Thank You!

Greetings, fellow IL faculty!

As the Independent Learning program at UW-Madison wraps up, we wanted to share two items:

This Independent Learning Booklet celebrates the instructors and program at UW-Madison, with a history of the program and memories shared by IL DCS faculty.

This video shares a brief history of the IL Program at UW-Madison.

Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for the IL Program. The real impact of the program continues in the lives of countless students we’ve taught and supported.

All the best to you and yours!

ADEIL Conference Next Week

This year, the Association for Distance Education and Independent Learning is making their conference free for all to attend. There will be a variety of presentations next Friday, October 16, and there is a welcome and networking event the evening of Thursday, October 15. You can register at this link:
https://adeil.org/adeil-28th-annual-conference-registration-page/

Leading up to the conference, you can view the ADEIL Course Showcase, a juried selection of presentations where instructors and instructional designers highlight their courses. You will soon be able to view those presentations at https://adeil.org/course-showcase-2020/

Hope to see you there!

8 Remote Participation Strategies

Are you looking to add opportunities for students to participate in your classes? The following article shares eight strategies: five synchronous and three asynchronous.
https://www.edutopia.org/article/8-strategies-improve-participation-your-virtual-classroom

Do you have any favorites from this article? What are some strategies you use to foster participation in your courses?

Present at ADEIL’s 28th Annual (and 1st Virtual) Conference

In October, ADEIL, the Association for Distance Education and Independent Learning, will host their 28th Annual (and 1st Virtual Conference). Interested in sharing some of your knowledge and experience in a presentation? You can submit your proposal here: https://adeil.org/adeil-28th-annual-conference-call-for-proposals/

Building Community in the Online Classroom

As we work on building a sense of community and engagement in our classrooms, this article might offer a few ideas:
https://www.chronicle.com/article/Turns-Out-You-Can-Build/249038

The ideas are from a synchronous online course, which differs from our asynchronous Independent Learning courses with regularly scheduled class sessions. However, it’s interesting to read about how personal essay writing, which can be incorporated into any course, can help build community.

Attending DT&L Conference

This summer, UW-Madison will host the annual DT&L (Distance Teaching & Learning Conference) on August 3-7. DT&L is a great opportunity to learn about topics including design, teaching, curriculum and technology tools. There will also be opportunities to network and discuss. This year, the conference will take place online.

Additionally, this year, the main conference programming is free for UW-Madison employees – which includes Independent Learning faculty who teach through DCS – to attend. To attend the main conference programming for free, go to dtlconference.wisc.edu and use code KQX4693 to waive the registration fee. Please note that you’ll need to use your wisc.edu email address to register.

Hope to virtually see you there!

Library Resources

As part of a gradual, phased reopening of campus, UW-Madison libraries will begin offering Pickup by Appointment services. You can begin making requests now, and starting June 15, library staff will begin filling requests and offering appointments to pick up requested material. Please note that only materials in Memorial Library are currently available to request, and not all materials are eligible for this service. For more information, go to:
https://www.library.wisc.edu/news/2020/06/10/libraries-launch-pickup-by-appointment-service-increasing-access-to-some-requested-physical-materials/

Additionally, the UW-Madison libraries have highlighted anti-racism resources. These resources can be found here:
https://www.library.wisc.edu/news/2020/06/03/anti-racism-resources-and-the-uw-libraries/

UW Now Series: Confronting COVID-19 Misinformation

Next week Tuesday, June 9, the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association will host Professor Ajay Sethi for the discussion “Confronting COVID-19 Misinformation.” Professor Sethi is an infectious disease epidemiologist and faculty at UW–Madison; he teaches the popular course Conspiracies in Public Health at UW. After his talk, Sethi will take questions from the audience via live chat.

In recent years, a number of Independent Learning courses have offered students activities that help evaluate the credibility of sources, and this should be an excellent discussion on credible information about a very relevant topic.

For more information, or to sign up for reminder 30 minutes before the event starts, go to:
https://www.allwaysforward.org/thanks-for-your-interest/?utm_source=uwnow_0602&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=cc20&utm_content=text

Want to help plan a virtual conference?

ADEIL, the Association for Distance Education and Independent Learning, will be hosting a virtual conference later this year, and they’re recruiting members for the planning committee.

Would you like to help plan this organization’s first virtual conference? You can contact ADEIL member Aisha Haynes: haynesa@email.sc.edu