MCC Educational Technology & Distance Learning Newsletter

noreply@blogger.com (MCC Sandbox) — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 14:54:00 +0000

BLACKBOARD TIMELINE OF

EVENTS FOR WINTER 2012 AND SPRING 2013

October 9^th

2012 Winter Intersession course shells available
Instructors who are teaching Winter sections will have access to previous Winter 2011 and 2012 course content

November 15^th

Blank Spring 2013 course shells available to all instructors
Only courses from Spring 2012 will be available for reuse at this time

December 15^th

Fall 2011 and Summer 2012 courses and content available for copy into Winter 2012 and Spring 2013 blank shells

December 17^th

Fall 2012 courses will be will be moved to the in-house system (completion scheduled for January 9th)

DO NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES TO YOUR FALL 2012 COURSES, ANY CHANGES MADE WILL NOT BE COPIED OVER

Faculty and students will still have access to their Fall 2012 courses for final exams, grades, assignments, etc. until December 22^nd

No work should be done by students for Fall 2012 incompletes or by faculty between Dec. 17^th and Jan. 9^th

December 19^th

Students will have access to new in-house system for Winter 2012 courses and Fall 2012 incompletes only

Students should now use the new Board of Regents (BOR) Help Desk

December 22^nd

Current Blackboard Learn hosted system will no longer be available

All faculty and students will be working in the in-house system

December 31^st

Blackboard’s 24/7 help desk is no longer available

New BOR Help Desk information is provided in college templates

January 9^th

All Spring, Summer, Fall 2012 content will be available in the new in-house system

Web 2.0 Tools: You Have Choices!

noreply@blogger.com (MCC Sandbox) — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 19:36:00 +0000

The MCC ETDL department is a big proponent of the idea that the use of technology in the classroom should always supplement valuable content. Meaning, flashy trends should never outstrip the information being presented. That being said, when a new trend is effective in presenting content we will promote it, especially when it is free!

Alternatives to PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint is a very useful, and ubiquitous, tool when it comes to presentations in the classroom. From student projects, faculty lectures, or staff presentations it seems like PowerPoint slideshows are the go to method for displaying information to an audience. However, PowerPoint does have its drawbacks. For example, it lacks a level of engagement with the audience. And in world where instant gratification and visual stimuli have become the norm, it might be time to look for alternatives to PowerPoint.

A different approach to slideshows might be Prezi, an online presentation maker which uses a visually dynamic method to help keep your audience engaged. Here is an example of presentation I made which gives a short overview of Prezi's capabilities:

To view click on the PLAY button and then click the right arrow to advance the slides or select the "autoplay" button

You will need to use your MCC.commnet.edu address to qualify for this account, wait for your confirmation email and start creating!

If you would like more information or need assistance please contact the ETDL Sandbox

Embedding Educational Videos in Blackboard Learn

noreply@blogger.com (MCC Sandbox) — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 19:13:00 +0000

Although it is summer, it is never too early to begin thinking about the fall!

If you have already taken Blackboard Learn training at MCC, you might remember that Blackboard Learn has a built-in plugin that allows faculty to embed YouTube videos right inside their course. The benefit of embedding a video, as opposed to posting a link for students to follow, is that it ensures a student remains in their Blackboard Learn course rather than navigating to a new webpage, where they might become distracted. However, YouTube videos have some of their own problems, especially when it comes to searching for educational material. From questionable content and limited results, in both content and copyright laws, YouTube might not always be the best place to find educational resources.

The MCC Library is now providing a more reliable service, in the way of video content, to all faculty and staff with Films on Demand (FOD). FOD has hundreds of educational videos, which can be easily embedded within a Blackboard Learn course or projected in the classroom and is free to faculty and staff. What is great about FOD is that it allows a user to search for videos through a standard search bar function, but also by subject topic or through FOD’s Special Collections series, which organizes videos by a wide range of publishers from NBC, The History Channel, PBS, TED Talks, and others. Don’t want to embed or show a whole half an hour video to your students? Unlike Blackboard’s YouTube plug-in, FOD allows for the embedding of videos to play by segment chapters, which starts the video directly at the chapter segment you want students to view.

The ETDL department has created a How To for embedding a FOD video in Blackboard Learn course, which you can read or download here: Films On Demand How To PDF

If you would like to know more about Films On Demand please contact the MCC Sandbox

Using Google Maps in the Classroom

noreply@blogger.com (MCC Sandbox) — Wed, 30 May 2012 15:37:00 +0000

Lots of people have used Google Maps to find directions, but did you know it can also be a powerful tool in the classroom? The use of Google Maps in the classroom creates an engaging atmosphere with students by merging ideas with visual representation. By signing up for a free Google account you can access the My Maps feature of Google Maps and create your own editable map. Here is an example of a quick map I created that explores the travels of Marco Polo. Click on any of the blue points to view the description, image, or video that I have added.

For a better representation of the map click here: Large Map

When you create a My Map you can add pictures and descriptions to locations, add hyperlinks, embed videos, and create your own emphasis of events through routes, lines, and shapes. Some uses of the My Maps tool in the classroom could be:

In English you could show the history and progression of the Romantic literary period
In Science you could create a visual representation of the spread of a pandemic or scientific idea
In Social Science you could demonstrate the movements of ethnic groups
In Geography you could create a map of land resources and waterways
In History you could show the movements of a battle or a route of conquest

You can embed or link your own maps into PowerPoint slides, in your Blackboard Learn course, or through an extension with Google Earth for a 3D representation
Here is a Google created tutorial on how to easily create your own My Map:

If you would like more information or assistance in creating your own Google Map for the classroom please contact the Sandbox!

Show, Don't Tell: Technology in the Classroom

noreply@blogger.com (MCC Sandbox) — Mon, 07 May 2012 17:27:00 +0000

Kansas State University professor Michael Wesch is a major proponent for the integration of emerging technology in the classroom. He has hosted TED talks on enriching classroom experience through technology, was given an award by Wired magazine for his successful implementation of a modern classroom in the digital age, and named national professor of the year by the Carnegie Foundation. However, some faculty who have failed to duplicate his methods for success have questioned his approach to integration, which led professor Wesch to reexamine his ideas. This article follows Wesch’s story, from his initial success, to the reassessment of his methods, and finally to his own conclusion that technology used wisely and serves a purpose, is still a great tool for engaging students and enhancing learning. Wesch’s experience is a great reminder to all faculty, that technology is a only tool in the learning environment, and should serve a function and not merely act as a distraction.

The Chronicle of Higher Education article can be found here: Professor Reboots

On a lighter note: Edudemic.com has put together an entertaining, and for some nostalgic, look at the evolution of technology in the classroom from 1650 all the way to 2010. Its an interesting glimpse at not only the history of instructional technology, but also demonstrates that the integration of technology in the classroom is nothing new. This article enforces the idea that emerging technology is nothing to fear as it has been with us and will continue to evolve at a relative pace.
The Edudemic article can be found here: Evolution of Classroom Technology

ETDL Quicksteps Demo Series

noreply@blogger.com (MCC Sandbox) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 20:19:00 +0000

The ETDL department will be hosting a half hour demo series this Spring regarding different types of technology.

All Quickstep demonstrations will be held in Sandbox (LRC B130) and will start at 12:00 and end at 12:30 pm with time allotted for questions. The demonstrations DO NOT require registration. Just drop-in, enjoy learning, and think about the ways you could incorporate new technology applications in your course!

ETDL Quicksteps Demo Series will cover:

Monday 3/26/12 with Tim Boto
Cool Presentations: From Mapping to Easy Video: This tour of alternatives to PowerPoint will show how easy it is to create video slide shows and maps. Most of these web-based applications are free and can enliven presentations in the classroom, online or at a conference.

Monday 4/02/12 with Tim Boto
Films on Demand: FOD hosts numerous educational films, which can be linked or embedded right into your Blackboard Learn Course.

Monday 4/09/12 with Tim Boto
Twitter in the classroom: Twitter is a powerful tool that can send text messages to many people instantly via the Web or a mobile device. This session will explore ways to use Twitter to enhance student participation and work with short attention spans!

Monday 4/16/12 with Tim Boto
Social Bookmarking and Annotating: Whether you are working at home, at school, or at any computer you can access your bookmarks, and annotate sites and information. You can also use these sites to help students conduct and document their research.

Thursday 4/26/12 with Tim Boto
Group conversations with Voicethread: Online class discussions often lack interactivity and engagement. Voicethread is a tool to create online discussions around a document, video or a picture. Students engage in discussions with Voicethread by adding audio/text/webcam/doodle comments.

Monday 5/07/12 with Tim Boto
Screen capturing with Jing: Sometimes it is easier to show rather than explain how to accomplish a task. Jing is a free screen-capturing program where you can record your computer screen. Show your students how to use special software or complete a class assignment using Jing.

Monday 5/14/12 with Tim Boto
Second Life Demo: Take a tour of MCC’s SL campus and see how SL is being used in teaching and learning here and at institutions throughout the world.

Monday 5/21/12 with Tim Boto
Films on Demand: FOD hosts numerous educational films, which can be linked or embedded right into your Blackboard Learn Course.

Tuesday 5/22/12 with Tim Boto
Social Bookmarking and Annotating: Whether you are working at home, at school, or at any computer you can access your bookmarks, and annotate sites and information. You can also use these sites to help students conduct and document their research.

Wednesday 5/23/12 with Tim Boto
iTunes U: The iTunes U app gives students access to all the materials for a course in a single place. Right in the app, they can play video or audio lectures. Read books and view presentations.

Thursday 5/24/12 with Tim Boto
Screen-capturing with Jing: Sometimes it’s easier to show rather than explain how to accomplish a task. Jing is a free screen-capturing program where you can record your computer screen. Show your students how to use special software or complete a class assignment using Jing.

Friday 5/25/12 with Sarah Calvert
Getting to Know Windows 7: The latest operating system, Windows 7, is coming to MCC. It has already been deployed in some offices and classrooms. In this demonstration session, we’ll explore the differences between Windows 7 and Windows XP and get acquainted with the new features.

Blackboard Learn Training Available at MCC

noreply@blogger.com (MCC Sandbox) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 19:34:00 +0000

The Educational Technology & Distance Learning department is currently offering numerous training sessions and web based seminars (webinars) to help faculty in the transition from Blackboard Vista to the new Blackboard Learn course management system. Blackboard Learn will be implemented throughout the Community College System starting with the Fall 2012 semester. It is important that all faculty members become familiar and comfortable with Bb Learn now to ensure student success in the future.

Registration for training sessions offered at MCC is limited and filling up fast, so make sure you register early.

For upcoming training sessions currently offered at MCC, follow this link: MCC Training to view the ETDL Bb Learn training calendar. Before you begin registering for training session be aware that:

Faculty who have not used Blackboard Vista in the past will need to first take the "Getting Started" workshop in order to familiarize themselves with the Bb Learn course management system.
Faculty who have previously used Blackboard Vista will need to first take the "Transitioning to Bb Learn" workshop before registering for advanced workshops.

To view a list of all available training sessions and to register for workshops, click on this link: IITT Course Cart. From the Course Cart homepage click on the Launch button, enter your Banner ID credentials, and select the Blackboard Learn course that applies to your level of experience.

Webinars

The ETDL Sandbox is also facilitating the Blackboard Innovative Teaching Series (BITS), which will demonstrate the effective use of Blackboard Learn to ensure efficient and worthwhile course management and implementation in order to promote student success. However, be aware that the BITS webinars will not replace the "Getting Started" and "Transitioning to Bb Learn" training workshops offered at MCC, they are only a supplemental series of webinars to assist Faculty in their knowledge of Blackboard Learn’s potential. The topics discussed will include:

Registration for the BITS webinars is open to all MCC faculty and staff. Each webinar will be streamed in the Sandbox LRC B130, and runs an hour long with time allotted at the end for questions. Faculty interested in improving their knowledge of Blackboard Learn, and effective course management is invited to attend in person or to register and view from the convenience of their home or office computer.

Registration to view the BITS webinars in the Sandbox (LRC B130) is not required. If however, you choose to view the webinars from your home or office follow this link: BITS Registration to register.

For more information or assistance, please contact the ETDL staff (sandbox@mcc.commnet.edu)

What you need to know NOW to prepare for upgrade to Blackboard Learn in fall 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi Lee) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:31:00 +0000

Blackboard Learn is coming to MCC!

This new version of our course management system has many new teaching and learning tools you can use to help advance our goal of student success. Bb Learn offers course wikis, individual student blogs, and the ability to embed multimedia and web-based content from Flickr, YouTube, and Slideshare, as well as many other features that can not only help students achieve, but help make course preparation and management more efficient for you.

Please note the following information to help ensure a smooth transition from Blackboard Vista to Blackboard Learn. All course sections will be created in or migrated to Blackboard Learn for the fall 2012 semester.

Some Courses will use Learn this Fall

Unless you were trained last spring or summer to participate in the Rollout 1 phase this fall or the Rollout 2 phase in spring 2012, you will continue to use Blackboard Vista until fall 2012.

Please note that during in the phase-in period in fall 2011 and spring 2012, some of your students may be taking courses in both Learn and Vista.

All students are enrolled in Orientation shells complete with tutorials, documentation, and Help information for the applicable version(s) of Blackboard.

Staff at the 24/7 Help Desk (http://www.commnet.edu/portal/help)

and ETDL staff (sandbox@mcc.commnet.edu) will assist students with Learn and/or Vista questions.

When Should You Sign Up for Training?

Faculty members who currently use Blackboard Vista to support their on-campus courses will be trained in spring 2012. They should enroll in the Transitioning to Blackboard Learn workshop and the tools workshops listed below.

Faculty members who have never used Blackboard Vista may enroll in the Getting Started with Blackboard Learn and the tools workshops in spring 2012.

Which Workshops Should You Take?

Experienced Blackboard Vista faculty who only use Bb to support on-campus courses will want to enroll in the following workshops as soon as possible in spring 2012:

* Transitioning from Blackboard Vista to Blackboard Learn (a prerequisite for all Learn workshops)
* Communicate Information to Students
* Create and Grade Assignments
* Interact with Students Through Discussions

Faculty who have never used Blackboard Vista, but would like to use Blackboard Learn to enhance on-campus classes should enroll in Getting Started with Blackboard Learn in spring 2012. After you have completed the Getting Started workshop, you may enroll in:

* Communicate Information to Students
* Create and Grade Assignments
* Interact with Students Through Discussions

Workshop information, dates and registration are available on the course cart, which is frequently updated: http://www.commnet.edu/academics/iitt/coursecart.asp

Where is Training Offered?

ETDL will offer weekly training at MCC. Courses are listed in the Course Cart.

What Type of Support Will be Available?

* The ETDL staff will be available for one-on-consulting and troubleshooting after you have completed your training.
* Send requests for assistance or technical questions to sandbox@mcc.commnet.edu
* You will be provided with a "sandbox" course to practice in after you attend the initial "transitional training." You will receive guidance on how to review and update your migrated courses.
* You will be enrolled in an online Blackboard Learn Faculty Orientation course.
* Online resources (such as videos, courses, documentation) will supplement classroom-based training.

For More Information
Information about Blackboard Learn is at: http://www.commnet.edu/academics/blackboard/faculty/BbLearn_faqs_timeline.asp

New Cameras for the Sandbox!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi Lee) — Thu, 26 May 2011 14:37:00 +0000

It's a happy day here in the Ed. Tech. Department at Manchester Community College! Today is MCC's 47th Annual Commencement Ceremony! The sun is shining and the weather is warm (finally!). It is also a beautiful day because we got new cameras for the sandbox: 3 new flip cameras and 1 new Canon digital video camera. I know, the company that makes the flip cameras went belly up, but that doesn't mean we still cant get some use out of them. The flip cameras are actually a handy, powerful little camera! Hopefully we can have some fun with these cameras this summer. The new equipment is just in time for our new iMovie workshop scheduled for next Fall!

Please let us know if you are interested in using these new cameras. It's a wonderful day when I get to un-package and play with new cameras! :)
Thanks!

MacCaption for video captioning

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi Lee) — Fri, 06 May 2011 17:05:00 +0000

This week the ETDL department has been working with the software MacCaption. Instructors from the Disability Specialist program here at MCC will use MacCaption to make the program videos accessible to all viewers on the web.

Captioning is a somewhat complicated and time-consuming process but is necessary to comply with accessibility standards. MaCaption is a relatively easy program to use and will improve our campus marketing videos as well as our program specific videos online.

If you are interested in learning how to use this software, contact the Sandbox at MCC.
You can also check out this short presentation (in pdf format) in Google documents HERE.

Please let the sandbox know if you have any questions regarding this or any other technology.

Learn about Prezi!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi Lee) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 16:50:00 +0000

At MCC we are very excited about the new zooming presentation tool called Prezi. We regularly host hands-on workshops for those interested in using Prezi for educational purposes.
If you are interested in Prezi, you can create an account on http://prezi.com/profile/signup/edu/

With Prezi, you can animate your information in a dynamic way. It also simplifies your presentation and makes it visually interesting. You can add images, YouTube videos and more. Prezi is web-based, so you can count on your presentations being accessible on any computer with an internet connection. You can also print your Prezis as PDF documents and embed them in websites!

Check out this Prezi to see what it's all about!

Introduction to presenting with prezi v3 on Prezi

Bring on Fall semester 2010!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi Lee) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 19:23:00 +0000

We've been busy in the ETDL department as the campus is gearing up for fall 2010!
Our fall workshop schedule has been listed ( IITT Course Cart ), we are preparing for both the Campus' Professional day training & the New Student Orientation training, we are offering webinars throughout the summer and fall for faculty and staff, and we are preparing for the technology conference in October.

Wow! It's been a busy summer and bound to be an even busier fall!

It's been exciting though: in the recent past we have been updating our new iTunes U page, learning about Prezi and Voicethreads, we are playing with new webcams and ipod touches, moved our offices and are developing new workshops.

It's going to be a great fall semester! Stay tuned! :)

iTunes U off to a great start!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi Lee) — Tue, 25 May 2010 16:43:00 +0000

Our MCC iTunes U page is off to a great start! We had contributions from the Biology program, the Music program, the Speech-Language Pathology program & the Photography program! Various instructors loaded audio, video and PDF files to iTunes U this last semester.

It's a great start to the academic content on the site. This summer, instructors and the ETDL department will continue to plug away and add additional content that will aid student in their classes.

The page is not yet public--stay tuned for additional posts when it is. Thanks!

Voicethread

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi Lee) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 16:46:00 +0000

The ETDL department recently acquired a Voicethread Higher Ed account! Voicethread is an exciting website where a group of users can have an online conversation utilizing photos, video and audio to create dynamic conversations.

If you have not tried Voicethread, set up a free account on their website: https://voicethread.com/#home

Trust me, you will have fun experimenting with it!

In the very near future, the ETDL department will be offering introductory workshops on Voicethread, so stay tuned!

Clickers game show a success!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi Lee) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:51:00 +0000

The opening ceremony to celebrate Black History month at MCC started successfully with an interactive Black history game show Wednesday February 3, 2010. The game show used clickers and a PowerPoint presentation to deliver interesting questions about black history to a full audience in the SBM Charitable Foundation Auditorium.

If you are interested in using interactive clickers in your class or event, contact us in the Sandbox and we would be happy to help you:
MCC Sandbox, LRC B130
(860) 512-2857, sandbox@mcc.commnet.edu

Readiness for Education at a Distance Indicator (READI)

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi Lee) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:06:00 +0000

If you have never taken an online course or are encouraging your students to consider online learning, check out MCC's READI assessment! READI helps you discover your learning style and indicates if online learning is right for you now.

The assessment takes about 15-20 minutes to complete and you will recieve a score report which will help you understand your learning strengths and opportunities for improvement. The assessment will also direct you to resources that will help you succeed.

The self assessment is located here: http://mcc.readi.info (READI)
To log into READI, the username is 'Student 6', the password is 'wiki'

Good luck!

8 MCC Faculty Members Receive iTeach Certificates

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi Lee) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:52:00 +0000

Eight Manchester Community College faculty members have completed a rigorous online training course that prepares instructors to teach fully online courses. iTeach Essentials is offered by the Connecticut Community College System’s Teaching & Learning Team and the Instructional & Informational Technology Training program (IITT).

Martin Hart, Heidi Higgins, Rachel Mintell, Jonathan Morris, C.K. Pai, Francine Rosselli, Jana Sime, and Nyla Tresser attended iTeach Essentials sessions during the last academic year. Each received a certificate signed by Chief Academic & Student Affairs Officer Dr. Paul A. Susen and the iTeach Essentials facilitators.

Participants were immersed in an online learning environment that included a full “student experience” of readings, discussion forums, group work, reflective journals, and technical assignments. Best practices in pedagogy, technology use, course design, classroom management, and online communication and interaction were modeled and practiced.

Experiencing online learning as a student was a key element of the course for several faculty members.

“The most significant thing I learned from iTeach is that there is a difference between how a student learns in an online class as compared to a traditional classroom setting. I think being in the role of a student has helped me see how my students would view their course and what tools and information they need to be successful in the course. Now I know why the design and content of the course are so important to how and what the student will learn.," Heidi Higgins, who teaches for the Center for Business & Technologies, said.

Faculty members also noted that iTeach Essentials provided perspectives that will influence their on-ground teaching as well as their virtual classrooms.

"Because of my experience in the iTeach course, I have completely altered my approach to on-line education. The course has allowed me to reexamine my on-ground courses as well. I will utilize new technology more effectively now that I have had this experience. It really goes way beyond learning how to use Blackboard Vista," Rachel Mintell, instructor in the Mathematics, Science & Health Careers Division, said.

“The iTeach course challenged me to evaluate and rethink my approach to teaching in an online environment. The iTeach course was excellent because it provided opportunities to think about the pedagogy and best practices associated with teaching online and also provided practical application of the various tools I can incorporate in my online courses,” Martin Hart, instructor for the Center for Business & Technologies, said.

iTeach Essentials was created by the Teaching & Learning Team and volunteers from throughout the system who contributed their content expertise, design, teaching ,and technical skills to the creation of the course.

“The Teaching & Learning Team carefully designed iTeach Essentials to provide a strong pedagogical foundation for the course,” Bonnie Riedinger, MCC’s director of Educational Technology and Distance Learning and co-chair of T&L, said.

“Successful online teaching is much more than knowing which buttons to push in Blackboard Vista. Although instructors need technical proficiency to teach online, the ability to communicate effectively online, facilitate community and interaction, design effective online assignments, learning objectives, and course structure will make or break an online course,” she said.

“iTeach introduces a fresh perspective of our online learners… (it is) recommended for both seasoned and novice online instructors,” C.K. Pai, assistant professor in the Mathematics, Science & Health Careers Division, said.

The 9-week, fully-online course is recommended for all faculty members in the Connecticut Community College system who are interested in teaching fully online courses. Although the class takes place completely online, it is not a “self-paced” course; there are several discussion and assignment deadlines throughout each week of the course. Participants are required to submit assignments, complete practice tasks in an assigned Blackboard Vista practice section, and post substantive messages and responses to discussion boards and journals on a weekly basis. Participants can expect to spend 5-9 hours per week on the required readings, activities, and discussions.

For more information about the course and participation eligibility and requirements, visit the iTeach web site at: http://www.commnet.edu/academics/blackboard/faculty/iTeach.asp

To find and register for iTeach courses: Please visit the IITT Course Cart to check the current schedule.

NetVibes.com

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi Lee) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:46:00 +0000

This brief video is an introduction to the free website netvibes.com.
Learn how to navigate within the website by seeing examples of how to add a widget and an RSS feed. This video also provides an example of a course page in netvibes.

To watch the video full-screen, please go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ISYtE6SSr8.

Reports on Online Learning

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi Lee) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:27:00 +0000

Below are interesting reports on online learning:

U.S. Deptartment of Education--Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning, Final Report 2009.

* "The meta-analysis found that, on average, students in online learning conditions performed better than those receiving face-to-face instruction." (Directly from abstract, pg. ix)

National Survey of Student Engagement--Promoting Engagement for All Students:The Imperative to Look Within, 2008 Results

* "Online courses seem to stimulate more intellectual challenge and educational gains. This suggests that integrating technology-enhanced courses into the curriculum for all students might have some salutary benefits." (page 17)

iTeach

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi Lee) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:21:00 +0000

Interested in being trained for online teaching? Consider enrolling in iTeach essentials.

Check out the iTeach description found on this website: www.commnet.edu/academics/blackboard/faculty/iTeach.asp

"The iTeach Essentials course is a new 9-week, fully-online learning opportunity for faculty in the Connecticut Community College system who are interested in teaching fully online courses. Online teaching is not about knowing which buttons to push in Blackboard Vista. Although technical proficiency supports online teaching, the ability to communicate effectively online, facilitate community and interaction, design effective online assignments, learning objectives, and course structure are paramount to the success of online learning. Topics in this course include both pedagogical and technical best practices of online teaching and classroom management."

MCC instructor Heidi Higgins said this about her experience:
“The most significant thing I learned from iTeach is that there is a difference between how a student learns in an online class as compared to a traditional classroom setting. I think being in the role of a student has helped me see how my students would view their course and what tools and information they need to be successful in the course. Now I know why the design and content of the course are so important to how and what the student will learn. It really is important to have that consistency from week to week in the course….

…iTeach has been a great experience. It has been helpful, informative, eye opening, and yes, a lot of work. I enjoyed the course and the company of all the wonderful classmates and instructors who made it a success. Thanks so much!”

To find and register for iTeach courses: Please visit the IITT Course Cart to check the current schedule.

Add RSS Feed into Blackboard Vista

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi Lee) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:19:00 +0000

Adding an RSS Feed into your Blackboard Vista section incorporates current events and trends into your course material. Your students will be more engaged if they can relate what's going on in the real world with what is learned in class. It's quite simple--see this brief video tutorial to learn how:

To view a full size video, go to YouTube. Thanks!

Blackboard Vista Crash Course!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi Lee) — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:00:00 +0000

Want to learn the basics of setting up your online class with blackboard vista?
Interested in being prepared for an emergency during the semester?
Want to make your course material available online for your students?

Then this 8 minute tutorial is for you! In this video, we cover:
* How to set up your blank course
* Choosing your course tools
* Uploading a syllabus
* Creating a folder
* Adding course materials to a folder
* Designing the header of your home page
* Importing an image
* Creating a Discussion Board topic
* And where to go to find more tutorials.

If you want to view a larger version of this video, please go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeO2qSA53K4

If you have questions, please let the sandbox know: (860) 512-2857, sandbox@mcc.commnet.edu

Add Twitter Widget to your Blackboard Vista Course

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi Lee) — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:13:00 +0000

Image via CrunchBase

This short video tutorial demonstrates how to add a Twitter Widget to your Blackboard Vista course home page. That way, your tweets are updated automatically inside the course for your students to see.

If you want to view a larger version of this and other videos, please visit our YouTube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/MCCSandbox

New Logo!

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi Lee) — Tue, 19 May 2009 16:11:00 +0000

Check out our awesome new logo created by our student worker, Aaron.

MCC Sandbox Equipment Loans

noreply@blogger.com (Jessi Lee) — Tue, 19 May 2009 15:15:00 +0000

This video provides an overview of various equipment on loan from the Educational Technology and Distance Learning department at Manchester Community College(MCC). Users are asked to contact the department by emailing Sandbox@mcc.commnet.edu or calling 860-512-2857. Also, users can click on the following link to the Forms Depot on the MCC website to access both the Equipment Loan Request and the various Equipment Agreement forms at http://www.mcc.commnet.edu/students/form.php

If you would like to veiw a larger version of this video, please go to You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bY_LRL-XLs