David Wicks: Educational Technology

Snow Day Instructional Technology Resources

dwicksspu — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:58:52 +0000

A few years ago Seattle Pacific University’s Dean’s Cabinet asked me to put together a list of eLearning tools that faculty can use if classes are cancelled due to inclement weather. Today’s snowy weather along with a prompting from my boss encouraged me to share an updated version with SPU faculty.

Instructional Technology Services provides training and support for all tools mentioned below. Our website includes a list of recent workshops. SPU Faculty: If you have questions about a particular tool and can’t reach me, there is probably a professor in your school who has experience.

Ideas

Discussions:
- Asynchronous: Blackboard Discussion Board, VoiceThread
- Synchronous: Adobe Connect, Skype
Online Assessments:
- Quizzes
- Tests
- Surveys
- Rubrics
- Grade Center
Collaboration:
- Asynchronous: Blackboard Wikis, Blogs, Groups, Google Sites, WordPress
- Synchronous: Google Docs
Lectures, Presentations, Screencasts, Office Hours:
- Asynchronous: Camtasia Relay
- Synchronous: Adobe Connect, Skype

ITS also provides instructional graphics, scanning, and digital audio/video services. While I don’t like the idea of having an emergency situation that forces professors to use these tools, I do like the raised awareness of our digital services and tools. Maybe, just maybe, some new professors will consider using these tools and techniques for their everyday instruction.

Six Questions About Using Rubrics for Assessment in Blackboard

dwicksspu — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 01:30:29 +0000

In this screencast, David Wicks addresses six questions faculty may have about using the Rubric feature in Blackboard 9.1.

The Questions:
How should I prepare to create a rubric in Blackboard?
How do I enter a rubric in Blackboard?
How do I edit the Rubric Grid?
How do I associate a rubric with an assessment?
How do I grade with rubrics?
How do I view a Rubric Evaluation Report?

Six Questions about Rubrics in Blackboard 9.1 (PDF)

If you want to learn more about rubrics please see watch an associated video on this topic by Professor David Denton:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhmxz8V3V8k

Screencast Introduction to my Teaching with Tech Course – Warts and All

dwicksspu — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 05:06:16 +0000

I use Camtasia for Mac and Camtasia Relay to make screencasts of syllabi for my online courses. Recording a syllabus is a good use of my time for a couple of reasons. First, a syllabus screencast cuts down on student frustration and the number of questions I get asked during the first week of class. I try hard to put all my thoughts in a Word document but students seem to understand better when they can both read and hear me explain it. Second, I usually find mistakes that need correcting. Some I mention while recording (e.g. miscounted points on an assignment rubric). Some I make a note of and fix later (e.g. forgot to give credit to Garrison for using a remix of his Practical Inquiry Model diagram. [pdf] Oops!) Speaking of Garrison, I hope that I am demonstrating good teaching presence by offering this resource to my students. I think it demonstrates good course design, instruction, and even facilitation. Anyway, if you are interested, here is a screencast of my syllabus, warts and all.

Infographic: Online Education in the USA Report 2011

dwicksspu — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 02:29:35 +0000

Report can be found at: http://sloanconsortium.org/publications/survey/going_distance_2011

How students should submit bPortfolio posts in Blackboard

dwicksspu — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 06:25:10 +0000