The Teaching & Learning Excellence Division (TLED), Distance Education, the Health Science Division, the Faculty Center for Learning Innovation (FCLI), and other collaborators across Austin Community College (ACC) are offering several professional development events this fall semester. Be sure to mark these dates on your calendar!

TLED offers essential tools and resources that enable ACC faculty and staff to grow professionally and enhance the learning environment.

  • Academic Alert
    • Academic Alert is a feature of Inspire, a comprehensive student support system, that allows ACC faculty to easily and quickly communicate with students needing extra support.
  • Semester Prep
    • The semester prep website lists the most relevant and helpful support information needed to assist ACC faculty in preparing for the upcoming semester.
  • TLED GAI Guide
    • This guide provides a starting point and guidelines for Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) within the context of teaching and learning.

All-Adjunct Assembly on August 29, 2024

  • The Adjunct Faculty Association is proud to host the inaugural All-Adjunct Assembly at Highland Campus on Thursday, August 29, 2024, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This festive, drop-in, indoor/outdoor/virtual event will feature a silent auction to raise money for the Employee Emergency Fund, giveaways, free office supplies and books, a Hyflex classroom demonstration, information tables, networking, camaraderie, and free food and refreshments. This social event is open to all adjunct faculty at ACC and will have a virtual option as well, so please RSVP below and also help spread the word!

Distance Education Fall Semester Offerings

  • DE Fall Faculty Learning Community (FLC): DE Inclusive Teaching
    • The Distance & Alternative Education Office is offering an Inclusive Teaching Faculty Learning Community (FLC) designed to equip educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively facilitate distance education while promoting inclusivity.
    • Fridays on October 4, October 11, October 25, November 1, November 15, and November 22 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
  • DE Fall Institute: HyFlex Teaching and Learning
    • The 2024 DE Fall Institute: HyFlex Teaching and Learning, sponsored by the Distance & Alternative Education Office, is designed to help you prepare for teaching a HyFlex class.
      • Saturday, November 16; AM Session: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; PM Session: 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
  • Online Course Redesign Academy (OCRA)
    • This is a two-part training to help ACC distance education courses meet Quality Matters standards: A) Learning to apply the Quality Matters Rubric (APPQMR) by attending this training and B) Completion of the course (re)design, development, and QM Review Process with DE Instructional Designers.
      • Face-to-Face Session: Friday, September 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
      • Virtual Session: Thursday, October 17, and Friday, October 18 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Great Questions Faculty Training: Fall 2024

  • The goal of the seminar is to explore the curriculum of HUMA 1301: The Great Questions Seminar, a discussion-based student success course.  Faculty will develop and deepen the practice and skills required to lead engaging discussion-based courses focused on transformative texts. Faculty participants will be paid $600 for their full participation in the faculty training seminars.
    • Applications are due September 25, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

Health Science Division & TLED Present: AI Implications in Healthcare and Education Symposium

  • The symposium will explore the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on these critical fields. This event aims to showcase the latest trends, breakthroughs, and applications of AI technologies in healthcare and higher education, revealing how these innovations are revolutionizing patient care and educational practices.
    • Tuesday, October 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Learn-and-Go Faculty Forum hosted by CFID – Save the Date

  • The Committee for Faculty Innovation and Development (CFID) in conjunction with the Faculty Center for Learning Innovation (FCLI), the TLED Office of Faculty Development, and the Office of Belonging and Purpose offers an opportunity for ACC Faculty (Instructors, Counselors, Librarians) to attend the 2024 Learn-and-Go Faculty Forum.
    • Thursday, September 19 at 2:00 p.m.
    • Topic: Integrated AI Tools at ACC

Packback Workshops

  • Join your colleagues to discover where increased engagement meets uncompromised efficiency! Two virtual demonstrations will be offered in August so ACC employees can learn more about Packback.
    • Tuesday, August 20 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
    • Friday, August 23 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Teaching as a Spiritual Practice Faculty Interest Group (FIG)

  • A Faculty Interest Group (FIG) is forming to explore teaching as a spiritual practice—how we view our work as a calling and what sustains us as educators. Faculty interested in joining are encouraged to contact Amy Wink at awink@austincc.edu for more information.
    • Deadline to register is September 16, 2024, by the end of business day. 

TLA Kickoff Keynote Speaker Event

  • All ACC Faculty are cordially invited to attend the keynote presentation for The Teaching and Learning Academy’s Kickoff Retreat. While the full retreat is designed for participants of the Teaching and Learning Academy (TLA), the keynote presentation is an exciting opportunity for faculty throughout the College to gain tools that will assist them in collaborating with students and loving them to success.
    • Friday, September 13 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

VoiceThread Workshops

  • VoiceThread is a web-based tool that allows users to create and share media projects that include images, videos, audio, text, and drawings. Users can add comments to the media using a microphone, webcam, keyboard, or telephone. 
    • Dr. Raelynne Hale: Using VoiceThread for Language Courses
      • In this session, Dr. Raelynne Hale from Kansas State University will showcase a variety of VoiceThreads from her language courses. Dr. Hale is an Assistant Professor and Spanish Language Program Co-coordinator.
        • Tuesday, August 20 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
    • VoiceThread Basics 3: Moderating comments, private and threaded replies, and copying
      • In our third hands-on workshop in the series, participants will learn how to give private feedback, use threaded commenting, copy VoiceThreads for use with multiple groups, and use comment moderation to formatively assess student work.
        • Tuesday, August 27 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

 

3-Day Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) Conference Grant

  • The ACC Office of Energy & Sustainability seeks students, faculty, and staff interested in attending the annual Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) Conference. The event will be held in Anaheim, California.
    • October 27 through October 29, 2024
      • The deadline to apply is Wednesday, September 11.

Asana Trainings

  • Asana users at ACC are invited to join us online for Beginner and Advanced Asana training sessions.
    • Beginner Sessions:
      • Tuesday, September 3 from 10:00 – 11:15 a.m.
      • Monday, October 7 from 2:00 – 3:15 p.m.
      • Wednesday, November 13 from 9:00 – 10:15 a.m.
      • Monday, December 9 from 1:00 – 2:15 p.m.
    • Intermediate Sessions:
      • Wednesday, September 4 from 10:00 – 11:15 a.m.
      • Tuesday, October 8 from 2:00 – 3:15 p.m.
      • Thursday, November 14 from 9:00 – 10:15 a.m.
      • Tuesday, December 10 from 1:00 – 2:15 p.m.
    • Advanced Sessions:
      • Monday, September 9 from 9:00 – 10:15 a.m.
      • Wednesday, October 16 from 10:00 – 11:15 a.m.
      • Thursday, November 21 from 2:00 – 3:15 p.m.
      • Monday, December 16 from 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Award Nominations

  • It’s time to submit a nomination for the ACC Leadership Awards, the ACC Teaching Excellence Awards, the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty, and the E-Faculty of the Year Award. Recipients of these awards will be recognized at the ACC Awards Celebration in the spring. 
    • The deadline to submit a nomination is October 14, 2024.

General Assembly 2024: Loving Students to Success

  • Every fall, ACC proudly hosts the General Assembly bringing together employees from across the District to connect, learn about the state of the college, celebrate our successes, and get excited about the future.

Red Bench Dialogue Event

  • Interfaith Action of Central Texas describes the Red Bench as “an ongoing dialogue program designed to address one of the most pressing needs of our time: improving interfaith understanding and civil discourse in our society.
    • Tuesday, October 29, 2024 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Remote Recess Fall Sessions

  • Remote Recess sessions allow faculty to gather online and learn something new in a low-stakes, casual, and FUN way.
    • Exploring Collaborative Whiteboard Tools
      • Join us to learn about what collaborative whiteboard tools are available and try using one in an online class environment.
        • Tuesday, September 10 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
    • Office Hours with Zoom
      • This short workshop is an introduction to using Zoom for virtual office hours with your students.
        • Wednesday, September 18 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
    • Save Time: AI Solutions for Universal Design and Accessibility
      • Join us to discover ways of using AI tools to make your course accessible and save yourself design time!
        • Tuesday, September 24 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
    • Faculty Perspectives — Adobe Express Presentations using Text-to-AI features with Dr. C. Jason Vidrine
      • Join guest presenter Dr. C. Jason Vidrine, Professor of Communication Studies and Assistant Dean of Liberal Arts Area of Study, as he shows us how he uses Adobe Express’ presentation features and text-to-AI functionality to create engaging presentation materials for his classes.
        • Wednesday, October 9 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. 
    • Panopto: Overview with Blackboard
      • Learn how to connect Panopto to Blackboard, create quizzes, and student submissions.
        • Tuesday, October 22 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
    • Getting Started with Panopto
      • Panopto is a powerful tool that features video creation and editing functionality; automatic machine captioning; effortless access on desktop and mobile devices. Join this session to get some quick-start tips for this easy-to-use tool.
        • Tuesday, October 29 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 
    • Innovative Assessment Techniques: Utilizing Padlet, VoiceThread, and Poll Everywhere
      • Discover innovative ways to employ Padlet, VoiceThread, and Poll Everywhere in your classroom to capture and assess student learning. This workshop will cover practical examples and best practices to conduct real-time assessments and facilitate meaningful student feedback.
        • Wednesday, November 6 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
    • Using AI Images for Learning
      • Discover different ways to use AI-generated images for both faculty and student needs.
        • Tuesday, November 19 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
    • Designing VoiceThread Activities: A Student-Centered Approach
      • Learn how to design VoiceThread activities that cater to diverse learning preferences. Participants will review strategies to ensure all students can effectively engage with and benefit from VoiceThread assignments.
        • Wednesday, December 4 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Riverbat Experience 2.0

  • Join us for Riverbat Experience 2.0, a transformative event dedicated to redefining the future of higher education! Immerse yourself in innovative ideas and groundbreaking developments from the Transform_Ed initiative, showcasing cutting-edge products designed to elevate the learning experience.
    • Friday, September 13 from  8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Department Chair Academy

  • Collegewide Department Chair Extended Meeting: Friday, September 27 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
  • Collegewide Department Chair Gathering: Friday, October 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

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View all of these events and more on our dedicated TLED Events Calendar. Be sure to follow TLED on social media for daily opportunities: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.