Center for Creative Instruction

Come by each week and check out our Featured section.  We’ll post on important CCI news and highlight new functionality available on your favorite program or app. (Week 10 – 03/24/25)

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Use Group Forms 

If you are working in a department, office, or committee, creating a “group” form (one associated with a Team) is likely the best option. Team members need access to the collected data, and using a “group” form ensures that the group will always have access, even if the form was created by someone who later leaves the campus (as the form is associated with the group instead of the individual’s account). While the recently updated “Get email notification of each response” feature can now notify team members, consider creating a Power Automate flow instead. This flow allows for notifications to Teams and may make managing form notifications and access easier than remembering to remove form recipients. For more information on group forms and flows, please watch the following videos:

·      Notify a User when a Team (Group) Form is Submitted – 04:02

·      How to create a Group MS Form – 00:45

·      How to use tags in Microsoft Teams – 01:07

·      How to create an MS Form for Power Automate Flows – 02:21

Form Response Restrictions

While you’ve always been able to add restrictions to MS Forms responses (e.g., response require, long answer, number; etc.), there are some great new options, including Email and URL. Watch New validation / restrictions in Microsoft Forms – 06:31 to learn more.

Posted on Week 9

Control your Outlook Inbox
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the constant flood of emails in your Outlook inbox? In our latest video, we reveal seven simple yet powerful strategies to help you take control of your email chaos. From smart filtering techniques to time-saving tips, these methods will transform your email management and boost your productivity. Watch 7 Outlook Tips to Save Stress! – 14:40.

Posted on Week 8

AI as Partner in Education
AI tools and platforms are poised to transform the future of education and work. For years, Khan Academy has offered free online learning through its extensive library of videos and lessons. Now, it is harnessing the power of AI, specifically Large Language Models, to revolutionize personal tutoring and teaching assistance. Rather than replacing human instructors, this technology aims to empower them, enabling more meaningful and engaging interactions with their students. Watch How AI Could Save (Not Destroy) Education – 15:36.

Extra
As a special treat for Spring Recess, here are two fascinating TED Talks that you might enjoy. Both videos offer intriguing insights and thought-provoking ideas.

• Want to Give a Great Presentation? Use Ugly Sketches – 10:36
• How to make students (and teachers) want to go to school – 15:56

Posted on Week 7

Brightspace – Class Progress
Explore the Class Progress Tool! Easily review student progress across multiple metrics in one convenient dashboard. With this tool, you can access individual student data, select specific progress indicators for detailed insights, and organize and customize the metrics displayed on your dashboard (watch Monitor Class Progress – 01:30).

Brightspace – Monitor Class Progress
The featured video is part of a D2L Brightspace Community page. For more information, please visit the Track course progress with the Class Progress tool page.
 
Need help with Brightspace?
The SUNY Online Help Desk is here for you! They provide extensive support hours, including evenings and weekends. Just select the Brightspace Support option from the Brightspace menu to:

• Access the support knowledge base
• Call for support
• Create a request ticket

Posted on Week 6

Loop Explained
The Loop feature has been gradually integrating into the M365 environment over the past few years. Although powerful, Loop components overlap with existing M365 apps and features, making their incorporation into your workflow less intuitive. However, this tool is likely here to stay, so it’s worth investing time to learn how to leverage it effectively. This week, watch Microsoft Loop Explained – 13:10 to begin exploring how to utilize this powerful feature.

Need to edit a PDF but don’t have the full version of Adobe? Watch How to EASILY convert PDF to Word – 03:34, which works on both PCs and Macs. Remember, you can easily convert it back to PDF after editing the document (see below).

Loop – Now and Later
Understanding how and when to use Loop components can be challenging. Watch When to Use Microsoft Loop - Now or Later? – 06:34 for tips on effectively utilizing this feature.

More Loop Videos
Truly understanding how to use Loop is going to take some time. If you’re interested, check out these videos as you discover some of the benefits of Loop.

• 6 Microsoft Loop Secrets in 6 Minutes – 05:22

• Create Loops Tasks that Sync with Planner (Kanban View) – 06:35

Posted on Week 5

Convert PDF to Word

Need to edit a PDF but don’t have the full version of Adobe? Watch How to EASILY convert PDF to Word – 03:34, which works on both PCs and Macs. Remember, you can easily convert it back to PDF after editing the document (see below).

Issues Converting

When you convert a Word document to PDF, the conversion might not be perfect. However, it will be significantly better than using the cut-and-paste method. Depending on the document, you might need to add or remove text boxes, tables, pictures, and captions. Indentation and line formatting can also be an issue. Be patient, and remember that once you make the necessary changes, you’ll have a document you can easily update in the future.

Covert Word into PDF

The easiest way to covert a Word document is to use the “Print” function. Select File, Print, the Print to PDF printer, and Print. For a few more options, watch Convert Word To PDF (3 Easy Methods!) – 02:17. 

Reduce File Size

You have to upload a document or image, but your file size is too big. Watch the videos below for some tips how to deal with this issue. Reminder: Instead of sending a file by email, it is normally best to create a Share link to your OneDrive file (Share with OneDrive – 02:09).

On a PC:

• How to Create ZIP file – 01:03

• How To Resize Photo – 01:50

• How To Compress Word File Size – 01:38

On a Mac:

• How to reduce Image size on a Mac - 02:41

• Reduce file size on a Mac (Zip File) - 00:51

• Reduce File Size on Mac (Doc-PDF-Video) - 05:27

Posted on Week 4

Reading Scholarly Articles

As you prepare to assign research projects to your students, it’s essential they learn how to efficiently read scholarly articles. Bryan Kvet from the College Libraries has created a concise guide on how to approach article reviews. This guide outlines key steps and considerations for your students, helping them effectively sift through, analyze, and understand the academic literature they encounter during their research. Watch How to Read a Scholarly Article – 09:47.

Library HELP with Research
Our friends at the College Libraries are eager to assist you and your students with your next research paper. Whether you need help with campus books, journals, academic databases, or AI research tools, visit the library’s Help page for more information on the available resources and services.

Posted on Week 3

Video Editor
Need to shorten a lecture recorded in Teams or Zoom, or edit a video created with Stream or PowerPoint? Use Clipchamp to craft a fully edited video with seamless integration of video clips, images, music, transitions, and effects. Once you’re done, easily save and share your new video via OneDrive. Watch How to edit videos like a Pro – 04:35.

Clipchamp in Tech Tools
Explore the new Clipchamp section of Tech Tools. The site is packed with the latest and most helpful videos to make learning Clipchamp a breeze. You'll not only find general overview videos but a collection of direct links to specific topics and features. 

Posted on Week 2

Bookings in Outlook
Need students to sign up for office hours, advising, coaching, or project meetings? With Outlook, you can offer appointment slots that are easy to book. Simply share your personal Bookings page, and students or colleagues can schedule in-person or virtual meetings. You control your availability, and once a meeting is booked, it’s automatically added to both calendars! Watch Create A Personal Bookings Page – 09:21 for a complete overview of this great Microsoft app. 

Scheduling Poll
Outlook makes scheduling your next meeting a breeze! Use the “Scheduling Poll” feature to propose meeting times to attendees, whether they’re on or off campus (watch How to use Scheduling Poll – 03:18). This feature even shows you when campus participants are busy, helping you choose times that are more likely to work. Say goodbye to the back-and-forth of scheduling by email and take advantage of this fantastic M365 tool.

Posted on Week 1

Teams Upgrades
Happy New Year! There are some great new changes to Teams we’ll see this semester. Some have already been added to are instance of Teams. Take a look (watch 10 new features in Microsoft Teams – 10:09).

Fun Teams Changes
Throughout each semester, functionality is added to Teams and our other M365 applications. Some are “game-changers” and some are just fun. Check out the Create Custom Images with Microsoft Designer and Add Custom Emojis to Teams sections of the 7 Exciting NEW Updates in Microsoft Teams – 10:23 video.

Brightspace- Find How-to guides and resources on Brightspace (used to deliver course content and instruction).

Record in M365: Find a complete guide to recording in Teams, Stream, and PowerPoint and sharing with OneDrive.

Base Camp- Find step-by-step guidance on what to learn first if you’re just starting to use technology.

Accessibility- Find resources and tools to help you create accessible content and courses.

Professional Development Form- Select a PD session (from a list of offerings) for your department’s next meet.