screenshot of Courant grader training module

Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences – Moving Grader Orientation Online

Posted on by Andrew Greene in Blended + online, Education, Sciences
 

Summary

The FAS Office of Educational Technology collaborated with Courant Mathematics and  NYU’s Learning and Organizational Development team to design, develop, and produce a training module for the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences graders.

example grading animation

FAS Ed Tech created illustrative graphics, custom animations, and custom branching logic that allowed graders from four different course assignments (and any combination thereof) to use the same module for training, greatly streamlining the enrollment process.

Previously, graders attended their training in-person, which complicated the process of hiring additional and/or replacement graders, as well as preventing assessment of training impact.  Moving grader training online allows Courant to provide grader training as needed through iLearn enrollments.  Further, the module reports all results to the iLearn system, which can automatically confirm whether a grader successfully completes the training, as well as notify administration.

Additionally, Courant now has the opportunity to build upon the successes of the first iteration to include additional activities, content, and reporting features, using both data and learner feedback to guide future iterations.

Goals

  • Develop online module to train Courant Mathematics graders in the following topics:  grader roles, responsibilities, grading best practices, legal implications
  • Include branching to allow training for any combination of the following course assignments:
    • Algebra and Calculus
    • Calculus/MFE I-III
    • Discrete Mathematics/Upper-Level Courses
    • Linear Algebra
  • Ensure accurate reporting, compatibility with NYU iLearn platform
  • Accessibility-compliant content: screen reader compatibility, speech-text for math examples

Outcomes

Courant Mathematics successfully implemented the training module (hosted on iLearn) for the Fall 2019 semester, and will require all graders to successfully complete training before hiring.  Courant will be gathering feedback from this first iteration to inform changes and enhancements for the next version of the training.  Results have been positive with faculty experiencing significantly fewer complaints and regrade requests from students.

“I found the orientation pretty helpful. It helped me understand the basic difference between algebraic and conceptual errors related to integration. And since it is online, it gave me a lot of flexibility time-wise. Also, since it is not too long, it’s easy to follow.”

Grader Trainee

Technology Resources

  • Adobe Captivate + MathMagic (module authoring, math notation rendering)
  • Adobe Creative Cloud (graphics and animations)
  • VideoScribe (animation software)
  • NYU Classes + SCORM Cloud (for hosting review drafts)
  • NYU iLearn
screenshot of goal setting module

Getting Students ‘Back on Track’ – Interactive Online Modules for CAS Academic Advising

Posted on by Andrew Greene in Analytics + assessment, Blended + online, Discipline, Education

Updated on 9/23/19

Summary

FAS Ed Tech assisted CAS Advising in developing interactive modules for an online course of study to help students on academic probation improve academic performance. Students complete modules prior to meetings with advisors, building skills and knowledge in four key areas: goals and goal setting, time management, learning strategies, and aligning interests, careers and majors.

Goals

  • Develop original static presentations into enhanced interactive online versions
  • Enable learners to individualize learning activities with personalized content:
    • Goals and Goal Setting Module: learners develop strategies for writing effective goals, and create an action plan. Interactive tools are provided for building self-motivation, including how to develop self-efficacy and a growth mindset.
    • Time Management Module: learners can input a week’s list of activities and practice prioritizing them using a drag and drop interaction
    • Interests, Careers, and Majors Module: extensive branching functionality enables learners to match programs of study that align with their interests
  • Track learner progress and input for follow up meetings with advisor

Outcomes

CAS Advising has been offering the Back on Track modules to over 50 academic probationary students per semester since Spring 2017.  Students complete reflective assignments, connecting module content and activities to their personal experience. Learners are able to consider many factors affecting their academic performance as well as strategies for improvement in advance of meeting with their advisors.  Early data is demonstrating both a decrease in course withdrawals and an increase in GPA for these learners, and the Back on Track program has been featured in an article on Academic Advising Today.

The FAS Office of Ed Tech is currently working with CAS Advising to revise the modules with updated content, and accessibility and data-reporting enhancements.  The future goal is to develop versions of the content for the broader NYU community.

Technology Resources

  • Adobe Captivate
  • Adobe Creative Cloud
  • Articulate Storyline
  • NYU Classes
  • SCORM Cloud

Example Module: Motivation and Goal Setting

Click on the link to view the Motivation and Goal Setting Module.

Journalism screenshot

Adam Penenberg – Journalism Foundations Online Course Site

Posted on by Andrew Greene in Blended + online, Social sciences

Summary

FAS Ed Tech connected Journalism Professor Adam Penenberg with the Central IT Instructional Design Team to develop an online course site focused on basic journalistic principles for incoming students.  Utilizing content Professor Penenberg had originally created in Google docs, FAS Ed Tech and the Central IT team developed a comprehensive course of study in NYU Classes, which students can complete prior to beginning their face-to-face courses.  

Goals

  • Consult with instructor on best practices for online instruction
  • Identify design issues adapting Google Docs content for Classes tools
  • Leverage NYU Classes tools to provide asynchronous instruction in journalistic foundations
  • Build NYU Classes course site incorporating instructor’s existing content with affordances of Classes tools
  • Include formative assessment to improve iterations of the course

Technology Resources

  • Google Docs
  • NYU Classes
  • Qualtrics

Outcomes

These introductory modules have been offered to entering Journalism students since the summer of 2017.  In addition to providing basic information in journalistic law, ethics, history, and grammar, instructors can view analytics regarding the multiple assessments throughout the content, and identify areas to address with their students.  Students begin their classes with a stronger background in foundational knowledge.

Dvorak Project - Prof. Beckerman

Michael Beckerman – Musical Geographies of Dvorak’s New York

Posted on by Andrew Greene in Humanities, PBL + collaboration

Summary

FAS Ed Tech worked closely with FAS Music Professor Michael Beckerman on a collaborative class project for his Freshman Seminar class. Students learned to use Geographical Information Systems (GIS) technology as both a research and narrative tool, demonstrating connections among New York City’s history, geography, and architecture, and connecting these with Dvořák’s impact on and experience with American music culture during his time spent in the city (1892-1895).  Students used the Fulcrum app on their mobile devices to explore and collect information from locations around the city significant to Dvořák’s time. While developing their “story map” students investigated several different threads that emerged from the initial data captured via the Fulcrum app.  

Goals

  • Assist Professor Beckerman and students in a project combining location data, multimedia, and historical reSearch
  • Determine, in collaboration with instructor and students, appropriate tools for location-based research and media collection for student projects
  • Partner with NYU Library Data Services to provide access and training to GIS tools (Fulcrum, ESRI)
  • Facilitate management of student-generated data collections  and provide technical assistance importing Fulcrum data into ESRI Story Maps

Outcomes

Combining location data, multimedia, and historical information, Professor Beckerman’s students used both CARTO and ESRI Story Maps to create interactive, GIS-focused presentations describing Dvořák’s influence on NYC and American music cultures, as well as America’s musical influence on Dvořák.

Technology Resources

  • Fulcrum mobile app
  • ESRI Story Maps
  • Carto
Virtual Hindi

Gabriela Nik Ilieva – Web Publishing for Language Instruction – Virtual Hindi, Virtual Urdu, Virtual Bhangra

Posted on by Andrew Greene in Blended + online, Language instruction

Summary

After learning about NYU’s Web Publishing service from attending the FAS Innovation in Language Teaching Workshop, Professor Gabriela Nik Ilieva decided to use the NYU Web Publishing platform (WordPress) for her project building websites for collecting, organizing, and sharing instructional materials for Hindi, Urdu, and Bhangra; languages that are underrepresented with respect to open educational resources. In consultation with FAS Ed Tech, Professor Ilieva built several WordPress sites dedicated to Hindi, Urdu, and Bhangra language resources.

Goals

  • Identify appropriate platform for instructional website (WordPress vs. Google Sites)
  • Strategize with faculty on site structure and design
  • Train faculty on WordPress site building and administration
  • Advise on content migration from old website(s)

Outcomes

Professor Ilieva now has online spaces where she can more easily collect, develop, and share teaching resources, and can leverage WordPress’ easy to use customizability and extensibility through various widgets and plugins. Professor Ilieva has future plans to incorporate additional interactive content into her sites, as well as design separate areas for instructors and students.  In addition, she is interested in collaborating with teachers and learners beyond the NYU community, and is looking into further development of her sites’ functionality.

Technology Resources

  • NYU Web Publishing (WordPress)
  • YouTube
  • Google Drive
Life Science course screenshot

Liberal Studies Faculty – Life Science Online Modules

Posted on by Andrew Greene in Blended + online, Sciences

Summary

FAS Ed Tech partnered with Liberal Studies Life Science professors Lori Nicholas and Kevin Bonney to develop interactive content modules for use in both their face-to-face and online courses (LS launched a pilot online course in Life Science for the Summer 2017 semester).  Each module presents course content through accessible, interactive multimedia presentations that also test students on their knowledge and understanding of the material.

Goals

  • Produce interactive content modules for 12 units of study based on instructor-developed PowerPoint presentations
  • Record voice-over narration and generate transcripts for accessibility
  • Incorporate assessments for learners to check knowledge and basic understanding of concepts

Outcomes

These modules have been an important part of the Life Science course through several semesters.  Students in the face-to-face courses have been able to review content prior to coming to class and can utilize class time to ask questions, clarify misconceptions, and dive deeper into the material.  During class, the instructor can spend more time on the active application of concepts and further exploration of the topics.

Technology Resources

  • MS PowerPoint
  • Articulate Storyline
  • NYU Classes
  • SCORM Cloud

Example Module: Introduction to the Immune System