Navigating Academic Success: A Comprehensive Guide to Penn State Learning Resources

Penn State University is committed to providing its students, faculty, and staff with a robust network of learning resources. These resources are designed to support teaching, academic integrity, online learning, and the effective use of instructional technology. From transitioning to remote instruction to mastering artificial intelligence in the classroom, Penn State offers a comprehensive suite of tools and services. This article explores the diverse range of learning resources available at Penn State, ensuring that students and educators alike can thrive in a dynamic academic environment.

Remote and Online Teaching Support

The digital age has transformed education, and Penn State has adapted by providing extensive resources for remote and online teaching. The KeepTeaching.psu.edu website offers faculty a centralized hub for transitioning from traditional classroom instruction to remote teaching, particularly when on-campus instruction is not feasible. This resource is invaluable for maintaining continuity and quality in education, regardless of external circumstances.

Web Learning at Penn State

Penn State’s commitment to online education is further exemplified by its comprehensive collection of guides, tools, and best practices for web learning. These resources have been developed by instructional designers across the University and vetted by the Faculty Engagement subcommittee of the Penn State Online Coordinating Council.

Key components of this collection include:

Faculty teaching manuals: These manuals provide essential guidance on designing and delivering effective online courses.
Preparing for Online Teaching self-assessments: These self-assessments help faculty evaluate their readiness and identify areas for improvement in online instruction.
Classroom management guidance: Effective management strategies are crucial for maintaining engagement and focus in online learning environments.
Peer review guidance for online and hybrid courses: This guidance supports faculty in implementing peer review processes that enhance learning outcomes.
Quality assurance and accessibility standards: Ensuring that online courses meet high standards of quality and are accessible to all students is a top priority.
Course revision guides: These guides assist faculty in updating and improving their online courses based on best practices and student feedback.
Educational technology selection tools: Selecting the right technology tools is essential for creating engaging and effective online learning experiences.
Video conferencing best practices: Video conferencing is a key component of many online courses, and these best practices help faculty use it effectively.

World Campus Online Faculty Development

For faculty seeking more in-depth training, World Campus Online Faculty Development offers both instructor-led and self-directed courses. These courses prepare faculty to teach effectively in the online environment, covering topics such as instructional design, assessment strategies, and student engagement techniques.

Preparing Students for Online Learning

Recognizing that students also need support in navigating the online learning environment, Penn State encourages faculty to share resources with their students. These resources include:

Instructional Technology Guide for Students: This guide provides students with an overview of the technology tools used in online courses.
How to Gear Up for Online Learning: This resource offers practical tips and strategies for succeeding in online courses.
Am I Ready to Learn Online?: This tool helps students assess their readiness for online learning and identify areas where they may need additional support.

These tools help students prepare for both synchronous and asynchronous online learning environments, ensuring they are equipped to succeed in their online courses.

Navigating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Academic Integrity

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) presents both opportunities and challenges for higher education. Penn State is proactively addressing these challenges by providing guidance to help faculty navigate AI, pedagogy, and academic integrity in the classroom.

AI Literacy Unit (Canvas Modules) | AI, Pedagogy, and Academic Integrity

This resource provides faculty with a comprehensive understanding of AI and its implications for teaching and learning. The Canvas modules cover topics such as AI literacy, ethical considerations, and strategies for integrating AI into the curriculum.

Penn State AI Hub Guidelines

The Penn State AI Hub provides guidelines for the responsible and ethical use of AI in research and education. These guidelines help faculty ensure that AI is used in a way that promotes academic integrity and enhances student learning.

Academic Integrity Resources

Penn State offers a variety of resources to support academic integrity, including policies, guidelines, and educational materials. These resources help faculty and students understand their responsibilities and promote a culture of academic honesty.

Faculty interested in integrating AI into their courses are encouraged to connect with their local instructional designer for support.

Teaching Tools, Learning Support, and Academic Integrity

Penn State provides a variety of teaching tools and learning support services to enhance the educational experience. These resources are designed to help faculty create engaging and effective courses and to support students in their academic pursuits.

Teaching and Learning with Technology (TLT)

Teaching and Learning with Technology (TLT) collaborates with faculty to enhance teaching and learning through innovative technology solutions. TLT provides support for a wide range of technologies, including Canvas, Zoom, and other educational tools.

Turnitin

Turnitin is a web-based writing assessment toolkit that allows instructors to provide feedback through markup tools, rubrics, proofreading tools, peer review, and originality reports. Turnitin supports student learning around citation practices and academic integrity.

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Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence

The Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence advances and inspires excellence in teaching and learning across Penn State. The institute offers a variety of programs and services, including workshops, consultations, and grants, to support faculty in their teaching endeavors.

Technical Support for Teaching

IT Learning and Development (ITLD) offers personalized technology support through Tech Tutors. Penn State students provide one-on-one training and troubleshooting for tools such as Adobe, Canvas, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Sites at Penn State, and Zoom.

Penn State Learning: Tutoring and Academic Support

Penn State Learning serves as the official tutoring and learning resource for the University Park campus. Its mission is to help undergraduate students succeed in their courses by offering a variety of instructor-approved services at no additional cost.

Services Offered

Tutoring: Penn State Learning provides tutoring in a wide range of subjects.
Guided Study Groups (GSG): Peer tutors lead GSGs, reviewing course materials and helping students develop problem-solving skills. Group leaders attend class and work with course instructors to provide review materials that help students prepare for quizzes and exams.
Workshops: Penn State Learning offers workshops on topics such as study skills, time management, and test-taking strategies.

Study Smarter Metacognitive Strategies Workshop

A two-hour transition-to-college “Study Smarter Metacognitive Strategies” workshop will be offered throughout the fall semester. The remote workshop introduces college-level learning and will be led by peer tutors who have successfully navigated the transition to college.

Accessing Services

Students can visit pennstatelearning.psu.edu to learn more about the services offered and how to get connected to tutors. Questions can be submitted or requests for class visits and workshops can be made through the Contact Us page.

Impact

Over 14,000 students accessed services and resources from Penn State Learning in 2023-24, and the number of contacts with these students exceeded 100,000.

Penn State Learning is part of Penn State Undergraduate Education, the academic administrative unit that provides leadership and coordination for University-wide programs in support of undergraduate teaching and learning at Penn State.

Library Learning Services (LLS)

Library Learning Services (LLS) empowers learners and educators by fostering foundational and transformative learning experiences that are inclusive, accessible, and equitable.

Mission

LLS equips scholars to critically engage with information and apply it meaningfully throughout their academic journeys and beyond.

Key Areas of Focus

LLS accomplishes its mission by promoting information literacy, championing open educational practices, advocating for accessibility, and designing programming that supports lifelong learning and broad access to knowledge.

LLS provides leadership in collaboration with Penn State units and campuses across these priority areas:

Multi-modal foundational information literacy instruction
Programming and initiatives to engage students with topics like well-being & leisure reading
Operation and oversight of the Search Bar
Undergraduate research
World Campus and online learning
Open and affordable educational resources
Accessibility services including learning spaces for students with disabilities
Engaged student opportunities

College of IST Learning Resources

The College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) provides a range of learning resources to support its students and faculty.

Resources Offered

Sample syllabi and links to the University bulletin for all College of IST courses.
Resources to help students succeed both academically and personally in the College of IST.
Opportunities to learn more about undergraduate students who assist faculty and students in College of IST courses.
Opportunities to learn more about graduate students who assist faculty and students in College of IST courses.
IST peer tutors who help students review course concepts and practice problems in most IST courses.

Contact Information

Questions about anything on the IST Learning site can be directed through the provided contact information.

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