New DC Connect Course Template Announcement

The Centre for Academic and Faculty Enrichment (CAFE) has launched a new DC Connect course template for faculty. The template provides consistent structure and organization for online and hybrid courses and can be adapted for face-to-face courses. The template uses evidence-based design principles, as well as DC student feedback. We are encouraging faculty and program teams to use the new template to support consistency from the student experience side.

The new DC Connect template includes:

  1. A standard ‘Welcome’ module that reinforces student supports and DC policies
  2. Page layouts for videos, tables, lists and featured content displays that are easy to customize
  3. A Faculty How-To Guide that provides step-by-step guidance and videos on how to update the template to suit the course

Check it out:

How do I access the template?

To customize the template for your own course, start with a new DC Connect sandbox! Details and step-by-step resources are available on our site

Questions? Let us know DCConnect@durhamcollege.ca

Do you have feedback? Contact Tanya.Wakelin@durhamcollege.ca

Initiatives launching in May

The Centre for Academic and Faculty Enrichment (CAFE) has two new resources planned for May to continue supporting faculty as they move their fall courses online.

Online Course Exemplar

Launching May 8th

Built on the DC Connect template described above, this online exemplar will provide faculty with an exemplar module in DC Connect. The exemplar shows what one module with course content might look like, integrating activities that are based on the science of learning principles.

New Professional Development Series: How to Facilitate Online Learning Effectively

Launching May

This new PD series will be facilitated as an asynchronous course with synchronous elements. Faculty may choose the option that best suits their requirements. The series will apply evidence-based principles to support student learning. Online teaching strategies including discussion facilitation, learner-focused feedback, and formative and summative assessments will be covered.

Faculty may work along with their own courses in the series or choose to join specific sessions based on their needs. More details will be shared soon!

We are continuing to provide weekly PD opportunities on tools such as the Virtual Classroom, Video Assignments, DC Connect and other Microsoft tools. Keep an eye on our website for new releases.

While waiting for the launch of the workshop series, faculty may consider the following activities:

  1. Review the inventory of your current face-to-face teaching materials. Remember that you aren’t starting from scratch!
  2. Consider your course learning outcomes and assessments as noted in your course outline. Do you have heavily weighed assessments that require proctoring? Consider converting them to authentic assessments using this decision-making tool
  3. Consider learning activities for students to actively engage with the course content and one another. Use this resource to support meeting your outcomes in an online environment.
  4. Consider how you might structure your online course. Will you build a weekly structure or group content online based on topics?
  5. Source online materials that can be used to build content, such as videos and open educational materials. The Library’s Subject Specialists are available remotely to help faculty members find alternative course content.
  6. Consider using OneDrive to organize your content for each course.

As always, the CAFE is here for you with resources such as Planning to move your course online and Achieving outcomes using educational technology.