI writing from students, and an evaluation of how my experiment went.
How do our students life experiences impact their learning? We often overlook young students or say they are not "experienced." They are indeed experienced, they have lived their young lives. I think we can discuss how to use that to get them to engage more in the classroom and make them feel their experiences are "VALUED!"
This session will walk through the use of Blueprints in Canvas (formerly Masters). Whether you are the lead developing the content or being handed a developed DL/Online or MM/Online Blended section to teach. This session will explain the functionality and settings related to this set up, including what to expect from being connected and synced to a Blueprint, and what is protected.
10:15 - 11:00am
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It is important to foster a growth mindset in the classroom because it helps your students succeed in the classroom and in life. You are helping to create a mindset that when a person encourages obstacles and failures, they can persevere onward. It is helping a person to recognize challenges as an opportunity for growth instead of it being an end goal of failure. How can teachers build trust levels and openness in classroom that then invite the students into the Growth Mindset perspective of learning?
I will outline key principles in building a Growth mindset.
One of our main jobs is to help students learn to think. How we can do this is based not only in our skills, but also the student’s attitude toward what’s being taught. With the class sizes we have at WCC, we can see faces and the individuals behind those faces. Ideally, we can go beyond a one-size-fits-all approach to help them learn.
In this session, we’ll explore the key features of the Canvas Grade Center, focusing on how to efficiently manage grades, provide feedback, and streamline assessment workflows. Participants will learn best practices for organizing their gradebook, customizing grading policies, and utilizing SpeedGrader for efficient evaluation. Whether you're new to Canvas or looking to refine your grading process, this workshop will offer practical strategies to enhance your workflow.
11:15am - 12:00pm
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Having worked overseas for 12 years across 50 countries, Mr. Bird will present his insights on the skills needed by today's students to compete internationally and further their careers.
Many students come into math classes feeling intimidated, but with the right approach, we can turn that intimidation to confidence. Creating a strong and engaging classroom community plays a crucial role in this shift. In this presentation, we will discuss effective strategies for boosting confidence in our students and creating a more comfortable learning environment.
As Educators, we need to understand how students are coming to WCC. I will outline key factors in the Anxious Generation and propose processes that can help our students achieve a growth mindset.
How do our brains actually learn? How does our learning environment affect classroom performance? What do your student's need to be successful today? Come join us in a lesson in neurobiology and teaching strategies. We will discuss some of the underlying biological principles that will help maximize today's WCC student's ability to learn and be successful in your classroom (nerdy science stuff!)
This session covers the tools available in Canvas for creating and managing assignments, and quizzes. You’ll learn how to set up assignments that align with course objectives and design quizzes that accurately assess student learning. The session will include step-by-step instructions for each feature, highlighting customization options, grading settings, and best practices for streamlined management.
12:15 - 1:00pm
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Do you struggle with setting limits in the classroom? This session will provide suggestions and facilitate a collaborative discussion about classroom policies to balance academic rigor with fairness and flexibility.
Discussion Boards can stimulate critical thinking, develop a strong class community, exercise research skills, and empower students by developing a sense of ownership over their own learning. Conversely, DB lack real-time interaction, technical issues can create frustration for both students and instructors, plagiarism and "netiquette" challenges exist, and grading and coordination of DB can be extremely time-consuming for instructors. Join this interactive session to discuss what you have found successful and not so successful when it comes to managing online Discussion Boards.
There have been major changes in all of our developmental English and Math courses. Join Adam Robinson (ENG) and Bob Hatcher (MTH) in discussing the changes in these courses and the repercussions for students across the college.
An intentionally designed Canvas course site benefits both you and your students, providing a clear structure that supports student success, and eases course management. This session focusing on face-to-face and virtual courses, will start from the beginning with the home page, syllabus and schedule and a little gradebook guidance. Next, we'll work on building out the modules to incorporate your graded items and any other materials students may need.