The CALS Faculty Instructional Resources and Support Team (FIRST) supports UF/IFAS faculty teaching online and hybrid courses, aiding in cultivating lifelong learners with personalized, flexible teaching support.
Whether it’s helping design new or revised courses, developing learning materials, or working through online course delivery challenges, FIRST is here to assist faculty in their teaching endeavors.
FIRST Updates
While our team has been around for years, we have recently changed our name to CALS FIRST (formerly CALS COLT). Additionally, we are now a part of the CALS Teaching and Learning Collaborative (CALS TLC). CALS designed this collaborative to be a hub of support for UF/IFAS faculty, aiming to enhance their teaching and mentoring efficacy, scholarship, and leadership.
We have also updated our teaching support services. To better serve faculty, we have upgraded our recording facilities, enhancing our video production capabilities. Additionally, we offer the CALS Course Design Community of Practice (CoP) every semester, as well as series of hands-on workshops.
Our Academic Services
CALS Course Design Community of Practice
FIRST offers a Course Design Community of Practice (CoP) for CALS faculty each semester. These CoPs aim to foster a collaborative environment among CALS faculty members and our team. During the semester, faculty meet as a group for ten Zoom sessions in addition to related asynchronous activities and optional time with the instructional design and video production teams.
During the hands-on and discussion sessions, faculty work directly with their course plan and materials. They implement best practices for developing and teaching high-quality, learner-centered courses. Subsequently, by the end of the CoP, courses should be ready for UF’s Online Course Quality review. Visit our website for more information, or register for an upcoming CoP.
Consultations and Faculty Support
Our instructional design and video production teams offer consultations on course design topics, authentic and active learning, accessibility, and best practices for course content production. We also offer Canvas, PowerPoint, and syllabus templates, and online, self-directed resources for faculty. These resources include guidance on course mapping, supporting online learners, video production, and more.
Production of Online Course Materials
The FIRST video production team works with faculty to create quality, engaging online course materials. In addition to our video services, we aid in podcasting, photography, and the creation of interactive materials.
Our recording facilities feature three studios – firstly, our main Facilitated Video Studio, then our Express Audio Studio and our Express Video Studio.
Our main studio is equipped with several innovative tools, including a light board, microscopes, wet lab, and a Microsoft Surface. The Express Audio and Video Studios are self-directed and available to faculty 24/7 by reservation. These studios provide instructors with a low stress, flexible recording environment while still maintaining audio and video quality.
FIRST also manages the CALS Distance Education classroom, McCarty D G001. This classroom is designed for hybrid or HyFlex courses and is equipped with quality recording equipment to ensure an immersive viewing experience.
To request video services, reserve the G001 classroom, or learn more about our studios, click here.
Visit Our Website
To learn more about FIRST, request our services, or to contact us, visit cals.ufl.edu/tlc/first or email FIRST@ifas.ufl.edu.
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