ET@MO Tips & Tricks Newsletter

MizzouET@MOArchives › September 2009  

ELI Webinar: "Flattening the Classroom: Building Collaborative Learning Environments"

Join us September 23-24 for "Flattening the Classroom: Building Collaborative Learning Environments," the 2009 ELI Online Fall Focus Session. Hosted in Adobe Connect, this virtual event will be much more than just a "usual" online seminar. We'll explore an approach to learning that engages students in the active construction of collective knowledge, empowering them to build meaning together, and challenging them to examine issues from multiple perspectives. We will work together to:

  • Develop an understanding of what it means to effectively collaborate in the classroom
  • Create a framework for the design of meaningful and purposeful activities in the classroom
  • Reflect on the potential for social learning to promote critical thinking and spark student discussion
  • Explore emerging practices for designing collaborative environments in physical spaces and virtual environments
  • Consider assessment strategies for collaborative activities

Event is in 572 Bond Life Sciences Bldg. See agenda. RSVP to etatmo@missouri.edu.

What Should I Know About the TEACH Act?

Current copyright law gives educators the ability to use certain copyrighted works for educational purposes without securing permission or license. The Technology, Education & Copyright Harmonization Act (or simply TEACH Act) is intended to carry the spirit of these exemptions into the digital age, making it possible for an instructor to provide any content online that would otherwise be provided in a classroom. Specifically main points of the act include:

  • Both digital and analog transmission of a work will be covered by the educational exemption from copyright law.
  • Current law requires transmission of a work to be sent to a classroom or other place normally used for instruction. The TEACH Act will simply require that the transmission be made by or at the direction of an instructor as part of a class.
  • Transmissions of copyrighted works be limited to official course enrollees.
  • An educational institution must have nonprofit status in order to take advantage of the exemptions.

More copyright and legal information is available in ET@MO's Teaching Toolbox. We also invite you to download a PDF of our Faculty Guide to Teaching with Technology.

Lecture Capture with Tegrity software now available

Tegrity is a web-based software that captures the screen and the instructor audio. Beginning this fall semester, MU instructors can access Tegrity and record lectures through their Blackboard course sites. Mizzou-specific help pages and documentation are available. Join ET@MO staff for an overview of how you might use Tegrity software to create course content on September 14 at 1:00 in S203 Memorial Union. No RSVP required.

7 Things You Should Know About Telepresence

Telepresence refers to the application of complex video technologies to give geographically separated participants a sense of being together in the same location. These systems use high-definition cameras feeding to life-size, HD displays with high-fidelity acoustics that, in many cases, localize sound to image, simulating the effect of each voice coming from the video display for each participant. In sophisticated telepresence rooms, the furniture and displays are arranged in ways that further enhance the simulation participants sit at a conference table and see high-resolution video of participants in remote locations at similar tables, allowing participants to imagine sharing a single table. MU's TelePresence System is in 106A Ellis Library. It is available free of charge, and more information about scheduling the room is available at the Division of IT Web site. Download the PDF of this full article. This information is provided by the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative's (ELI's) 7 Things You Should Know About… series which provides concise information on emerging learning technologies and related practices.

CAMPUS NEWS

Teaching During a Pandemic Flu Season
Instructors experienced with teaching during disasters stress the importance of planning ahead for the unexpected. Having a contingency plan for teaching (or sequence of strategies) can save valuable time and effort for both you and your students. Hear staff from the Wellness Center, Student Health, and Educational Technologies at Missouri outline the facts about the swine flu and the support structures available at MU. This session will outline MU's plan for teaching when the swine flu affects student and instructor attendance. This session is Friday, September 18 at 12:00 in N103 (Stotler Lounge) Memorial Union. No RSVP required.

Exploring Teaching Tools Options; Electronic Reserves, Blackboard & Course Materials
Journals and supplemental readings are paramount to providing students with the opportunity to read up-to-date research and commentary. Come hear about your on-campus resources to utilize electronic reserves, Blackboard, and course packets to enhance the classroom experience at the Brown Bag Lunch Series sponsored by ET@MO, MU Libraries, Mizzou Media, and University Bookstore. Bring your lunch and learn how to expand your teaching tools! The session is September 22, 2009 from noon to 1:00 in 159 Ellis Library. No RSVP required.

Focus on Teaching & Technology: A Regional Conference
Register now to attend this free conference at the University of Missouri-St. Louis on October 15-16 in the J.C. Penney Conference Center. Workshops include:

  • Designing and Managing Effective Online Discussions
  • Creating a Web Page
  • The Joys and Challenges of Assigning Digital Video Projects
  • Assessment of eLearning: From Dream to Delivery
  • Online Videos for Distance Education
  • How Automated Grading of Unstructured Writing Helps Overcome Deficits
  • The Roles of a Successful Blended/Online Instructor

Register for free and view conference details at: http://www.umsl.edu/ctl


EDUCATION NEWS

Fostering classroom interaction, minus the clickers
"Where on this weather map do you expect it's going to rain today?" Dr. Perry Samson asks the 200 students in his introductory class on extreme weather. Almost instantly, dots begin to appear on the displayed map, as students indicate their answers through their wireless laptops. In moments, a clear pattern emerges on the classroom display as Samson continues the lecture.

Discover Human Anatomy like never before!
Argosy's Visible Body is the most comprehensive human anatomy visualization tool available today. This entirely Web-delivered application offers an unparalleled understanding of human anatomy. The Visible Body includes 3D models of over 1,700 anatomical structures, including all major organs and systems of the human body.


TECHNOLOGY NEWS

Nano shoots video
iPod nano now comes with a built-in video camera that lets you spontaneously shoot video wherever you are. It also has a new built-in FM tuner, and pedometer.

Wolfram Alpha, computational engine, answers direct questions
It is an online service that answers factual queries directly by computing the answer from structured data, rather than providing a list of documents or web pages that might contain the answer as a search engine might.