April instructional workshops highlight new Brightspace quiz experience, late submission policies, small groups

The Innovative Learning Team at West Lafayette, the Center for Faculty Excellence and the Office of Instructional Technology at Purdue Northwest, and the Purdue Fort Wayne Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT) offer several workshops and sessions in April to help instructors with Brightspace quizzes, gradebook and tools, late submission policies, using small groups, and active learning spaces.

Purdue West Lafayette

Brightspace New Quiz Creation Experience
Thu., Apr. 13, 10-10:30 a.m. ET and Wed., Apr. 26, 1-1:30 p.m. ET
Join us for a sneak peek of the new quiz creation interface coming to Brightspace!
On May 10, 2023, Purdue will adopt the New Quiz Creation Experience in Brightspace. This will replace the current quiz creation interface, so all existing quizzes or newly created quizzes will open in the new experience. D2L has designed the New Quiz Creation Experience to resemble the layout currently seen when creating or editing assignments. This session will provide a side-by-side comparison of our current quiz creation interface and the upcoming quiz creation experience, and highlight some newly added functionalities. Check out this link for additional information on the New Quiz Creation Experience.

Finalizing Your Brightspace Gradebook
Wed., Apr. 26, 9-10 a.m. ET
Want to end your course smoothly? This workshop will help.
This session will review the steps faculty should take to finalize their Brightspace gradebook. Presenters will cover some of the most common issues that come into Teaching and Learning Technologies about Brightspace grades at the end of each semester, show how to publish your final grades in Brightspace, and demonstrate how to translate those scores into letter grades and send them to MyPurdue/Banner.
Some common topics covered in this workshop include:
-Discover common issues with grade calculations in Brightspace.
-Learn how to set up and activate a grading scheme in Brightspace.
-Demonstrate how to send grades from Brightspace to Banner.

Seeking assistance with your Brightspace course? Have questions about a TLT-supported technology? This includes tools such as Gradescope, Kaltura, Circuit, iClicker, Hotseat, Respondus LockDown Browser/Monitor, and Variate. Daily drop-in sessions are offered every weekday throughout the semester. For drop-in session days/times, see the Training & Consultations calendar.
Additionally, TLT offers Custom Workshops for your campus unit, department, or college on any of the tools mentioned above, and more! Complete this form to request a custom session.

Purdue Fort Wayne

Align Late Submission Policy with Your Teaching Philosophy
Wed., Apr. 5, 11 a.m.-12 noon, ET
What is the goal of your late submission policy? Is it hurting or helping your students’ learning? Join this session to discuss and set up late submission policies that align with your teaching philosophy. Participants will also learn how to use technology to monitor students’ progress and automatically remind students for important due dates.

Making Brightspace Assessment Tools Work for You
Mon., Apr. 10, 11 a.m.-12 noon, ET
Join this session to explore your options for creating, delivering, collecting, and grading assignments in Brightspace. We will discuss different ways to use three Brightspace tools (assignments, discussions, and quizzes) and use the demo student tool to see the students’ experience.

Using Small Groups Effectively in Your Classroom
Wed., Apr. 10, 1:30-2:30 p.m., ET
Using small groups in your classroom can provide a dynamic learning environment when they are created and implemented effectively. In this workshop, we will explore both the instructor and student perspectives on this pedagogical strategy. You will both experience and learn about best practices for using group work in your classroom. Come prepared to engage!

Brightspace New Quiz Creation Experience
Thurs., Apr. 13. 9-9:30 a.m., ET
Brightspace will get a new-look for its quiz creation interface on May 10 that will streamline the process for instructors to create quizzes. Join us for a sneak peek of the new changes. During the session, CELT consultants will preview the new interface, its new settings, and answer questions from participants.

Vertical Learning Spaces
Mon., Apr. 17, 10-11 a.m., ET
What if we used a model of learning where students are up and engaged in small groups working on whitespaces or chart paper on open-ended problems during class, and the understandings emerge and evolve from these investigations? In this session, Dr. Betsy Berry will share her experiences, including successes and challenges using this model in her own classes.

Purdue Northwest

Work Sprints
Mon., April 3, 2-4 p.m. CT
Thurs., April 6, 10 a.m.-12 noon CT
Tues., April 11, 10 a.m.-12 noon CT
Wed., April 12, 2-4 p.m. CT
Mon., April 17, 1-3 p.m. CT
Thurs., April 20, 9-11 a.m. CT
Wed., April 26, 10 a.m.-12 noon CT
Thurs., April 27, 1-3 p.m. CT
A Work Sprint provides a focused block of time and supportive environment for you to commit to and have some level of accountability for accomplishing a task-specific goal. Attend any or all sessions. These are virtual meetings.

Active Learning Workshop
Fri., Apr. 14, 9-10 a.m. CT
Join your colleagues in learning how to apply active learning techniques in your classroom. This session will have a large classroom focus, but the active learning techniques demonstrated will be applicable to all classroom settings. Those attending will receive an Active Learning Toolkit that contains several of the items used in the demonstrations so you can begin using the techniques in your classroom.

Writing Retreat
Fri., Apr. 21, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. CT
A writing retreat provides a focused block of time and supportive environment for you to commit to and have some level of accountability for accomplishing a research goal. There will be no planned programming, instead it will be a time for you to focus on your research/writing goals and hopefully be very productive! The Writing Retreat is virtual via Zoom.

Promotion and Tenure Information Session
Fri., Apr. 28, 1-2:30 p.m. CT
Faculty are invited to attend an informational session regarding the promotion and tenure process at PNW. This session is a collaboration of the Center for Faculty Excellence, Faculty Senate, and Academic Affairs.

Grade Submit Demonstration
Fri., Apr. 14, 12:30-1 p.m. CT
The Office of Instructional Technology will be hosting a virtual demonstration on using the grade submit tool in Brightspace. This 30-minute session will explore setting the appropriate grade scheme, using the tool to submit grades and push to Banner, and differentiating between F and FN grades. We will also have an open Q&A after the demonstration.

Foundational Technology for Faculty
Ongoing
Explore the core components of instructional technology in the Foundational Faculty Training module in the PNW Brightspace Instructor Training Course. These self-paced topics include: creating Brightspace content and communication, flexibility in modality, grading, and using activities. Earn a badge for each completed area. This module is part of a series of competencies created for you by the Office of Instructional Technology.

Functional Technology for Faculty
Ongoing
Advance beyond the core components of getting started in Brightspace in the Functional Faculty Training module in the PNW Brightspace Instructor Training Course. These self-paced topics include: lecture capture; course transparency using communication, grade book settings, and organization; and efficiency in Brightspace. Earn a badge after sharing to the discussion board. This module is part of a series of competencies created for you by the Office of Instructional Technology.

For questions and support at your campus, contact:
Purdue Global: Direct teaching-related questions to askctl@purdueglobal.edu. Technical support questions should be directed to TechSupport@purdueglobal.edu or 866-522-7747 (toll-free).
Purdue Fort Wayne: Teaching-related questions should be directed to PFW’s Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT) at celt@pfw.edu, 260-481-6354, or CELT’s website for resources and to request one on one consultations. Technical support questions should be directed to PFW’s IT Services Help Desk helpdesk@pfw.edu or 260-481-6030.
Purdue Northwest: Direct teaching-related questions to the Center for Faculty Excellence at cfe@pnw.edu, 219-989-8328, or CFE’s website. Technical support questions should be directed to The Office of Instructional Technology by email oit@pnw.edu or OIT’s website or through their Virtual Help Desk.
Purdue West Lafayette: Visit the Innovative Learning website or email InnovativeLearningTeam@purdue.edu.