Dear Faculty,
We have launched into the Brightspace! Thanks to everyone’s hard work, students and faculty are making good starts in Summer semester courses! OFDIT is partnering with programs to begin course preparation for Fall, and below you’ll find a few links and support resources to assist you. We also announce a call for nominations for our Faculty Advisory Board and share information about a summer module series on fostering student motivation. We end with a general faculty tip to invite student feedback as they experience our new LMS in order to help us with continuous improvement for Fall semester and beyond!
Brightspace Updates
Brightspace Open Office Hours
Throughout the months of June and July, OFDIT continues to offer Open Office Hours in morning, afternoon, and early evening sessions. Drop by office hours as often as you like to get a question answered! Check our Brightspace Office Hours page for the weekly schedule and the link to join.
Guidance Resources for Faculty
CUNY now has its own dedicated Brightspace support hotline! The phone number is 1-888-895-2511, which will connect callers to agents familiar with CUNY’s portfolio of schools and our version of Brightspace.
We also have been busy updating our Migration Guide and Migration Checklist and have added a few additional units to our Brightspace Essentials self-paced micro course, including Video in Brightspace, Rubrics in Brightspace, and Quizzes in Brightspace so check these out for even more support!
Events and Announcements
for SPS Faculty
OFDIT Faculty Advisory Board:
Call for Nominations (2024-26 Cohort)
Nominations are now open for the 2024-2026 term of the OFDIT Faculty Advisory Board. Established in 2021, the board plays a crucial role in shaping our programming and event planning. Consisting of six faculty members from diverse academic programs, along with two ex-officio members from the Office of Student Disability Services and IT, the board actively engages in assessing faculty needs, promoting faculty development, and participating in the selection process for the annual Adjunct Teaching Excellence Award.
Interested in serving on the FAB? Nominate yourself (or a colleague) by filling out our nomination form. Three new members will join the board in the fall, and your involvement is highly valued.
Virtual Workshop: Learning Mindsets for
Student Motivation
This summer, check out the CUNY Learning Mindset Modules for Student Success, a series of professional development modules developed by CUNY faculty members and the CUNY Innovative Teaching Academy (CITA) team. The asynchronous, self-paced workshop focuses on three learning mindsets (Mindset GPS) that enhance student motivation and success. You will receive a certificate of completion after finishing all course activities!
Inviting Student Feedback
For those faculty teaching this summer, we share a suggestion that you invite student feedback (perhaps as replies to a dedicated thread in your Course Q and A discussion board or as an additional part of your Midterm Feedback Survey) as they move through this first wave of instruction in our new LMS. It can be helpful to ask students to let you know if they spot any remaining outdated references to Blackboard in instructions, labels, or other course areas, or if they have suggestions about what could improve their user experience in course sites! We will be eager to hear how our SPS learners engage with the tools, platforms, and features so we can hone our pedagogy and practices going forward. Send an email to brightspace@sps.cuny.edu with your observations or to share any student suggestions!
As always, OFDIT is here to help! We are available for one-on-one support and are also happy to schedule a Zoom call to discuss any questions you may have. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at facultysupport@sps.cuny.edu.
All the Best,
Your OFDIT Team
