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Monday, October 1, 2018

DISC Lecture: Idols and Figural Images in Islam - A Dive into a Perennial Debate

Monday, October 15, 2018
3:00-4:30 p.m.
Jones 35

As part of the Digital Islamic Studies Curriculum (DISC) lecture series, which is integrated with BTAA CourseShare, the following lecture will be streamed via web conferencing to the University of Minnesota audience.

University of Michigan Professor Christiane Gruber will explore some of the questions and debates concerning idolatry and figural representation form the beginning of Islam until today. This presentation will focus in particular on the specific terminology used in the Qur’an and Hadith—in particular the terms tamathil (figural likenesses), asnam (idols), and ansab (sacred stones or betyls)—in order to distinguish the semantic and conceptual categories that were used by Muslim writers to classify various forms of art-making along with their associated practices. Such terms were further finessed within historical and jurisprudential writings, in which the Solomonic, Abrahamic, and Mosaic paradigms concerning statuary and idols served to both legitimize figural statuary while simultaneously castigating three-dimensional and even pendant imagery as potentially subject to devotional worship. In the majority of texts, images were not understood as prohibited per se. Rather, their modalities of display and use proved of paramount significance within the perennial debates concerned with image-making, as is the case in all global religious cultures. Skirting the “broad swath” method, this talk thus aims to pinpoint some the finer issues raised by the textual corpus as it intersects with artworks and paintings in order to demonstrate that practices of figural representation in Islamic traditions most often were (and still are) guided by cultural and political expediency rather than religious or legal principle.

Christiane Gruber is Professor of Islamic Art and Associate Chair in the History of Art Department at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Her research interests span medieval Islamic art to contemporary visual culture. She has authored two books on Islamic texts and images of the Prophet Muhammad’s ascension and has edited about a dozen volumes on Islamic book arts, ascension texts and images, and visual and material culture. Her third book, entitled The Praiseworthy One: The Prophet Muhammad in Islamic Texts and Images, will appear in print in January 2019.

Sponsored by the Digital Islamic Studies Curriculum and Michigan State University Muslim Studies Program.

Jones 135 to Reopen on Tuesday, October 2, 2018 with Free Coffee

The Language Center is pleased to announce that the walk-in multimedia lab, Jones 135, is scheduled to reopen on Tuesday this week. The unexpected closure was due to a critical painting project. To celebrate the reopening of the lab, coffee will be served in the lab October 2-8, 2018.

Monday, September 24, 2018

DiLL Server Update on October 2, 2018

On October 2, 2018 the DiLL server is scheduled to have an OS update and will not be available for class use. The DiLL website will also be unavailable during this time. Instructors who wish to review student recordings should plan around this date.

CEI: Advancing Engagement & Course Design in Spring 2019

You’ve taught an online or hybrid course in the past and have experience creating activities and interacting with students in those environments. Now what? If you’re interested in building your online teaching skills with a supportive group of colleagues, this seminar is for you.

The modules in the online seminar will address teacher-tested strategies for online discussion that move beyond “line up and answer”; practical ideas about creating online assignments, feedback, and evaluation options that engage learners; and effective practices teachers have developed to support team-based learning in online spaces.

You’ll engage this four-module seminar via Canvas to gain a sense of the student experience. In addition to exploring the topics mentioned above, you’ll have an opportunity to develop and present a new or revised teaching strategy that you plan to pilot in a future version of your course.

On successful completion of the seminar - active participation in the modules and presenting a teaching strategy - you will be awarded $200 in professional development funds.

Register your interest to receive a message when the application opens for this seminar.

CEI Online Seminar: Developing Effective Online Learning Spaces

Apply by September 28, 2018
Seminar runs October 11 to November 16, 2018.
Canvas site opens October 4, 2018

The Center for Educational Innovation is pleased to announce the Fall 2018 Online Participatory Seminar: Designing Online Courses. This seminar will take place from October 15 until November 16, 2018 via Canvas. This guided experience will familiarize instructors with key ideas and principles for designing and teaching online courses. Applicants should plan for 15-20 hours of engagement from start to finish (approximately three hours per week).

Participants who are active in all online discussion forums, who regularly participate in WebEx sessions, and who share a presentation will be awarded $200 in professional development funds.

This five-week online seminar for University of Minnesota instructors is set up in Canvas to explore, experience, analyse, and try out pedagogical practices that you might incorporate as you (re)design your online or hybrid courses. In this way, you will experience Canvas as would a student.

Throughout the seminar, you will explore ways of applying course design principles with support from CEI consultants, experienced in online teaching and course design, who lead four synchronous WebEx practice-oriented conversations, and who will join you in discussion forums throughout the seminar. The discussion forums provide opportunities to interact with readings and peers as you thoughtfully develop your ideas about creating online experiences that are fulfilling for you and compelling for your students.

The seminar closes with each participant sharing a recorded presentation capturing their ideas about the “something new” they will implement in an upcoming course.

You must apply to participate in the seminar by September 28, 2018.

Multimedia Lab Jones 135 Closed for the Week

Jones 135 is closed the week of September 24-28, 2018 for a critical ceiling painting project.

The closest open computer lab is Walter Library. Students are encouraged to use that space for most general lab activities. Students who require access to Language Center-specific software or services should come to Jones 110 for assistance. Jones 135B is open for scheduled classes.

We apologize for the inconvenience. When the lab reopens (hopefully on October 1!), we will provide coffee for patrons for a week.

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Proficiency testing in French: Post-secondary results informing the K-16 curriculum

Thursday, September 27, 2018
1:25 - 2:15 p.m.
Jones 35

This presentation reports on a statistical analysis of data gathered at the University of Minnesota on undergraduate students of French during the Proficiency Assessment for Curricular Enhancement (PACE) project. The analysis focused on three themes:
  1. The role language study prior to university has on proficiency
  2. The student background for achieving “advancedness” 
  3. The accuracy of students’ French proficiency self-assessment scores
Results show that language study in secondary schools play a role in advancing proficiency. The presentation will conclude with a discussion of several factors that may contribute to advancedness, and a possible avenue for improving listening proficiency. Come hear these insights and add to the discussion of French student proficiency which Brian Barnett and Sean Killackey first presented in July at the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) convention on the island of Martinique.

Presenters: Brian Barnett and Sean Killackey, Department of French and Italian

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

CARLA and LC Presentation: Blended learning and online coaching

Investigating differences of instructional interventions in the self-assessment of fluency and class participation

Thursday, September 20, 2018
12:20 - 1:10 p.m.
UIC 101

This study examined the use of online coaching as a pedagogical intervention for the development of speaking skills and its connection to assessment practices. Using quantitative and qualitative data, we analyzed self-assessment ratings of oral performance and class participation of 54 Spanish learners. In addition, the study aimed to identify and explicate any differences in ratings of these categories based on pedagogical interventions, instructor’s ratings, and learners’ perceptions of the interventions. Results revealed that different technology tools triggered contrasting reactions to speaking engagement rules and approaches to task completion. Implications of the results and implementation will be discussed.

Presenters: Dr. Frances Matos and Olga Salazar Pozos, Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies; Adolfo Carrillo Cabello, Language Center

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Fall semester LATIS Research Workshop Series

Liberal Arts Technologies & Innovation Services (LATIS) is offering a series of workshops during the fall semester. These workshops are created by their experts and are free and open to all faculty and graduate students. Join the LATIS Research Workshops Google Group to learn about their workshops.

This semester's topics include:
  • Intro to Nvivo
  • Intro to R
  • Intro to Github
  • Intro to ATLAS.ti
  • Intro to Python
  • Advanced NVivo
Learn more about the workshops online and register today.

MWALLT Conference October 13, 2018

Call for Proposals: Extended to September 15, 2018
The Midwest Association for Language Learning Technology (MWALLT) is seeking proposals for its upcoming conference, hosted partially by the University of Minnesota on October 13, 2018.

The conference will be held simultaneously on three different campuses so that presenters and attendees can gather at the site closest to them.

These campus hosts are:
  • Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
  • University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas
Proposals are sought for sessions on topics relating to the teaching of languages and cultures using technology.

The conference will include three different session formats:
  • Presentation (30 minutes, lecture/demonstration format)
  • Panel and Discussion (60 minutes)
  • Lightning talks: 10-minute presentations on teaching language, culture, and(or) technology integration in specific contexts.
The presentation proposal deadline is extended to September 15, 2018. Submitting authors will be notified of their acceptance by September 17.

TandemPlus for Fall 2018

Class-to-Class Exchanges:
Instructors: If you have been thinking about setting up a class-to-class exchange for your course this fall, but haven't yet, please contact Beth Kautz at tandem@umn.edu. She is happy to assist you!

Face-to-Face Exchanges:
Students: Intrigued by the thought of having a language partner this year? The TandemPlus Face-to-Face program registration is now open for the Fall 2018 semester! TandemPlus searches for people who are learning one another’s native language in order to pair them together for a semesterly exchange of language and culture. The program is free and voluntary and partners have the autonomy to decide when, where, and how often they meet for the semester. The only requirement is that half of the time partners spend together is conducted in each language.

To register and learn more about the program visit tandemplus.umn.edu. Click on the “My Account” menu item on the top-right to sign up with either your UMN Internet ID, or a personal email account. Registration takes 5 -10 minutes. As more join the program, we will open self-matching and you’ll be able to search for a partner using the software; additionally, TandemPlus staff will continuously search for a partner for you throughout the semester.

Have questions about registration or the program? Email tandem@umn.edu, or read our program overview.

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Center for Educational Innovation (CEI) Welcome Week Events

CEI is hosting the following workshops between August 29 and 30, 2018 that are of potential interest to language instructors. Please register for the workshops you are able to attend.

Thursday, August 29, 2018:

Friday, August 30, 2018:

Campus-Wide Canvas Clinics for Faculty and Instructors

Thursday, August 29, 2018
Friday, August 30, 2018
12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Humphrey 50B or St. Paul Student Center 4

The Canvas Clinic is an opportunity for faculty and instructors to get hands-on support and consultation as they work on Canvas or Moodle course sites. Staff from Information Technology (IT), academic technologists from across campus, and TeachingSupport@UMN will be on hand to help with back-to-school good practice tasks and planning assistance for fall semester. Topics include setting up course sites, activities and resources, how to teach with online course sites, and leveraging tools such as Lynda.com and course reserves. In addition, there will be staff available to answer questions you have about the Canvas transition.

No registration is required and the clinic is free of charge. Stop in anytime during the clinic hours to get help.

TandemPlus Class-to-Class Exchanges

If you have been thinking about setting up a class-to-class exchange for your course this fall, but haven't yet, please contact Beth Kautz this week at tandem@umn.edu. She is happy to assist you!

Changes and Innovations at the Language Center

Welcome back to the Language Center! We’ve been busy over the summer! Please note the following changes and innovations to our online and physical presence:
  • We have a new website! The new site is in the standard Drupal format and features more and better organized content for students. It still contains all the frequently used pages from the old site, like the reservation request form and the room calendar. We will continue to update the site as the semester progresses and welcome your feedback. 
  • There is also a new site for TandemPlus at tandemplus.umn.edu. It includes more resources for students and interactive features.
  • LC Elevator is now the home for foreign language films for university language programs. Streaming content and information about films that can be checked out are now in one convenient location.
  • The four Jones Hall classrooms were renovated and now include newer data projection systems. In addition, Jones 35 features new video recording and web conferencing equipment. 
  • We are now supporting a pilot inter-system exchange for languages between the Twin Cities and Morris campuses.

September 2018 Language Center Events

As you prepare for a busy semester, please take a moment to stop by the newly renovated Jones 35 where the Language Center is sponsoring or co-sponsoring a variety of September events. These events are open to everyone, and refreshments will be served.

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

LC Elevator: A new home for foreign language films

The Language Center and LATIS are pleased to announce that LC Elevator is now the home for foreign language films used by CLA language programs. At the newly renovated LC Elevator, you’ll find:
  • Online streaming of over 1000 films
  • Information about over 3000 films available for checkout
  • Some instructional materials, many with supporting documents
  • A small collection of authentic printed materials
  • All of this in one convenient location

The Language Center is now responsible for:
  • New digitization requests for foreign language films for instructional purposes
  • Reservation and check out of all physical media (e.g. DVD) in the Language Center collection
Some restrictions may apply.

Foreign language streaming media that was previously found at the DCL can now be found at LC Elevator. Older DCL links will work through the academic year, but instructors are encouraged to begin replacing them with direct LC Elevator links.

The DCL is still open for business, and contains over 300,000 items, but has refocused on teaching and research collections.

The Language Center would like to thank Denne Wesolowski from the DCL for his work supporting language departments over the years, Colin McFadden from LATIS who made the migration as seamless as possible, and Rachel Cagle (formerly Faynik Marbell) who returned to the Language Center in August to prepare the collection for the new academic year.

Monday, August 13, 2018

Summary of Language Center September 2018 Events

BOSSA Training Open Hours

Thursday, September 6, 2018
2:30 - 4:00 p.m.
Jones 35

Friday, September 7, 2018
10:00 - 12:00 p.m.
Jones 35

As you gear up for the Fall semester, we invite you to join us at one of our BOSSA Open Hours to socialize with new and current users and to have your questions answered. Get a behind-the-scenes perspective on self-assessment and experience using the speaking self-assessment protocol. One-on-one training will be offered. During training, you will become familiar or reacquainted with all the pieces of the BOSSA protocol, and how they fit together. In addition, training will cover how students record and listen to their recordings, and how instructors can go about conducting the pair and group discussions which prepare students for the final, all-important piece: the self-assessment questionnaire.

Mark your calendars for the BOSSA Open Hours, and come share experiences with other users in an informal setting. Coffee will be served.

Congratulations to Anna and Evyn!

On August 11, 2018, Anna Sisombat, Language Testing Assessment Administrator, married Evyn Kyle Hubbard, Sports Coordinator for the City of Bloomington, at the PNA Hall in NE Minneapolis. Anna and Evyn met through mutual friends while attending Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minnesota.

LATIS TEL and Language Center Canvas Clinics

Friday, September 14, 2018
10:30 - 12:00 p.m.
Jones 35

Tuesday, September 18, 2018
2:30 - 4:00 p.m.
Jones 35

Have Canvas questions? Need help exploring integration of Canvas features? Whether struggling or just looking for ways to improve your Canvas course, we can help! The LATIS Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Team and the Language Center invite you to drop in to get one-on-one help during the Canvas Clinics. TEL team members and Language Center staff will be available to answer your questions related to:
  • Canvas general setup 
  • Canvas Gradebook 
  • Canvas features and transition information
  • Universal design and your Canvas site
To help us prepare for your visit and to secure a time, please complete this short form.

If you would like to submit a request for special assistance, please email Adolfo Carrillo Cabello at carri093@umn.edu.
All instructors are welcome! Refreshments will be provided. Hope to see many of you!

Monday, August 6, 2018

CARLA Cultures and Languages Across the Curriculum Publication

CARLA has published a volume titled Developing Responsible Global Citizenship Through Cultures and Languages Across the Curriculum (CLAC): Selected Papers from the 2016 CLAC Conference, which is available in print and online.

The essays in this collection are based on presentations given at the Tenth Conference on Cultures and Languages Across the Curriculum held in October 2016. The essays represent a broad variety of approaches and facets that illustrate the inherently flexible nature of CLAC's main principle of promoting transformational learning through the integration of content, language, and culture. This is the first printed volume based on presentations given at one of the conferences.

This volume was edited by Dan Soneson, Director of the Language Center, and Caleb Zilmer, a CEHD graduate student, both of whom also contributed to the content.

Dan and Caleb unveiled the CLAC Materials Clearinghouse at the October 2016 conference. This Clearinghouse, hosted on the CARLA website, is a curated collection of materials used in CLAC programs around the country. Dan is the editor of the CLAC Materials Clearinghouse, and Caleb is also a member of the Clearinghouse Advisory Board.

Multimedia Lab on Late Summer Break

On Friday, August 10, 2018, the Multimedia Lab Jones 135 will close for a late summer break. On that last day of lab access, student services will be offered in Jones 15 instead of Jones 135 due to a renovation project. Jones 135 will reopen on September 4, 2018 when classes resume.

Languages Bring Minneapolis and Morris a Little Closer

At the University of Minnesota, students learn a wide variety of world languages, and some of these languages are taught remotely by instructors from across the country. Technology allows people to communicate in multiple languages around the globe. Beginning fall 2018, it will also be used to bridge the three-hour divide between Minneapolis and Morris.

For over a decade, the Twin Cities (TC) campus has been an active participant in the Big Ten Academic Alliance CourseShare program, which uses technology to send and receive less commonly taught language and culture courses with partner institutions in the Big Ten. This program provides students with access to courses they need for their academic and career goals, and connects them with students and scholars across the country. It also brings research universities closer together through resource sharing and collaboration.

In 2017, University of Minnesota language department faculty and coordinators began to explore the possibility of applying the concept of language course sharing to the University of Minnesota system. A model for a system-wide campus language exchange exists at the University of Wisconsin, which has been home to the Collaborative Language Program since 1998. The coordinator, Lauren Rosen, was very generous with her time and expertise, and met online and in person with Minnesota representatives several times to discuss how to launch and sustain such a program.

TC and Morris faculty identified a student need: Morris offers students a beginning Latin sequence, but students cannot currently continue to the intermediate level through traditional coursework. The TC Classical and Near Eastern Studies department (CNES) offers an intermediate Latin sequence (one semester of prose, and one of poetry) each year. Enrollment in these courses is healthy, but there is potential for more growth. Providing access to this course to Morris Latin students would allow interested students to continue beyond the first year and bring more diversity to the CNES course.

TC Latin Coordinator Stephen Smith worked with Morris Professor Lisa Bevevino to arrange for a pilot exchange of one section Intermediate Latin Prose during the fall semester of 2018-2019 academic year to be followed by Intermediate Latin Poetry in the spring. In the spring of 2018, registration for the fall 2018 course opened for Morris students. The original plan was to pilot an exchange exclusively with these Latin courses. However, when a flier advertising the TC American Indian Studies Dakota curriculum reached the Morris campus this summer, administrators wondered if offering the Beginning Dakota sequence to Morris students could enrich the offerings of their Native American and Indigenous Studies department, and meet an identified need for some students. And so, the pilot exchange program quickly expanded to include two courses for fall 2018.

Students at Morris register for these two courses as they would any course at their home institution, and the TC instructors, Stephen Smith (Latin) and Wayne (Joe) Bendickson (Dakota) appear as the instructor of record. The program is being supported on both campuses by the academic departments, IT departments and Registrars offices, and coordinated by the Language Center, which is also responsible for administering CourseShare.

The Latin and Dakota courses are being taught in newly renovated video conferencing classrooms, which feature cameras that automatically track anyone who speaks and ceiling array microphones. The Morris students will meet in a room with compatible technology. The goal will be to provide a unified experience for all students and the feeling of learning together in the same space.

The success of the pilot will be assessed at the completion of the fall 2018 courses. The program though has already begun increasing communication and collaboration between the two campuses, as well as sparking technical innovation.

Monday, July 30, 2018

CLA Discover Canvas Workshops in August

Learn to use Canvas online! Each of the following four-day blended workshops options cover a different topic in Canvas. Participants will spend up to one hour per day completing online activities and attend a one-hour online session in WebEx. Please register in advance for one or all of these workshops.
  • August 6 - 9, 2018: Make, Design and Navigation Decisions. Become familiar with the Canvas interface, learn about Canvas design considerations that make courses easier for students to use and navigate, and plan your own course design. 
  • August 13 - 16, 2019: Create & Organize Content & Assessments. Gain experience creating course content, including pages, quizzes, forums, and assignments, and learn to organize and deliver course content through Canvas modules. 
  • August 20 - 23, 2018: Assess Student Progress. Learn about the Canvas gradebook interface and experience how Speedgrader can be used to provide timely and detailed feedback to students while making grading efficient and enjoyable. 
Schedule for all three workshops:
  • Day 1: Online modules in Canvas course site
  • Day 2: Online modules in Canvas course site
  • Day 3: Meet online via WebEx. Please be sure to complete the online modules in advance
  • Day 4: Finish online modules and engage in final assessment

LATIS Canvas Training and Help

Custom Canvas Presentations
August 20-31, 2018

Schedule a custom Canvas training or presentation for CLA faculty, staff, and graduate assistants. Email cla-tel@umn.edu to schedule a meeting with your group.

Office Hours for Individualized Help
August 20 - September 14, 2018

LATIS will offer open office hours for the two weeks before and after the semester starts. Come to get individualized help with your Canvas sites for fall! Please register in advance.

MWALLT 2018 Fall Conference

Saturday, October 13, 2018
University of Minnesota
Michigan State University
University of Kansas

The Midwest Association for Language Learning Technology (MWALLT) will hold its 2018 conference on October 13, 2018. This conference will be of particular interest to all K-12 and post-secondary language instructors, to individuals affiliated with media centers or language labs, and to individuals interested in any facet of language learning technology.

This year we are experimenting with a new format: both in-person and virtual participation. You can attend the conference at one of the three host sites, a hub near you, or virtually.

Call for Presentation Proposals
Proposals are sought for sessions on topics relating to the teaching of languages and cultures using technology. Deadline September 1, 2018.

Call for Hub Hosting Proposals
While the conference will allow remote attendees to ask questions and participate in discussions, we also want to provide a networking opportunity for those not able to attend at one of the host sites. Deadline August 15, 2018.

Registration will open in the fall.

The conference is sponsored at the University of Minnesota by the Language Center and CARLA.

Fall Semester Reservation Requests Now Entered

The Language Center begins entering general Fall semester reservations this week. To have the best possibility of receiving the rooms, media and equipment you need, please submit your requests as early as possible.

Classrooms may be reserved:

Monday 8:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday 8:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday 8:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

If you require time later than those posted hours, please submit your request in advance.

Here is some additional information about reservation requests:
  • These reservations always require a reservation form.
  • Please submit a form for each class section.
  • Each class is allowed to reserve up to 15 hours in Jones Hall classrooms.
  • Teachers of intensive courses may negotiate their needs.
  • Reservations for equipment and media are unlimited in terms of amount and frequency (within reason).
  • Instructors must intend to use the technology they are reserving.
  • There is a waitlist when the room requested is not available.
  • Please indicate whether you need video recording or web conferencing

Monday, July 23, 2018

Jones Classrooms Renovation: Open House Invitation

Monday, September 10, 2018
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Jones 35

Wednesday, September 12, 2018
10:00 - 12:00 p.m.
Jones 35

The four computer classrooms, Jones 10, 15, 30 and 35, are being renovated this summer, and will reopen for Fall 2018 with new projection systems in all rooms, and new video recording and web conferencing equipment in Jones 35. In the case of Jones 35, a short training and consultation is strongly recommended to help instructors decide how best to accomplish their recording and conferencing goals.

The Language Center is offering two walk-in open houses on September 10 and 12, 2018 to tour the classrooms, experiment with the new technology, and consult with staff on how best to capture interactions in their classes. Please come to the open house that works best for your schedule. You can also email elsie@umn.edu to request an individual or group training or consultation. Coffee will be served.

Jones Classroom Changes Coming for Fall 2018

This summer, all four computer classrooms in Jones are being renovated and will reopen in Fall 2018 with the following improvements:

Jones 35 Video Recording and Web Conferencing:
The updated video recording system will give instructors local control. In place of the old remotely-controlled system, instructors will be able to set up and execute their own recordings. This will make it easier for instructors scheduled in the room to add video recording to their class activities.

New web conferencing equipment will make it easier to include remote participants. Instructors can use the Mac instructor computer or a personal laptop to run their web conferencing program of choice.

Best of all, the video recording and web conferencing systems will be able to use either one of two cameras which are controlled from the instructor podium. One camera will be aimed at the front of the room to capture lectures or presentations. The second will be aimed at the front tables to capture small group discussions.

The video recording system in Jones 30 is not changing, and the recording will still be controlled remotely by Language Center staff.

Although instructors scheduled in Jones 35 will be able to add video recording or web conferencing to their itinerary at the last minute, the Language Center staff still requires that they provide this information at the time of the reservation request to ensure that they are scheduled in a classroom with the appropriate technology. All instructors are invited to an open house to learn more about the changes, and consult on using the technology.

Jones 10, 15, 30 and 35 Classroom Projection Systems:
The projection systems in all four classrooms are being replaced with all new equipment. This is a major upgrade that will require new digital wiring and projection controls. Our current systems were originally installed in 2005 when the Language Center first moved into Jones Hall. As part of the upgrade, the data projectors in Jones 10, 15 and 30 will be replaced with laser projectors; the projector in Jones 35 was replaced just last year.

The new systems will be similar to those found in classrooms managed by the Office of Classroom Management. These improvements should result in brighter images with higher resolution and color accuracy in all four Jones classrooms.

Monday, July 16, 2018

Language Center Undergraduate Positions Open for Fall 2018

Undergraduate Students: If you love languages, consider working in the Language Center next fall. We are now hiring undergraduate Classroom Support Assistants, as well as Administrative and Student Support Assistants. We are looking for students with Fall 2018 work study funding and daytime availability. Please visit the university’s employment site and search for Job IDs 324940 and 324959 to learn more and apply online.

Language instructors: The Language Center is a great employment option for language students. Please pass the word on to your students. We are now hiring undergraduate Classroom Support Assistants, as well as Administrative and Student Support Assistants. We are looking for students with Fall 2018 work study funding and daytime availability. Please visit the university’s employment site and search for Job IDs 324940 and 324959 to learn more and apply online.

Fall Semester Reservation Requests Entered Beginning July 16, 2018

The Language Center will begin entering general Fall semester reservations on Monday, July 16, 2018. You may submit reservation requests before that date, and they will be held until then. To have the best possibility of receiving the rooms, media and equipment you need, please submit by that morning.

Classrooms may be reserved:

Monday 8:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday 8:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday 8:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

If you require time later than those posted hours, please submit your request in advance.

Here is some additional information about reservation requests:
  • These reservations always require a reservation form.
  • Please submit a form for each class section.
  • Each class is allowed to reserve up to 15 hours in Jones Hall classrooms.
  • Teachers of intensive courses may negotiate their needs.
  • Reservations for equipment and media are unlimited in terms of amount and frequency (within reason).
  • Instructors must intend to use the technology they are reserving.
  • There is a waitlist when the room requested is not available.
  • Please indicate whether you need video recording or web conferencing.

Monday, July 9, 2018

University of Minnesota Language Programs: Other Awards, Honors and Kudos

Hossam Elsherbiny, instructor of Arabic in the department of Asian Languages and Literatures, has been certified as an ACTFL OPI Tester. Hossam attended the PACE ACTFL OPI Tester Training Workshop in May 2017, as well as a second ACTFL language-specific workshop organized by the Arabic program the following May, and completed the other steps independently.

Language Center Reservable Small Rooms

The Language Center has five small rooms that instructors and students can reserve for academic purposes:
  • Jones 21: Equipped with a small round table for four and no technology. Recommended for tutoring sessions and small group work. Note: this is the only small room without a waiting area outside the room.
  • Jones 105A: Equipped with a small rectangular table for two, videoconferencing technology and a monitor. Recommended for one-on-one tests and videoconferencing. Note: this is the only small room without a window.
  • Jones 105B: Equipped with a desk for two and no technology. Recommended for one-on-one tests.
  • Jones 110D: Equipped with an oval table for four, videoconferencing technology and a monitor. Recommended for one-on-one tests and videoconferencing
  • Jones 135B: Equipped with a conference table for seven, videoconferencing technology and a large monitor. Recommended for student group work and videoconferencing. Note: reservation priority is given for videoconferencing and student use.

Monday, June 25, 2018

Minnesota eLearning Summit August 2018

August 1–2, 2018
Continuing Education and Conference Center, University of Minnesota
Learn more and register

Open. Online. Opportunity.

The MN eLearning Summit is the premier event of the Minnesota Learning Commons and a gathering place for K−12, college, and university educators and innovators in the Midwest committed to effective online and blended learning. The Summit will feature concurrent sessions focused on eLearning tools, resources, services, and best practices; opportunities to meet, collaborate, and contribute ideas for the effective use of instructional technology in and out of the classroom; and a shared vision for utilizing resource-rich tools that reach 21st-century learners.

What to expect:
  • 300+ educators, innovators, and presenters
  • About 80 concurrent breakout sessions covering topics of eLearning including blended, flipped, digital learning
  • Bring-your-own-device learning sessions
  • Presentations for all skills levels, including experienced educators, as well as those new to digital learning
  • Exhibitors showcasing the latest resources and tech solutions
  • Opportunities to network with professional colleagues
  • Certificate of attendance for CEUs.
Facilitated by the College of Continuing and Professional Studies

Friday, June 8, 2018

Coffee in the Multimedia Lab!

June 18 - 29, 2018
10:00 - 2:00 p.m., Monday - Friday
Jones Hall Multimedia Lab 135

The Jones Hall Multimedia Lab opens for summer session on June 11, 2018 and is open 10:00 - 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. All students are welcome.

During the second and third weeks of the session (June 18 - 28), the Language Center will provide free coffee for lab patrons!

Come to work on PCs or Macs, print materials (even from your personal devices), lounge on the couches, watch international TV, enjoy the laptop bar, work on homework or browse the internet at your leisure between classes. All computers come equipped with headsets for listening and recording as well.

See us on the Public Labs List! Questions or interests in using the lab for classroom purposes? Email elsie@umn.edu.

Monday, June 4, 2018

Join LATIS for the “Fridays with R” Summer Series

This workshop series will teach you how to get started using R to clean, manipulate, summarize, and visualize data as well as how to use R reproducibly with R Markdown and github. Each week will feature a workshop from 10:00 - 12:00 p.m. and an optional "Bring Your Own Data" consultation session in the afternoon. Learn more about the workshop series and register today.
  • June 22, 2018: Introduction to R
  • June 29, 2018: Manipulating data using dplyr
  • July 13, 2018: Visualizing data with Ggplot2
  • July 20, 2018: Reshaping and Merging data
  • July 27, 2018: Reproducible Tools: Markdown and Github in R

Summer at the Language Center: Use our space in new and creative ways!

The Language Center is open for business over May and Summer Session. Our hours are somewhat more limited to reflect the decreased number of classes in session, but our professional and student staff will be here and ready to help!

Computer classrooms: Jones 10, 15, 30 and 35
Bringing your intensive summer class to a technology classroom breaks up and adds diversity to a long day for students (and instructors). We would be pleased to make a recurring reservation for you, or discuss the possibility of having your class meet in Jones as its regular classroom.

It’s not necessary to create new instructional material to use in the classroom; existing lessons can easily be adapted to incorporate technology, and we can help with this.
  • Pair/Group work: The DiLL makes it easy to ensure that all students are communicating, and that pairs/groups are not always the same. You can reform pairs and groups as often as you’d like. The software can also help you to easily deploy and manage conversational tasks to promote interpersonal communication skills. 
  • Authentic media integration: Through the DiLL system, instructors can easily send text, audio, and video materials from files or online.
  • Assessment: Whether oral or written, our classrooms offer software that facilitate the evaluation of language production in a secure environment. For example, you can manage individual oral responses with the DiLL system, or conduct oral exchanges. Furthermore, our classrooms can provide a secure testing environment with the integration of Proctorio in Canvas. We’ll be happy to explore assessment options for your courses.
Contact Adolfo Carrillo Cabello at carri093@umn.edu for ideas on adapting an existing lesson to include classroom technology.

Multimedia Lab: Jones 135
Over the summer the lab is open for general student use, and it’s a great location for students to work or meet up before or after class. We will also host special events or viewings upon request, including international TV programming, films, student cultural events, and are open to receiving creative event ideas and proposals.

Contact elsie@umn.edu to request an event at the Multimedia Lab or to discuss the possibility of breaking up the day by having part of a class meet in the more informal lab setting.

TandemPlus
The summer Tandem program is smaller than in fall and spring, but remains vibrant. Students can register at tandem.umn.edu beginning June 11, 2018, to find a language and conversation exchange partner. In addition to a face-to-face matching program, Tandem often co-hosts cultural events for students.

Contact tandem@umn.edu to propose a student event or activity.

TandemPlus Summer Registration is Almost Here!

Registration for the summer session of TandemPlus is nearly here! Beginning with the main summer session, on Monday, June 11, 2018, students can sign-up or update their profiles at tandem.umn.edu and begin their search for a language and conversation partner for the warm months. The Tandem program is smaller in summer than in the fall and spring, and yet it remains vibrant. Please allow a few weeks into the semester for participants to join, in order to find a partner.

Contact tandem@umn.edu to propose a student event or activity, or with any questions you have about the program!

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

CEI Online Learning Seminar: Incorporating Multicultural Inclusive Learning & Teaching Practices

Begins June 11, 2018
Register online

This seminar brings together higher education professionals in a virtual space to learn, share, and develop strategies for cultivating learning spaces and teaching practices that support the broad range of learners enrolled in our colleges, programs, and courses. Working together we will re-examine and expand ideas about a) what we teach, b) how we attend to who is in the classroom, c) when we address tensions/conflicts, d) where to be transparent, and e) why all this matters. This seminar does not incorporate webinars for any session. Offered systemwide as a Center for Educational Innovation Developing Effective Online Learning Spaces Seminar, this summer session begins on June 11, 2018 and runs for five weeks.

Thursday, May 24, 2018

PACE Celebration: A project like this takes a village!

The PACE Project began in August 2014 as a four-year initiative funded by The Language Flagship aiming to promote and sustain an ongoing culture of student-centered assessment and curricular improvement at the University of Minnesota.

The project includes three major components that aim at building greater student language proficiency:  proficiency testing, self-assessment, and professional and curricular development.

Proficiency Testing + Self-Assessment + Professional Development = Greater language proficiency

This project was designed and implemented collaboratively between the Language Center, CARLA and department chairs, coordinators and instructors from seven language programs:  Arabic, French, German, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish, and through the support of the broader language and technology communities. In total, at least 176 university instructors and staff helped with the planning or implementation of one or more of the three components:

  • Contributing to the 2014 grant proposal
  • Serving on the PACE Advisory Board
  • Serving on the PACE Administrative Team
  • Serving on the Professional Development Peer Team
  • Incorporating assessment or self-assessment into their classes
  • Presenting or facilitating a workshop or other event for instructors 
  • Contributing to BOSSA development and implementation
  • Contributing to curriculum development
  • Providing support for data collection, technology implementation and budget decisions 
  • And more!

The PACE Project wrapped up a busy fourth year on May 4, 2018 with an informal celebration and thank you to the 176 university employees who made it all possible. PACE PI Dan Soneson and CLA Dean John Coleman provided an overview of the project and thanked everyone for their participation. Approximately 60 instructors and staff were able to join the celebration, including a few people who have since left the university.

Dean Coleman leads the welcoming remarks at the May 4 event
Dean Coleman leads the welcoming remarks at the May 4 event

The PACE Project administrative team would like to thank everyone for their support, encouragement, guidance and good will. This project was not always easy, especially for language instructors and coordinators who rearranged their syllabi to accommodate it (often in multiple ways). As a result of all this work, we have learned much about student language proficiency, and more importantly, students now better understand what they are capable of doing with their own language skills. As an added benefit, the project has helped bring the university language community together in new ways.

The “Tree of Thanks” includes the names of the 176 instructors and staff
The “Tree of Thanks” includes the names of the 176 instructors and staff.


Coming soon: what we have learned from four years of the PACE Project and next steps.

The PACE Project is funded by a grant from The Language Flagship.

Monday, May 14, 2018

Summer Canvas Basics Workshops

New to Canvas? Starting to think about moving from Moodle to Canvas? If so, plan to attend an 90 minute, online “Canvas Basics” workshop that will include a review of the Canvas interface, tools and features, course design options, and an introduction to moving content from Moodle to Canvas.
  • Review of the interface, tools and features.
  • Explore design decisions in Canvas that impact ease of use and navigation.
  • Should you transition your content from Moodle to Canvas or start from scratch?
  • Once content has been transitioned, where do you find it in Canvas?
  • How do you modify / move content?
The workshop dates are:

Discover Canvas Workshop Summer Series

Information Technology is offering a series of short, blended workshops facilitated by academic technologists and training professionals. They are designed to be flexible and impactful.

Participants should expect to commit up to one hour per day over four days (for a total of up to four hours) completing online activities in addition to attending a 1-hour online session in WebEx.

To receive an alert when registration opens for these online workshops, please provide your contact information.
  • July 16 - 19, 2018: Get Started in Canvas (blended 4-day course; up to 1-hour per day). Become familiar with the Canvas interface, learn about Canvas design considerations that make courses easier for students to use and navigate, and plan your own course design.
  • July 30 - August 2, 2018: Create Content and Assessments (blended 4-day course; up to 1-hour per day). Gain experience creating course content, including pages, quizzes, forums, and assignments, and learn to organize and deliver course content through Canvas modules.
  • August 13 - 16, 2018: Assess Student Progress (blended 4-day course; up to 1-hour per day). Learn about the Canvas gradebook interface and experience how Speedgrader can be used to provide timely and detailed feedback to students while making grading efficient and enjoyable.

CLA Instructors: Fall 2018 Canvas Migration Help

Liberal Arts Technologies & Innovation Services (LATIS) staff are here all summer, and ready to help you prepare your move to Canvas for Fall 2018.

LATIS can help ease the transition by migrating your course materials from Moodle to Canvas--with their staff doing much of the work. The deadline to request assistance for Fall 2018 courses is June 1, 2018. Request assistance at z.umn.edu/migrateCLAcourse.

For more information about migration, online resources, and workshops, see canvas.cla.umn.edu. Contact Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) at cla-tel@umn.edu with questions.

CourseShare: Moving Towards a More Balanced Partnership

The University of Minnesota has been an active participant in the Big Ten Academic Alliance CourseShare program since it launched in 2006. Our institution was an early adopter, sending an Old Norse course to Michigan that first academic year. However, in recent years we have become primarily a receiver of language courses taught by other Big Ten institutions. The word about this incredible resource has gotten out to students, and they have initiated requests to receive languages like Turkish, Persian, Indonesian, Hungarian and Romanian. We now receive between nine and twelve language and culture courses per semester, and the number of university students registered for CourseShare courses grows every year.

Prior to academic year 2017-2018, we typically shared only one or two courses per semester, one of which was the perennially popular ALL 3576: Lang & Society of Two Koreas taught by Hangtae Cho, and sent to a variety of universities.

In 2017-2018, we shared ALL 3576 again, and launched two new exchanges with the University of Nebraska: Beginning Italian taught by Ornella Lavecchia and Beginning Ojibwe taught by Zoe Brown. Next year, we are scheduled to again share ALL 3576, the two beginning courses, plus Intermediate Ojibwe, as well as Beginning Korean, Swedish, and Akkadian. We are also piloting an inter-system exchange by sending Intermediate Latin to UMN Morris.

This surge in language exchange has been made possible through the generosity of instructors like Hangtae, Ornella, and Zoe, who have been willing to share their language outside Minnesota. Technology has also improved, and facilities will be significantly better Fall 2018 when four fully renovated videoconferencing classrooms reopen on the Minneapolis campus. In addition, this year, a working group comprised of experienced CourseShare instructors, as well as staff from LATIS, CARLA, and the Language Center, have organized professional and curricular development opportunities for instructors, including sending six instructors and a technologist to a two day retreat at the University of Wisconsin this May. Special thanks are due to Finnish instructor Dan Karvonen, who has diverse experience supporting remote students, and who has been uncommonly generous with his time in sharing it with other instructors and advising the working group.

The University of Minnesota may never achieve CourseShare balance (to send as many courses in the Big Ten as we receive), but we’re beginning to close the gap!

Monday, April 30, 2018

CLA Instructors: Last Chance for Summer Canvas Migration Help

There are still a few spaces available for any instructors who need help migrating content from Moodle to Canvas for Summer 2018 courses. The deadline to request assistance is May 1, 2018, and it only takes a few minutes to make the request. The deadline for Fall 2018 courses is June 1. Request assistance at z.umn.edu/migrateCLAcourse.

For more information about migration, online resources, and workshops, see canvas.cla.umn.edu. Contact Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) at cla-tel@umn.edu with questions

Summer at the Language Center: Use our space in new and creative ways!

The Language Center is open for business over May and Summer Session. Our hours are somewhat more limited to reflect the decreased number of classes in session, but our professional and student staff will be here and ready to help!

Computer classrooms: Jones 10, 15, 30 and 35
Bringing your intensive summer class to a technology classroom breaks up and adds diversity to a long day for students (and instructors). We would be pleased to make a recurring reservation for you, or discuss the possibility of having your class meet in Jones as its regular classroom.

It’s not necessary to create new instructional material to use in the classroom; existing lessons can easily be adapted to incorporate technology, and we can help with this.
  • Pair/Group work: The DiLL makes it easy to ensure that all students are communicating, and that pairs/groups are not always the same. You can reform pairs and groups as often as you’d like. The software can also help you to easily deploy and manage conversational tasks to promote interpersonal communication skills. 
  • Authentic media integration: Through the DiLL system, instructors can easily send text, audio, and video materials from files or online.
  • Assessment: Whether oral or written, our classrooms offer software that facilitate the evaluation of language production in a secure environment. For example, you can manage individual oral responses with the DiLL system, or conduct oral exchanges. Furthermore, our classrooms can provide a secure testing environment with the integration of Proctorio in Canvas. We’ll be happy to explore assessment options for your courses.
Contact Adolfo Carrillo Cabello at carri093@umn.edu for ideas on adapting an existing lesson to include classroom technology.

Multimedia Lab: Jones 135
Over the summer the lab is open for general student use, and it’s a great location for students to work or meet up before or after class. We will also host special events or viewings upon request, including international TV programming, films, student cultural events, and are open to receiving creative event ideas and proposals.

Contact elsie@umn.edu to request an event at the Multimedia Lab or to discuss the possibility of breaking up the day by having part of a class meet in the more informal lab setting.

TandemPlus
The summer Tandem program is smaller than in fall and spring, but remains vibrant. Students can register at tandem.umn.edu beginning June 11, 2018, to find a language and conversation exchange partner. In addition to a face-to-face matching program, Tandem often co-hosts cultural events for students.

Contact tandem@umn.edu to propose a student event or activity.


Start a New Language through CourseShare

LANG CourseShare uses technology to receive less commonly taught language and culture courses with partner institutions. For Fall 2018 we are receiving the following beginning and accelerated language courses:
  • LANG 2201 - Accelerated Basque I (requires intermediate-level proficiency in French, Spanish or a similar language)
  • LANG 2011 - Accelerated Catalan I (2-credit course that Begins October 1, 2018)
  • LANG 1211 Beginning Maya
  • LANG 1061 Beginning Persian I
  • LANG 1071 Beginning Polish I (hybrid course is partially online)
  • LANG 1101 Beginning Modern Tibetan I
  • LANG 1121 Beginning Vietnamese I (fully online course) 
  • LANG 1131 Beginning Yiddish I
Don’t see the language you’re interested in studying? First look for all CourseShare courses under the LANG designator, then ask! We might be able to find additional languages for you.

How to get started:
Students may register for already scheduled courses just like any other course under the LANG designator. Space is limited, so register early. Some courses may require special approval. For access or questions, please email Stephanie Treat at elsie@umn.edu as soon as possible.

Monday, April 23, 2018

Center for Educational Innovation: Creating Effective and Accessible Assignments

Thursday, April 26, 2018
4:15 - 5:30 p.m.
University Office Plaza 444
Register online

We all want assignments that will result in better student work but more often than not, that doesn't happen. How can we write assignments that both support and motivate students? This workshop will provide strategies for helping students understand the explicit (and implicit) requirements of assignments, as well as tips on how to design your own assignments that are both effective and accessible.

Finding New Tandem Partners in Finland, Argentina, Spain, or . . .

Whenever talking with instructors about starting a tandem exchange, one of the first questions is "How do I find a partner class?" The answer? "There are a variety of strategies we can try. Let's work on it together!"

This semester, the TandemPlus program helped facilitate exchanges with three new partner institutions: a high school in Finland, an online university in Spain, and a liberal arts focused college in Argentina. The path to finding the partners was different in each case.

Finnish 1004 instructor Laura Tuomainen contacted us by email and we met to consider how to set up an exchange for the very first time. Since she is a native of Finland and teaching in Minnesota as a Fulbright Teaching Assistant, it made sense to use her contacts among English teachers in her home country. She posted an ad on a Facebook page for English teachers in Finland and quickly found a high school teacher with students close in age to her own Finnish 1004 students.

After a positive experience integrating a class-to-class exchange in his Spanish 1003 classes last semester, Michael Arnold wanted to find a partner class for his Business Spanish class this semester. When we searched the Uni-Collaboration website (a site designed to support class-to-class exchanges in high education), we found the perfect match: a Business English class in Spain. Michael contacted the instructor and they began planning content specific topics for their students to discuss.

In January, Gabrielle Sweet, the former Language Center Sustainability Coordinator, who now works in the CLA Career Readiness Program, introduced us to a visiting scholar from Universidad de San Andrés in Buenos Aires. The visitor was excited by the idea of Tandem, because students at her institution are expected to use English during their course of studies, but English classes are not offered. Conversation partners in Minnesota would provide her students with the real-world experience and practice of communicating in a second language with people from another culture. After discussing the differing semester schedules and the voluntary nature of the proposed exchange, we decided to have the students in Argentina enroll independently in our virtual face-to-face exchange program. In March, nearly 40 students signed-up, which meant we could offer many more university students a chance to participate in Tandem outside of the formal class-to-class exchanges.

If you are curious about how your students could have a language partner in another country, talk with us about the possibilities. As you travel the globe this summer, please keep Tandem in mind. You never know where or how you might meet future tandem partners!

Celebrate PACE: You are invited!

Please join us to acknowledge and thank the creative, committed, and enthusiastic community of scholars and staff that has made the PACE Project a great success.

Friday, May 4, 2018
Doors open at 1:30 p.m.
Program starts at 2:00 p.m.

University International Center, room 101
331 17th Ave SE, Minneapolis

Come for as long or as little as you can. Hors d'oeuvres, desserts, and drinks will be provided. Participate in the PACE Trivia to challenge your knowledge of the PACE Project.

Please RSVP by Friday, April 27
RSVP online

TandemPlus April Study Evening

Thursday, April 26, 2018
5:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Bruininks 432A

The end of spring semester is arriving quickly, with finals week feeling like it’s just around the corner. To ease the tension of course work and provide a lively space to cram for projects, papers, and exams, TandemPlus is once again hosting an end-of-semester study evening for all participants. Bring yourself and your partner, along with all of your study materials and together we'll put our noses to the grindstone to prepare for finals! Coffee, tea, and pizza will be served as refreshments to keep you going throughout the evening.

Monday, April 16, 2018

Kaltura Now Offers Automatic Captioning for Some Languages

The Office of Information Technology (OIT) has implemented a new process in the Kaltura media platform that automatically captions any new video uploaded using automatic speech recognition (ASR). These captions do not meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodation requirements, but documentation has been created on how to improve the automatic captions to become ADA compliant.

Kaltura is a media management system used by instructors and students to upload and distribute video in Moodle and Canvas course sites. Now, when a video is uploaded, the ASR process begins immediately. No settings need to be enabled. Captions are created based on the audio track, and the content is assumed to be in English. Video owners can re-run the ASR captions in Dutch, French, German, Italian and Spanish.

See the OIT Technology Spotlight for more information on this new feature.

Monday, April 9, 2018

LANG Courseshare for Fall 2018

The following LANG CourseShare courses are open for Fall 2018 registration:
  • LANG 2201: Accelerated Basque I (permission required)
  • LANG 2011: Accelerated Catalan I
  • LANG 3504: Korean Language in Culture and Society 
  • LANG 1211: Beginning Maya I
  • LANG 1061: Beginning Persian
  • LANG 1071: Beginning Polish I (partially online course)
  • LANG 2071: Intermediate Polish I (partially online course)
  • LANG 1101: Beginning Modern Tibetan
  • LANG 2101: Intermediate Modern Tibetan
  • LANG 1121: Beginning Vietnamese I (fully online course)
  • LANG 2121: Intermediate Vietnamese I (fully online course)
  • LANG 1131: Beginning Yiddish
Students and advisors who do not see the language or level they are looking for should email Stephanie at elsie@umn.edu to convey their interest. Please note that space is limited in all of these courses, and that most have special start and end dates.

Summer at the Language Center: Use our space in new and creative ways!

The Language Center is open for business over May and Summer Session. Our hours are somewhat more limited to reflect the decreased number of classes in session, but our professional and student staff will be here and ready to help!

Computer classrooms: Jones 10, 15, 30 and 35

Bringing your intensive summer class to a technology classroom breaks up and adds diversity to a long day for students (and instructors). We would be pleased to make a recurring reservation for you, or discuss the possibility of having your class meet in Jones as its regular classroom.

It’s not necessary to create new instructional material to use in the classroom; existing lessons can easily be adapted to incorporate technology, and we can help with this.
  • Pair/Group work: The DiLL makes it easy to ensure that all students are communicating, and that pairs/groups are not always the same. You can reform pairs and groups as often as you’d like. The software can also help you to easily deploy and manage conversational tasks to promote interpersonal communication skills. 
  • Authentic media integration: Through the DiLL system, instructors can easily send text, audio, and video materials from files or online. 
  • Assessment: Whether oral or written, our classrooms offer software that facilitate the evaluation of language production in a secure environment. For example, you can manage individual oral responses with the DiLL system, or conduct oral exchanges. Furthermore, our classrooms can provide a secure testing environment with the integration of Proctorio in Canvas. We’ll be happy to explore assessment options for your courses. 
Contact Adolfo Carrillo Cabello at carri093@umn.edu for ideas on adapting an existing lesson to include classroom technology.

Multimedia Lab: Jones 135
Over the summer the lab is open for general student use, and it’s a great location for students to work or meet up before or after class. We will also host special events or viewings upon request, including international TV programming, films, student cultural events, and are open to receiving creative event ideas and proposals.

Contact elsie@umn.edu to request an event at the Multimedia Lab or to discuss the possibility of breaking up the day by having part of a class meet in the more informal lab setting.

TandemPlus

The summer Tandem program is smaller than in fall and spring, but remains vibrant. Students can register at tandem.umn.edu beginning June 11, 2018, to find a language and conversation exchange partner. In addition to a face-to-face matching program, Tandem often co-hosts cultural events for students.

Contact tandem@umn.edu to propose a student event or activity.

Presentations, Workshops, and Demonstrations in April and May

Please consider joining the Language Center for the variety of presentations, workshops and demonstrations offered throughout the end of the semester. All instructors and graduate students are welcome to attend, and refreshments will be served. Please register in advance if you are able to come.

PACE Presentation: What is the Antidote for improving writing?

Friday, May 4, 2018
12:20 - 1:10 p.m.
Folwell 112
Online Registration

During 2017, the Department of French and Italian received a LATIS Academic Innovation Grant to pilot the correction software Antidote in FR 3015 and FR 3016, the first advanced courses required for the major and minor in French. Antidote has been a boon to students and instructors alike, allowing self-assessment outside of class to be paired with writing workshops in class. Panelists consist of instructors who have piloted the correction software and students who have used it in both courses. Join us for a lively discussion which includes the elements of French style, the differences between a human corrector versus a computerized one, and our plans to expand the use of Antidote through a second grant application in 2018.

A light lunch will be provided.

Presenters: Lydia Belatèche (Senior Lecturer), Betsy Kerr (Associate Professor), Christopher Ice (Ph.D. Candidate), Miriam Jepsen-Despiegelaere (FREN 3015/16 undergraduate student), Kimberly Bonner (FREN 3015/16 graduate student)

Department of French and Italian

The PACE Project is funded by a grant from The Language Flagship.

Monday, April 2, 2018

Summer Session Reservation Requests Entered April 16, 2018

The Language Center will begin entering general Summer Session reservations on Monday, April 16. You may submit reservation requests before that date, and they will be held until then. To have the best possibility of receiving the rooms and equipment you need, please submit by that morning.

See the Language Center Reservation page for details on policy and to make an online reservation request. Summer classroom hours are listed below to help you plan your requests.

Summer 2018 Classroom Hours

Please refer to these hours when requesting Jones classrooms:

May Session (May 21 - June 8)
Monday – Thursday: 8:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Summer Session (June 11 - August 3)
Monday: 8:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday: 8:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 8:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Thursday: 8:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Late Summer Session (August 6 - August 31)
Monday – Friday: 8:00 – 4:00 p.m.

PACE Project Conference Funding

In an effort to encourage dissemination of the PACE Project results, the Language Center is pleased to make available to CLA language instructors and researchers travel funds to present research results or reports on assessment, instructional, or curricular initiatives related to or stemming from the PACE project at a relevant conference between January 2018 and December 2019.

The Language Center will provide up to $1000 to support travel, lodging, per diem, and conference registration. Funds will be awarded to an individual or group involved in a presentation for one conference per calendar year.

To qualify for funding, a conference proposal must clearly connect to the PACE project (proficiency results, curriculum revision, self-assessment, professional development). If PACE is not mentioned in the proposal itself, then the funding application must explain how PACE will be represented in the presentation.

Requirements for financial support

  • Complete an online application prior to submitting an abstract to conference planners
  • Agree to present the information in a public forum at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (Example: presentation, share fair, panel, etc.)
  • Agree to have the conference presentation and abstract listed in an online bibliography dedicated to LC-supported research and PACE project dissemination, as well as in reports to The Language Flagship.

All language instructors, graduate students and faculty are all eligible to apply for this funding.

Please contact the PACE PI, Dan Soneson at soneson@umn.edu, for further information.

The PACE Project is funded by a grant from The Language Flagship.

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

April at the Language Center: A cornucopia of events for language instructors

Please consider joining the Language Center for the variety of presentations, workshops and demonstrations offered throughout April. All instructors and graduate students are welcome to attend, and refreshments will be served. Please register in advance if you are able to come.

PACE Presentation: Can one use Authentic Listening Texts from the First Semester on? Jawohl!

Thursday, April 12, 2018
2:30 - 3:20 p.m.
Nolte 140
Register Online

Over the course of a year the German program created 18 lessons incorporating authentic listening texts into the 1001-1004 curriculum. Each lesson focuses on one authentic audio or videotext and is tied to chapter content. The lessons integrate metacognitive strategies and/or a multiliteracies approach and expose students to a variety of genres across the four-semester curriculum. In this presentation, we will highlight two of the listening lessons and explain why and how we conducted this large-scale project, what we have learned so far (including student and instructor feedback collected), and what we hope to do to strengthen and sustain this project in the future.

Presenters: Beth Kautz, Helena Ruf , and Ginny Steinhagen

The PACE Project is funded by a grant from The Language Flagship.

Monday, March 19, 2018

PACE Demonstration: Options for enhancing online test security in LC classrooms

Monday, April 23, 2018
2:30 - 3:20 p.m.
Jones 35
Online Registration

This presentation will provide participants with a recommendation for ensuring that students complete tests and quizzes fairly. The session will demonstrate Proctorio, an online security and monitoring service that is integrated into the U’s implementation of Canvas, to enhance test security measures for use in the Language Center computer classrooms and online. The session will walk instructors through the process of deploying Proctorio within course assignments, and will provide them with general guidelines on practical uses and logistics. Participants will learn about the process for deploying Proctorio, and how to prepare students for taking tests in the computer classrooms.

Join us for a productive afternoon to learn about test security in the LC classrooms. Come and experience Proctorio first-hand! Space is limited, so be sure to register in advance.

Presenter: Adolfo Carrillo Cabello, CLA Language Center

The PACE Project is funded by a grant from The Language Flagship.

Online and Hybrid Strategies for Enhancing Your Students' Language Learning: A Tri-State Workshop

Friday, April 20, 2018
1:00 - 4:00 p.m. (Central), 2:00- 5:00 p.m. (Eastern)
University of Minnesota (Jones 15), Michigan State University (Wells B104), and in Cyberspace
Please register online

This workshop is free! Supported by the College of Arts and Letters Collaboration Grant at Michigan State University, and the College of Liberal Arts Language Center and CARLA at the University of Minnesota.

The sponsors are very excited to invite you to participate in this tri-state workshop adventure in a new format! We are coordinating to link up three different state sites so that you can attend in person at MSU or UMN, or attend virtually from anywhere.
  • There will be two presentations, one each from the University of Kansas and the University of Minnesota. See presentation information below.
  • All attendees will have the opportunity to network with both virtual and face-to-face (F2F) attendees. If you attend a F2F session and bring your laptop, you will be able to participate in online discussions as well as discussing with those sitting right next to you. 
  • Virtual attendees will need to supply their own coffee and treats - offered only to those attending F2F!
Once you have registered online, you will be sent further information and instructions on locations, both F2F and virtual connections.


Presentation 1: Free Technology Tools for Foreign Language Instructors


With the ever-increasing number of web-based applications, mobile apps, browser extensions and free multimedia software available today, the thought of finding and selecting those best suited for foreign language instruction can be daunting. This presentation will streamline your efforts by highlighting some of the best free technology tools for foreign language instructors. Examples of what instructors can do with the tools include: extract video clips and images from a DVD; download, subtitle, combine or extract segments from YouTube videos; convert file formats; share groups of links with optional annotations; create screencasts.

Presenter: Keah Cunningham, Assistant Director of the Ermal Garinger Academic Resource Center, holds a B.A. in Information Systems (with an Italian minor) from the University of Kansas and is currently pursuing an M.S. in Educational Technology. Keah provides support and training to instructors in the use of technology in the classroom and serves as the lead web designer for the Center's projects.

Presentation 2: From Transition to Transition: Strategies for Preparing Courses for LMSs

Transitioning to a new LMS (learning management system) is not an uncommon move in most higher-ed teaching contexts. However, these moves are not only increasingly becoming more common, but also more frequent. This presentation will provide strategies for language instructors on how to prepare for LMS transitions. Those considering using LMSs will learn about reasons for using LMSs for language teaching, such as ideas for incorporating cultural content and authentic materials in their courses. Participants will be guided through the process of developing course materials that infuse instructional design principles and can be easily transported to multiple LMSs. After participants learn five basic considerations for transitions, participants will engage in hands-on guided practice to identify content and resources from their courses to prepare for transition or development. Examples from two common LMSs - Canvas and Moodle - will be provided.

Presenter: Adolfo Carrillo Cabello is the Coordinator of Professional Development at the College of Liberal Arts Language Center at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Adolfo holds a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics and Technology from Iowa State University. In his current position, Adolfo plans and delivers professional development interventions, and provides support for curricular changes to language instructors from five language departments.

Universal Design Resources for Traditional, Hybrid and Online Education

The university is committed to providing equitable access to information and information technology associated with administration and services, courses of instruction, departmental programs, and activities. Incorporating principles of universal design in the development, acquisition and implementation of these resources ensures access by the widest possible audience — including users with disabilities.

Whether you teach a traditional, hybrid or online class, you may want to check out the 20 Tips for Teaching an Accessible Online Course. It’s just one of a list of local and national resources compiled by our own Disability Resource Center to help you ensure accessibility in your courses.

PACE Presentation: Looking back at curricular changes: Success and challenges in SPAN 1004

Monday, April 16, 2018
2:30 - 3:20 p.m.
Nolte 140
Register Online

In 2016 and 2017, the PACE Project supported curricular revisions for five language programs with the goal of attending to areas that were lagging based on proficiency test results. These areas included speaking and listening. In the case of Spanish, changes to the curriculum focused on the interpretive mode of communication with an emphasis on listening. Now that the changes have been in place since Spring 2017, the presentation will revisit changes made to the course as part of the project, evaluating example activities, reporting student feedback, and sharing the practical challenges of incorporating changes in the multi-section context.

Presenter: Sara Mack, Coordinator of Spanish 1004, Department of Spanish and Portuguese

The PACE Project is funded by a grant from The Language Flagship.

Monday, March 5, 2018

Inclusive Teaching in Canvas Series - Session Added for March 23, 2018

In this series, language instructors will learn practical strategies for inclusive teaching within the context of Canvas. You'll get a mix of tools and techniques, informed by best practices from the the fields of universal design, accessibility and web usability.

Registration is required since space is limited. Participants can register to one or all of the sessions. You may submit questions in advance you would like addressed at the sessions.

Session 3: Collaboration options, group work, and managing communications

Due to popular demand, this session will be offered twice.  The content will be repeated.  Use the same registration link for both sessions.

Friday, March 23, 2018
10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Folwell 8 (note room change)
Register Online

Friday, March 30, 2018
10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Folwell 6
Register Online

Session 4: Co-teaching, sharing resources, and creating blueprint courses
Friday, April 6, 2018
10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Folwell 8 (room change)
Register Online

Session 1-4 Facilitators:
Ann Fandrey, LATIS, Educational Technologist Consultant
Shanna Crosson, LATIS, Educational Technologist Consultant
Adolfo Carrillo Cabello, CLA Language Center, Professional Development Specialist

This series is cosponsored by the PACE Project, the Language Center and LATIS.

The PACE Project is funded by a grant from The Language Flagship.