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The Center for Teaching, Learning, and Professional Development (CTL&PD) provides opportunities for instructors to enhance their teaching and to learn from one another through in-person and virtual workshops, discussions, and individual consultations.  

Email us at CTLPD@csicuny.edu or telephone us at x4007 if you have any further questions.

Events and Workshops held or co-sponsored by the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Professional Development can be found HERE.

Are you ready to boost your confidence in using Brightspace?  Enroll in our Brightspace Basics Self-Paced Course, designed exclusively for CSI instructors. This flexible, 8–10-hour training offers a hands-on introduction to the essential tools and features of Brightspace—perfect for both beginners and those looking for a refresher.

What do you get out of this?  You will learn at your own pace, on your own schedule; You will learn essentials of teaching online pedagogy; You will learn to apply the Backward Design Model to your course planning; You will practice in your personal Brightspace sandbox site; and You will earn a Certificate of Completion as a record of your participation.

Whether you're just getting started or want to sharpen your skills, this course will serve as a foundation for continued success in using Brightspace. To enroll now, click: Https://forms.office.com/r/5i4Rah93z5. The course is available during the following dates: August 1- August 30 and January 2 - January 31.

If you have any questions, please email: LMSsupport@csi.cuny.edu
 

The physical space of the Center for Teaching, Learning, & Professional Development is located in the 1L building and consists of two rooms: the Center's Lounge (1L-203), and the Training Lab (1L-208). The Center's Lounge offers a flexible space for seminars, social gatherings, or a tranquil space to simply relax. The Training Lab is a space providing access to computers, scanners, and other amenities to design, create, and implement course materials for used. The Training Lab also serves as a help desk for faculty and staff.

  • Community members can reserve the Center's Lounge (1L-203) for special events by submitting a request here

Respondus LockDown Browser™ is an online proctoring tool that increases the security of test delivery in Brightspace.

Unlike previous remote proctoring solutions evaluated by CUNY, Respondus LockDown Browser simply restricts what students can access on their computers during online Brightspace quizzes, tests and examinations. The Lockdown Browser does not modify the browser on the student’s computer, but rather installs a separate program that displays a custom browser and creates an environment in which students are unable to print, copy, go to another URL, or access other applications on their devices. Respondus LockDown Browser DOES NOT: include real-time or recorded remote proctoring via video, access user content on the computer or record user activity for later inspection or use by CUNY.

After attending an Information session, if you determine that Respondus LockDown Browser is suitable for your examination(s) you will be provided the training needed to successfully activate and utilize the Respondus LockDown Browser within your CSI course(s) on Brightspace and obtain usage training for your students as they will have to access Brightspace from the LockDown Browser, not the traditional browsers (i.e. Google Chrome, Edge, Mozilla, or Safari)..
 
PLEASE NOTE, that while the Respondus Lockdown Browser tool is available for use at CSI, it should be noted in the course description and course syllabus notes, thereby allowing students the ability to make an informed decision about enrolling in courses using the tool. As a result of these notification requirements, students cannot be compelled to agree to use of the Lockdown Browser at this time and if used alternative access to assessments must be provided as per the guidance provided by CUNYs Office of General Counsel regarding this matter:

"The Office of Legal Affairs (OGC) has reviewed the Terms and Conditions of several online testing application services and it is OGC’s guidance that faculty cannot compel students to accept the corresponding tools’ “Terms and Conditions” and that in the event students do not accept the terms, faculty must provide students reasonable assessment accommodations to demonstrate they meet the course learning requirements."

When in doubt please refer to the University's Guidance on Academic Continuity available here: Remote Proctoring Solutions

Additional information and technical specification items for Respondus LockDown Browser: 

CUNY Information Systems (CIS) has worked with the CUNY Learning Management System council to integrate the Respondus LockDown Browser within Brightspace. Respondus LockDown Browser is available in Brightspace at CSI.

Respondus LockDown Browser only operates on devices meeting the following specifications (iPhones and Android devices are not supported):

  • Respondus LockDown Browser requires
  • a Windows 10/11 or Mac computer, or an iPad with iPadOS 12.0 or newer.  

Note that CUNY has not licensed or implemented the Respondus Monitor solution that is often combined with Respondus LockDown Browser in marketing materials, product descriptions, product support pages and training—please ignore all references to Respondus Monitor and webcams/video.  

See the Respondus LockDown Browser FAQ Resources web page for additional Respondus information and training resources. 

Email CTLPD@csi.cuny.edu for training on how to utilize this academic resource!