The Elm

UMB has partnered with the instructional design firm iDesign to make a number of services available to help faculty prepare for online teaching this fall.

iDesign partners with universities to build, grow, and support online and blended programs and is  passionate about helping faculty harness the potential of emerging technologies to design courses and degrees that make an impact. iDesign supplements and extends the resources already offered by the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning.

Here are some ideas for how iDesign can help:

• Course planning
• Assignment creation
• Getting started with Blackboard and using it for your courses
• Planning for your synchronous class sessions and ways to use Zoom
• Course readiness with Blackboard settings
• iDesign also offers UMB the following services and resources:

Faculty Resource Hub: Provides a variety of course design, teaching, and technology tips and guides, as well as a way for faculty seeking instructional design support to reach out to iDesign consultants.

Support hours: iDesign learning specialists are on hand to assist with your course design and teaching effectiveness questions. If you have a question relating to how to best implement a teaching strategy or best practice in your course, iDesign is here to help.

To explore the resources offered by iDesign, access the Faculty Learning Hub by selecting the link and then look for the "Quick Enroll" button on the bottom left of the subsequent page. You may also email or call 1-888-646-2344.