Information Technology Services

Need to revamp a course? Wondering what to do with an assignment that seems to "flop" on delivery? Want to incorporate more team-based learning? At a consultation, instructional designers listen to your specific concerns and collaborate with you to find a solution, whether you are teaching online, face-to-face, or in a blended format. Deliverables from consultations are unique to each faculty member, but often include:

• tools for creating engaging assignments and measurable assessments (e.g. rubric templates and assessment ideas)
• a blueprint for your Blackboard course (e.g. navigation and layout tips/models)
• communication strategies aimed at increasing student success (e.g. planning grids and best practices for retention)
• syllabus revisions that address instructional goals

Schedule an appointment with one of our instructional designers by completing the consultation request form.

Moving from a 16-week to an 8-, 5-, or 3-week course format can be a huge undertaking. So can going online -- fully or partially. Instructional designers can help you prepare for this type of shift through a course mapping process focusing on student learning and considering the pacing and engagement strategies which make courses effective, regardless of the format. 

Instructional designers can build courses from the ground up, working with faculty as the subject matter experts. Request a consultation to discuss your course building needs.

The Instructional Design & Learning Technologies team uses a quality course review instrument designed by Open SUNY to offer thorough course reviews and to facilitate peer-to-peer course reviews across campus departments. Faculty can request a review from IDLT online or can inquire about using the Open SUNY Course Quality Review rubric (OSCQR) as a part of a peer review process.

Sometimes a faculty team or an entire department takes on a new challenge, like moving a program online or building consistency across multiple sections of the same course. For these situations, IDLT can customize a workshop or facilitate a discussion to meet the unique needs of the group. Past examples range from hosting specific technical sessions, such as using Zoom to facilitate office hours and increase student support, to offering workshops on course design models that make building and revamping courses more efficient for faculty and effective for students. View currently scheduled events on the Center for Faculty Development and Innovation web page or schedule a consultation to begin designing a customized session tailored specifically to the needs of your department or other group.

Whether you need a quiet place to record a lecture or access to special technology like lightboards and virtual reality equipment, IDLT can help you find a working space on campus. Send us an email or give us a call to reserve a working space.

Sometimes faculty need feedback on a specific assignment, lecture component, navigation, or other course elements. Designers look at course materials as a part of the larger learning picture and provide recommendations based on how adults learn in various environments and on the support learners need to achieve the desired outcomes. Our office can also help connect new faculty and teaching staff to peers in related disciplines for additional feedback.

Before introducing a new tool or technology-driven process to your students, think about giving it a test run with IDLT. We are delighted to help faculty integrate technology into their classrooms as seamlessly as possible. From audience response systems to online assignment submissions, we help faculty investigate the many tools available and find the best option for each learning situation. 

The Resource Development team of IDLT creates instructional and informational resources for departments and programs. With a combination of text, videos, and decision-making activities, users can navigate modules to learn software, review department policies and procedures, or view presentations. Schedule a consultation to discuss your resource or training needs.