Workshops by Category

Categories

Consider joining us for a series of workshops. Some suggested categories are listed below. Please see when they are scheduled and register through our Workshops page.

Title	Description
Blackboard essentials for the beginning of the semester	There is so much to do to get a Blackboard course site ready for a new semester! We will show you how to do all the following tasks in one (1) hour: make the site course visible to students send an email post an announcement add the syllabus fill in the instructor information organize course materials in folders link to a webpage create a discussion forum For professors who prefer a slower page, we will show you where to find step-by-step instructions and video tutorials.
Blackboard tips & tricks	We have rolled into one workshop everything that made professors say “I wish I had known that!” and “This will save me a ton of time!” Join us to learn a slew of strategies to make your work in Blackboard more efficient and effective. You will learn how to add a picture, embed a video, use the student preview, make text look consistent, reorder items, connect with cloud storage, and more!
Building blocks of hybrid & online courses: Asynchronous online modules	A learning module is a collection of subject-related teaching materials that is carefully sequenced and chunked. Learning modules are the building blocks of hybrid and online courses, and usually contain one week’s worth of work for students to complete. At this workshop, we will discuss how to create learning modules, and review examples of modules created by Hunter professors.
Collecting and grading assignments in Blackboard	One of the most widely-used tools in Blackboard is the “Assignment,” which allows instructors to electronically collect and review student work. Participants of this workshop will learn how to create an assignment link allowing students to submit papers or links, and choose the appropriate settings in terms of deadlines and number of attempts allowed. Participants will also learn how to use Blackboard’s built-in functions to annotate, grade, and provide feedback to student submissions.
Creating tests in Blackboard and choosing test settings	Blackboard Tests have been commonly used as review exercises, self-assessment tools, and low-stakes quizzes. This is an introductory workshop on how to create a test, add questions, and make it available to students. We will help you choose appropriate settings for how to present the test, when to take it, how long to keep it open, and what feedback to show students when they submit their answers.
DIY captioning for Zoom, VoiceThread, and YouTube	Adding captions is no longer an onerous task for professors creating videos. Many tools that we use now generate automatic captions that can be quickly reviewed and easily edited for 100% accuracy. Join us for a workshop on where to find captions and how to edit them on Zoom, VoiceThread, and YouTube.
Facilitating discussions in Blackboard	This is an introductory workshop to Blackboard’s Discussion Board functions. Participants will learn how to create forums and threads and how to grade them. We will also discuss strategies to facilitate meaningful discussions, including designing discussion prompts that generate interactions among students, and using staggered deadlines.
Helping students learn educational technology	Learning technology is a life skill similar to critical thinking, and students come to courses with varying degrees of experience tackling this challenge. At this workshop, we propose several strategies to help you help your students in successfully learning and using the tech tools that they need in your course. Professors need not be tech support for students, but they can facilitate the learning process through curating and creating materials, modeling the use of the tool, and scaffolding the process.
Organizing your Blackboard course site for clarity and consistency	What kind of course navigation works best for online courses? Where do you put course materials and assignments for clear and easy access? Join us for a review of Hunter’s online course template and learn ways to organize course content and place course tools. You will learn about course links, tool links, embedding videos, and orientation modules. Come see Blackboard with fresh eyes!
Padlet for resource collection & interactive activities	What can Padlet NOT do? It is a versatile tool for collaborating and posting notes that include text, images, links, and videos. At Hunter, Padlet is widely used for ice-breaker activities, for sharing resources, and for collecting student work. In this workshop, we will review samples of successful and innovative activities designed by Hunter professors, and discuss appropriate formats and settings for different kinds of assignments.
Preparing students for success: The orientation module	Informative materials paired with interactive activities can set students up for success in a course where the mode of instruction might be unfamiliar to many students. In this workshop, we will discuss what to include in an orientation module, what tools can be used to create one and what strategies professors can use to welcome students to a course, navigate the course site, learn tech tools and build community.
Recipes to add joy to hybrid & online courses	What do flashcards, playlists, and hidden messages have in common? They can all be strategies to motivate students, keep them on track, build community, and have fun doing classwork. Let’s cook up some ideas to incorporate whimsy, surprise, competition, and teamwork into your courses!
Recording mini-lectures with Screencast-o-matic	Screencast-o-matic is a video and screencast creation tool. This is the first of our series of workshops on how to use this tool and what to do before, during, and after recording. Participants will learn how to record videos from a webcam, create recordings of what is displayed on their computer screen, and make videos combining webcam and screen captures. They will also learn different ways to store their videos and share them with students through embedding and linking.
Reusing your Blackboard course materials	Course materials can be transferred from one course site to another in a variety of ways. Join this workshop to learn the differences between “course copy” and “export course/import package,” and when to use each method. Let us help you make appropriate choices on what to select when copying or exporting a course, and take the necessary steps to “clean up” the new course shell once content has been added to it.
Setting up your Blackboard Grade Center	Become a power user of the Grade Center! This workshop can save you time and eyestrain, especially if you are teaching a large class. Join us to learn how to customize your “instructor view” of the Grade Center. Choose what columns to see and in which order they appear. Create and assign categories so that each assignment gets its correct weight in the final grade. Finally, use smart views and color-coding to view the grades of small groups of students and find out who might need special attention.
Spicing up your course with banners & infographics	Course-relevant images and infographics can not only add visual interest to a course site but can also make course materials more comprehensible. Join us at a workshop where we discuss how to create a course banner with a tool that you already know—PowerPoint— and how to create infographics with tools that might be new to you—Piktochart and Genially.
SnagIt for screenshots & screencasts	SnagIt is a simple tool to create, edit, and share screen captures and recordings. Professors can use it for welcome videos, tutorials, screencasts, and mini-lectures. Workshop participants will learn how to obtain a CUNY SnagIt license, how to take and annotate screenshots, and how to record a video and screen-recording.
Synchronous meetings with Blackboard Collaborate Ultra	Blackboard Collaborate Ultra is an online meeting tool similar to Zoom. All Blackboard course sites have a course meeting room that is always available to all course users. Instructors can also create meeting rooms for groups in the class. At this workshop, we will review Collaborate’s functions, and share tips and reminders to help you and your students use the tool successfully.
VoiceThread assignments: watch, comment, create	VoiceThread is a presentation and discussion tool that allows instructors to record mini-lectures and create asynchronous conversations using text, audio, or video “comments.” Join us for a workshop where we review use cases and create three different kinds of graded VoiceThread assignments: watch a VoiceThread, add a comment to a VoiceThread, or create your own VoiceThread.
Zoom essentials for synchronous online classes	This is an introductory workshop for professors preparing to teach synchronous sessions online. Participants will learn how to: log into CUNY Zoom accounts create a meeting share a meeting link prepare students for an online class session admit students from the waiting room encourage participation use text chat share the screen open breakout rooms

Title	Description
Calculating final grades in Blackboard’s Grade Center	Blackboard’s Grade Center has spreadsheet capabilities that you can use to calculate students’ final grades. However, that Grade Center column needs to be set up manually to reflect how you grade and weigh the different assignment types or categories. Join us at this workshop to learn how to assign student work to categories, understand the differences between the “Total” and “Weighted Total” columns, and set up a column to calculate final grades.
Checking for plagiarism using SafeAssign and Turnitin	SafeAssign and Turnitin are tools that compare papers submitted by students with content on webpages and online databases. They generate originality reports showing places where a submitted paper matches content on the web. Originality reports may be used by instructors and students to notice instances of inaccurate citation, incorrect paraphrasing, or plagiarism. At this workshop, we will discuss the differences between SafeAssign and Turnitin, and help participants to create an assignment link to collect students’ work.
Collecting and grading assignments in Blackboard	One of the most widely-used tools in Blackboard is the “Assignment,” which allows instructors to electronically collect and review student work. Participants of this workshop will learn how to create an assignment link allowing students to submit papers or links, and choose the appropriate settings in terms of deadlines and number of attempts allowed. Participants will also learn how to use Blackboard’s built-in functions to annotate, grade, and provide feedback to student submissions.
Create a test by re-using Blackboard questions	This is an intermediate workshop on Blackboard’s testing functions. Participants will learn several ways to create a test reusing questions from question pools or previous tests. They will also learn multiple ways to view test results to gain insight into how students performed individually and as a class, and which test questions might need revising.
Creating question pools for quizzes that draw questions randomly	This is an advanced workshop on Blackboard’s testing functions. Giving tests that draw questions randomly from a bank of questions can be one strategy to mitigate cheating. These tests go beyond presenting questions or answer choices in different orders. When questions are drawn randomly from pools of questions, each student gets a different test. Question pools require careful preparation with questions grouped by difficulty level and topic. Let us help you tackle this challenge!
Multimedia alternatives to final papers	A term paper does not have to be the way to end a term. Consider allowing students to demonstrate the results of their learning and research in multi-modal, multimedia formats. Perhaps a narrated slide presentation, a video, or an infographic can be acceptable alternatives. We will discuss tools that students can use to create alternatives to papers, and introduce Genially as an example tool that allows integration of text, images, audio, and video.
SnagIt for screenshots & screencasts	SnagIt is a simple tool to create, edit, and share screen captures and recordings. Professors can use it for welcome videos, tutorials, screencasts, and mini-lectures. Workshop participants will learn how to obtain a CUNY SnagIt license, how to take and annotate screenshots, and how to record a video and screen-recording.
Social annotation with Hypothesis	Social annotation involves highlighting, commenting on, and sharing ideas on the margins of a digital text. Annotation assignments may encourage students to ready more closely and bring to light questions and thoughts that they have. Hypothesis is a tool that professors can use for discussions and annotation assignments based on webpages and PDF documents. Join a workshop in which you will learn how to create and grade a Hypothesis assignment in Blackboard.
Sway for portfolios and presentations	Sway is one of the applications in the Office 365 Suite. Using customizable templates, instructors and students can create webpage presentations and showcase electronic portfolios. Expand your toolbox with this alternative to PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Prezi.
Tools & scaffolds for student presentations	What tools can students use to create online presentations? How do I help them form groups and avoid submitting last-minute work? How should I collect student work and share it with their classmates for peer feedback? If you are grappling with any of these questions, this workshop is for you. Join us to learn how Hunter colleagues have scaffolded student group work and presentations, and what tools they have chosen to use.

Title	Description
Adding materials to your Blackboard course	How do I upload course content piece by piece and how do I do it in bulk? Should I upload, embed or link this file? Is it better to store this on Blackboard or on Dropbox or Drive? If you find yourself asking any of these questions or you are unsure of how to start getting your materials together in Blackboard then this workshop is perfect for you.
Blackboard essentials for the beginning of the semester	There is so much to do to get a course site ready for a new semester! We will show you how to do all the tasks below in an hour: make the site course visible to students send an email post an announcement add the syllabus fill in instructor information organize course materials in folders link to a webpage create a discussion forum For professors who prefer a slower pace, we will show you where to find step-by-step instructions and video tutorials.
Collecting and grading assignments in Blackboard	One of the most widely-used tools in Blackboard is the “Assignment,” which allows instructors to electronically collect and review student work. Participants of this workshop will learn how to create an assignment link allowing students to submit papers or links, and choose the appropriate settings in terms of deadlines and number of attempts allowed. Participants will also learn how to use Blackboard’s built-in functions to annotate, grade, and provide feedback to student submissions.
Creating tests in Blackboard and choosing test settings	Blackboard quizzes have been commonly used as review exercises, self-assessment tools and low-stakes assignments. This is an introductory workshop on how to create a test, add questions and make it available to students. We will help you choose appropriate settings for how to present the test, when to do it, how long to keep it open and what feedback to show students when they submit their answers.
Facilitating discussions in Blackboard	This is an introductory workshop to Blackboard’s Discussion Board functions. Participants will learn how to create forums and threads and how to grade them. We will also discuss strategies to facilitate meaningful discussions, including designing discussion prompts that generate interactions among students, and using staggered deadlines.
Synchronous meetings with Blackboard Collaborate Ultra	Blackboard Collaborate Ultra is an online meeting tool similar to Zoom. All Blackboard course sites have a course meeting room that is always available to all course users. Instructors can also create meeting rooms for groups in the class. At this workshop, we will review Collaborate’s functions, and share tips and reminders to help you and your students use the tool successfully.

Title	Description
Activities for asynchronous sessions	Are you looking for assignment ideas for your asynchronous online sessions that go beyond reading and writing? Let’s explore creative activities using Blackboard blogs, journals, and other Hunter tools such VoiceThread, Hypothesis, and Padlet. We will discuss which tools connect to the Blackboard Grade Center for speedier grading and which are more suited for peer sharing.
Create a Test re-using Blackboard Questions	This is an intermediate workshop on Blackboard’s testing functions. Participants will learn several ways to create test reusing questions from question pools or previous tests. They will also learn multiple ways to view test results to gain insight into how students performed individually and as a class and which test questions might need revising
Organizing your Blackboard course site for clarity and consistency	What kind of course navigation works best for online courses? Where do you put course materials and assignments for clear and easy access? Join us for a review of Hunter’s online course template and learn ways to organize course content and place course tools. You will learn about course links, tool links, embedding videos, and orientation modules. Come see Blackboard with fresh eyes!
Reusing your Blackboard course materials	Course materials can be transferred from one course site to another in a variety of ways. Join this workshop to learn the differences between “course copy” and “export course/import package” and when to use each method. Let us help you make appropriate choices on what to select when copying or exporting a course and take the necessary steps to “clean up” the new course shell once content has been added to it.
Social annotation with Hypothesis	Social annotation involves highlighting, commenting on, and sharing ideas in the margins of a digital text. Annotation assignments may encourage students to read more closely and bring to light their questions and thoughts. Hypothesis is a tool that professors can use for discussions and annotation assignments based on webpages and PDF documents. Join a workshop in which you will learn how to create and grade a Hypothesis assignment in Blackboard.
The cure for discussion board fatigue: VoiceThread, Padlet, Flip	Expand your technology toolbox with three alternatives to the Blackboard Discussion Board. Posts using VoiceThread, Padlet, and Flip are more visually appealing, and can include audio and video. They have been used for ice-breakers, brainstorming, discussion, and presentation assignments. At this workshop, we will explore a variety of creative activities designed and implemented by Hunter professors.
VoiceThread assignments: watch, comment, create	VoiceThread is a presentation and discussion tool that allows instructors to record mini-lectures and create asynchronous conversations using text, audio, or video “comments.” Join us for a workshop where we review use cases and create three different kinds of graded VoiceThread assignments: watch a VoiceThread, add a comment to a VoiceThread, or create your own VoiceThread.

Title	Description
Activities for asynchronous sessions	Are you looking for assignment ideas for your asynchronous online sessions that go beyond reading and writing? Let’s explore creative activities using Blackboard blogs, journals, and other Hunter tools such VoiceThread, Hypothesis, and Padlet. We will discuss which tools connect to the Blackboard Grade Center for speedier grading and which are more suited for peer sharing.
Building blocks of hybrid & online courses: Asynchronous online modules	A learning module is a collection of subject-related teaching materials that is carefully sequenced and chunked. Learning modules are the building blocks of hybrid and online courses, and usually contain one week’s worth of work for students to complete. At this workshop, we will discuss how to create learning modules, and review examples of modules created by Hunter professors.
Facilitating discussions in Blackboard	This is an introductory workshop to Blackboard’s Discussion Board functions. Participants will learn how to create forums and threads and how to grade them. We will also discuss strategies to facilitate meaningful discussions, including designing discussion prompts that generate interactions among students, and using staggered deadlines.
Padlet for resource collection & interactive activities	What can Padlet NOT do? It is a versatile tool for collaborating and posting notes that include text, images, links, and videos. At Hunter, Padlet is widely used for ice-breaker activities, for sharing resources, and for collecting student work. In this workshop, we will review samples of successful and innovative activities designed by Hunter professors, and discuss appropriate formats and settings for different kinds of assignments.
Social annotation with Hypothesis	Social annotation involves highlighting, commenting on, and sharing ideas in the margins of a digital text. Annotation assignments may encourage students to read more closely and bring to light their questions and thoughts. Hypothesis is a tool that professors can use for discussions and annotation assignments based on webpages and PDF documents. Join a workshop in which you will learn how to create and grade a Hypothesis assignment in Blackboard.
Tools & scaffolds for student presentations	What tools can students use to create online presentations? How do I help them form groups and avoid submitting last-minute work? How should I collect student work and share it with their classmates for peer feedback? If you are grappling with any of these questions, this workshop is for you. Join us to learn how Hunter colleagues have scaffolded student group work and presentations, and what tools they have chosen to use.
VoiceThread assignments: watch, comment, create	VoiceThread is a presentation and discussion tool that allows instructors to record mini-lectures and create asynchronous conversations using text, audio, or video “comments.” Join us for a workshop where we review use cases and create three different kinds of graded VoiceThread assignments: watch a VoiceThread, add a comment to a VoiceThread, or create your own VoiceThread.

Title	Description
Activities for synchronous sessions	How do you know if students are engaged in your synchronous online class if they are not on video or speaking through their microphones? Break up a long lecture with interactive online activities where they are answering polls, annotating texts or images, discussing in breakout rooms, or working on shared online spaces. Join us for a workshop where we will explore sample activities that you can implement with tools you may already know—Zoom, Google, and Padlet.
Synchronous meetings with Blackboard Collaborate Ultra	Blackboard Collaborate Ultra is an online meeting tool similar to Zoom. All Blackboard course sites have a course meeting room that is always available to all course users. Instructors can also create meeting rooms for groups in the class. At this workshop, we will review Collaborate’s functions, and share tips and reminders to help you and your students use the tool successfully.
Teams for online meetings and collaboration	Microsoft Teams is one of the applications in the Office 365 Suite, so all active CUNY faculty and students have access to it. Teams allows members to interact and collaborate synchronously and asynchronously by sharing files and through a conferencing tool and discussion channels. Expand your toolbox with this alternative to Zoom and Blackboard.
Zoom essentials for synchronous online classes	This is an introductory workshop for professors preparing to teach synchronous sessions online. Participants will learn how to: log into CUNY Zoom accounts create a meeting share a meeting link prepare students for an online class session admit students from the waiting room encourage participation use text chat share the screen open breakout rooms
Zoom tools to interact with students	The Zoom conferencing tool has a variety of functions that allow instructors to interact with students with or without microphones or cameras. Workshop participants will take part in interactive activities using chat, reactions, whiteboard annotations, polls, and breakout rooms. They will also learn some best practices for preparing students to participate in online meetings.

Title	Description
Activities for asynchronous sessions	Are you looking for assignment ideas for your asynchronous online sessions that go beyond reading and writing? Let’s explore creative activities using Blackboard blogs, journals, and other Hunter tools such VoiceThread, Hypothesis, and Padlet. We will discuss which tools connect to the Blackboard Grade Center for speedier grading and which are more suited for peer sharing.
Collecting and grading assignments in Blackboard	One of the most widely-used tools in Blackboard is the “Assignment,” which allows instructors to electronically collect and review student work. Participants of this workshop will learn how to create an assignment link allowing students to submit papers or links, and choose the appropriate settings in terms of deadlines and number of attempts allowed. Participants will also learn how to use Blackboard’s built-in functions to annotate, grade, and provide feedback to student submissions.
Facilitating discussions in Blackboard	This is an introductory workshop to Blackboard’s Discussion Board functions. Participants will learn how to create forums and threads and how to grade them. We will also discuss strategies to facilitate meaningful discussions, including designing discussion prompts that generate interactions among students, and using staggered deadlines.
Flip for audio/video discussions	Flip, a tool for audio and video discussions, is now one of the applications in the Office 365 Suite, so creating new accounts is not necessary for Hunter instructors and students. Instructors can set up topic boards with discussion prompts, and students can record responses in audio or video format. Hunter professors and students have used it for asynchronous discussions, language exercises, and ice-breaker activities. Expand your toolbox with this alternative to Blackboard Discussion Boards and VoiceThread.
Multimedia alternatives to final papers	A term paper does not have to be the way to end a term. Consider allowing students to demonstrate the results of their learning and research in multi-modal, multimedia formats. Perhaps a narrated slide presentation, a video, or an infographic can be acceptable alternatives. We will discuss tools that students can use to create alternatives to papers, and introduce Genially as an example tool that allows integration of text, images, audio, and video.
Padlet for resource collection & interactive activities	What can Padlet NOT do? It is a versatile tool for collaborating and posting notes that include text, images, links, and videos. At Hunter, Padlet is widely used for ice-breaker activities, for sharing resources, and for collecting student work. In this workshop, we will review samples of successful and innovative activities designed by Hunter professors, and discuss appropriate formats and settings for different kinds of assignments.
Recipes to add joy to hybrid & online courses	What do flashcards, playlists, and hidden messages have in common? They can all be strategies to motivate students, keep them on track, build community, and have fun doing classwork. Let’s cook up some ideas to incorporate whimsy, surprise, competition, and teamwork into your courses!
Social annotation with Hypothesis	Social annotation involves highlighting, commenting on, and sharing ideas in the margins of a digital text. Annotation assignments may encourage students to read more closely and bring to light their questions and thoughts. Hypothesis is a tool that professors can use for discussions and annotation assignments based on webpages and PDF documents. Join a workshop in which you will learn how to create and grade a Hypothesis assignment in Blackboard.
Sway for portfolios and presentations	Sway is one of the applications in the Office 365 Suite. Using customizable templates, instructors and students can create webpage presentations and showcase electronic portfolios. Expand your toolbox with this alternative to PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Prezi.
The cure for discussion board fatigue: VoiceThread, Padlet, Flip	Expand your technology toolbox with three alternatives to the Blackboard Discussion Board. Posts using VoiceThread, Padlet, and Flip are more visually appealing, and can include audio and video. They have been used for ice-breakers, brainstorming, discussion, and presentation assignments. At this workshop, we will explore a variety of creative activities designed and implemented by Hunter professors.
Tools & scaffolds for student presentations	What tools can students use to create online presentations? How do I help them form groups and avoid submitting last-minute work? How should I collect student work and share it with their classmates for peer feedback? If you are grappling with any of these questions, this workshop is for you. Join us to learn how Hunter colleagues have scaffolded student group work and presentations, and what tools they have chosen to use.
VoiceThread assignments: watch, comment, create	VoiceThread is a presentation and discussion tool that allows instructors to record mini-lectures and create asynchronous conversations using text, audio, or video “comments.” Join us for a workshop where we review use cases and create three different kinds of graded VoiceThread assignments: watch a VoiceThread, add a comment to a VoiceThread, or create your own VoiceThread.

Title	Description
Basic video editing with Screencast-o-matic	This is the second in the series of Screencast-o-matic workshops. Participants will learn how to make edits to a video by adding or deleting clips, inserting graphics and images, and blurring a portion of the screen to protect sensitive information.
DIY captioning for Zoom, VoiceThread, and YouTube	Adding captions is no longer an onerous task for professors creating videos. Many tools that we use now generate automatic captions that can be quickly reviewed and easily edited for 100% accuracy. Join us for a workshop on where to find captions and how to edit them on Zoom, VoiceThread, and YouTube.
Flip for audio/video discussions	Flip, a tool for audio and video discussions, is now one of the applications in the Office 365 Suite, so creating new accounts is not necessary for Hunter instructors and students. Instructors can set up topic boards with discussion prompts, and students can record responses in audio or video format. Hunter professors and students have used it for asynchronous discussions, language exercises, and ice-breaker activities. Expand your toolbox with this alternative to Blackboard Discussion Boards and VoiceThread.
Helping students learn educational technology	Learning technology is a life skill similar to critical thinking and students come to courses with varying degrees of experience tackling this challenge. At this workshop, we propose several strategies to help you help your students in successfully learning and using the tech tools that they need in your course. Professors need not be tech support for students but they can facilitate the learning process through curating and creating materials, modeling the use of the tool and scaffolding the process.
Multimedia alternatives to final papers	A term paper does not have to be the way to end a term. Consider allowing students to demonstrate the results of their learning and research in multi-modal, multimedia formats. Perhaps a narrated slide presentation, a video, or an infographic can be acceptable alternatives. We will discuss tools that students can use to create alternatives to papers, and introduce Genially as an example tool that allows integration of text, images, audio, and video.
Padlet for resource collection & interactive activities	What can Padlet NOT do? It is a versatile tool for collaborating and posting notes that include text, images, links, and videos. At Hunter, Padlet is widely used for ice-breaker activities, for sharing resources, and for collecting student work. In this workshop, we will review samples of successful and innovative activities designed by Hunter professors, and discuss appropriate formats and settings for different kinds of assignments.
Preparing students for success: The orientation module	Informative materials paired with interactive activities can set students up for success in a course where the mode of instruction might be unfamiliar to many students. In this workshop, we will discuss what to include in an orientation module, what tools can be used to create one and what strategies professors can use to welcome students to a course, navigate the course site, learn tech tools and build community.
Recipes to add joy to hybrid & online courses	What do flashcards, playlists and hidden messages have in common? They are strategies to motivate students, keep them on track, build community and have fun doing classwork. Get ideas to incorporate whimsy, surprise, competition and teamwork to your courses.
Recording mini-lectures with Screencast-o-matic	Screencast-o-matic is a video and screencast creation tool. This is the first of our series of workshops on how to use this tool and what to do before, during, and after recording. Participants will learn how to record videos from a webcam, create recordings of what is displayed on their computer screen, and make videos combining webcam and screen captures. They will also learn different ways to store their videos and share them with students through embedding and linking.
SnagIt for screenshots & screencasts	SnagIt is a simple tool to create, edit, and share screen captures and recordings. Professors can use it for welcome videos, tutorials, screencasts, and mini-lectures. Workshop participants will learn how to obtain a CUNY SnagIt license, how to take and annotate screenshots, and how to record a video and screen-recording.
Social annotation with Hypothesis	Social annotation involves highlighting, commenting on, and sharing ideas in the margins of a digital text. Annotation assignments may encourage students to read more closely and bring to light their questions and thoughts. Hypothesis is a tool that professors can use for discussions and annotation assignments based on webpages and PDF documents. Join a workshop in which you will learn how to create and grade a Hypothesis assignment in Blackboard.
Sway for portfolios and presentations	Sway is one of the applications in the Office 365 Suite. Using customizable templates, instructors and students can create webpage presentations and showcase electronic portfolios. Expand your toolbox with this alternative to PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Prezi.
VoiceThread assignments: watch, comment, create	VoiceThread is a presentation and discussion tool that allows instructors to record mini-lectures and create asynchronous conversations using text, audio, or video “comments.” Join us for a workshop where we review use cases and create three different kinds of graded VoiceThread assignments: watch a VoiceThread, add a comment to a VoiceThread, or create your own VoiceThread.
Zoom tools to interact with students	The Zoom conferencing tool has a variety of functions that allow instructors to interact with students with or without microphones or cameras. Workshop participants will take part in interactive activities using chat, reactions, whiteboard annotations, polls, and breakout rooms. They will also learn some best practices for preparing students to participate in online meetings.

Title	Description
Activities for asynchronous sessions	Are you looking for assignment ideas for your asynchronous online sessions that go beyond reading and writing? Let’s explore creative activities using Blackboard blogs, journals, and other Hunter tools such VoiceThread, Hypothesis, and Padlet. We will discuss which tools connect to the Blackboard Grade Center for speedier grading and which are more suited for peer sharing.
Activities for synchronous sessions	How do you know if students are engaged in your synchronous online class if they are not on video or speaking through their microphones? Break up a long lecture with interactive online activities where they are answering polls, annotating texts or images, discussing in breakout rooms, or working on shared online spaces. Join us for a workshop where we will explore sample activities that you can implement with tools you may already know—Zoom, Google, and Padlet.
Adding materials to your Blackboard course	You might not join a workshop to find out how to upload the syllabus to Blackboard, but what if you had multiple readings, website links, videos, and test banks to add to your course site? Let us show you how to upload readings in bulk and decide when to upload, embed, or link videos and slides. We will also discuss various CUNY-supported options for cloud storage and ways to connect them to Blackboard.
Basic video editing with Screencast-o-matic	This is the second in the series of Screencast-o-matic workshops. Participants will learn how to make edits to a video by adding or deleting clips, inserting graphics and images, and blurring a portion of the screen to protect sensitive information.
Beyond online: Flexible by design	Looking beyond the pandemic and emergency remote teaching, professors might consider designing courses that can be easily changed from in-person to synchronous or asynchronous online sessions. In this workshop, we will explore ideas and strategies to design or redesign courses with flexibility, accessibility, and equity in mind. We will discuss ways in which professors can maximize flexibility in the design choices they make in course technology, engagement methods, format of materials, and assessment techniques.
Blackboard essentials for the beginning of the semester	There is so much to do to get a Blackboard course site ready for a new semester! We will show you how to do all the following tasks in one (1) hour: make the site course visible to students send an email post an announcement add the syllabus fill in the instructor information organize course materials in folders link to a webpage create a discussion forum For professors who prefer a slower pace, we will show you where to find step-by-step instructions and video tutorials.
Blackboard tips & tricks	We have rolled into one workshop everything that made professors say “I wish I had known that!” and “This will save me a ton of time!” Join us to learn a slew of strategies to make your work in Blackboard more efficient and effective. You will learn how to add a picture, embed a video, use the student preview, make text look consistent, reorder items, connect with cloud storage, and more!
Building blocks of hybrid & online courses: Asynchronous online modules	A learning module is a collection of subject-related teaching materials that is carefully sequenced and chunked. Learning modules are the building blocks of hybrid and online courses, and usually contain one week’s worth of work for students to complete. At this workshop, we will discuss how to create learning modules, and review examples of modules created by Hunter professors.
Calculating final grades in Blackboard’s Grade Center	Blackboard’s Grade Center has spreadsheet capabilities that you can use to calculate students’ final grades. However, that Grade Center column needs to be set up manually to reflect how you grade and weigh the different assignment types or categories. Join us at this workshop to learn how to assign student work to categories, understand the differences between the “Total” and “Weighted Total” columns, and set up a column to calculate final grades.
Checking for plagiarism using SafeAssign and Turnitin	SafeAssign and Turnitin are tools that compare papers submitted by students with content on webpages and online databases. They generate originality reports showing places where a submitted paper matches content on the web. Originality reports may be used by instructors and students to notice instances of inaccurate citation, incorrect paraphrasing, or plagiarism. At this workshop, we will discuss the differences between SafeAssign and Turnitin, and help participants to create an assignment link to collect students’ work.
Collecting and grading assignments in Blackboard	One of the most widely-used tools in Blackboard is the “Assignment,” which allows instructors to electronically collect and review student work. Participants of this workshop will learn how to create an assignment link allowing students to submit papers or links, and choose the appropriate settings in terms of deadlines and number of attempts allowed. Participants will also learn how to use Blackboard’s built-in functions to annotate, grade, and provide feedback to student submissions.
Create a test by re-using Blackboard questions	This is an intermediate workshop on Blackboard’s testing functions. Participants will learn several ways to create a test reusing questions from question pools or previous tests. They will also learn multiple ways to view test results to gain insight into how students performed individually and as a class, and which test questions might need revising.
Creating question pools for quizzes that draw questions randomly	This is an advanced workshop on Blackboard’s testing functions. Giving tests that draw questions randomly from a bank of questions can be one strategy to mitigate cheating. These tests go beyond presenting questions or answer choices in different orders. When questions are drawn randomly from pools of questions, each student gets a different test. Question pools require careful preparation with questions grouped by difficulty level and topic. Let us help you tackle this challenge!
Creating tests in Blackboard and choosing test settings	Blackboard Tests have been commonly used as review exercises, self-assessment tools, and low-stakes quizzes. This is an introductory workshop on how to create a test, add questions, and make it available to students. We will help you choose appropriate settings for how to present the test, when to take it, how long to keep it open, and what feedback to show students when they submit their answers.
DIY captioning for Zoom, VoiceThread, and YouTube	Adding captions is no longer an onerous task for professors creating videos. Many tools that we use now generate automatic captions that can be quickly reviewed and easily edited for 100% accuracy. Join us for a workshop on where to find captions and how to edit them on Zoom, VoiceThread, and YouTube.
Facilitating discussions in Blackboard	This is an introductory workshop to Blackboard’s Discussion Board functions. Participants will learn how to create forums and threads and how to grade them. We will also discuss strategies to facilitate meaningful discussions, including designing discussion prompts that generate interactions among students, and using staggered deadlines.
Flip for audio/video discussions	Flip, a tool for audio and video discussions, is now one of the applications in the Office 365 Suite, so creating new accounts is not necessary for Hunter instructors and students. Instructors can set up topic boards with discussion prompts, and students can record responses in audio or video format. Hunter professors and students have used it for asynchronous discussions, language exercises, and ice-breaker activities. Expand your toolbox with this alternative to Blackboard Discussion Boards and VoiceThread.
Helping students learn educational technology	Learning technology is a life skill similar to critical thinking, and students come to courses with varying degrees of experience tackling this challenge. At this workshop, we propose several strategies to help you help your students in successfully learning and using the tech tools that they need in your course. Professors need not be tech support for students, but they can facilitate the learning process through curating and creating materials, modeling the use of the tool, and scaffolding the process.
Multimedia alternatives to final papers	A term paper does not have to be the way to end a term. Consider allowing students to demonstrate the results of their learning and research in multi-modal, multimedia formats. Perhaps a narrated slide presentation, a video, or an infographic can be acceptable alternatives. We will discuss tools that students can use to create alternatives to papers, and introduce Genially as an example tool that allows integration of text, images, audio, and video.
Organizing your Blackboard course site for clarity and consistency	What kind of course navigation works best for online courses? Where do you put course materials and assignments for clear and easy access? Join us for a review of Hunter’s online course template and learn ways to organize course content and place course tools. You will learn about course links, tool links, embedding videos, and orientation modules. Come see Blackboard with fresh eyes!
Padlet for resource collection & interactive activities	What can Padlet NOT do? It is a versatile tool for collaborating and posting notes that include text, images, links, and videos. At Hunter, Padlet is widely used for ice-breaker activities, for sharing resources, and for collecting student work. In this workshop, we will review samples of successful and innovative activities designed by Hunter professors, and discuss appropriate formats and settings for different kinds of assignments.
Preparing students for success: The orientation module	An “orientation module,” informative materials paired with interactive activities, can set students up for success in a course where the mode of instruction might be unfamiliar. In this workshop, we will discuss what to include in an orientation module, and what tools can be used to create one. We will also share strategies professors can use to welcome students to a course, navigate the course site, learn tech tools, and build community.
Recipes to add joy to hybrid & online courses	What do flashcards, playlists, and hidden messages have in common? They can all be strategies to motivate students, keep them on track, build community, and have fun doing classwork. Let’s cook up some ideas to incorporate whimsy, surprise, competition, and teamwork into your courses!
Recording mini-lectures with Screencast-o-matic	Screencast-o-matic is a video and screencast creation tool. This is the first of our series of workshops on how to use this tool and what to do before, during, and after recording. Participants will learn how to record videos from a webcam, create recordings of what is displayed on their computer screen, and make videos combining webcam and screen captures. They will also learn different ways to store their videos and share them with students through embedding and linking.
Reusing your Blackboard course materials	Course materials can be transferred from one course site to another in a variety of ways. Join this workshop to learn the differences between “course copy” and “export course/import package,” and when to use each method. Let us help you make appropriate choices on what to select when copying or exporting a course, and take the necessary steps to “clean up” the new course shell once content has been added to it.
Setting up your Blackboard Grade Center	Become a power user of the Grade Center! This workshop can save you time and eyestrain, especially if you are teaching a large class. Join us to learn how to customize your “instructor view” of the Grade Center. Choose what columns to see and in which order they appear. Create and assign categories so that each assignment gets its correct weight in the final grade. Finally, use smart views and color-coding to view the grades of small groups of students and find out who might need special attention.
SnagIt for screenshots & screencasts	SnagIt is a simple tool to create, edit, and share screen captures and recordings. Professors can use it for welcome videos, tutorials, screencasts, and mini-lectures. Workshop participants will learn how to obtain a CUNY SnagIt license, how to take and annotate screenshots, and how to record a video and screen-recording.
Social annotation with Hypothesis	Social annotation involves highlighting, commenting on, and sharing ideas in the margins of a digital text. Annotation assignments may encourage students to read more closely and bring to light their questions and thoughts. Hypothesis is a tool that professors can use for discussions and annotation assignments based on webpages and PDF documents. Join a workshop in which you will learn how to create and grade a Hypothesis assignment in Blackboard.
Spicing up your course with banners & infographics	Course-relevant images and infographics can not only add visual interest to a course site, but can also make course materials more comprehensible. Join us at a workshop where we discuss how to create a course banner with a tool that you already know—PowerPoint— and how to create infographics with tools that might be new to you—Piktochart and Genially.
Sway for portfolios and presentations	Sway is one of the applications in the Office 365 Suite. Using customizable templates, instructors and students can create webpage presentations and showcase electronic portfolios. Expand your toolbox with this alternative to PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Prezi.
Synchronous meetings with Blackboard Collaborate Ultra	Blackboard Collaborate Ultra is an online meeting tool similar to Zoom. All Blackboard course sites have a course meeting room that is always available to all course users. Instructors can also create meeting rooms for groups in the class. At this workshop, we will review Collaborate’s functions, and share tips and reminders to help you and your students use the tool successfully.
Teams for online meetings and collaboration	Microsoft Teams is one of the applications in the Office 365 Suite, so all active CUNY faculty and students have access to it. Teams allows members to interact and collaborate synchronously and asynchronously by sharing files and through a conferencing tool and discussion channels. Expand your toolbox with this alternative to Zoom and Blackboard.
The cure for discussion board fatigue: VoiceThread, Padlet, Flip	Expand your technology toolbox with three alternatives to the Blackboard Discussion Board. Posts using VoiceThread, Padlet, and Flip are more visually appealing, and can include audio and video. They have been used for ice-breakers, brainstorming, discussion, and presentation assignments. At this workshop, we will explore a variety of creative activities designed and implemented by Hunter professors.
Tips & tools for recording mini-lectures	You are ready to record mini-lectures for your course, but are unsure about what tools to use and how to look good and sound clear. Join us for a session on best practices for professors creating video recording in their own space and using their own equipment. We will consider several tools in terms of the kind of mini-lectures you are creating, the editing capabilities you need, and what is available at Hunter. We will also review ways to capture good visual and sound quality, so that your videos can be repurposed and reused.
Tools & scaffolds for student presentations	What tools can students use to create online presentations? How do I help them form groups and avoid submitting last-minute work? How should I collect student work and share it with their classmates for peer feedback? If you are grappling with any of these questions, this workshop is for you. Join us to learn how Hunter colleagues have scaffolded student group work and presentations, and what tools they have chosen to use.
VoiceThread assignments: watch, comment, create	VoiceThread is a presentation and discussion tool that allows instructors to record mini-lectures and create asynchronous conversations using text, audio, or video “comments.” Join us for a workshop where we review use cases and create three different kinds of graded VoiceThread assignments: watch a VoiceThread, add a comment to a VoiceThread, or create your own VoiceThread.
Zoom essentials for synchronous online classes	This is an introductory workshop for professors preparing to teach synchronous sessions online. Participants will learn how to: log into CUNY Zoom accounts create a meeting share a meeting link prepare students for an online class session admit students from the waiting room encourage participation use text chat share the screen open breakout rooms
Zoom tools to interact with students	The Zoom conferencing tool has a variety of functions that allow instructors to interact with students with or without microphones or cameras. Workshop participants will take part in interactive activities using chat, reactions, whiteboard annotations, polls, and breakout rooms. They will also learn some best practices for preparing students to participate in online meetings.

Ready to join us for a workshop? Please see the current schedule and register on our Workshops page.