SMART Program

COMING SOON!

The goal:

The CTLD SMART Program is designed to meet the needs of MSU Denver faculty in effective teaching, quality course design and engaged learning. It is structured but flexible, with coaching and support from real people and incentives to make the work even more rewarding. This in-house program is customized for our unique students, our teaching environment, and the tools and constraints we all share.

At its heart, SMART focuses on you, the instructor. The goal is to equip you with the knowledge and skills to design and facilitate courses that don’t just meet established quality standards, but truly come alive with active, inclusive, and engaging learning experiences.

And as a bonus? We hope your experience in the SMART program helps you feel confident and comfortable reaching out to our Drop-In Support team, connecting to our ongoing events, or signing up for more extensive work with the CTLD.

What is not the goal:

This is not a course development program, and it won’t result in a polished course that meets and exceeds quality standards.  Rather, the SMART program builds on your skills, care and enthusiasm, empowering you to create learning that works. For your students, in your courses, on your schedule.

Open to all faculty, anytime, the SMART program is intended to meet busy MSU Denver faculty where they are. The program combines flexible asynchronous online work with the steady presence of program coaches, available from 10 AM to 3 PM Monday through Friday. Faculty can proceed through the Blocks at any pace that works for them, and we also offer some structure and incentives to keep the work moving. All told, completing the SMART program should mean about 20 hours of your time, spread out and scheduled as you see fit.

20+ Modules:

The SMART program has more than 20 modules, each involves about 1-hour of your time, including learning, application and assessment. The program is divided into four Blocks of 5 modules each. Some modules are a core part of the SMART program and are required for completion. At other points you will be able to choose from a menu of elective modules, selecting those that suit your needs.

Sponsored faculty

Some faculty may be sponsored to join and progress in the SMART program. The CTLD recommends a structure in which sponsored faculty get a stipend for completing each Block in the SMART program, plus a bonus when they complete all four blocks. Some sponsorships also include Instructional Design and Instructional Media Support from CTLD staff. In addition to the specific sponsorship agreement made with the sponsoring unit, there is more information on the Sponsored SMART page.

Timing:

The SMART program itself doesn’t have an inherent schedule. However, sponsored faculty and/or faculty receiving CTLD staff support may need to complete Blocks on a schedule in order to earn specific incentives (see your support/sponsorship agreement).

In general, anytime you complete a Block, you will be invited to the next CTLD SMART Lunch (see Block Incentives).

Each time you complete a Block (a grouping of 5 modules) in the SMART program you earn some incentives. Different faculty will have different incentive structures.

Block Incentive for all participants – Lunch with CTLD!

Anytime you complete a Block in the SMART program the CTLD will offer to buy you lunch as part of the next month’s “SMART Lunch.” This is a chance for you to connect with CTLD staff, ask follow-up questions, meet other participants and discuss how you hope to apply the ideas in the program to your teaching.

Accessibility Support for Completing Block 1

Block 1 includes a module specifically about instructional accessibility, and all faculty who complete this block earn a special service from the Instructional Accessibility Group: Priority signup for an Access Check, including double the amount of support time afterward.

Support Incentive for Some Faculty – Design & Media

Some faculty, often those with a sponsorship for the SMART program, also unlock specific Instructional Design and Instructional Media support when they complete a Block. The CLTD recommends a structure in which faculty choose from a menu of instructional design and media options, related to the Block they recently completed. Unlocking 10 hours of instructional design support and 5 hours of instructional media support after each of the four blocks means a total of 60 hours of professional support for these faculty members, contributing to the design and facilitation of high-quality courses! See the Sponsored SMART page for additional details.

Block I Modules (5 core modules)

1. Who We Teach: The MSU Denver Student Community
2. Standards-Based Course Design
3. Course Design Standards at MSU Denver
4. Building a Quality Course in Canvas
5. Designing and Facilitating Accessible Courses

Block II Modules (4 core modules + pick 1 of 2 electives)

1. MSU Denver’s Canvas Blueprint
2. Module and Course Organization
3. Creating Content in Canvas
4. Feedback That Supports Student Learning
5. Choose one of these electives:
   1. OER Adoption and Creation Part 1
   2. The Best Ways to Copy or Share Canvas Courses

Block III Modules (4 core modules + pick 2 of 3 electives)

1. Creating Motivating and Relevant Assessments
2. Making Canvas Grades Work for You
3. SpeedGrader: A Tool for Giving Feedback
4. Choose two of these electives:
   1. The Canvas Quiz Tool and Its Many Uses
   2. Collaborative and Peer Learning
   3. Tools to Check for Academic Dishonesty

Block IV Modules (2 core modules + pick 2 of 3 electives)

1. Teaching to Engage
2. Creating Your Engagement Plan
3. Choose three of these electives:
   1. Engagement In Online Courses
   2. OER Adoption and Creation Part 2
   3. Enhance Your Course with Video
   4. Using MS Teams In Your Course
   5. Enhance In-Person Teaching with Canvas