The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us we must be ready to pivot to different learning modalities that meet our students’ needs when we cannot teach on campus. The Flexible Teaching for Student Success Initiative will prepare Boise State University to deliver classes online, in person, and in various combinations thereof during fall 2020. We want to ensure every faculty member has the tools and skills they need to be successful. These efforts will serve us well, both individually and institutionally, even after the COVID-19 pandemic is in the rear-view mirror.
In Flexible Teaching for Student Success, the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) and eCampus Center are partnering to offer development opportunities during summer 2020 to help faculty create highly flexible courses for the fall. Faculty can engage with this work at levels they choose, supported by CTL and eCampus Center staff as they prepare high-quality courses for our students, regardless of format.
Program Description
The Flexible Teaching for Student Success Initiative has three tiers, offering faculty flexibility in time and dates to engage in this work. Content is similar across the tiers, so select the option that best aligns with your needs and availability.
Tier 1: Institute
- A single, 3-week facilitated institute
- 36 asynchronous hours with robust deliverables
- $1,000 stipend*
Tier 2: Workshop
- Menu of six, 1-week facilitated workshops
- 3-hour asynchronous workshops with targeted deliverables
- $250 stipend* for completing 3 workshops and a fall implementation plan
Tier 3: Resources
- Independent access to resources and help sessions
- No deliverables
- No stipend
Tier Details And Application Process
Description
In the Flexible Teaching for Student Success Institute, faculty will experience an online course from the student perspective, while participating in interactive and individual activities that give them opportunities to consider important aspects of their fall courses. Participants will review their course learning outcomes, identify alternative assessments, review the key elements of asynchronous teaching and plan ways to create engaging, inclusive online spaces for students. At the end of the institute, faculty participants will have a foundation for flexible teaching in the fall.
This experience is best for:
- Faculty new to asynchronous teaching who would benefit from specific, immediate feedback
- Faculty with experience in some/all of the topic areas, but looking for additional skills and/or collaboration on course materials
Faculty who complete this experience and submit the required deliverables will be eligible to receive a $1000 stipend*.
Schedule
The Tier 1 institute will be offered four times during the summer in the following sessions:
- June 1 – June 19
- June 15 – July 3
- July 6 – July 24
- July 20 – August 7
Application Process
For each session, there will be multiple groups of faculty being supported by facilitators. (Think of it as multiple sections of a course offered simultaneously).
It is our goal to assemble these groups so that the work that you complete during the three weeks will be both rich and efficient.
Before applying, consider which of the following will work best for you, as you will need to indicate a preference on the application form.
- Participation as an individual (you working on our own course(s) in a cohort with other individual faculty)
- Participation as part of a cohort (e.g., all UF100 instructors, all first-year writing instructors, everyone from a particular program, a group of people who all teach the same course)
- Cohorts are encouraged when possible because planning can benefit from community interactions focused on building similar courses.
To be fully considered for participation, complete the application form for the institute by Tuesday, May 12 (5pm). Applications received after that date will be considered on a space-available basis.
Applicants will be notified about whether or not they have been accepted by Wednesday, May 20, 2020.
Tier 1 is completely full.
Thank you for your interest!
* This summer, Boise State faculty and staff are collaborating in an exceptional effort to ensure instructors are ready to engage our students this fall. Because most faculty are off-contract during the summer months, the University will provide stipends to instructors who complete select faculty development opportunities. At the same time, the university is responding to the budgetary fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic and professional staff are taking furlough days this summer. We recognize the summer stipend will provide essential support to many instructors, while other instructors may wish to forgo stipends. Instructors who enroll in Tier 1 or Tier 2 experiences will later have an opportunity to opt out of the stipend for this summer work.
Contact Us
If you have questions about faculty development opportunities in the Flexible Teaching for Student Success Initiative contact ecampus@boisestate.edu
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can Graduate Students participate in this initiative?
Graduate students play an important role in supporting our Boise State students. We envision that the “Tier 2: Workshops” option will meet the needs of most graduate students. If you are a graduate student (or your program has a graduate student) who is teaching a course for which you think “Tier 1: Institutes” would better meet your needs, please send us an email to discuss it at ecampus@boisestate.edu. [Graduate TA orientation scheduled for August, is also being planned with fall needs in mind]. - My course has been taught online by someone else. Can I use their course design/course shell as a starting point?
For faculty applying for “Tier 1: Institute”, there is a question related to this in the application process. For other instructors, contact helpdesk@boisestate.edu for assistance. - If I apply to Tier 1: Institutes but either don’t get in (because of space or because I am accepted into a session that I can’t do because of calendar conflicts), will I be automatically enrolled in Tier 2: Workshops?
If you are not accepted into Tier 1 or decline to participate in the available dates, then you will be invited to enroll in Tier 2. - Can I participate in both Tier 1: Institute and Tier 2: Workshops?
Faculty are welcome to participate in both Tier 1 and Tier 2 (as space allows), but they may only receive a stipend for one of the experiences. - After discussing with my chair, I want to transition my fall in-person course to online or remote or hybrid, but I have not participated in faculty development in any of these areas. Will FTSS offerings help me? Would it be advisable to enroll in Tier 1 or Tier 2?
Both Tier 1 and 2 FTSS offerings are focused on expanding a faculty member’s knowledge of asynchronous online strategies that are useful in any course offering. We encourage anyone transitioning from in-person teaching to invest in professional development. Whether you choose a Tier 1 or 2 depends on space available in the sessions and on your time available. These offerings will cover the basics that you need. We look forward to your participation in future eCampus Center and CTL offerings to build on the knowledge, skills and experience you gain this summer and fall. - Can I receive payment for participation in Tier 1 or Tier 2 as a budget transfer rather than a stipend?
Payment for Tier 1 and Tier 2 can only be given as a stipend.