The Center for Instructional Design and Teaching Innovation provides an array of services and activities to support faculty development at Cheyney University. The Center organizes workshops and programs throughout the course of the year to enhance faculty skills to support innovations in teaching and to specifically meet the needs of the students we serve. Faculty professional development provides essential skills to enable synergy across learning communities, to meet the needs of at-risk students, and to support learning amidst Cheyney’s unique diversity of student needs.

The Center provides a variety of technology integration and support services to the Cheyney community, including:

• Instructional design training and support to faculty who are interested in developing online and hybrid courses
• Assistance with University-wide planning, development, and adoption of instructional technology
• Identifying and communicating best practices regarding the application of technology to enhance teaching and learning
• Designing, developing and producing print-based and digital guides and tutorials to assist faculty and students in performing a variety of technology-related tasks
• Conducting workshops and one-on-one consultations on leading productivity applications and the University’s learning management system
• Evaluating emerging technologies that have potential value for teaching and learning

Training/Professional Development

Brightspace Desire to Learn (D2) — The learning management system used to deliver online, hybrid and web-enhanced courses at Cheyney University. Workshops offering step by step instructions are offered throughout the year in both fall and spring semesters.

Electronic textbooks — E-texts have been the standard method for providing students access to their textbooks since the fall of 2017. Workshops are offered in the fall and spring to assist faculty and students in getting the most out of the e-textbook experience.

iPads — Since their introduction to campus in the fall of 2017, Cheyney students have enjoyed the ease of anytime, anywhere access to their textbooks and other resources via iPads. Workshops are held regularly to help students maximize this powerful technology to enhance learning.

Upcoming Training Opportunities faculty and students (2021)

Faculty Video Tutorials (Desire 2 Learn)

Online course development

To assist with design and development of online courses, Cheyney provides the expertise of our Instructional Design and Innovation as a resource for our faculty. Support includes:

• Re-conceptualizing face-to-face courses for online or hybrid delivery
• Developing appropriate technology based formative and summative assessments
• Planning, cooperative, collaborative assignments and activities
• Choosing appropriate educational technologies and developing online course materials to enhance teaching and learning
• Revising and redesigning existing online courses
• Testing a course site for usability and functionality
• Suggestions based on current research in educational technology and online learning

Contact the Center

For workshops, consultations and support, please contact Linda Brawner at lbrawner@cheyney.edu, call 610-399-2588 or visit the center located on the lower level of the Leslie Pinckney Hill Library.

Dr. Chris Barnes serves as faculty coordinator, and he may be reached at cbarnes@cheyney.edu