Faculty Development: Blitz Week

We sincerely appreciate all of you who were able to attend and participate Blitz Week 2022. You helped us to have a successful week!

To view the resources that the presenters shared and the schedule, please select the appropriate link below:

• View Blitz Week 2022 Resources
• View Blitz Week 2022 Schedule

Please take a moment to provide us with feedback regarding your experience. Your feedback will help us to plan future professional development initiatives for faculty. 

Your responses will be anonymous, and you will be prompted to provide feedback for only the sessions you attended. You will also have the opportunity to provide additional recommendations at the end of the survey. 

• Complete Blitz Week Feedback Survey 

Thank you!!!

Quick Summary of Blitz Week Sessions:

 Monday

1. Overview of Canvas, Studio, Zoom, and Respondus
2. Overview of Gray’s Scorecards: Using Data to Make Informed Program Decisions
3. Keeping Your Head Above Water: Balancing Work and Everything Else
4. Well-Being with Racer Wellness and Human Resources
5. Leading Yourself and Others Innovatively Using Leadership Coaching as a Tool

Tuesday

1. Escaping Zoom: Using Digital Escape Rooms for Assessments
2. Facilitating Inclusive Teaching
3. Providing Effective Student Feedback
4. Humanizing Learning: Strategies to Implement Now
5. Optimizing MS Word for Your Annual Review and More!

Wednesday

1. Academic Initiative Updates - University Studies and Regular Substantive Interaction
2. Alternatives to Recorded Lectures in Online Courses
3. The Power of Cute and Fun to Keep Student Attention
4. Using Google Forms for Assessment
5. Advance Zoom Features to Increase Engagement

Thursday

1. Drawing and Other Visual Strategies for Teaching
2. Affordable Learning Resources Through the University Libraries
3. Increasing Online Learner Engagement With Thinglink
4. Save Time and Gain Insight into Multiple-Choice Assessments with Akindi
5. Maximizing PowerPoint: Simple Tricks for a Stronger, Interactive Class Environment
6. Panel: Academic Budget Planning for Department Chairs
7. Small Teaching Strategies to Optimize Learning

BLITZ WEEK 2021

The Faculty Development Center hosted its annual Blitz Week virtually on January 11-14, 2021. 

Blitz Week 2021 featured concurrent sessions, panels, sessions highlighting innovative ideas and tools, and general sessions about a variety of topics, including new initiatives at Murray State University. 

• View Blitz Week Schedule 
• View Virtual Platform 

We enjoyed interacting with you during the Blitz Week sessions!

BLITZ WEEK 2019

The Faculty Development Center hosted our annual Blitz Week January 7-10, 2019! Individuals submitted proposals to lead concurrent (30-minute presentations with Q&A) and lightning sessions (5-7 minute presentations) in the following areas:

• Teaching and Learning (e.g., innovative approaches to teaching and learning, assessments, evaluation, high impact practices, course or program curriculum reform).
• Leadership and Change (e.g., innovative practices and initiatives, individual and team support, power, and inclusivity).
• Effective Technologies and Tools (e.g., useful APPS and other technologies to support pedagogical innovation, student engagement, accessibility, virtual reality, mixed/augmented reality).
• Work-Life Balance (e.g., general strategies to help faculty succeed at Murray State University).

View Schedule:  https://tinyurl.com/BlitzWeekSchedule19

BLITZ WEEK 2018!
The Faculty Development Center hosted its annual Blitz Week on January 8 -11, 2018. This year, Blitz Week featured one-hour workshops, panel, lightning sessions, and informational sessions about new MSU initiatives. Take a peek at some of the sessions that were offered during the week. 

Sessions at a Glance!

• New Initiatives at MSU, Dr. Mark Arant, MSU Provost
• Publish and Flourish! Insights for Being a Productive Researcher, Guest Faculty (Dr. Kim Voss, Associate Professor, Journalism, University of Central Florida) and MSU faculty
• The Rise of Competency-Based Education and What it Means for Your Classroom, Dr. Teresa Clark, Assistant Professor, P-20 and Community Leadership; and Dr. Landon Clark, Assistant Professor, Human Development and Leadership Program
• Lightning Session: Best Practices for Teaching and Learning, MSU faculty from different disciplines
• Grit, Growth Mindset, and Metacognition: Strategies to Promote Student Success, Dr. Cindy Clemson, Assistant Professor, Department of Adolescent, Career, and Special Education
• Service Learning Through the Disciplines: Ideas and Resources for Implementing Service Learning Projects in Your Course, Shawna Thomas, Coordinator of Service Learning; and Dr. Jennifer Morrison, Assistant Professor of Public Administration, Department of Political Science and Sociology
• Teaching Unplugged: Non-Tech Approaches to Engage Students, Dr. Melony Shemberger, Assistant Professor, Journalism and Mass Communication
• Getting Started with Visual Literacy: Using Images to Maximize Teaching and Learning, Dr. Dana Statton, Assistant Professor, University Libraries
• Quality Matters: An Introduction to the QM Online Course Review Process and Future Plans for Supporting and Funding Online Course Development and Revision at MSU, Dr. Firm Faith Watson, Director, Faculty Development Center; and Lisa Schmidt, Coordinator of Distance Learning & Special Academic Projects
• Google Apps: Strategies for Use in the Classroom and Beyond, Drs. Melony Shemberger; Dana Statton; and Leigh Wright, Assistant Professor, Journalism and Mass Communication
• Canvas Study Hall: Drop-in Opportunity for Canvas Help and Strategies, Peter Terry, Assistant Director, Academic Applications Solutions

When: January 8 - 11 (3 sessions per day: 9:00 - 10:00 am, 10:30 - 11:30 am, and 1:00 - 2:00 pm)

Monday, Jan. 9 

• "State of the Student" by Dr. Kelly Wezner, 9 a.m., Faculty Development Center Classroom
• Syllabus workshop by Dr. Sue Sroda, 10:30 a.m., Faculty Development Center Classroom
• Canvas Advanced Training (Gradebook, External Apps, any other topic), 1-3 p.m., TSCS Classroom, 3rd floor, Oakley Applied Science Building 

Tuesday, Jan. 10

• SIPX workshop by Bentley Utgaard, 9 a.m., Waterfield Library, Room 211 
• "Top Three Tips for the Spring Semester" by the Faculty Teaching Fellows (Dr. Brian Bourke, Dr. Kelly Rogers, Dr. Melony Shemberger), 10:30 a.m., The Stables in the Curris Center 
•  "Lightning Strikes" panel of best teaching practices led by Dr. Staci Stone, 1 p.m., The Stables in the Curris Center 

Wednesday, Jan. 11

• SIPX workshop by Bentley Utgaard, 10 a.m., Waterfield Library, Room 211 
• "What Performance Funding Would Mean for Faculty and Staff" (Panel: President Bob Davies, JCSET Dean Steve Cobb, Dr. Dina Byers and Fred Dietz), 1 p.m., The Stables in the Curris Center 

Thursday, Jan. 12

• Canvas Basic Training for Faculty New to Canvas, 9-11 a.m., TSCS Classroom, 3rd floor, Oakley Applied Science Building 
• "Title IX Issues and Related Topics" by Cami Duffy, 9 a.m., The Stables in the Curris Center 
• "How the ORCA Can Help" by Dr. David Pizzo, Office of Research and Creative Activity, 1 p.m., The Stables in the Curris Center