News / Tips for Teaching and Learning

Content tailored for Amarillo College faculty which explores, promotes, and supports excellence in teaching, with diverse technologies.

Volume 2, Issue 5

Welcome, 2022!

The Spring I term has started, which means our journey through 2022 has gotten underway. A new year and a new semester brings a renewed optimism for things to come. As we look forward to this upcoming year, we start by congratulating the Faculty Development Committee members for an outstanding ACES 2022.

Highlights in this issue:

1. ACES 2022 Presenters: Thank you to all who presented at ACES!
2. ACES 2022 Winners: WOW, Amarillo Businesses sure stepped up - see all of the prizes and who are winners were.
3. Spring 2022 cohorts: It is that time again - Spring cohorts are starting soon. See below for registration information. 
4. Blackboard and Ultra Base Navigation: Find the links to all the CTL resources regarding Ultra Base Navigation. 
5. Ultra Developmental Shells: Get your Ultra Shell now and be ready for the course view change coming in January 2023.

Welcome back and as always, if you need help or have a question, please feel free to reach out to us.  

The CTL Team

ACES 2022 Presenters

Thank you to all of the individuals who presented. Without your contributions and presentations, ACES 2022 would not be what it is today. This year we had 38 total sessions with 43 faculty presenting:  

Thank you to the following:

1. Frank Demos
2. Renee Stovall
3. Mary Perez
4. Rodney Donahue
5. Brant Davis
6. Pam Ortega
7. Macy Kohler
8. Shannon Cornell
9. Penelope Davies
10. Maria Johnson
11. Sheree Talkington
12. Teresa Gaus-Bowling
13. Jacob Price
14. Crystal Moss
15. Skip Chisum
16. Sara Welshimer
17. Cathy Frazier
18. Christy Robinson 
19. Carol Summers
20. Melody Rich
21. Aaron Faver
22. Stefanie Decker
23. Beth Rodriquez
24. Alan Kee
25. Jessica Hill
26. Debby Hall
27. Mandi Wheeler
28. Eric Fauss
29. Frank Bellizzi
30. Judy Carter 
31. Pam Ortega
32. Luci Creery
33. Kim McGowan
34. Jackie Llewellyn
35. Marcie Robinson
36. Kelly Voelm
37. Mary Dodson
38. Bill Netherton
39. Chris Hudson
40. Emily Gilbert
41. Ariana Tiroff
42. Kristin Barker
43. Cindie Miller

ACES 2022 Raffle Winners

This year at ACES we did a raffle throughout the day. Local businesses donated a number of prizes and we had a total of 45 winners. Please be sure to stop by and shop at these places and give them a "Thanks". Even in difficult times, our area businesses stepped up and supported Amarillo College!

The raffle winners are:

1. Jessica Hill: Jack Sorenson artwork
2. Karen Boatman: Keynote books
3. Michael Hannen: Ebby's Edibles gift basket and gift card
4. Lynne Kenny: Creek House Honey Farm
5. Becky Easton: Cultivate candle/picture frame
6. Joseph Melius: Jack Sorenson artwork
7. Chris George: Keynote books
8. Tammy Holmes: Keynote books
9. Fionna Denge: Keynote books
10. Whitney McGilvary: Randy's women's bag
11. Jill Gibson: Scarlet Peacock
12. Rhona McCampbell: Eat Rite gift certificate
13. Kerrie Young: Eat Rite gift certificate
14. Susan Burgoon: Eat Rite gift certificate    
15. Judy Massie: Visa gift card
16. Marcie Robinson: Mackie Black - Kendra Scott
17. Mike Henderson: Hoffbrau gift cards
18. Alicia Hunter: Jason's Deli gift card
19. Aaron Faver: Jason's Deli gift card
20. Jennifer Rabson: Jason's Deli gift card
21. Derek Weathersbee: Jason's Deli gift card
22. Rashmi Pillai: Natural Groceries gift set 
23. Vanessa Miles: Natural Groceries gift set
24. Michelle Orcutt: Sod Poodles
25. Scarlet Estlack: Laura's Kitchen
26. Kim McGowan: Tricia Bender haircut
27. Seema Saiyed: Eat Rite gift certificate
28. Joanne Genn: Paint Nail Bar gift certificate
29. Christy Robinson: Dotsy's Boutique gift card
30. Olga Rodriguez: Cinergy gift cards
31. Brant Davis: Cinergy gift cards
32. Elizabeth Copley: Purpose and Passion Boutique gift card
33. Steve Malley: Assorted gift cards
34. Tim Leeper: Assorted gift cards
35. Jerry Terry: Palace mug and shirt
36. Maria Johnson: Taco Villa gift cards
37. Kelly Voelm: Assorted gift cards
38. Renee Stovall: Assorted gift cards
39. Mandi Wheeler: Assorted gift cards
40. Levi Plummer: Assorted gift cards
41. Amanda Lester-Chism: Assorted gift cards
42. Marianne Jones: Assorted gift cards
43. Jeffrey Cramer: Assorted gift cards 
44. Amie Seal: Assorted gift cards  

The assortment of gift cards were donated by Sweet Charlies Ice Cream, Firhouse Subs, and Sonic. 

Finally, "Thank you" to Imperial and Natural Groceries for donating all the water for the day!

Spring 2022 Cohorts

It is that time again, the Spring 2022 cohorts will be getting underway the first part of February. See what this spring's offerings are on the Professional Learning Cohort page. There are cohort sessions all day on Friday. We will also have sessions offered out at East and West campuses. Please review the Professional Learning Cohort page for specific cohorts. Each cohort has listed its learning objectives, deliverable, meeting dates, times, and location. Once you find your cohort (or two) go out to WebAdvisor to register. 

If you have any questions please email Michaela Dodson 

Blackboard Base Navigation and Ultra Developmental Shell

By now you have seen the new Base Navigation page for Blackboard, this page was formerly known as our institution page. There are a lot of new tools and features for both you and your students. To find out more about these click on one of the following resources.

• Instructor Resources Index
• Student Resource Index

The student resource guide is on the students' Base Navigation page, but please feel free to put a link to it in your course as well. 

The move to Blackboard Base Navigation was the first step in our transition to Blackboard Ultra. Change is always an uneasy feeling, but with technology, we know it is a constant.  The next phase of our transition is to move to Ultra Course View. This change will be much more dramatic, but the good news is we have a little bit of time. To help everyone prepare for the change, we are offering faculty a developmental course shell to get familiar with the Ultra Course View changes and to see how your course will transition over into the new platform. Click this link to request your Blackboard Shell. Stay tuned to this newsletter for more updates. Also, the instructional designers will be available during Blackboard ER to help with course design and your courses move to Ultra. No need to register, just come over to Ware 205V or log in to Zoom during the Blackboard ER Fridays.

If you have questions or need any other information please email Ariana Tiroff

Save the Date

Blackboard ER
Date: Friday  02/18/2022

Time: 8 am - 5 pm
Location: Ware 205V or

Zoom link in Blackboard

ACES 2023

Save the date!

01/11/2023

TIme: TBD 
Location: TBD

A look back at ACES 2022

Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL)

Center for Teaching and Learning (WARE) Room 205
Web Page: www.actx.edu/ctl | Email: ctl@actx.edu
Phone:  806-371-5920 

CTL Purpose Statement: 
The Center for Teaching and Learning promotes transformative, evidence-based, and engaging professional learning for the enrichment of faculty and administrators to ensure academic success of all students at Amarillo College.