Spring 2025 RSI and Accessibility Workshops

The Spring Schedule is getting set with more to come!

Attending at least three of these 30-minute RSI Online workshops is required. We hope you'll attend all of them!

April 14 - 18

Monday, April 14
@ 1 p.m.

Join on Zoom

Using Hypothesis to Engage Student Learning

Presenter: Jessica George (Hypothesis Customer Success Manager)

Hypothesis enables you and your students to have conversations in the margins of Canvas pages, digital texts, and video transcripts creating an experience where reading becomes active, visible, and social. In this workshop you'll learn how Hypothesis can support RSI.

Activating Annotation in Canvas slidedeck

Hypothesis Social Annotation Across Disciplines

If you are interested in learning more you can contact Jessica at jessica.george@hypothes.is or you can make an appointment for a Zoom 1:1 with her.

Wednesday, April 16
@ 8 a.m.

Join on Zoom

Connecting with Learners: Foothill Connect

Presenter: Sally Baldwin

Join Chris, Sally, and Kaitlyn as we explore how Foothill Connect can help you support your students and strengthen your online teaching. We’ll share practical ways to use Foothill Connect to monitor student progress, foster meaningful interaction, promote student success, and meet Regular Substantive Interaction (RSI) requirements.

Thursday, April 17
@ 4 p.m.

Join on Zoom

Reimagine Office Hours to Boost Student Engagement

Presenter: Helen Graves

Faculty often lament that traditional office hours go unused—but it doesn't have to be that way! Join us for a 30-minute webinar where we’ll dive into creative, flexible approaches to office hours that increase student engagement and support. Walk away with practical strategies you can implement right away!

April 21 - 25

Monday, April 21
@ 1 p.m.

Join on Zoom

How Pronto Can Support Your RSI Plan

Presenter: Lauren Luker (Pronto Customer Success Manager)

Join Lauren our Pronto Customer Success Manager to learn how you can use Pronto as another way to communicate with your students. You'll also learn how students can create groups to form study groups and work on group projects.

Pronto Slidedeck

If would like one-on-one help with getting started with Pronto you can contact Lauren Luker at lauren@pronto.io.

Wednesday, April 23
@ Noon

Join on Zoom

The Easy-Peasy PopeTech Accessibility Tool

Presenter: Helen Graves

Join us for a 30-minute workshop on creating accessible content in the online environment. Learn how to use PopeTech, a powerful accessibility checker, to identify and address potential barriers in your Canvas course. We'll also explore the seven essential formatting guidelines that ensure your content is easily accessible to everyone.

Friday, April 25
@ 10:30 a.m.

Join on Zoom

Learning Snapshots | Using OATs to Monitor Student Learning

Presenter: Lené Whitley-Putz

Classroom assessment techniques, often called CATs, are super-quick assessments that give you a tiny snapshot of student learning, allowing you to identify students who may be struggling before the issue gets too big. In this workshop, we'll learn how to transfer common in-person CATs, such as minute essays, muddiest point, or ethical dilemmas, to an online course--in other words, how to convert CATs to OATs!

April 28 - May 2

Monday, April 28
@ 1 p.m.

Join on Zoom

Using VoiceThread for RSI

Presenter: George Haines (VoiceThread Director of Education)

VoiceThread is an external verbal/video tool integrated into Canvas modules, assignments, and links in announcements. In this workshop, you'll learn how to use VoiceThread to give quick verbal and annotated feedback.

Monday, April 28
@ 4 p.m.

Join on Zoom

The Value of Student Self-Assessment

Presenter: Helen Graves

Student self-assessment is an undersung hero in the online instructor’s toolbox. It can not only help students develop skills in critical analysis, research by Sharma, et al. (2016) found it can increase their interest and motivation level, leading to enhanced learning and better academic performance. It also provides an excellent formative opportunity to enhance your RSI efforts.

Tuesday, April 29
@ 8 a.m.

Join on Zoom

Using Canvas Gradebook to Connect and Support Students

Presenter: Sally Baldwin

Join Sally for a quick, hands-on workshop and learn how to use Canvas Gradebook tools to connect with students, provide timely feedback, and gently nudge them toward success.
We’ll cover simple, practical strategies for using the Gradebook to:

Reach out to students who are falling behind
Celebrate students who are doing well
Track important notes and reminders
Save yourself time while staying student-centered

Bring your questions and leave with tips you can use right away!

May 5 - 9

Tuesday, May 6
@ 11 a.m.

Join on Zoom

Quick Fixes for Course Accessibility

Presenter: Sally Baldwin

In this 30-minute workshop, you'll learn how to use PopeTech and the Accessibility Dashboard to quickly identify and fix accessibility issues in your courses. We’ll walk through simple steps to improve your course’s accessibility, ensuring a better experience for all students. No prep needed—just bring your coffee and your questions!

Tuesday, May 6
@ 2 p.m.

Join on Zoom

Leveraging Technology for RSI: Canvas and Beyond

Presenter: Helen Graves

Want to make your online course more interactive while meeting RSI requirements? Join us for a 30-minute webinar where we’ll explore how to leverage Canvas tools and beyond to enhance instructor presence, student engagement, and meaningful feedback.

Thursday, May 8
@ 9 a.m.

Join on Zoom

Incorporating Mindfulness Activities for Meaningful Interaction and Reflection

Presenter: Jordana Griffiths

Are you interested in learning about mindfulness and meditation and how mindfulness activities can be incorporated into our classes to promote meaningful interaction and reflection? Join Jordana for a 30-minute workshop on the principles of mindfulness and how instructors can introduce specific mindfulness activities to enhance substantive interaction and promote self-reflection.

May 12 - 16

Wednesday, May 14
@ 10 a.m.

Join on Zoom

How a Getting to Know You Survey Supports Your RSI Plan

Presenter: Helen Graves

In this 30-minute workshop, learn how to craft a "Getting to Know You" survey that fosters a sense of community and connection in your online course (and supports your plan for regular, substantive interaction. Discover the power of humanizing elements in creating a welcoming and engaging learning environment.

Wednesday, May 14
@ 1 p.m.

Join on Zoom

Using VoiceThread for RSI (1 Hour)

Presenter: George Haines (VoiceThread Director of Education)

VoiceThread is an external verbal/video tool integrated into Canvas modules, assignments, and links in announcements.

In this workshop, George will introduce you to VoiceThread and demonstrate how to create a VoiceThread assignment in Canvas. He'll also show how students interact with the assignment.

Note: Workshop counts towards one RSI workshop even though it is an hour long.

Thursday, May 15
@ 9 a.m.

Join on Zoom

Showcase your student-facing communication plan using Simple Syllabus

Presenter: Amy Shidler

Let students know what to expect in your class using Simple Syllabus. Simple Syllabus is a digital syllabus tool in Canvas that is customizable, transparent, and automatically populates with institutional policy. It’s a great home for your student-facing communication plan.

May 19 - 23

Tuesday, May 20
@ Noon

Join on Zoom

Using ScreenPal Video Feeback

Presenter: Kimberley Escamilla & Amber LaPiana

Join Kimberly and Amber for a 30-minute workshop on using ScreenPal video feedback in your courses. We will review the research, benefits for both you and students, as well as how it can enhance your students' ability to make significant improvements in your class.

Wednesday, May 21
@ 8 a.m.

Join on Zoom

Quick Fixes for Course Accessibility

Presenter: Sally Baldwin

In this 30-minute workshop, you'll learn how to use PopeTech and the Accessibility Dashboard to quickly identify and fix accessibility issues in your courses. We’ll walk through simple steps to improve your course’s accessibility, ensuring a better experience for all students. No prep needed—just bring your coffee and your questions!

Wednesday, May 21
@ 10 a.m.

Join on Zoom

The Easy-Peasy PopeTech Accessibility Tool

Presenter: Helen Graves

Join us for a 30-minute workshop on creating accessible content in the online environment. Learn how to use PopeTech, a powerful accessibility checker, to identify and address potential barriers in your Canvas course. We'll also explore the seven essential formatting guidelines that ensure your content is easily accessible to everyone.

May 27 - 30

Tuesday, May 27
@ 8 a.m.

Join on Zoom

Humanizing Online Courses through Connections between Culturally Responsive Pedagogy and RSI

Presenter: Jordana Griffiths

Join Jordana for this 30-minute workshop on the principles of Culturally Responsive Pedagogy and specific RSI strategies that are aligned with CRP. We will also discuss how Announcements in Canvas can be an RSI tool that promotes a culturally responsive approach.

Wednesday, May 28
@ 5:30 p.m.

Join on Zoom

Build Interaction with Harmonize, a New Discussion Tool!

Presenter: Lené Whitley-Putz

Join this short introduction to a new tool, Harmonize. This tool enhances and simplifies discussions, allowing you to easily create multiple due dates, and allowing your students to easily create video, text, and document discussion replies. You and your students are going to love it!

Thursday, May 29
@ 6 p.m.

Join on Zoom

Incorporating Mindfulness Activities for Meaningful Interaction and Reflection

Presenter: Jordana Griffiths

Are you interested in learning about mindfulness and meditation and how mindfulness activities can be incorporated into our classes to promote meaningful interaction and reflection? Join Jordana for a 30-minute workshop on the principles of mindfulness and how instructors can introduce specific mindfulness activities to enhance substantive interaction and promote self-reflection.

June 2 - 6

Tuesday, June 3
@Noon

Join on Zoom

Leveraging Technology for RSI

Presenter: Kimberly Escamilla

Join Kimberly as she reviews four areas of RSI that can be enhanced by technology that increases student engagement efficiently. Great workshop for those wanting to enhance student experience in their asynchronous courses.

Tuesday, June 3
@ 7 p.m.

Join on Zoom

Multi tools

Presenter: Lené Whitley-Putz

Join us for a quick overview of the many tools in Canvas you can use to boost RSI.

June 9 - 13

Monday, June 9
@ 8:30 a.m.

Join on Zoom

Showcase your student-facing communication plan using Simple Syllabus

Presenter: Amy Shidler

Let students know what to expect in your class using Simple Syllabus. Simple Syllabus is a digital syllabus tool in Canvas that is customizable, transparent, and automatically populates with institutional policy. It’s a great home for your student-facing communication plan.