Being a part of the Center of Academic Innovation is more than just handling the responsibility of handing technology support tickets. In fact, there are many things that AI works hard on to ensure that the department is able to support the staff members at Western Oregon University to create fulfilling virtual classroom spaces for all graduate professionals who are continuing their academic career. CAI offers a plethora of different opportunities for professional development that staff can participate in in a synchronous and asynchronous fashion. Our philosophy mimics the type of teacher style that we hope our staff adapts to, which is student-focused and student-driven so they they are able to grow leaps and bounds. The Center of Academic Innovation is understanding of the many barriers and obstacles that instructors and staff may face when it comes to dedicating the time to leave room for professional development to strengthen their teaching skills and techniques. To ensure that we are offering resources that are tangible and manageable to staff members regardless of their busy schedules and other responsibilities, we package our professional development opportunities in several ways that graduate assistants can actively participate in along side of the staff within the department. This helps to secure engagement and the overall capacity of our staff while still providing them with up-to-date tools to help them in the creation of their virtual classroom spaces. These opportunities range from solo support, group support, and independent investigation, which is done through the following activities that the Center of Academic Innovation are committed to: Deep Dives, Workshops, Book Clubs, and Newsletters.

Programming

Academic Innovation recognizes that everyone comes to teaching (online or offline) with different knowledge and skill levels, and we strive to provide information that is useful to instructors at every level. We offer three general categories of programming, each with its own focus and time commitment. Below are summaries of each category, but you can receive more in-depth information about workshops, deep dives, and Catalyst by visiting the Academic Innovation Programs & Workshops page.

Workshops

Workshops are hour-long walkthroughs of features in Canvas and other digital technology tools the Center of Academic Innovation has to offer. There are a variety of scheduled workshops that occur throughout a given semester; however, there are also opportunities for instructors to touch base with the staff within the CAI department to work together one-on-one to answer any outstanding questions after a presentation or to support them in the overall creation of their Canvas course.

Deep Dives

Deep Dives are 90 minute collaborative workshop opportunities that Academic Innovation offers to all staff members of Western Oregon University. The topics Deep Dives focus on center around pedagogical techniques that can be used online or in the classroom. During these workshops, you and other attendees will be able to learn new teaching concepts and techniques, and then put them into practice on your own courses. You will also be able to offer your perspective as a student while you support professors in their own hopes to create classroom structures to deliver content to their students in a meaningful way.

Catalyst

Catalyst courses are asynchronous, multi-week mini courses that Academic Innovation facilitates for interested faculty. Catalysts include readings, discussions, and a final project that the faculty come up with, based on their interests and the courses they teach. As a graduate assistant, you are required to participate in Catalyst at least to a small degree, but you can dig into the material and activities as much as you want to. Typically, we ask that you participate in any activities where there is interaction between course participants. This includes an introductory video, discussion boards, and any social annotation-type activities.

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Choosing the Best Workshop or Deep Dive for You!

Depending on your own interests, it may be worth investing time in attending these Workshops or Deep Dives to understand where you'd like to contribute and how. You can find descriptions of each workshop or deep dive on their respective registration pages, linked in the AI Programs & Workshops page. Do not use the registration pages to sign up for sessions you want to attend; ask your supervisor or other AI team members instead. You can also navigate back to the Meet the Team page to see which Workshops or Deep Dives are offered by each team member. It's important to remember that as a graduate assistant that you are not only working for the university or the Center of Academic Innovation, but you are also working to improve your own professional skills and growing as you spend time within the department. Attending Workshops and Deep Dives will help you to understand your strengths, weaknesses, and ignite a potential passion in projects that may very well interest you. They not only will help you in developing your technology skills, but they may also help you find what niche you fit into to help guide your future career plans.

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How do I Contribute?

During Workshops or Deep Dives, outside of just being there to give your own perspective as a student, you also may be present to support your fellow team members in delivering the workshop. They may need for you to be actively answering questions in chat, supplying professors and staff with information they're inquiring about, or helping to present the actual presentation with your colleague as a proctor. Familiarizing yourself with the content, pacing, and rhythm of these presentations also help you to potentially gain enough motivation and confidence to present one in the future once you've become an expert.

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Book Clubs

Each term, the Center of Academic Innovation selects texts that promote diversity, equality, and inclusion that highlight and give perspective to how the elements of DEI can directly impact educational opportunities and ways to deliver content as an educator. Book clubs are an excellent communal way to not only establish safe spaces amongst staff to discuss the different ways instructors could positively impact the student population, but also highlight ways in which the system can be fixed to ensure that Western Oregon University is committed to student-driven and student-focused educational spaces that are supportive and productive for all. These book club discussions are held weekly and is paced according to the capacity of the department as well as interested staff members who're participating in the book clubs with the Center of Academic Innovation each month. Book club is able to connect us as a community and really show one another support in being better educators.

Books that We've Read

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How do I Contribute?

Attending pre-planning meetings for book club occur two days before the actual book club meeting is a great way to support AI as a graduate assistant. During this time you will be asked to contribute in creating discussion questions that will help to lead the conversation during book club discussions. Each week you will be tasked, if you choose to be part of the book club, to highlight important elements of chapters you're assigned to read and reflect upon what you've learned.

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Newsletters

Similar to book clubs, Newsletters are a great opportunity for instructors and stuff to gain some professional development at their own pace with low commitment. Newsletters are created each term to inform staff about the latest literary works that help to support the creation of engaging and inclusive classroom environments.

News Letters We've Done

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How do I Contribute?

To help develop the Center of Academic Innovation's monthly newsletters, you may be tasked to read articles and help summarize the content of the article to post on the newsletter. Similarly you may be asked to find articles to support each monthly newsletter and to ensure that the Center of Academic Innovation is able to send off these resources to the staff at WOU. Above you will find samples of newsletters we have done in the past. To access the shared Newsletter Contribution document, choose the Newsletter you've been tasked with collaborating on and click the appropriate links:

|| Technology Tips || Teaching and Learning Reads ||

Note: You may need to request access to these documents in order to begin collaborating.
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