2011 Blackboard Exemplary Course Program Opens

The exemplary course competition is back for its 11th year in 2011, with a deadline of January 18 for submitting a course for review. The goal of the program is to help faculty use e-technology more effectively by identifying and disseminating best practices for engaging course design. Consider participating in the program by submitting a course of your own or volunteering to be a reviewer, or both!  WHY?

·         Learn best practices in course design.

·         Get inspired by the creative ideas of other instructors in your field of interest.

·         Apply lessons from the exemplary course rubric to your own course.

·         Receive detailed feedback on your course.

·         Gain professional development experience and recognition!

If you’re planning to submit your course and want some one-on-one assistance polishing it up, contact Andrea Becker, anbecker@umflint.edu or Deb White, debwhite@umflint.edu.

Course Quality Assessment Tool

Have you considered taking an objective look at the quality of your online course?  OEL has a free, self-assessment tool with built-in quality criteria and algorithms to produce a high-level report that you can then use for quality improvement. Consisting of 10 straightforward worksheets, the tool allows you to rate your course on the basis of specific categories of evaluation. When you have completed the process, you will have scores from each category of evaluation.

Want to learn more? Register for the December 10 workshop or take the online, self-paced Course Quality Assessment class.  Contact the helpdesk, 237-6691, for the promotion code to take it free!

Free eBook: Emerging Technologies in Distance Education

Glean the most recent knowledge of the world’s experts on emerging interactive technologies for distance education through Emerging Technologies in Distance Education, by Dr. George Veletsianos, assistant professor of instructional technology at the University of Texas. This eBook provides expert tips on effectively integrating emerging technology in distance learning. Get your free copy today at http://www.aupress.ca/index.php/books/120177.

Audacity Now Available on L-Drive

More and more faculty are using Audacity to communicate more effectively with their students. Audacity is an audio recording tool that allows users to quickly and easily create audio files in a variety of formats, including mp3. To access Audacity from the L-Drive, open my computer, navigate to the L (public) drive, and access the ITS recommended Applications folder. Once inside, double click the Audacity folder, install the executable file labeled audacity-win, and download the file labeled lame_enc. If you need assistance downloading or using Audacity, just contact the Online Learning help desk at (810) 237-6691 or olhelp@umflint.edu.

Tips from Blackboard Administrator, Nick Gaspar

·         With the end of the fall semester approaching, it's time to make sure your weighted grading is in order. Make sure that all your columns and categories are set up properly so that students see accurate information in the My Grades area. Review the following helpguide:
http://oel.umflint.edu/helpguides/faculty/bb9/AS15
_Weighting_Grades_for_a_Course.htm
 

·         Not sure if a student has access to certain items in your course?  Use the built-in user progress feature in Blackboard. Look for the "open eye" icon to indicate that students can see your assignments or lectures. See the helpguide:
http://oel.umflint.edu/helpguides/faculty/bb9/AS20_User_Progress.htm

Maximize Enrollments While Avoiding Waitlist Mayhem

As you may know, The Office of Extended Learning handles online course waitlists for all departments except SOM. This allows you to focus on building, updating, or managing your online course in the precious weeks leading up to, as well as the first week of, the new semester. This process, however, is not without its complications. Things can get particularly hairy when a student asks you, instead of OEL, to be allowed to enroll in a course he or she is waitlisted for. Although you, as the instructor, may allow any student (regardless of waitlist position) into your course, we ask that you please inform us so that we can adjust the enrollment numbers. To simplify things even more, just direct the students to us, with a note if you wish to let them jump the waitlist.

Faculty to Faculty Corner: Mike Lewis Discusses Video Tools

Mike Lewis, assistant professor of communication and visual arts, uses his experience in the news media to incorporate technology into his online journalism courses:

“As a former TV news anchorman in Detroit, I came to rely on the teleprompter. As a professor teaching mostly online courses these days, I still lean on my teleprompter.

“Online courses need a personal touch to let students know there’s a real person behind the screen, much like the would-be Wizard of Oz. I use videos to introduce myself to the students, and let them know about the course, and what to expect in weekly lessons.

“And I follow another rule from my news days: KISS, or keep it short and simple. But even a short video needs one of the basics that students get in traditional classrooms: eye contact. So I’ve turned my computer screen into a teleprompter and use the built-in camera on the top of my monitor. That way I can write a short script, and still at least give the appearance of eye contact when students watch the video.

“I’m using a program called Videocue ($100) on my iMac computer. I simply write a short script, paste it into the template, and click the red ‘record’ button. Videocue allows me to adjust the speed, to read either slower or faster. It also allows me to drop in images that illustrate what I’m talking about, so students don’t have to stare at my ugly mug the entire time. I usually put in photos, or images that I grab from Google Images. Fair use for educational purposes, right? When I’m done, I post it on YouTube, and post the link in my course.

“Here’s a screen shot of what the basic template looks like:  



“Journalism is one of first programs at UM-Flint to offer an online major. Several of our Journalism faculty are using Videocue. We also use one called “Snapz Pro” ($69) that allows us to record a movie of whatever is on our computer screen. That allows us to demonstrate to students how to use graphics programs such as InDesign. Here’s a screenshot for that one:


“Finally, I love our little Flip Cam ($140). I’ve been using it to record video interviews with journalists and political figures, and then posting those interviews in our courses. I simply set up the Flip on a small tripod and press ‘record.’ Afterward, the camera has a built-in USB and the video can be in your computer and on YouTube within a few minutes. It’s like having a series of guest speakers visit our online courses. I edit them down to 10 minutes or less for YouTube, and because our students, I believe, have short attention spans.

“I hope this helps. In journalism, we use these media tools to tell stories. In many respects, online education isn’t too far removed from online journalism, and I’ve found the tools have vastly improved our students’ learning experiences.”

By Mike Lewis