Academic Technology News

New Blackboard Learn Interface Announced

2012-02-09T10:39:00.000-05:00

Blackboard just announced their Service Pack 8, which significantly changes the look and feel and adds some new functionality. The latest release will improve the experience for students, instructors, and administrators. View the following video playlist to learn about:

Task Based Navigation
A Modern Experience
Easy Edit with Blackboard Drive
Automated Regrading
Introducing Blackboard Learn SP8
New Authentication Framework
SIS Integration Made Simple

This is a Youtube Video Playlist - click Arrow to start and Next to move to the next video.

The NMC Horizon Report > 2012 Higher Education Edition

2012-02-07T14:08:00.002-05:00

The NMC Horizon Report 2012 Higher Education Edition is a collaborative effort between the NMC and the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative (ELI), an EDUCUASE Program. This ninth edition describes annual findings from the NMC Horizon Project, a decade-long research project designed to identify and describe emerging technologies likely to have an impact on learning, teaching, and creative inquiry in higher education. Six emerging technologies are identified across three adoption horizons over the next one to five years, as well as key trends and challenges expected to continue over the same period, giving campus leaders and practitioners a valuable guide for strategic technology planning.

Find out more and download The Horizon Report: Higher Education Edition.

Technology Training Center Schedule

2012-01-04T09:28:00.000-05:00

The Technology Training Center, located in the McNeil Science and Technology Center (STC-151), was established to meet the needs of faculty through hands-on learning and demonstrations. The room is equipped with 12 new iMac computers that can run the Mac OS or boot into a Windows environment as well as provide access to the tools and equipment found in the classrooms.

Faculty and staff may now sign up for our January Technology Training sessions (view Educational Objectives). Office of Academic Technology staff will be presenting sessions on:

Blackboard LMS: Getting Started / Assignments, Exams, and Gradebook / Communication Tools / Content Collection
Bb Collaborate (web conferencing, aka Elluminate)
MS Office 2010
Panopto (lecture capture)
TurningPoint AnyWhere & ResponseWare (audience response)

60-Second Lecture Winners Announced, Technology Training Center Opens

2011-11-22T15:59:00.001-05:00

Contact: Brian Kirschner
Contact Email: b.kirschner@usciences.edu
Contact Phone: 215.895.1186

Catherine Bentzley - 1st Prize Winner

Winners of the first 60-second lecture contest were announced at the grand opening of USciences’ new Technology Training Center. Faculty were invited to utilize the Panopto lecture capture software to submit 60-second lectures for fun or for serious consumption.

The entries were judged by a panel of USciences deans with the top prize going to Associate Professor Catherine Bentzley. Fittingly, USciences Executive Director of Academic Technology Dr. Rod Murray, announced the winners via Panopto.

The Technology Training Center, located in the McNeil Science and Technology Center, was established to meet the needs of faculty through hands-on learning and demonstrations. The room is equipped with 12 new iMac computers that can run the Mac OS or boot into a Windows environment as well as provide access to the tools and equipment found in the classrooms.

Catherine Bentzley (Chemistry & Biochemistry ) - Top 5 Reasons to Use Panopto - 1st place, iPad2
Kevin Wolbach (Biological Sciences ) - Course Selection Using WebAdvisor - 2nd place, webcam
David Leonard (Physician Assistant Studies ) - The Six Wives of Henry VIII - 3rd place, webcam
Wendy Fox (Occupational Therapy ) - Review of "Pan Am" (oops Panopto) - $25 iTunes gift card
Claudia Parvanta (Behavioral and Social Sciences ) - Risk Communication Seesaw - $25 iTunes gift card

Academic Tech Team: USciences Executive Director of Academic Technology Dr. Rod Murray, Director of Classroom Technology Rich Cosgriff, Jr., Media Technician Bill Horton, AV Technician, Clifford Greer, andInstructional Designers Joseph Evanick and Andrew Esposito.

[Source: USciences News]

USciences 60-Second Lecture Contest Promotes New Technology Training Center and Panopto Platform

2011-11-02T16:47:00.000-04:00

Contact: Brian Kirschner
Contact Email: b.kirschner@usciences.edu
Contact Phone: 215.895.1186

Lights! Camera! Record! University of the Sciences is inviting its faculty to take part in a 60-second lecture contest and the chance to win an iPad2. The contest is showcasing the ease of the Panopto lecture capture software and promoting the opening of USciences’ new Technology Training Center.

“Whether the lectures are funny or educational, it’s a great way for the faculty to take advantage of the Panopto platform,” said Dr. Rod Murray, USciences Executive Director of Academic Technology.

The Technology Training Center, located in the McNeil Science and Technology Center, was established to meet the needs of faculty through hands-on learning and demonstrations. The room is equipped with 12 new iMac computers that can run the Mac OS or boot into a Windows environment as well as provide access to the tools and equipment found in the classrooms.

“We now have a dedicated lab for technology training,” said Rich Cosgriff, Jr. (pictured at above), who was recently announced as USciences director of classroom technology and will oversee the Technology Training Center. “Routinely scheduled workshops will be offered to faculty on such things as student response systems, Panopto, or web 2.0 tools to enhance the classroom experience.”

Cosgriff comes to USciences with over 10 years of experience in higher education most recently as instructional technology specialist with SunGard Higher Education where he was based at Immaculata University. He is responsible for classroom technology, learning space design and renovation, and the development and delivery of classroom technology training and workshops as well as supervising the A/V technicians.

The 60-second lecture contest closes on Nov. 11 and will be judged by an independent panel that will rank the submissions and name the winner. A showcase of the 60-second lectures captured on Panopto and the winner will be announced at the grand opening of the Technology Training Center on Thursday, Nov. 17.

[Source: USciences News]

National Distance Learning Week - November 7-11, 2011

2011-10-28T10:02:00.000-04:00

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2011
Time: 1 - 2:00 pm (ET)
Topic: Online Learning - Will the growth continue?
Presenter:
Todd A. Hitchcock, USDLA Board Member
Senior Vice President, Online Solutions & Business Development, Pearson

Over the past decade, the growth in students taking online courses in K-12 and Higher Education has outstripped the increase in the number of students enrolling in traditional programs. We know the numbers and we know the 'whys' but the question is, will this trend continue and if so, what will the enablers be? Join this webinar to explore a number of potential enablers and to discuss what the next 'big thing' could be to spur the growth in online learning or disrupt it.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011
Time: 1-2:00 pm (ET)
Topic: Learning Styles: Do they really matter?
Presenter:
Dr. Jolly T. Holden, USDLA Chair Emeritus
Advisory Board Chair, American InterContinental University

The recurring debate concerning the efficacy of learning styles and their impact on learning outcomes has been reflected in the literature for the past 60 years. Research has not overwhelmingly supported the premise that learning styles are a useful variable when designing instruction for adult learners. Since the goal of designing instruction is to attain the desired learning outcomes, the question one must answer is: Do learning styles really matter? In this his lively webinar, learning styles will be defined and differentiated from learning modalities, and based upon the research, why learning styles are not useful variables when predicting learning outcomes.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2011
Time: 1-2:00 pm (ET)
Topics: Virtual Worlds / Mobile Learning
Presenter:
Dr. Keysha Gamor
Virtual World Consultant

This webinar will explore the new mobile learning environment and how it is changing the way the world learns and interacts in a global multi-billion dollar education and training market. In addition, it will provide an overview of virtual worlds while examining popular virtual world applications. This session will also help you to frame an understanding of virtual worlds and their appropriate application.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011
Time: 1-2:00 pm (ET)
Topic: Developing, Maintaining, and Growing a State Chapter
Presenters:
Ken Conn
USDLA Board Member and Senior Vice President for State Chapters
Director of Houston Education, Data Projections

Louis Stricoff
Executive Director, PA/DE/NJ Distance Learning Association
Business Development Manager
Emantras/MOBL21

Janet Major
USDLA Board Member and Arizona Distance Learning Association - Past President
Technical Coordinator Arizona Telemedicine Program
Distance Program Coordinator, BioCommunications
The University of Arizona Health Sciences Center

As the title states, this session will focus on developing, maintaining, and growing a state chapter of the United States Distance Learning Association. You will have the opportunity to learn with various state chapter leaders who will share their experiences.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2011
Time: 1-2:00 pm (ET)
Topic: Brain-based Learning
Presenter:
Dr. Nish Sonwalkar, (Sc.D.MIT)
USDLA, Director of Research
The International Center for Distance Learning Research and Praxis (ICDLRP)

This webinar will explore how the brain is comprised of billions of neurons (brain cells) connected with trillions of "synaptic" connections between the neurons. Recent research indicates that learning happens in a human brain when a group of neurons are able to form a network passing information between them in the form of electro-chemical signals. Brain-based learning has the potential to enable curriculum content to be adapted to individualized learning pathways ensuring an increase in learning effectiveness and efficiency as well as improvement in student engagement and evaluation measurements.

PADLA 9th Annual Conference & Expo

2011-10-24T15:56:00.000-04:00

Join us for our 9th Annual Conference & Expo featuring: keynote address "The Future Has Moved... And Left No Forwarding Address" by Hank Moore , a noted futurist and author.

There are 15 concurrent sessions in 3 tracks (Corporate, Academic, Developer/ID) presented by regional practitioners and experts, a Vendor Expo, Awards, food, over 200 attendees, and much much more.

Date: 18 Nov 2011
Time: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Location: Temple University Ambler Campus
Cost: $100 (including continental breakfast and lunch)

PRESENTATIONS INCLUDE:

"How Long Will It Take? And What Will It Cost: The Art of Pre-Planning & Proposal Writing" by LRA Worldwide
"Free Tools & Resources to Build Better e-Learning" by Susan Boyd Associates
"All Aboard, Everywhere:A Case Study in On-Boarding a Distributed Population" by Pearson VUE
"The Future of Learning: Today" by Sealworks Interactive Studios
"Beyond Learning: Using Technology to Support Performance" by Devereux
"Teaching Public Speaking Totally OnLine" by Bucks County Community College
"One Tool at a Time: OnLine French Classes" by Temple University FGIS
"The Business Tree: Growth Strategies & Tactics for Surviving and Thriving" by Hank Moore
"Can a Game Prepare You to Teach & Train?" by simSchool
"Steps to be Taken When You Decide to Teach OnLine" by Temple University OnLine Teaching Circle
"Outsourced! Business Case of Offshore e-Learning Development" by Tyco Electronics
"Ten Tips for Teaching Science Totally OnLine" by Ocean County College
"Strategies for OnLine & Live Compliance Training" by Lernia Training Solutions
"Information Design in an Ubiquitous World" by Vertex, Inc
"Merrill Lynch: Bullish on Mobile Learning: A Case Study" by Intuition

With Cheating Only a Click Away, Professors Reduce the Incentive

2011-09-07T11:03:00.001-04:00

From The Chronicle of Higher Education...

Handheld devices can answer a question—even if a student is home sleeping.

David Massey for The Chronicle

Corey T. Shipeck, a business student at the U. of Florida, takes courses that require two different models of clicker. Some students bring multiple clickers to class to cover for late-sleeping roommates.

By Jie Jenny Zou

As soon as the handheld gadgets called "clickers" hit the University of Colorado at Boulder, Douglas Duncan saw cheating.

The astronomy instructor and director of the Fiske Planetarium was observing a colleague's physics class in 2002, when the university introduced the electronic devices that students use to respond to in-class questions. He glanced at the first row and saw a student with four clickers spread out before him. It turned out that only one was his—the rest belonged to his sleeping roommates.

The student was planning to help his absentee classmates by "clicking in" for the sleepers to mark them present. The physics professor had to tell the student that what he was doing was cheating.

Clickers—and the cheating problems that accompany them—have become a lot more common since that day, many instructors say. Today, more than 1,000 colleges in the United States use the devices, which look like TV remotes.

Read the full article on The Chronicle

Blackboard Collaborate is Coming!

2011-07-18T15:50:00.002-04:00



		See Blackboard Collaborate 11 in action ... *Register for a webinar today!* Dear USciences Faculty, By combining the best of Elluminate and Wimba technology, Blackboard Collaborate™ 11 delivers a next-generation collaboration platform designed for education that includes a new user-driven interface design, web conferencing and enterprise instant messaging integration, voice authoring, and much more. See for yourself. Check out one of our upcoming webinars, "Blackboard Collaborate 11: Better Together." July 19 at 9am and 3pm EDT (GMT-4) July 21 at 10am and 6pm EDT (GMT-4) July 25 at 11am EDT (GMT -4) What's New New collaboration solutions that provide a wide spectrum of collaboration Customer-driven development that improves the user experience Education platform built for the academic enterprise Learn how you can build a better education experience with Blackboard Collaborate. Register now. Sincerely, Your Blackboard Collaborate Team

Engage and Learn with Next Generation Learning Challenges this Summer

2011-06-22T10:38:00.000-04:00

Click for More Information

This summer, you're invited to join your colleagues and Next Generation Learning Challenges for a "Summer Learning Series" – a schedule of webinars dedicated to the transformative role that technology can play in fostering student success with solutions designed to improve college completion.

The Series

No advance registration is required to participate. Each hour-long webinar is free and open to the public and session archives will be posted on the NGLC homepage the following day.
Topic: Disrupting College
Speaker: Louis Soares, Director of the Postsecondary Education Program, Center for American Progress
Date: Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET

Topic: Blended Learning at the University of Central Florida
Speaker: Thomas Cavanaugh, Assistant Vice President, Distributed Learning
Date: Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET

Topic: The Gamification of Education
Speakers: Steve Ritter, Carnegie Learning; Chris Sprague, OpenStudy; and David Gibson, SimSchool
Date: Thursday, July 28, 2011
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET

Topic: The Open Learning Initiative
Speaker: Candace Thille, Director, Open Learning Initiative
Date: Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET

Topic: Using Openness to Bridge to Success
Speaker: Patrick McAndrew, Institute of Educational Technology, The Open University
Date: Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET

How to Join

Each webcast will be hosted inside the NGLC Adobe Connect webconferencing room. To join, simply enter the URL and select "Enter as a Guest," type in your name and affiliation (e.g., John Doe, American High School), and click "Enter Room."

Learn about Blackboard from the President

2011-05-25T11:01:00.001-04:00

Because USciences is moving from Angel to Blackboard, I thought our faculty and staff might like to hear my interview with the President of Blackboard Learn...

RPP #91: Interview: Ray Henderson on Blackboard Learn - Part 1

Ray Henderson

Interview: Ray Henderson, President of Blackboard's teaching and learning division, Blackboard Learn

Hear about the key differences for faculty between Angel and Blackboard 9.1
Hear about Blackboard's future direction, including
How the purchase of iStrategy relates to Blackboard Outcomes

RPP #92: Interview: Ray Henderson on Blackboard Learn - Part 2

Interview: Ray Henderson, President of Blackboard Learn

Learn about Blackboard's ePortfolios offerings, and
Open Database Inititative
Open-source competition

Blackboard Resources

You can subscribe (free) to Rod's Pulse Podcast or listen at Inside Higher Ed.

Campus Technology Virtual Conference 2011

2011-04-14T13:35:00.001-04:00

No Budget? No Time? No Problem! Register for This Free Virtual Conference!

Live on May 12, 2011 • 10:30 am – 6:00 pm ET

Plan to attend the all free, all online conference covering the most compelling technologies and topics, presented by ed tech visionaries—plus demonstrations of the latest technology, and real-time networking with campus leaders like you.

Join Us for Outstanding Sessions On Hot Topics Including:

Looking Ahead: Implications for Higher Education Technology in the Next Decade
Anne H. Moore, Associate Vice President for Learning Technologies, Virginia Tech »»This Keynote Presentation followed by live Q&A!««
Technology as the Architect of Self: Implications for Higher Education
Sherry Turkle, Director, MIT Initiative on Technology and Self
A Portrait of the Portfolio as a Young Movement: A Surprising Development
Trent Batson, Executive Director, The Association for Authentic, Experiential and Evidence-Based Learning

Click here to explore the complete Conference Program!

E-Mail this page

Academic Tech Webinar: Adding Panopto Recordings to Angel

2011-04-12T16:43:00.002-04:00

Join us for a Webinar on April 22


	View introduction to Panopto by USciences' CIO, Dr. Mark Nestor when he was at Miami Dade College

Lecture capture is already an important component of classroom technology at USciences. Lecture capture allows instructors to record what happens in their classrooms and make it available electronically through our LMS. We use Mediasite in the major lecture halls. This Webinar is on using Panopto to capture video, audio, and your desktop computer screen (e.g., web sites, applications, PowerPoint slides). The big difference is that we now have a license to use Panopto in any classroom not served by Mediasite. You can even create learning modules in the comfort of your own office.

Lecture capture systems offer important benefits:
    * an alternative when students miss class
    * an alternative when the instructor misses class
    * an opportunity for students to review course content
    * a way to create content for hybrid or online courses

Educational Objectives: Learn ...
    * Overview of Panopto, including two types of recorders (5 min)
    * Download Panopto Recorder from Angel (5 min)
    * Record screencast and Powerpoint presentation (10)
    * Panopto Editor (15 minutes)
    * Q&A (10 minutes)

Tune in and win a Logitech USB Headset.

Title:	Academic Tech Webinar: Adding Panopto Recordings to Angel
Date:	Friday, April 22, 2011
Time:	12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EDT

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4.11 (Tiger®) or newer

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/505140171

Villanova Tech Expo - April 7

2011-04-05T09:40:00.002-04:00

Visit the Expo website for more details

The Villanova University Technology Expo is an opportunity for the regional education community to see the latest technology from leading vendors, learn from informative keynote speakers and connect with peers to find solutions and best practices, and it's FREE! Register Online Now

Campus Technology Virtual 2011

2011-03-30T17:02:00.000-04:00

FREE Virtual Conference & Expo

May 12, 2011 • 10:30 am – 6:00 pm ET

From the convenience of your desktop, join us May 12, for fresh education, new product demos and peer-to-peer collaboration.

Be Part of This Exceptional Conference Experience!

Outstanding Sessions—Brand new presentations spotlighting the most up-to-date information on new education tools, technologies and services.
Inspiring Speakers—Education experts will share their views, best practices and tips for success in an effective, interactive way.
Virtual Exhibit Hall—Chat in real time with exhibitors and preview the latest hardware, software and solutions in our virtual exhibit hall. You'll have access to free content downloads, presentations-to-go and more.
Real-Time Networking Opportunities—Connect with your colleagues and develop new relationships with other like-minded professionals from all over the world in our virtual networking lounge.
No travel, no conference fees and no time away from work!

How Bill Gates' Favorite Teacher Wants to Disrupt Education

2011-03-15T16:30:00.004-04:00

If you don't know about the TED Talks ("Ideas Worth Spreading"), you are in for a treat. One of their recent speakers, Salman Khan, talks about how and why he created the remarkable Khan Academy, a carefully structured series of educational videos offering complete curricula in math and, now, other subjects. He shows the power of interactive exercises, and calls for teachers to consider flipping the traditional classroom script -- give students video lectures to watch at home, and do "homework" in the classroom with the teacher available to help.

As Bill Gates said, here is a glimpse into the future of education...

In 2004, Salman Khan, a hedge fund analyst, began posting math tutorials on YouTube. Six years later, he has posted more than 2.000 tutorials, which are viewed nearly 100,000 times around the world. Learn more about Khan in this Fast Company article.

Subscribe to TED Talks on iTunes.

Blended Learning is Better than Face-to-Face Learning

2011-02-17T13:13:00.001-05:00

Download Complete PDF (94 pages)

Now that I have your attention with that controversial subject line, I’d like to share with you findings from a large meta-analysis that was presented at the Educause ELI Annual Meeting this week. Dr. Barbara Means (Director, Center for Technology in Learning, SRI International) presented the following:

The main findings from the meta-analysis¹ was that classes with online learning (whether taught completely online or blended) on average produce stronger student learning outcomes than classes with solely face-to-face instruction. The mean effect size² was +0.20, p < .001.

Furthermore:

• There was no significant difference between students learning purely online compared with those learning the same material through traditional face-to-face instruction (mean effect size +0.05, favoring online but not significant)

• Blended instruction (combining online and face-to-face elements) had a larger advantage relative to purely face-to-face (mean effect size +0.35, favoring blended, p < .0001)

• Effect sizes were larger for studies in which the online instruction was collaborative or instructor-directed than in those studies where online learners worked independently

View Dr. Means ELI presentation: Blended Learning Designs: A Learning Science Perspective

__________
¹ U.S. Department of Education, Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development, Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning: A Meta-Analysis and Review of Online Learning Studies, Washington, D.C., 2010: http://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/tech/evidence-based-practices/finalreport.pdf.

² An effect size is similar to a z-score in that it is expressed in terms of units of standard deviation. It is defined as the difference between the treatment and control means, divided by the pooled standard deviation.

Free! Streaming Lectures from Educause Learning Initiative

2011-02-14T16:47:00.001-05:00

Attend these free lectures from the Educause Learning Initiative Annual meeting in Washington, DC from Monday, February 14-16, 2011.

See links to Free Lectures

The Problem of Learning in the Post-Course Era, Randall Bass, Assistant Provost, Georgetown University
The 2011 Horizon Report
Openness, Learning Analytics, and Continuous Quality Improvement, David Wiley, Associate Professor of Instructional Psychology and Technology, Brigham Young University
Design for Learning: Waiting for Superman versus Empowering Superheroes, Diana Rhoten, Co-Founder & Managing Director, startl.org
Continuous Improvement in Teaching and Learning: The Open Learning Initiative, Candace Thille, Director, Open Learning Initiative, Carnegie Mellon University
Gathering Evidence to Make an Impact: How Less Can Be More, Thomas Angelo, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Director, Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Centre, La Trobe University
Blended Learning Designs: A Learning Science Perspective, Barbara Means, Director, Center for Technology in Learning, SRI International
Opening the Door to New Possibilities through the Use of Analytics, John P. Campbell, Associate VP of the Rosen Center for Advanced Computing, Purdue University
The Open Textbook Puzzle, Jade Roth, Vice President, Books & Digital Strategy, Barnes & Noble
Susan Henderson, Director, Florida Distance Learning Consortium
How to Fix Copyright, William Patry, Senior Copyright Counsel, Google

2011 Horizon Report from Educause & The New Media Consortium

2011-02-10T17:08:00.002-05:00

Each year, the Horizon Report describes six areas of emerging technology that will have significant impact on higher education and creative expression over the next one to five years. The areas of emerging technology cited for 2011 are:

Download Complete PDF

Time to adoption: One Year or Less
Electronic Books
Mobiles
Time to adoption: Two to Three Years
Augmented Reality
Game-based Learning
Time to adoption: Four to Five Years
Gesture-based Computing
Learning Analytics
View the complete Horizon Report (1.5Mb PDF)

Get Ready for Panopto: Record lectures in class or from your desktop

2011-02-10T17:00:00.000-05:00

The Office of Academic Technology is about to offer Panopto, a flexible and easy-to-use presentation capture platform that lets faculty or staff capture, edit, stream, archive and share recordings that preserve critical knowledge.

In the mean time, explore these actual Panopto recordings from several higher ed institutions:
Speaking Tour Series with Closed Captioning: Lawrence Lessig, Founder, Creative Commons, Professor of Law at Stanford University
Panopto sponsored the Sara Fine Institute's hosting of Lawrence Lessig, a renowned author and political activist. This is another good example of the power and utility of integrated, searchable closed captioning.

Interactive Whiteboard Recording: Northwest University
When SBI helped Northwest University outfit their classrooms with interactive whiteboards, they conducted a series of training sessions for faculty so that they could learn how to effectively use the new classroom technology. No one missed the training sessions because they were recorded with Panopto Focus!


	Podium Lecture: Nick Laudato, CIDDE, University of Pittsburgh Nick Laudato introduces the original version of Panopto Focus to the University of Pittsburgh system. This example demonstrates good videography, audio quality and overall high production processes.
	Desktop Presentation: Carnegie Mellon University This is a great example of a simple desktop recording. Professor Lee used an off the shelf DV camera to record an introduction to his incoming students.
	Two Camera / Hi-Resolution Recording: Carnegie Mellon University, Genetics Class Lecture Many professors depend on chalkboards or other non-digital presentation tools, and this is where our our multi-camera, high-definition support comes in handy.
	Focus Case Study: Miami-Dade College Mark Nestor, CIO of Miami-Dade College's Medical Campus, gives an overview of lecture capture technology, including a run-down of Panopto Focus use at MDC.
	How-To Video: Lebanon-Cornwall School District We love this example. It is an innovative use of Panopto Focus to create a quick-and-dirty "how to" for use of projector systems. We use this internally!

e-Learning 2.0 Conference: Technology Use in Teaching and Learning

2011-02-09T16:51:00.001-05:00

This year’s e-Learning 2.0 Conference Keynote Address, “Cultivating Web Accessibility,” is an entertaining and motivating overview of web accessibility that touches on a number of e-Learning topics, including the challenges faced by students with disabilities, current trends in Accessibility law, and the difficulties that confront institutions when implementing accessibility policies. The keynote will be delivered by Jared Smith, the Associate Director of WebAIM, who has presented extensively and provided web accessibility training to thousands of developers throughout the world.

With a degree in Marketing/Business Education, a Master’s Degree in Instructional Technology, and over 13 years of professional experience in the fields of web design, development, and accessibility, Jared brings to bear a wealth of knowledge and experience in order to help others create and maintain highly-accessible web content. Much of his written work, including a broad range of tutorials, articles, and other materials, is featured on the WebAIM site. Jared is active on Twitter at @jared_w_smith.

The conference will be held on Thursday, March 24th from 8:00am – 4:00pm in Behrakis Grand Hall at Drexel University. Submit a proposal for the conference. The deadline for proposal submission is Friday, February 25th. We look forward to seeing you at the conference!

Webinar: The Next Big Thing: Blackboard / McGraw-Hill Partnership

2011-02-03T17:09:00.002-05:00

This webinar is hosted by the Chronicle of Higher Education. We encourage you to register - see below...

The evolution of mobile and digital technologies has reached its next milestone within education — interactive, digital learning content.

Join us as Blackboard’s Katie Blot, Senior Vice President of Consulting, and McGraw-Hill’s Doug Hughes, Director of Digital Partnerships, lead the conversation on technology changes within education and how digitally delivered content is leading educators to the next frontier of how they use technology in the classrooms. Plus, take a look inside Blackboard and McGraw-Hill’s new, integrated solution.

The Next Big Thing in Digital Education:
the Blackboard and McGraw-Hill Higher Education Partnership
February 17, 2011 • 2pm EST / 11am PST

Gain valuable insight into how digital technology can promote:

Student success
Educator efficiency
Thriving institutions

Don’t miss this exciting webinar event, register now. Please feel free to forward this invitation to anyone you believe may be interested in attending this informative Webinar.

This free Webinar is presented by Blackboard and hosted by The Chronicle of Higher Education. All content presented during the event is provided by Blackboard.

Blackboard Collaborate Distinguished Lecture Series

2010-12-17T15:48:00.001-05:00

Blackboard Collaborate is the name of the new online classroom system to be based on Elluminate and its former competition, Wimba, which were both bought by Blackboard earlier this year.

"Formed by the union of industry leaders Wimba and Elluminate, Blackboard Collaborate delivers open, education-focused collaboration solutions that enhance learning, reduce costs, and improve outcomes by enabling anywhere, anytime, instruction, meetings, and help."

Here are links to archives of excellent presentations that are of interest to faculty who would like to learn more about teaching online.

The 10 Biggest Myths About Synchronous Online Teaching
by Ted Bongiovanni and Roseanna DeMaria
New York University, School of Continuing and Professional Studies

Building Campus Community and Conducting Staff Training Instantly with Pronto
by Eric Kunnen of Grand Rapids Community College and
Jenny Jones of Holmes Community College

Increasing Enrollment Using Wimba Classroom
by Rick Bebout, West Virginia University

Blackboard Collaborate is scheduled to debut this summer. Though the above webinars were recorded with Wimba Classroom, the new Blackboard product will be based on the Elluminate infrastructure. Sign up for a trial of Elluminate Live.

National Distance Learning Week

2010-11-04T15:03:00.002-04:00

Free Webinars: November 8-12, 2010

The purpose of National Distance Learning Week (NDLW) is to generate greater awareness and appreciation for distance learning, including K-12, Higher Education, Corporate and Military, while recognizing leaders and best practices in the field.

Register for these free webinars

MONDAY

Event: Integration of Virtual Education
Date: November 8, 2010
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
This webinar will explore how the use of related information, communication, and educational technologies are being used to support and improve Pre K-12 / home school based learning and student achievement.

Event: Higher Education
Date: November 8, 2010
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
This webinar will explore a broad range of issues related to the institution's/unit's practices and procedures as new global campuses become the norm and the traditional education landscape transforms.

TUESDAY

Event: Blending Learning
Date: November 9, 2010
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
This webinar will explore the economy of scale and power of blended learning which is derived from its "elasticity:" the ability to integrate a variety of synchronous and asynchronous media allowing the instructional designer to attain the most appropriate blended learning solution. Download your FREE copy of the USDLA Instructional Media Selection Guide for Distance Learning authored by Dr. Jolly Holden and Dr. Philip Westfall.

Event: Measuring Effectiveness
Date: November 9, 2010
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
This webinar will educate organizations on how to measure effectiveness and report. This will include discussions on showing the real value for your talent programs. Explain how your hard work benefits your company, in real dollars. Benchmark your company's programs against those in your industry, or in all industries. Improve your bottom line by understanding and using the talent in your organization, and streamlining your processes.

WEDNESDAY
Event: Virtual Worlds
Date: November 10, 2010
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
This webinar will provide an overview of virtual worlds while examining popular virtual world applications. This session will also help you to frame an understanding of virtual worlds and their appropriate application.

Event: Professional Online Educator - Faculty Preparation for Excellence in Online Teaching
Date: November 10, 2010
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
The role of the educator has undergone a paradigm shift in order to keep pace with mainstream acceptance of online teaching at primary, secondary, and post-secondary institutions of learning. Educators, administrators, and education organizations and institutions recognize the need to verify that pre-service teachers, traditional classroom teachers, and novice online teachers can affect a meaningful transfer of knowledge in myriad online learning environments. In this session, learn how online teaching skills will address a growing market need and the desire of educators, administrators, and education organizations to ensure quality online instruction.

THURSDAY

Event: About USDLA Membership and How You Can Get Involved!
Date: November 11, 2010
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
This webinar will explore the United States Distance Learning Association, which is a non-profit organization formed in 1987 and is located in Boston, Massachusetts. USDLA promotes the development and application of distance learning for education and training and serves the needs of the distance learning community by providing advocacy, information, networking and opportunity. Distance education and training constituencies served include pre-k-12 education, higher and continuing education, home schooling, as well as business, corporate, military, government, and telehealth markets.

FRIDAY
Event: Brain-based Learning
Date: November 12, 2010
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
The brain is comprised of billions of neurons (brain cells) connected with trillions of "synaptic" connections between the neurons. Recent research indicates that learning happens in a human brain when a group of neurons are able to form a network passing information between them in the form of electro-chemical signals. Brain-based learning has the potential to enable curriculum content to be adapted to individualized learning pathways ensuring an increase in learning effectiveness and efficiency as well as improvement in student engagement and evaluation measurements.

Event: Mobile Learning
Date: November 12, 2010
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
With the number of mobile phones approaching 5 billion subscribers globally, mobile learning has the potential to deliver effective education and training to these busy workers. This webinar will provide some examples and insight into this globally expanding market.

New features in Google Apps

2010-11-04T09:13:00.001-04:00

News update from the Google Apps for Education Team:

With the school year in full swing, we have several new product features to help you stay ahead of the game. We’ve specifically focused on responding to feedback with our new Unthreaded Conversation view in Gmail, and collaboration with our new revision history interface in Docs. We also have milestones to celebrate: our four-year anniversary and having 10 MILLION students, faculty, and staff using Google Apps for Education! To stay on top of announcements, you can get new feature notifications by email or subscribe to the RSS feed.

New features in Google Apps

Unthreaded Conversation View
Gmail now offers users the ability to switch between conversation view and the traditional message-based unthreaded view. When a user switches to unthreaded view in 'Settings', messages are no longer grouped together into a conversation, and each message is shown as a separate entry in the inbox.

Read more about unthreaded conversation view in this blog post.

Priority Inbox
Priority Inbox is a new, alternative view of your Gmail inbox that helps solve the problem of email overload. With Priority Inbox, Gmail automatically identifies your important email and separates it out from everything else, so you can focus on what really matters. Priority Inbox is still in beta and is not the default view for Gmail users.

Read more about priority inbox in the Help Center.

Revision History in Docs
We updated the revision history interface to make it easier for collaborators to manage document revisions. Click on 'File > See revision history' to see the new interface. Users can click on an arrow to see the timestamp or use the arrow keys to navigate the changes. Changes to text are now also color-coded based on each collaborator, making it easy to tell what has been added or deleted.

Read more about the new revision history interface in the Help Center.

New version of Google Apps Sync for Microsoft Outlook®
We released a new version of this tool which now supports Microsoft Outlook® 2010 in both 32-bit and 64-bit editions. In addition, this version also includes improvements to rich contact data from the global address list, as well as enhanced support for 'custom from' addresses.

Updated Gmail app for Android devices
We recently released a new version of the Gmail app in Android, so Gmail updates aren’t tied to Android version releases anymore. Now you can get new Gmail stuff faster without having to wait for system updates. In this new version, we improved message replies, access to quoted text, and more. More information on this release here.

Get started with USciences Google Apps Domain
Logon with your USciences username and password at start.online.usp.edu.

Undergraduate Students and Information Technology

2010-11-03T13:29:00.001-04:00

In the recently released report from the Educause Center for Applied Research (ECAR), they found that students owned the following devices:

83.8% have laptops
62.7% have hand-held devices with Internet access
45.9% have desktop computers
13% have netbook computers
3.1% have e-readers

About 42% are considered "power users". Here is the breakdown of Internet-Capable Handheld Device Use among students (click to enlarge):

About 25% of students said they use e-textbooks in their courses, but it appears they use their computers or hand-held devices to access the e-texts, not dedicated e-readers. When asked what Web-based technologies students use in their courses, they said:

Web-based word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, etc: 36.2% — for collaborative use: 53%
Wikis (Web pages that can be created and/or edited by a group of people): 33.1% — for collaborative use: 30.7%
Social networking sites: 29.4% — for collaborative use: 49.4%
College opinion sites (RateMyProfessors, etc.): 27.1%
Textbook publishers’ resource sites: 26.1% — for collaborative use: 23.2%
Video-sharing (YouTube, etc.): 24.3% — for collaborative use: 33.4%
Blogs: 11.6% — for collaborative use: 37.6%
College study support (Cramster, Turnitin, etc.): 10.9%

ECAR states the the most important take-away message from their survey is that there is "no stereotypical student when it comes to technology."

Is the iPad a Game Changer for E-Textbooks?

2010-10-11T11:04:00.004-04:00

Have you dreamed of an an e-book reader that can handle textbooks and reduce the back-breaking load of dead-tree books that our students and children carry? The Kindle and various incarnations of the Sony E-Reader are fine for novels, but how can you have a textbook without color?

The Apple iPad has arrived with great fanfare. Is it the e-Textbook game changer? Universities are now making headlines by providing iPads for their students. Will faculty find that their favorite textbooks are available on this dream machine? Here, I've gathered links to recent articles and podcasts that cover the iPad as e-textbook platform. Do you think the iPad is the e-textbook game changer (add your comments below)?

The E-Textbook Experiment Turns A Page by Lynn Neary (listen to the story from NPR's "All Things Considered")

The game changer, according to Matt MacInnis, may be a little thing called the iPad. MacInnis is the founder and CEO of Inkling, a company that designs textbook software for the iPad. He says the iPad has allowed for the reinvention of the textbook.

As Textbooks Go Digital, Will Professors Build Their Own Books? By Jeffrey R. Young (read this article from The Chronicle of Higher Education)

McGraw-Hill Higher Education plans to announce its revamped custom-publishing system, called Create, with an emphasis on electronic versions of mix-and-match books. Macmillan Publishers this year announced a similar custom-textbook platform, called DynamicBooks. And upstart Flat World Knowledge touts the customization features of its textbooks, which it gives away online, charging only for printed copies and study guides.

Rod's Pulse Podcast #87: Special iPad in Education Edition (listen to this interview by Rod Murray)

Interview: Dr. Mary Ann Gawelek, Provost, Seton Hill University on "An iPad for Everyone" - Dr. Gawelek tells us about their Griffin Technology Advantage Program and how they prepared their faculty and IT infrastructure to handle iPads and MacBook Pros for all their incoming students.

Also from Rod's Pulse Podcast:

RPP #82: E-Textbooks: Are We There Yet? Interview with Scott Beadenkopf
RPP #83: E-Readers: Are We There Yet? Interview with Scott Beadenkopf (Part 2)

Campus Technology Virtual Conference - Free!

2010-10-07T11:09:00.000-04:00

Technology Enhancing Higher Education

Mark your calendar: November 18, 2010 - 10:30am to 6:00pm ET

This is Campus Technology’s live event. Attend at no charge, and from the convenience of your computer.

Discover how top institutions, like USC, Santa Clara and Virginia Tech, are using innovative social networking and distance learning technologies to provide enhanced teaching and learning environments on campuses around the country
Learn from expert speakers with hands-on experience in the newest, most revolutionary ideas in education technology
Spend time in the real-time virtual lounge for the best peer-to-peer networking
Explore online product and service demos from leading solution-providers presented in the virtual exhibit hall
Take away free content downloads and presentations-to-go

Teaching & Learning Rhythms: Tools to Enhance Student Engagement

2010-09-27T13:42:00.000-04:00

Mark your calendar!

Date: Thursday, October 14, 2010
Time: 1:00 PM
Place: FOW 120 (Mayes College, 4100 Woodland)

Join us for this live Magna Publications Webinar:

In Teaching & Learning Rhythms: Tools to Enhance Student Engagement, multiple teaching award winner Alex Fancy of Mount Allison University will train professors and instructors in how to capture that elusive flow when teaching seems effortless and students are excited and eagerly involved in learning.

This video online seminar will cover:

Ways to resolve ongoing issues of “flow” in the classroom
Finding the right balance between information and reflection, repetition and variation, and low and high energy in your classroom
Engaging students as “co-managers” of learning
Shaping rhythms to provide a sense of engagement
Teaching as a dramatic performance and energy exchange
Analyzing your course structure with attention to short and long-term rhythms
Why rhythm and balance are essential to shaping classroom communities
The six-act approach to teaching
Ways to manage a disengaged student
Working with natural ebbs and flows in the teaching dynamic
Centering yourself in the college classroom
Mindfulness and reflection on your teaching process

You will also receive a brief white paper outlining the theory behind this recommended approach to teaching, along with 100 questions for self-assessment of your teaching performance.

About the presenter
Alex Fancy is a long-time professor in the Modern Languages and Literatures Department at Mount Allison University in Canada. He has been recognized for his award-winning teaching across campus, regionally, and nationally.

Who should attend?
This seminar is designed for faculty members and educational developers at all levels and in all types of post-secondary institutions. It is also appropriate for administrators with a special interest in encouraging teacher reflection and self-assessment.

Next Generation Learning Challenges

2010-09-16T17:04:00.000-04:00

From Educause...

This fall, campuses will welcome the largest freshman class in the nation’s history. But the journey from freshman year to diploma is not necessarily an easy one. Many students must juggle work, family, and financial responsibilities with coursework. Others will struggle to keep pace with the rigor of college courses.

How can we leverage today’s IT tools to smooth the path toward college completion?

How can tools like open courseware, analytics, or blended learning be more successful?

Next Generation Learning Challenges (NGLC) is a new effort to identify and scale technology-enabled approaches that dramatically improve college readiness and completion. EDUCAUSE invites you to participate in a “Back to Campus” series of webinars focusing on the underlying challenges in college readiness and completion and IT’s role as an enabler of change.

Upcoming Webinars

Topic: Deeper Learning and Engagement
Speaker: Bryan Alexander, Director of Research, National Institute for Technology in Liberal Education (NITLE)
Date: September 21, 2010
Time: 2:00 p.m. ET

Topic: The Future of Assessment and Learning
Speaker: Valerie Shute, Associate Professor, Educational Psychology and Learning Systems, Florida State University
Date: October 1, 2010
Time: 3:00 p.m. ET

Topic: Open Educational Resources
Speaker: David Wiley, Associate Professor, Instructional Psychology and Technology, Brigham Young University
Date: October 6, 2010
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET (12:00 noon CT, 11:00 a.m. MT, 10:00 a.m. PT)

How to Join

Each webcast will be hosted inside an Adobe Connect webconferencing room at http://educause.adobeconnect.com/nglc. To join, simply enter the URL and select "Enter as a Guest," type in your name and affiliation (e.g., John Doe, University of the Sciences), and click "Enter Room."

Once inside the room, audio will be provided through your computer speakers and presentation slides will advance on your screen. You can interact with fellow attendees and presenters using the chat feature inside the room.

Each web seminar is free and open to all, but virtual seats are limited. Attendance is first come, first served. Each session will be recorded and archived for later viewing.

Technical Requirements

Whether you've participated in an NGLC online event before or you're joining for the first time, please run the Adobe Acrobat Connect Connection Test before the event. View the Adobe Connect technical requirements.

Note: If you experience difficulties during the web seminar, you can listen to the audio via a toll-free conference call line at 877-944-2300, access code 99269#.

For more information, please visit http://nextgenlearning.com/news/upcoming-events/articles/upcoming-events.

Google Apps for Education Training Center

2010-09-03T09:45:00.003-04:00

Google has released an online learning environment dedicated for educators and students to learn how to effectively use Google Apps in an educational context.

USciences has two Google Apps domains:

Online.usp.edu: our own "closed" domain used for faculty, students and staff to communicate and collaborate. The USciences username and password is required to access this domain and no content is made public - ideal for student wiki assignments.
Sites.usciences.edu [coming soon!]: our new "open" domain used for faculty to promote their own scholarly activity to the general public. This domain is ideal for creating faculty profile pages and for displaying laboratory research.

Enter the Google Apps for Education Training Center:

PodCamp Philly 2010 - Register Now

2010-09-02T14:06:00.008-04:00

PodCamp Philly 2010 is a community unconference for anyone interested in podcasting, blogging, video-casting and social media - personally or professionally. PodCamp Philly is being held October 2-3, 2010 at Temple University in Philadelphia PA. This marks the fourth year that PodCamp Philly has been held - and we'd love you to come join us. No matter what your interest or experience level, PodCamp Philly offers something for everyone.

You can find out more information online at PodCamp Philly and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/PodCampPhilly). Registration is through Eventbrite (http://PodCampPhilly2010.eventbrite.com).

Tracks:

Blogging : Wordsmiths rejoice! From finding the best platform to use for blogging to discovering your passion, the Blogging sessions at PodCamp Philly will help you get on track.

Business : Use podcasting and social media for business? Need to find out what all the hoopla is? Want to find out how to earn some coin from your hobby?

Podcasting : At the heart of every great PodCamp (and we are!) are sessions on podcasting and video podcasting. Everything from free tools to finding and connecting to your audience, the Podcasting TRACK at Camp is overflowing with info!

Social Media : Twitter & Facebook & LinkedIn OH MY! Everything from getting started to expert strategy advice is in this TRACK (Social Media Camp sponsored by Social Media Club Philadelphia & Social Media Club Princeton)

Technical : Technophiles unite! If you need a deep-dive into some of the more technical aspects of podcasting, social media, blogging this series was designed for geeks – by geeks!

We hope to see you there!

Voices From the Front Lines of Online Learning

2010-08-10T14:57:00.001-04:00

View this video taken at the recent 21st Annual Conference on Distance Teaching and Learning in Madison, Wisconsin.

View the complete article and commentary by Marc Perry on The Chronicle of Higher Education,

Online Seminar: "Online Group Work: Making It Meaningful and Manageable"

2010-08-02T14:34:00.000-04:00

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! Please join us for this online seminar.

Date: Thursday, August 12, 2010
Time: 1:00 - 2:00 PM EDT
Place: Woodland 117

Register Now!

Collaborative assignments often elicit a negative reaction among undergraduate students. But in the eyes of potential employers and in academics, they are vitally important. With the increasing popularity of online courses, instructors need to have clear, effective methods of creating, implementing, and grading group projects. Group projects are not “one size fits all,” but applying proven techniques can make them a “win-win.”

Change the perception and the results with Online Group Work: Making It Meaningful and Manageable. When explained, implemented, and graded effectively, online group projects can be among students’ most satisfying and valuable academic experiences. This 60-minute audio online seminar covers every element of the process.

Attendees will learn about...

• Teaching students HOW to work in asynchronous groups

• Creating assignments that meet academic needs and function within the online framework

• Changing the perception of group work by increasing student investment, and getting the virtual classroom to “buy-in”

• Streamlining structure and supervision to manageable levels

• Showing students efficiencies in group work, allowing better use of cognitive energy

A Crucial Topic

The seminar is designed for faculty, course designers, instructional technologists, online administrators, and others involved in the online course experience. Get an in-depth look at the Web 2.0 tools vital to the online group project experience. Attendees will have access to checklists, rubrics, additional readings, and guidelines for every step.

Experienced presenter

Dr. Jean Mandernach

Dr. Jean Mandernach is a true innovator in online instruction. Her research and published work focuses on enhancing student learning through new assessment techniques and teaching frameworks. She currently serves as professor of Psychology and Online Learning at Park University.

Bring questions
Have questions about online group work? Be sure to bring them to this live seminar for the opportunity to receive a response from our expert.

USciences Faculty Enrichment Workshops

2010-07-28T14:20:00.001-04:00

Please contact Phyllis Blumberg or Rod Murray if you have any questions...

Loading...

Don't forget to click 'SUBMIT' button above!

Download Full Schedule in PDF Format.

Academic Tech Webinar Series: Google Docs

2010-05-26T16:43:00.001-04:00

Join us for a Webinar on June 3

The University has recently rolled out Google Apps for Education. This optional resource will give all faculty, students and staff a state-of-the-art communication and collaboration platform to supplement our existing infrastructure.

This webinar will concentrate on how to use Google Docs. Docs gives us the ability to share and collaboratively edit documents compatible with Word, Excel and PowerPoint from any web browser, any time and any place. All content resides in our own protected domain and requires a login and password.

Educational Objectives: attendees will learn how to:

    * Create and upload documents compatible with MS Office (.doc, .xls, .ppt)
    * Create Forms that can be used to collect data that fill in your Google spreadsheet
    * Collaboratively edit documents and drawings in real time
    * Share large data files with colleagues on or off campus
    * Embed documents and presentations in Angel courses and community groups

Title:		Academic Tech Webinar Series: Google Docs

Date:		Thursday, June 3, 2010

Time:		11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP, 2003 Server or 2000

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4.11 (Tiger®) or newer

Space is limited.

Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/224849075

Google Gives Voice to Students

2010-05-18T20:37:00.002-04:00

The Google Voice Service provides a phone number, free of charge. Inbound calls to your Google Voice number are forwarded to all your actual phones, home, work, and cell per your settings. It also has some impressive features including custom voicemail greetings, call screening, and even transcription of voicemail messages to text. Google is rolling out this service slowly across the US, so you need an invitation to get a free account. This week, however, Google decided to give these accounts to any student who requests an invitation!

In a recent Google blog post, they said Voice is great for students:

We've found that Google Voice can be useful in many different ways to many different people. But one group of people that it's especially well-suited for is students. We've heard college students in particular really appreciate getting their voicemail sent to their email, sending free text messages and reading voicemail transcriptions rather than listening to messages (especially handy while in class).

Hear more about Google Voice and other recent Google developments on my podcast at entitled "What Has Google Done? Free Google Voice for Students and more!" at www.RodsPulsePodcast.com.

Conference: The Real Students/SMEs of Online Education

2010-04-27T09:53:00.002-04:00

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

You are cordially invited to join the Pennsylvania/Delaware/New Jersey Distance Learning Association (PADLA) for an inside look into the real lives of Online Students and Subject Matter Experts. Learn best practices and hear how they survived, thrived, and learned to collaborate in the online environment. Whether your experience ranges from a seasoned veteran to someone just beginning to explore the dynamic world of Distance/e-Learning, you will be guaranteed to learn, share, and have ample opportunities to build your professional network.

When: Tues., May 18, 2010, 8:30am to 11:45am
Where: LaSalle University, Metroplex Corp Center, 4000 Chemical Road, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
Registration Fee: Members are Free; Non-Members $25

PRESENTATIONS

"Surviving to Thriving Online: Lessons Learned in Online Education": A Panel Discussion Moderated by Dr. Bobbe Baggio w/Panelists Margaret Uhrich, Robin Eisenburg, Tony Ellis and Mary Eklund

Recent graduates of LaSalle University’s Intructional Technology Management (ITM) Program share their perspectives as non-traditional online learners. Members of the graduating pilot group will recount their experiences, applying their lessons learned to corporate learning. Members of this initial group will discuss developing and supporting online learning skills for adult students, effective instructional techniques, and suggestions for applying these lessons in corporate settings.

"From Classroom to Chatroom: Collaborating Online with SMEs": Presented by Nathan Eckel: Performance Consultant, LaSalle Adjunct Professor, and Author.

Nathan Eckel explains how you can help Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) transition from face-to-face instruction to an online world. The Collaborating Online workshop at LaSalle uses several online strategies to help tenured faculty transition from classroom instruction to online facilitation. Eckel will also include some tips on working with both corporate and academic SMEs, and present reasons why taking a collaborative approach (as opposed to a competitive one) is so important today.

Excellence in Education Rich Media Impact Awards

2010-04-15T16:42:00.014-04:00

The University of the Sciences is now using Mediasite to capture lectures in several venues throughout campus. See how other Universities are using Mediasite lecture capture. View these videos from finalists in the Excellence in Education category of Sonic Foundry's Rich Media Impact Awards.

2010 Awards:

2009 Awards:

2008 Awards:

Members of the Mediasite user community are invited to nominate organizations that achieved measurable improvements in information accessibility, cost savings, efficiency and productivity through Mediasite lecture capture. Please let us know if you'd like to be nominated for the award next year.

Going Google at USP - Preview

2010-04-12T16:47:00.005-04:00

Join us for a Webinar on April 23

The University of the Sciences is rolling out Google Apps for Education on April 29. This optional resource will give all faculty, students and staff a state-of-the-art communication and collaboration platform to supplement our existing e-learning infrastructure. We will have the ability to share and collaboratively edit documents compatible with Word, Excel and PowerPoint. We can create unlimited Wiki websites (Sites in Google parlance) and stream videos from our own private branded YouTube-like site. All content resides in our own protected domain and will require a login and password. Content is not exposed to the public through search engines.

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/149845666

Title:		Academic Tech Webinar Series: Going Google at USP Preview

Date:		Friday, April 23, 2010

Time:		12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EDT

Where:		Your Desktop

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Certification Course for Teaching Online

2010-04-08T09:40:00.003-04:00

Online Courses: Step-by-Step is a new program to help faculty members teach online comfortably and confidently. Have you wanted to incorporate online teaching into your course? Are you interested in bringing your passion for teaching into the virtual world, but uncertain how to get there? Are you concerned about a long and painful learning curve? Or are you teaching online now, but the experience is less than what you expected?

You don’t need to be a technology whiz … you don’t need to be a programmer … you don’t need a sophisticated understanding of the online world. You simply need to be a committed educator interested in reaching students in this exciting new way.

Online Courses: Step-by-Step is a three-module program developed in partnership with program designer John Orlando, Instructional Resource Manager of Norwich University’s School of Graduate Studies and a ten-year veteran of online faculty training. The focus is on the three areas critical to your success in moving online:

The pedagogy of online teaching.
The “tools of the online trade.”
How to get your course up and running.

You’ll complete one module per week for three weeks, developing a thorough understanding of virtually every aspect of the online teaching experience.

If you are interested in taking the course, please contact Dr. Rod Murray. Although this is not an instructor-led course, Rod will be available throughout the course to answer questions and participate in online discussions.

NOTE: Do not sign up on your own on the Magna Publications website -- the University gets a group discount.

Next Frontier: Innovation, Trends & Realities of Online and Blended Education

2010-04-05T11:17:00.010-04:00

If you missed the Drexel E-Learning 2.0 Conference on March 25, it's not too late to learn from some of our colleagues. The highlight of the Conference was the keynote presentation by Dr. Kristen Betts. Don't miss this Mediasite recording of the Keynote:

Other presentations that I attended and would highly recommend are:

The complete listing of the conference presentations can be found at Conference Presentations.

Drexel e-Learning 2.0 Conference

2010-03-18T09:37:00.000-04:00

Register today for the 8th annual e-Learning 2.0 Conference!

Date: Thursday, March 25, 2010
Time: 7:30 am – 4 pm
Location: Drexel University’s Creese Student Center.

Click on the following link to view a short, 4-minute video preview from keynote speaker, Dr. Kristen Betts, Associate Clinical Professor of Higher Education at Drexel’s School of Education: http://rmcp.dcollege.net/playlists/18337/202408.html.

The video presents highlights of the conference as well as an overview of the keynote address, which will discuss the idea of “Online Human Touch” and cover national data trends and new technologies in online and blended education. To view a longer version of the video, visit the keynote speaker page on the conference website at http://www.drexel.edu/irt/news/events/eLearningConf/keynote.

To access the preliminary conference program and to register, visit the conference website at http://www.drexel.edu/irt/news/events/eLearningConf.

The registration fee of $100 ($25 for students) includes welcome materials, access to the presentations, a continental breakfast, lunch, and chances to win fabulous door prizes including an Apple iPad! If you have any questions, email el2n@drexel.edu.

Virtual Symposium: Education for Everyone: Expanding Access through Technology

2010-03-15T10:39:00.002-04:00

The 2010 Virtual Symposium is co-organized by Drexel University School of Education and Wainhouse Research, and co-hosted by the World Bank Institute's Global Development Learning Network, in Beijing.

This year's theme is "Education for Everyone: Expanding Access through Technology." The event will include on-demand presentations and interactive blogs from presenters in North America, Europe and Asia, beginning on March 1st. Live presentations and panel discussions will begin on March 22.

Here is a sample listing of presentation titles in the higher education area:

Accreditation & Assessment in Online Learning – Radical Change Breeds Global Access
E-Portfolios as a Capstone Experience for Online Learners
Examining Faculty Use of Social Networking in Teaching and Community Building
Leveraging Technology for Synchronous Instruction – Using Web-based Conferencing as a Course Delivery System
Critical Success Factors for Building Distance Education Programs
Developing Effective Online Teaching Strategies in Leadership Courses
Mathematics on a Digital Napkin
Preparing Students for the Cognitive and Meta-cognitive Demands of Online Learning
Leveling the Playing Field with ePortfolios
The iPhone as an Academic Tool

We hope you can view some of these on-demand recorded presentations (now) and participate in live sessions and panel discussions starting March 22.

University of the Sciences is Going Google!

2010-03-11T08:47:00.002-05:00

The University of the Sciences will be rolling out Google Apps for Education soon. This optional resource will give all faculty, students and staff a state-of-the-art communication and collaboration platform to supplement our existing e-learning infrastructure. We will have the ability to share and collaboratively edit documents compatible with Word, Excel and PowerPoint. We can create unlimited Wiki websites (Sites in Google parlance) and stream videos from our own private branded YouTube-like site.

All content resides in our own protected domain and will require a login and password. Content is not exposed to the public through search engines.

View this 30 minute recorded webinar to get oriented to the features of this new offering:

Stay tuned for additional posts as we prepare for the official roll-out.

Organizing Blended Courses for Optimal Student Engagement

2010-03-07T11:10:00.001-05:00

Mark you calendar! Join us and participate in this Academic Tech Webinar Series event.

Despite the growing acceptance and recognized benefits of online education, many instructors and students discover they miss the dynamics of a face-to-face class. A blended course, which combines traditional class time with online learning elements, has emerged as a powerful solution that provides the best of both worlds.

When done correctly, a blended (or hybrid) course leads to more productive in-class time and more engaged learning outside of class, ultimately improving learning outcomes. Plus, as an added bonus, blended learning provides much-needed relief for overbooked classrooms at a time when most capital improvement projects have been put on hold.

Faculty Focus invites you to join Dr. Ike Shibley of Penn State for a live video seminar guaranteed to inspire you to think more creatively about how to use blended course delivery to get students actively involved with their course material.

Date: Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Time: 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM

Where: Griffith Hall Room 110-C

In Organizing Blended Courses for Optimal Student Engagement, Dr. Shibley will address the unique pedagogical challenges of blended learning, and the proven strategies and technologies he uses with his students.
This online seminar will cover:

Effective blended techniques before, during and after class
Using clickers to create a more active classroom
Ways to reach higher levels of Bloom’s taxonomy with clicker questions
How to write quiz questions that encourage students to rehearse material
Best methods to increase engagement through blended course design
How blended learning makes assessment easier

There’s never been a better time for blended learning. Sign-up for this strategy-filled seminar today!

Conference: Social e-Learning @ the University of Pennsylvania

2010-02-26T11:11:00.001-05:00

Mark your Calendar! The Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware Distance Learning Association (PADLA) invites you for a look inside the University of Pennsylvania and see how they implemented a social strategy to enhance their online learning environment. Whether your experience ranges from a seasoned veteran, to someone just beginning to explore the dynamic world of Distance/e-Learning, you will be guaranteed to learn, share, and have ample opportunities to build your professional network.

WHERE:

The University of Pennsylvania

Houston Hall 3417 Spruce St Philadelphia, PA 19104

WHEN:

Tues., March 16, 2010

8:30am to 11:45am.

REGISTRATION:

PADLA Members: Free

Non-Members:$25

Join PADLA Now Only: $100

Continental breakfast provided

Presentations include:

Designing a New Online Learning Environment Centered on Social Interaction

In this session, presenters describe the development and implementation of the Penn LPS Commons, a custom-built online learning environment designed to center participants on the social interactions that drive learning communities. Built with Drupal and Moodle, the LPS Commons includes social networking, learning management and collaborative web 2.0 tools as well as robust permissions models which allow select elements of online learning communities to be shared with public audiences as institutional Open Educational Resources (OERs). Presenters will review use-case scenarios from their suite of online courses and current OER projects funded by the National Science Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation.

Integrating Social Strategy into Online Course Design

In this session, presenters turn their attention to the instructional design issues related to integrating social networking tools into effective online course design. The presentation describes a non-credit course in Positive Psychology which drew a global audience of over 1000 participants from 62 countries. Designed to engage both self-access and social learners, the course centered on 36 hours of broadcast quality video and allowed participants to drive course conversations through a variety of activities using social tools (eg. blogs, discussion forums, user profiles). Presenters will share user evaluation data and open up discussion about implications for applying social networking tools in other learning contexts.

Lecture Capture using Mediasite

2010-02-09T12:56:00.002-05:00

Mark you calendar! Join us and participate in this Academic Tech Webinar Series event.

Lecture capture is already an important component of classroom technology at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. Lecture capture allows instructors to record what happens in their classrooms and make it available electronically through our Angel LMS. We use Mediasite in the major lecture halls to capture high quality video of the instructor and everything that is projected in class, including the instructors desktop computer screen (e.g., web sites, applications, PowerPoint slides), document camera output or hand-writing on the interactive podium display.

Lecture capture systems offer three important benefits:

an alternative when students miss class
an opportunity for course content review
and content for online course development.

Educational Objectives: Learn how...

lecture capture enhances existing instructional activities
lecture capture improves student performance, satisfaction and retention
faculty may alter their lecture style to improve the learning experience
faculty or staff may edit lectures before they are released
students view captured lectures

Date: Friday, February 12
Time: 12 Noon to 1 P.M.
Place: Your Desktop

FACULTY - PLEASE REGISTER HERE

Supplement Classroom Learning with Screen Capture Software

2010-01-15T11:20:00.002-05:00

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! Join us to view this webinar by Dr. Dave Yearwood, who has conducted numerous workshops for college faculty at the national and international levels. Associate Professor and Chair of the Technology Department at the University of North Dakota, Dr. Yearwood’s research interests focus on ways faculty members can infuse presentations and other technologies into coursework to connect and engage students, enhance understanding, and promote dialogue leading to critical examination of course content. According to the program…

Instructional technology can–and should–be changing the way college faculty conduct classes. Today, students can access course information remotely, around the clock. Are faculty members at your institution taking full advantage of this fact? If not, it may be time for a skills upgrade. Even the most talented faculty need help to stay current with the latest advances in instructional technology. The growing availability of portable multimedia devices and the proliferation of Course Management Systems make the time right for college instructors to begin to integrate audio and video teaching and learning modules to create more engaging–and more effective–courses.

Date: Thursday, January 21, 2010
Time: 1pm to 2:30pm
Place: Rosenberger 102

USP Faculty are encouraged to Register Online

During this live, interactive seminar, participants will learn:

How technology can free up class time for higher order learning activities
Easy ways to become your students’ 24/7 personal tutor
Where to access recommended technologies
How to create supplemental and remedial course materials
Strategies to encourage students to take a more active role in their education
Innovative ways to increase out-of-class engagement with course material
How to develop compelling portable media presentations for easy student access
The benefits of providing short audio-video content for your students
Surprising ways to include students in recorded content
Where faculty members can obtain needed technical assistance
And more

Webinar: The Future of ANGEL

2009-12-18T11:30:00.001-05:00

At these webinar sessions, Blackboard will provide an update on the promises that were made at Angel Users Conference in May ‘09 and will provide some additional detail about organizational influences the ANGEL and Blackboard teams have had on one another. Then, they will focus on the road ahead for ANGEL clients such as USP. They will share how they have been listening to client concerns and what their current plans are for ANGEL 8.0 and beyond.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010, 11:00 am EST - Register Now!

Thursday, February 11, 2010, 2:00 pm EST - Register Now!

Thursday, February 18, 2010, 1:00 pm EST - Register Now!

You will receive email confirmation with all information needed to participate.

Creatively Engaging Online Students: Models & Activities

2009-12-17T16:16:00.005-05:00

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! Join us to view this recorded webinar by Dr. Curt Bonk, Professor of Education, Indiana University. According to the program...

Dr. Bonk addresses growing concerns about a lack of engagement in the online classroom. Student dissatisfaction, apathy and, increasingly, attrition threaten to derail the progress of online education at many schools. During this presentation, you’ll discover how to address those problems, and how to build proven engagement-boosters into your online programs.

Date: Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Time: 1pm to 2pm
Place: FOW 110, 4101 Woodland Building

USP Faculty are encouraged to Register Online

Learn how to address student learning preferences online.
Discover ways to motivate students in online environments.
Take home a minimum of a dozen ideas you can use in your classrooms and programs.
Get the facts on two unique ways of thinking about teaching and learning in online environments.
Hear about a wealth of low-risk, low-cost, low-time activities.
Create a vision of what you would like your classroom to be, and develop a plan to achieve it.
See how to use the “R2D2 model” for thinking about diverse learning needs.
Understand how the example you set online can help (or harm) your students.
Learn to build peer and expert feedback into your online classes with techniques like critical friends and cross-institutional mentoring.
Find out how to successfully prepare students for the rigors of online learning.

Campus Technology 09 Virtual Conference - Free!

2009-11-25T09:00:00.001-05:00

Campus Technology is hosting a Virtual Conference. Mark your calendar for Thursday, December 3, 2009 from 10am to 6pm EST.

Learn more and register to attend this 100% online educational technology event for free.

Highlights of the conference include:

Virtual Keynote: The Ed-Tech Journey: Are We There Yet? by Josh Baron, Director of Academic Technology and eLearning, Marist College
Josh Baron considers some of the reasons why technology has not been the "silver bullet" that education institutions had hoped for, but more importantly, he looks at how we, as educators, can change the direction of our ed-tech journey and chart a course towards a future where technology becomes a catalyst for a true transformation of the educational experience.

Five Elements of Exceptional Technology Enhanced Learning by Stephen Laster, Chief Information Officer, Harvard Business School
This session gets back to basics by concentrating on the creation of instructionally sound experiences that leverage the power and reach of today's collaborative technologies.
Lessons and Outcomes from University of Minnesota's Future Classrooms by Jeremy Todd, Classroom Management and Linda Jorn, Digital Media Center, University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota explored the future of classroom design by constructing two pilot classrooms designed as student-centered, integrated, flexible learning spaces, with goals including stimulating interest in innovative classrooms and demonstrating new flexible classroom construction techniques.
Immersive Technology Platform Standards: Sharing Your World by Aaron E. Walsh, Director, Boston College; Julian Lombardi, Duke University; John Lester, Second Life, Linden Labs; and Jordan Slott, Sun Microsystems
This session examines emerging standards for immersive environments, and considers the issues technology and academic leaders on campus should take into account as they explore the amazing opportunities of immersive education.

Angel Introduction Screencast Series

2009-11-24T16:43:00.003-05:00

Thanks to Eva Agbada, Department of Information Science, J.W. England Library, we can now offer a series of introductory screencast videos on the Angel Learning Management System. You can find links in the Angel Academic Technology Group under Content. The first two dealing with "Getting Started" and "Logging In" are also available on the Angel Home page under Announcements.

Remember for Angel support, use the Access USP Angel Help Desk.

Global Learning Framework

2009-11-18T13:25:00.002-05:00

I'd like to share this thought provoking presentation with you. Richard Close, CEO of The Chrysalis Campaign, gave this at the recent Pennsylvania Distance Learning Association (PADLA) at the Penn State University Malvern campus. Do we need a learning management system (LMS) when Google is the "Global LMS"? [Run this full screen by clicking the icon on the lower right.]

Social Media: Living Statistics Scoreboard

2009-11-18T13:07:00.001-05:00

See just how fast social media is growing with this Social Media Counter by Gary Hayes...

Educause 2009 News: Future of Angel and More!

2009-11-11T12:00:00.003-05:00

In observance of National Distance Learning Week, I'll be reporting on my experience attending Educause 200 in Denver last week. Attend this webinar and learn about the future of Angel now that Blackboard is in control. I'll also touch on other news of interest including Blackboard's new mobile solution, e-portfolios, Moodle, Google Wave and more.

Tune into the next episode in our Academic Technology Webinar Series on Friday, November 13, at Noon. University students, faculty and staff can register on our Campus Portal or Angel Learning System.

Screencast: Basic Introduction to Angel

2009-10-30T15:10:00.007-04:00

View this 30 minute Basic Introduction to Angel:

For help with Angel, visit the USP Angel Help Desk.

Screencast created by Eva Agbada
Department of Information Science
J. W. England Library
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
Fall 2009

National Distance Learning Week: November 9-13, 2009

2009-10-19T16:32:00.006-04:00

Purpose:
The purpose of National Distance Learning Week (NDLW) is to generate greater awareness and appreciation for distance learning, including K-12, Higher Education, Corporate and Military, while recognizing leaders and best practices in the field.

Goal:
For schools, colleges, and corporations to conduct local events during NDLW to celebrate and promote the field of online learning.

When:
November 9th - 13th, 2009

Who:
Professionals engaged in the day-to-day practice of distance learning (schools, colleges, corporations, military) and individuals and organizations providing products and services being distributed via online, video conferencing and satellite technologies.

For more information on NDLW contact USDLA at 1.800.275.5162.

http://www.ndlw.org

E-Textbooks: Are We There Yet?

2009-10-15T09:00:00.009-04:00

Is this the year of the e-book? Almost everyone has heard of the Amazon Kindle by now and more news about e-book readers seem to come out every day. Barnes and Noble is about to launch their own e-book reader (Image Via Gizmodo). Amazon is releasing a new Kindle for use in Europe. Sony has been in the e-book game for years and continues to release new models, e.g., a wireless model is due this holiday season. However, the most popular e-book reader may already be in your pocket -- the iPhone.

While most e-book news tends to be focused on the readers, how about the e-books themselves or, more important for academia, e-textbooks? It's one thing to flip through black and white novels on a monochrome Kindle and another to do research and take notes using a library of colorful large format textbooks on a portable electronic device. When will our students trade in their 40 pound backpacks for a thin, light weight, colorful e-book reader? Are we there yet?

Find out by tuning into the next episode in our Academic Technology Webinar Series on Friday, October 23 at Noon. Get the details on our Campus Portal or Angel Learning System.

Blogging at the University of the Sciences and Beyond

2009-10-07T11:01:00.004-04:00

Blog is a shorthand term that means “Web log”, an online, chronological collection of personal commentary and links. It's very easy to create and use blogs anywhere there is an Internet connect. This form of Internet publishing has become an established communications tool and an alternative to mainstream media publications.

Attend our Academic Tech Webinar Series on blogging on Friday, October 9. You "attend" from the comfort of your own office via GoToMeeting webinar software. You'll be able to view my PC's desktop and hear me as I present, demonstrate and answer your questions. You can participate via a PC headset (highly recommended), phone, or just "lurk and learn" while eating your lunch. If you don't have a headset and don't want to make a toll call, you can ask questions using text chat.

Learn about the history of blogging
Learn how to find, subscribe and read blogs
Learn how to setup a free personal blog using Blogger and Feedburner
Learn how to contribute to the USP Experts blog
Learn how to setup a blog on Angel
Learn the benefits of blogs in education and research

Find out more and register on our Campus Porta l or Angel LMS.

Social Bookmarking using Delicious

2009-09-17T14:10:00.003-04:00

Delicious is a free social bookmarking service that allows users to tag, save, manage and share web pages from a centralized source. With emphasis on the power of the community, Delicious greatly improves how people discover, remember and share on the Internet.

Use Delicious to collect links as you research your next project, or collect links on the topics you teach to share with your students. Once you have bookmarked ("tagged") some great websites for your students, just paste a link like http://delicious.com/yourname/your-topic-tag on your Angel course page. You never have to touch that link again, and your students will always see your latest list of links.

Here is a great video explaining how Delicious works (from http://www.commoncraft.com)

Here is the link to bookmarks I collect on e-learning technology:
http://delicious.com/RodsPulsePodcast.

New Academic Tech "Lurk & Learn" Webinar Series

2009-09-15T15:48:00.005-04:00

We plan to host an informal webinar series for faculty and staff on various aspects of academic technology, especially e-learning. You "attend" from the comfort of your own office via GoToMeeting webinar software. You'll be able to view my PC's desktop and hear me as I demo various technologies. You can participate via phone, a PC headset, text chat or just "lurk and learn". I can even turn over the control of the mouse to you or invite you to share your desktop.

Look for broadcast emails soon with invitations to webinars on various topics including: Angel tips and tricks, Blogging, Delicious (Social Bookmarking), Google Apps for Education, GoToMeeting / GoToWebinar, Mediasite lecture capture, Pencasting, Podcasting, Prezi, Second Life, Skype, Twitter and more.

Requesting Classroom A/V Tech Support

2009-09-12T15:50:00.005-04:00

Starting with the new fiscal year this July, the University's hard working AV technicians, Bill Horton and Clifford Greer, were officially transferred to the Academic Technology Department from the Library.

To avoid confusion about how to request classroom audio/visual services, here are your new choices:

Scheduling classroom AV technology (e.g., to reserve a laptop & projector cart or to schedule technical assistance in advance of your class time)

Email: avrequest@usp.edu
Phone: call the Technology Help Desk at x7575 and press 2

Emergency classroom assistance (e.g., you are at the podium in front of students and the projector does not work)

Phone: call the Technology Help Desk at x7575 and press 3

Our new policy will help to improve our service by reducing administrative burdens for Bill and Clifford while reaching them more quickly in an emergent situation.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Institute on Innovation in Training and Teaching

2009-08-20T12:50:00.004-04:00

Mark your calendar: September 10th and 11th from 9 am – 4 pm.

Drexel’s 2nd Annual Institute on Innovation in Training and Teaching will offer 16 workshops on topics ranging from web-based surveying and e-books to lecture capture and online collaboration. This year, there will be shortened sessions and double the offerings to give attendees an expanded look at new technologies! View a complete list of sessions and to register online.

You don't have to be a Drexel faculty member to attend. I attended this last year and know that they run a great program -- well worth it for new faculty, especially those who are new to teaching online.

2009 Faculty Technology Satisfaction Survey

2009-08-17T09:30:00.004-04:00

The Executive Summary of the 2009 Faculty Technology Satisfaction Survey and the full survey results are available on the Campus Portal.

The lack of training opportunities appears to be the main reason for dissatisfaction with campus academic technology and is noted across all applications. Improving faculty training and support opportunities is a top priority for Academic Technology. The new Angel Help Desk featuring 24/7/365 live phone and chat support was just announced. We are also working with the Mayes College and the Teaching & Learning Center to provide a regular series of classroom and online training for faculty. (Note that the Faculty Enrichment Workshops with a focus on technology is happening this Wednesday.)

Faculty appear to be most appreciative of the available classroom technology, with the caveat that certain rooms are still in need of an overhaul. Fortunately, end or year funds have already been spent to implement significant upgrades to Rosenberger (2 new projectors), the STC (6 new screens, lecture capture), Griffith (2 lecture capture systems), and Mayes (video conferencing and lecture capture). Also, extensive renovation of 4 classrooms in 4500 Woodland is almost complete.

Thanks go to the faculty who completed the survey. We welcome your suggestions for improving support throughout the year.

New Angel Help Desk

2009-08-11T20:38:00.004-04:00

The University is committed to providing a student-centered learning environment and outstanding student service. One of the keys is providing anywhere, anytime access to learning, so it's critical that we also offer round the clock support to our students and faculty. To that end, we have partnered with Embanet ULC to provide a dedicated 24/7/365 toll-free telephone number, live online chat, email and a self-help frequently asked questions support portal for our Angel Learning Management Suite.

Embanet, an integrated, full service provider of online learning services to schools, colleges and universities across the United States and Canada, brings to USP the technical support and student service expertise of a team that has years of experience working with Angel Learning. University technology staff are working closely with Embanet to offer the best possible support experience.

Our new Angel Help Desk portal is available now to our students, faculty and staff.

Faculty Enrichment Workshops

2009-08-07T11:50:00.000-04:00

Please register for workshops with Mary Rafferty (Ext. 1168, m.raffer@usp.edu).

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

9:30 – 10:00
Finding a balance in your job including time for yourself and scholarship.
Phyllis Blumberg - RH 101

10 – 11:00
Basic course design: Objectives and syllabi.
Phyllis Blumberg - RH 101

11 – 12: 00
How do we teach these millennials? Who are our students? How do they learn and what support do we offer them?
Gerald Hoefling, Roxanne Evans - RH 101

1:00 – 3:00
Introduction to teaching and assessing so students will learn more.
Phyllis Blumberg - RH 101

3:00 – 4:30
A new way to organize and integrate a course using organizing schemes (Bring an existing course syllabus, if you have one).
Phyllis Blumberg - RH 101

Wednesday, August 19, 2009 - Focus on Technology

Note: Some sessions are held concurrently

8:30 – 10:30
Introduction to Angel.
Jeff Swain - STC 148

9:00 – 10:00
How to meet when you or your students are not on campus. Using webinar and videoconferencing technology.
Danny Benau - STC 147

11:00 – 1:00
Grade book function on Angel.
Jeff Swain - STC 148

1:30 - 3:30
Advanced functions on Angel.
Jeff Swain - STC 148

2:00 - 3:00
AV classroom support, using computer as whiteboard, etc.
Bill Horton & Cliff Greer - RH 101

3:30 - 4:30
What is new and what is currently available in academic technology at USP.
Rod Murray - STC 148

Thursday, August 20, 2009

10: 00 – 11:30
General education: What it means here and how to get a course approved for it. (Bring syllabi for courses you want to get General Education approval if you have them) .
Roger Ideishi, Fred Schaefer, Phyllis Blumberg - STC 148

Monday, August 24, 2009

10:00 – 12:00
Creating good multiple choice questions and how to understand the results (Bring some questions you developed, if you have them) .
Jean Scholtz, Linda Robinson - RH 101

2:00 - 4:00
Teaching students to have more responsibility for their learning.
Phyllis Blumberg RH 101

Thanks to Phyllis Blumberg for organizing these Faculty Enrichment Workshops!

Google @ School: Step by Step Guide to Google Docs for Higher Ed

2009-08-05T16:27:00.002-04:00

If you have been wondering about Google Docs and what it can do for you, please join us for "Google @ School: Step by Step Guide to Google Docs for Higher Ed". Academic Technology is sponsoring this webinar presented by educator and instructional technology specialist, Cindy Lane (hosted by Higher Ed Hero, http://www.higheredhero.com).

Date: Thursday, August 6
Time: 1 to 2pm
Place: STC Room 137

Google Docs is one offering within the Google Apps for Education suite of applications. Mayes College has been using Google Apps for a year now to supplement their online educational technology and we are about to announce Google Apps for the University this fall. This webinar is a great way to get a preview of one of the most useful of the Google Apps.

Campus Technology 2009 Presentations (captured by Mediasite)

2009-07-30T09:21:00.007-04:00

Campus Technology 2009 was recently held in Boston. It was touted as the best place to experience emerging Web 2.0 applications and "explore the latest technologies for navigating a world of social software and immersive platforms that will impact the ways in which we think about—and deliver—education for years to come."

Unfortunately, I was not able to attend but I was still able to experience some great keynote presentations thanks to lecture capture technology provided by Mediasite -- the same system we are about to install here at the University.

Here is a list of some of the presentations -- click on the links to bring up the full lecture including, audio, video and high resolution screens:

Emerging Interactive Media: Implications for Teaching and Research - abstract
Chris Dede, Harvard Graduate School of Education

21st Century Students: How Today’s Students Are Reshaping Technology - abstract
Jeff Keltner, Google, Inc.

Assessment in an Online Environment: Challenges and Opportunities - abstract
John Ittelson, The California State University, Monterey Bay; Helen Chen, Stanford University; Gary Brown, Washington State University; Michael Cottam, Rio Salado College

Bringing Student Web 2.0 “Stuff” to Campus Enterprise Systems and Why - abstract
Trent Baston, Campus Technology; Stuart Sim, CommonNeed.com

Five Elements of Exceptional Technology Enhanced Learning - abstract
Stephen Laster, Harvard Business School

Immersive Education: An Open Source, Collaborative Environment - abstract
Keith Rajecki, Solutions Architect, Sun Microsystems, Inc.

7 Things You Should Know About Lecture Capture

2009-07-01T10:00:00.004-04:00

As we prepare to roll out lecture capture at the University using Mediasite, I'd like to bring your attention to a concise review of lecture capture from the Educause Learning Initiative:

Lecture capture is an umbrella term describing any technology that allows instructors to record what happens in their classrooms and make it available digitally. In its simplest form, lecture capture might be an audio recording made with an iPod; alternatively, the term might refer to a software capture program that records cursor movement, typing, or other on-screen activity. Lecture capture systems offer three important benefits: an alternative when students miss class; an opportunity for content review; and content for online course development. Lecture capture enhances and extends existing instructional activities, whether in face-to-face, fully online, or blended learning environments.

Read the complete article on 7 Things You Should Know about Lecture Capture (2 page PDF).

Smartpen "Pencast" Demo: Podcast Concept Map

2009-06-23T17:09:00.017-04:00

I have been testing the Pulse Smartpen by Livescribe for several weeks now. This amazing device is a computer in a pen that also records audio while you take notes on special "dot paper". What a great way to document notes in a meeting (don't forget to ask permission to record audio) or take notes during a lecture. You can immediately play back the audio by tapping on your hand written notes -- listen using the built-in pen speaker or included ear buds. These special ear buds also have built-in binaural microphones so you can record stereo while you appear to just be listening to music! The pen even has an OLED display that can be used to display the results of calculations you tap out on a printed dot-paper calculator.

Impressive, but there is more. Back at your desk, you dock the pen to recharge and simultaneously sync your hand scribbles and audio to the Livescribe Desktop application on your PC or Mac. The desktop application organizes all your notes and even allows you to search your hand writing to locate a particular passage. Of course, you can play back your audio recordings by clicking your mouse anywhere on the images of your hand written notes.

As an extra bonus, you can share notes and audio with specific individuals or the public by uploading your recording sessions to the Livescribe Online Community site. Students can now take notes during class while recording the audio and share the "pencast" with their classmates -- a student note-taking service for the 21st Century!

To illustrate how this all works, I scribbled a concept map on how podcasting works. Of course it also illustrates a new way to teach and learn. The Pulse Smartpen is a great way for faculty to illustrate and animate concepts they used to draw on a blackboard and make it available to students with audio narration. See for yourself...

Pencast on Podcasting by Rod Murray
brought to you by Livescribe

Learn How Villanova Uses Class Capture to Generate Revenue (captured by Mediasite)

2009-06-10T15:38:00.004-04:00

I'd like to illustrate two points with one presentation...

Here is a link to a presentation by Dr. Seán O'Donnell, Director of Distance Education, College of Engineering at Villanova University. The real title of the presentation is "Recession Proof Lecture Capture: Using Mediasite to Turn Your Classroom into Cash." He discusses outcomes, both financial (ROI) and educational.

"Not long ago Villanova University’s College of Engineering faced mounting expenses, stagnant enrollment and the changing tide to offer degrees online. Sean O’Donnell, Director of Distance Education, saw an opportunity to use course capture to transform what was originally a small, regional graduate program into a national online success.

By launching an online lecture program via Mediasite, the College increased graduate enrollment by 50 percent and expanded their offerings to 4 fully online Master’s degrees with students in 35 states and four countries. The program that started with a $3,000 grant is now transformed into educational system that generates over $1 million in gross tuition, all without a single tuition or fee increase."

Of course, his presentation was capture with Mediasite, so it is a good example of the kind of high quality lecture capture with video that we'll be able to accomplish soon at USP (stay tuned).

Angel Overview Class (captured by Mediasite)

2009-06-05T17:03:00.004-04:00

We were very fortunate to have Phyllis Blumberg arrange for Jeff Swain of Penn State University to deliver the Angel faculty training session this January. We captured the morning session using Mediasite and made this high quality video, audio and screen capture file available here:

The Devil's in the Details of Angel - Morning Plenary: ANGEL Overview

Mediasite is one of several class capture technologies that I have been evaluating for Mayes College. The link above is hosted at Mediasite. We hope to have our own Mediasite class capture technology available at USP soon.

I am a proponent of system wide class capture to improve student retention, satisfaction and recruitment through greater student academic achievement, and to extend the reach of on-ground classes to create new programs and markets.

Investing in Academic Technology

2009-06-05T14:09:00.000-04:00

The administration of the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia has recently committed to investing in e-learning by creating a new Department of Academic Technology. I am honored to serve as the department's new executive director. Besides pulling together a new department, one of my first goals is to help consolidate support services for desktop PCs, academic applications, classroom technology and the learning management system (Angel). We plan to have a new help website established in time for the fall semester featuring live 24/7 help via phone and chat, a new frequently asked questions (FAQ) database and other self-help resources.

Other goals include building a more robust e-learning platform offering more online options that will allow students to learn, study and interact with fellow students and faculty, at any time and any place. Significant new training opportunities will also be made available to help faculty and staff take advantage of new web-based collaboration and teaching tools.

Stay tuned to this space for academic technology news and tips about making the most of the University's online teaching and learning resources.

Rodney B. Murray, Ph.D.
Executive Director of Academic Technology
r.murray@usp.edu

Academic Technology News

New Blackboard Learn Interface Announced

The NMC Horizon Report > 2012 Higher Education Edition

Technology Training Center Schedule

60-Second Lecture Winners Announced, Technology Training Center Opens

USciences 60-Second Lecture Contest Promotes New Technology Training Center and Panopto Platform

National Distance Learning Week - November 7-11, 2011

PADLA 9th Annual Conference & Expo

With Cheating Only a Click Away, Professors Reduce the Incentive

From The Chronicle of Higher Education...

Handheld devices can answer a question—even if a student is home sleeping.

Blackboard Collaborate is Coming!

Engage and Learn with Next Generation Learning Challenges this Summer

The Series

How to Join

Learn about Blackboard from the President

Because USciences is moving from Angel to Blackboard, I thought our faculty and staff might like to hear my interview with the President of Blackboard Learn...

RPP #91: Interview: Ray Henderson on Blackboard Learn - Part 1

RPP #92: Interview: Ray Henderson on Blackboard Learn - Part 2

Campus Technology Virtual Conference 2011

No Budget? No Time? No Problem! Register for This Free Virtual Conference!

Live on May 12, 2011 • 10:30 am – 6:00 pm ET

Join Us for Outstanding Sessions On Hot Topics Including:

Looking Ahead: Implications for Higher Education Technology in the Next Decade

Technology as the Architect of Self: Implications for Higher Education

A Portrait of the Portfolio as a Young Movement: A Surprising Development

Academic Tech Webinar: Adding Panopto Recordings to Angel

Villanova Tech Expo - April 7

Campus Technology Virtual 2011

FREE Virtual Conference & Expo

May 12, 2011 • 10:30 am – 6:00 pm ET

Be Part of This Exceptional Conference Experience!

How Bill Gates' Favorite Teacher Wants to Disrupt Education

Blended Learning is Better than Face-to-Face Learning

Free! Streaming Lectures from Educause Learning Initiative

2011 Horizon Report from Educause & The New Media Consortium

Get Ready for Panopto: Record lectures in class or from your desktop

e-Learning 2.0 Conference: Technology Use in Teaching and Learning

Webinar: The Next Big Thing: Blackboard / McGraw-Hill Partnership

Blackboard Collaborate Distinguished Lecture Series

National Distance Learning Week

New features in Google Apps

Undergraduate Students and Information Technology

Is the iPad a Game Changer for E-Textbooks?

Campus Technology Virtual Conference - Free!

Teaching & Learning Rhythms: Tools to Enhance Student Engagement

Next Generation Learning Challenges

Upcoming Webinars

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Technical Requirements

Google Apps for Education Training Center

PodCamp Philly 2010 - Register Now

Voices From the Front Lines of Online Learning

Online Seminar: "Online Group Work: Making It Meaningful and Manageable"

USciences Faculty Enrichment Workshops

Academic Tech Webinar Series: Google Docs

Google Gives Voice to Students

Conference: The Real Students/SMEs of Online Education

Excellence in Education Rich Media Impact Awards

Going Google at USP - Preview

Certification Course for Teaching Online

Next Frontier: Innovation, Trends & Realities of Online and Blended Education

Drexel e-Learning 2.0 Conference

Virtual Symposium: Education for Everyone: Expanding Access through Technology

University of the Sciences is Going Google!

Organizing Blended Courses for Optimal Student Engagement

Conference: Social e-Learning @ the University of Pennsylvania

Lecture Capture using Mediasite

Supplement Classroom Learning with Screen Capture Software

Webinar: The Future of ANGEL

Creatively Engaging Online Students: Models & Activities

Campus Technology 09 Virtual Conference - Free!

Angel Introduction Screencast Series

Global Learning Framework

Social Media: Living Statistics Scoreboard

Educause 2009 News: Future of Angel and More!

Screencast: Basic Introduction to Angel

National Distance Learning Week: November 9-13, 2009

E-Textbooks: Are We There Yet?

Blogging at the University of the Sciences and Beyond