Faculty Training and Technology Upgrades

As the University plans for Fall 2020 reopening, faculty members will have many opportunities to participate in specialized training to equip them to provide quality instruction in online, remote, and hybrid teaching environments. In addition, technology upgrades are being completed across campus to further support quality remote instruction.

Training / Faculty Development

  • Focus Areas for Training
    • How to Design/Redesign/Improve Your Class for Online and Hybrid Modes
    • Getting Ready to Teach (Facilitate) Online and Hybrid Classes
    • How to Use Campus Academic Technologies Both In and Out of Class
  • Formats for Training Emphasize Extended Engagement
    • 2-week, 3-week, 5-week Workshops
    • Multiple Start Dates Throughout Summer [even as late as August 17 for those who were unable to do so sooner]
    • Facilitated by Instructional Designers, Faculty Mentors, and Instructional Assistants (GAs in the Learning Design and Technology program in COED)
  • Self-Guided/Self-Paced Training Available 24/7
    • Toolkits for Instructors
    • Web-Based Training
    • Help Guides / FAQ Guides
    • Videos

Technology Upgrades & Support for Classroom Facilities

  • 15 New Simulcast Classrooms
    • New cameras, equipment
    • Staffed / facilitated during class sessions to
  • New Digital Microphones To Be Installed in All 262 Classrooms
    • Optimum audio quality for recording class sessions
  • Classroom In a Box
    • Home kits for faculty for conducting online classes or creating videos for class
    • Includes mini-whiteboard, marker, eraser, flexible stand for tablet/phone, and digital tablet and drawing pen
  • “Test Drive Your Classroom” Sessions
    • Faculty will be able to set an appointment with tech staff during all of August to come test out the new equipment
    • Strongly recommended for those who want to use their own laptops instead of the Smart Podium equipment

Mobilizing Expert Faculty on Campus

  • 55 Faculty Mentors for the Colleges – Funded by Academic Affairs
    • Each college received funding for their own faculty online teaching experts to assist colleagues and departments with strategic online needs for fall
    • May help with multi-section courses or other areas of need
    • Goal is to broaden the base of support / cast the widest net possible in helping all faculty prepare for fall
    • Some colleges have contributed to add even more mentors to the ones Academic Affairs funded
  • 20 Faculty Fellows in the Center for Teaching & Learning
    • Quality Matters Faculty Fellows are providing mentoring and assistance to faculty building summer and fall online courses

UNC System Office Support

  • UNC Digital Course Enhancements Project – Curated Online Content
    • Faculty and instructional designers from all UNC campuses are working collaboratively to curate sets of online resources for teaching the large, strategic gateway courses in Calculus, Statistics, Accounting, Macro and Micro Economics, Anatomy & Physiology, Biology, and Chemistry
    • UNC Charlotte faculty and staff are participating in several of these teams
    • Content will be available on June 30 when the project is complete