SC-ITC Newsletter Winter 2013-14 | Page 2

Faculty Spotlight: Tananarive Due During Fall 2013 semester Professor Tananarive Due pioneered a distance learning course on campus. Fifty percent of her class sessions were conducted utilizing software called Polycom RealPresence Desktop. RealPresence allows users to call any computing device’s IP number including smartphones and tablets to connect video, audio, and screen sharing capabilities. Students engaged in live two way communication technology without any interruption of instructional delivery. Through classroom technology available in multiple classrooms across campus, this option proved beneficial to Professor Due and students enrolled in the Screenwriting course. Professor Due stated, “I was thrilled to have worked with MIT, the experience was overwhelming positive.” She entertained special guests, such as Reginald Hudlin, in a distance learning session that she may not ordinarily have the resources to bring to campus. Professor Due found this to be a special treat for her students. Students surveyed on the comparison of distance learning vs traditional classroom learning expressed that engagement in the distance learning courses was not diminished by the professor not being physically present. Students found the distance learning sessions to be as effective as the face-to-face sessions and the effectiveness of feedback was not compromised by the distance. Stay tuned for an interview with Professor Due—out Spring 14! Did you hear? Moodle 2.5 Is On The Way! Release Date: Summer 2014 What Changes Can You Expect?  Navigation and layout  New File Management - add files by dragging and dropping in the desired location  Add video from YouTube or photos from Flickr with ease.  Changes in blocks, resources, and activities  Able to set conditional activities: set pre-requisite actions and activities for students to move to the next assignment  Moodle downtime: May 27 - June 3, 2014  Watch this video exploring new navigation features: Professor Due and special guest Reginald Hudlin speak to students about his experience as a screen writer. The professor was able to share her screen to display biography and continue broadcasting her webcam to students. Students actively engaged in the distance learning session. Students press microphones located at each student seat to speak to the instructor. The camera automatically zooms in to the student speaking so that the professor or presenter clearly sees the student speaking. Meet Educational Technology Services Associate Vice President of Educational Technology Services: Sandra Butler Manager of Instructional Technology Center (ITC): Blanche Bryant Manager of Educational Media (EdMedia): Theo McNair Educational Technology Services Coordinator: Jamika McNeil Instructional Technologists: Cynae Tarver & Montez Bell Media Specialist: Xavier Souder Media Technician: Rick Cash Media Assistant: Furery Reid Web Applications Administrator: Open Services & Support:  Administer SpeleLearn, SpelFolio, WebEx, Respondus, and other instructional tools  Research and evaluate emerging and/or new trends or tools in educational technology  Audio/visual and multimedia equipment loaners  Media services for instructional programs and special events  Instructional technology training and consultations  Assist with video and web conferencing  Comcast cable television maintenance on campus  Production of Spelman ID Cards and passport photos We’re interested in your feedback. Email us at [email protected]. AUC Woodruff Library has LOTS to offer YOU! Got SpelFolio? The Spelman College Electronic Portfolio Project (SpelFolio) develops students’ ability to think critically about the connections among their intellectual, professional, and personal lives. Each student creates a dynamic web-based composition representing her diverse goals, achievements, and reflections. In this way, students construct and demonstrate their development as lifelong learners. SpelFolios enable assessment on multiple levels: selfassessment by students, course and major-based assessment, and institutional assessment of designated learning objectives. A subject librarian has been assigned to provide instructional and information support services for each degree program offered by AUC member institutions. They partner with faculty to ensure that your students’ information seeking encounters are both informative and fruitful. Subject librarians will support your teaching and research by providing:  Point-of-use instruction to individual students or small group clusters in the Library’s Research Consultation Center.  Formal and informal group instruction (Library or on campus) by appointment.  Designated office hours for your or your students (on campus or in the Library).  Assistance with developing class assignments to enhance your students’ information fluency skills.