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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The 2024 Innovations in Teaching and Learning Conference will be hybrid, with Teaching Talks via Zoom on Thursday, September 19, 2024, and Interactive Sessions in the Johnson Center at George Mason University on Friday, September 20, 2024.
Below are frequently asked questions about the conference.
ACCESSIBILITY
How can I request accommodations? When you register for the conference, you will be asked if accommodations are needed as part of the ticketing process. Stearns Center staff will use the information provided to reach out to make arrangements. The Stearns Center is committed to providing equitable experiences for ITL participants and will try to accommodate access needs as best we can. Note: It can take 48-72 hours to process requests. Email stearns@gmu.edu if you have additional accommodation requests or questions with the subject line “2024 ITL Accommodations Request.” Mason Pond is the closest visitor parking deck to the Johnson Center. For more information, please visit the GMU Parking website here.
ATTENDEES
How can I make a personalized conference schedule in Sched?
You can add sessions to your personal schedule by clicking the “add to schedule” button found in each session entry. We appreciate you taking the time to make a personalized schedule. It helps the presenters anticipate session attendance. If you wish to receive any follow up emails from the presenters, you must add the session to your personalized schedule.
How do I access the online Zoom sessions?
For the Thursday Teaching Talks sessions, the Zoom link will be made available in Sched 10 minutes before the session start time. You can access your online Zoom session via Sched in two ways: 1) click on the yellow “Open Zoom” button on your schedule/chosen session entry or 2) manually enter the Zoom meeting code and passcode at the end of each session abstract. If you are affiliated with Mason, information about setting up your Zoom account can be found at https://its.gmu.edu/. If you are not affiliated with Mason, you will need to download/access the Zoom app. ITS (703-993-8870; support@gmu.edu) can help you with general Zoom access questions. NOTE: Only Teaching Talks sessions are presented through Zoom on Thursday, September 19, 2024.
What opportunities are there to connect beyond the conference?
We encourage participants to Tweet, tagging us @StearnsCenter and using #MasonITL. You can also view participant profiles in Sched to reach out with questions, comments, and further conversation. You may also continue learning about teaching strategies and connecting with fellow educators through Stearns Center professional development opportunities. NOTE: You can adjust your privacy settings with Sched if you prefer not to be visible.
How can I report a Code of Conduct violation or express any Code of Conduct Concerns?
Please alert the online session host or in-person presenter about any incident or issue happening in a session. If you are in a breakout group, click on the “Ask for Help” button on the Zoom tool bar. Feel free to stop by the ITL registration desk throughout the conference, which will be continuously staffed on Friday, September 20, to respond to concerns you may have.
TECHNOLOGY
Having trouble accessing Zoom? If you have trouble accessing Zoom, please restart your computer and make sure you have the latest version on your device. Please visit its.gmu.edu for additional Zoom set up information or call ITS at 703-993-8870 for Zoom issues.
What do I do if an online session ends unexpectedly?
In some rare situations, we may have to end a session early or restart a session or there may be a technical delay launching the session. If this happens, we plan to relaunch the session as quickly as we can. Please retry the original Zoom link in Sched a few minutes after the disconnection. NOTE: If this occurs with less than 30 minutes remaining in a 50-minute session, we plan to end the session at that time and try to get supplementary materials posted for the session after the conference. Thank you for understanding.
Sometimes there are problems with virtual events—what should I do when X happens?
If you are having difficulty using the conference scheduling app (Sched) to access Zoom links, finding the ITL event in the downloaded version of the Sched App, or connecting with Zoom, please contact Stearns Center staff at stearns@gmu.edu
What do I do if I have trouble accessing Sched?
When you register, you should receive an email from Sched confirming your registration (please check spam, clutter, and junk folders). Please email Sched at support@sched.com if you have received this confirmation email, but still cannot access Sched.
Will Teaching Talk sessions be recorded?
Teaching Talks sessions will not be recorded.
Teaching Talk Presenters: Please contact your assigned moderator for any issues beyond technology ones during the online conference on Thursday, September 19, 2024.
Where will my On Demand Resources go? If your On Demand Resource is selected, you will upload your teaching artifact to the Open Science Framework platform in August. In the weeks leading up to the conference, we will share your abstract and link to your resource on the Stearns Center website and social media. Links to your resource will also appear in Sched, our conference app, and in the conference program.
CONFERENCE POLICIES
Code of Conduct
The Innovations in Teaching & Learning conference is an annual event for Mason instructors, GTAs, administrators, staff, and our local community members to forge a sense of community around teaching and learning. All presenters, sponsors, attendees, and volunteers are required to follow our Code of Conduct. The ITL conference planning team will enforce this code throughout the event.
Our goal is to create a space where everyone feels welcome to participate, engage in conversation, and ask questions. We ask that all participants help us to create safe and positive experiences for everyone. ITL is committed to providing a harassment-free environment for everyone and will not tolerate harassment of any participant, attendee, guest, or volunteer, in any form. Sexual misconduct and discriminatory conduct (language, imagery) are not appropriate at any time during the conference (e.g. on screen, in public or private chat; in Q&A, during presentations, or in breakout sessions; on social media platforms or online media).
Expected behavior:
- All participants, attendees, and ITL staff/volunteers are treated with respect and consideration. We value diverse thoughts and opinions.
- Please be respectful, considerate, and try to collaborate during conflict.
- Remember to critique ideas rather than individuals.
- Please use preferred pronouns.
- Respect the rules and policies of this conference and various systems (i.e., Zoom, Sched), in main meeting rooms, as well as in breakout rooms or social gatherings/postings.
Unacceptable behavior: Examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to, inappropriate verbal/written comments related to gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, or national origin; inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images and links on screen, in chats, or in live Q&A:
- Personal attacks directed toward presenters, attendees, sponsor representatives, ITL staff/volunteers, and any University staff that provide support to the conference.
- Discriminatory, demeaning or harassing actions/words.
- Disruption of presenter, attendee, or session host talk/leadership during the session or social events
Consequences and reporting unacceptable behavior: Anyone requested to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately. ITL staff/volunteers may take appropriate action, including immediate removal from the session and/or the conference for any remaining sessions. ITL reserves the right to prohibit any attendance at any future conference or related event. Individuals are subject to consequences set forth by George Mason University.
If you experience or witness unacceptable behavior, please notify an ITL staff member or volunteer immediately. The “Announcement” page in the Sched app will list ITL staff contact information.
How do Sched and Zoom protect my data?
The Sched Schedule App collects and processes personal data from you only for lawful reasons, such as our legitimate interests, your consent, or to fulfill our legal or contractual obligations. For additional information, view Sched’s full privacy statement. Zoom is committed to protecting your personal data. We use reasonable and appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect personal data from loss, misuse and unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration and destruction, taking into due account the risks involved in the processing and the nature of the personal data. For additional information, view Zoom’s full privacy statement.
For all other questions during the conference please contact the Stearns Center (stearns@gmu.edu) on September 19 and visit the ITL registration desk in front of Dewberry Hall on September 20.