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The Only Thing to Fear is Fear Itself: How I Overcame My Anxiety About Student Evaluations of Teaching

I had never been speechless and embarrassed in my professional life until that Thursday evening.  After class, one of my students said something to me that I never forgot: “Ms. Jean-Francois, I don’t mind reading about technology and all, but who wants to hear the same topic over and over again for three and a half months.” Translation—my class was boring. Yes, at some points, talking about the same thing repeatedly could become repetitive and mundane. His honest statement stung because he said it in front of other students. Some others probably felt the same way, too. With my wounded ego, I tried to defend myself. I told him that we were examining the topic from different angles. My explanation did not work. I went home wounded because I did a lot of leg work to prepare for the semester. I was five years deep teaching in higher education, so I thought I was on top of my game. Who wanted to be called “boring”?  After stressing over it for a few days, I realized that my student...
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The Vol State OER Starter Kit

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Semester Start-Up: eLearn Help at Your Fingertips

Welcome to August 2022!  As I write, convocation is less than two weeks away. Classes start in less than three weeks on August 22. Many of you are creating new learning resources, assignments, and assessments. Some of you are preparing to teach courses you've never taught before or are preparing to teach a familiar course in a new way. Certainly, our work lives are quickening to the increasing rhythms of the academic year as Fall Semester approaches. When it comes to your eLearn sections, hit the "Don't Panic" button if you find yourself feeling a little stressed. Help is at your fingertips. The Department of Distributed Education will help you solve any technical problems you have with eLearn or help you brainstorm creative ways to improve your online classes (well, the brainstorming may need to wait until beginning-of-semester chores are done). The best way to request eLearn support during this busy season is to email:           elearn@volstate.edu Y...
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HIP and TEL on eLearn

I’m lucky. My job as an instructional designer gives me a bird’s eye view of how VSCC faculty turn their diverse teaching philosophies into high quality, high impact learning opportunities on eLearn. Many of our faculty tie classroom learning to work-based learning . Mel Matthews, Sleep Diagnostics, provides students with opportunities to conduct clinical work at locations throughout Tennessee. In Veterinary Technology, Dr. Hope Wright and D.J. Smith lead students through the program by employing a cohort model, creating learning communities of students who grow together. Recently awarded a grant from the Tennessee Board of Regents, Dr. Jeremy Shipley and Dr. Matthew Williams-Wyant are writing a “ technology-enhanced learning “ textbook for PHIL 1030. They’ll host their textbook on Perusall , a technology that promotes peer-to-peer learning and accountability in completing coursework by turning homework into a social experience. HIPs All of these great learning opportunities—wo...
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