The Center for Teaching has partnered with instructional design firm iDesign to provide faculty with additional instructional design support as preparations continue for online and hybrid teaching this fall. iDesign’s concierge-level support supplements and extends the resources already offered by the CFT and helps faculty harness the potential of emerging technologies to design courses that make an impact.
“Recent months have reaffirmed the critical importance of faculty-led innovation, resilience, and collaboration, especially in today’s difficult and unusual circumstances,” said Tracey George, vice provost for faculty affairs. “As educators and students alike navigate uncertain times, this on-demand support center will provide an invaluable service for our teaching faculty, helping them build their capacity, overcome hurdles to online instruction, and refine their teaching practice in an online or hybrid teaching environment.”
Beginning Friday, July 24, Vanderbilt faculty will receive access to a hub of resources to support online teaching and course design, a la carte access to instructional design support services and troubleshooting, and templates for use within Vanderbilt’s learning management system. Resources include:
iDesign Faculty Resource Hub
The iDesign Faculty Resource Hub, located in Brightspace, provides a variety of course design, teaching, and technology tips and guides, as well as a way for faculty seeking instructional design support to reach out to iDesign consultants.
iDesign Masterclass Series
The Masterclass Series is a weeklong event during which online learning designers walk faculty through the steps of the course development process. The Masterclass consists of daily interactive Zoom sessions that are recorded, summarized, and posted to the iDesign Faculty Resource Hub. Each session is focused and provides ideas on using the technology tools at faculty’s disposal to supplement teaching.
The summer 2020 iDesign Masterclass Series will be held from Monday, July 27, to Friday, July 31, with Zoom sessions from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Central each day.
iDesign Support Hours
iDesign learning specialists are on-hand to assist faculty with your design and teaching effectiveness questions. iDesign is available to help with any questions related to how to best implement a teaching strategy or best practice in a course. Support requests can be submitted through the iDesign Faculty Resource Hub or via brightspace@vanderbilt.edu.
“Faculty and other instructors will have to practice a kind of adaptive teaching this fall,” said Derek Bruff, director of the Center for Teaching. “I’m excited to partner with the experts at iDesign to help our faculty approach this fall’s teaching with more creativity and confidence.”
Information on accessing the new iDesign services, including the July 27-31 Masterclass Series, can be found on the CFT’s iDesign Resources page. Information about other CFT offerings can be found on the CFT’s “Preparing for Fall 2020” resource overview.