Instructional Technology @ PhilaU provides faculty with news, information, resources,
and tips for using technology and integrating it into their curricula.
Instructional Technology @ PhilaU is published monthly by the Paul J. Gutman Library.

Welcome to the inaugural issue of Instructional Technology @ PhilaU. The goal of this newsletter is to bring you up-to-date information about workshops, technology and web sites. Additionally, this newsletter will be a catalyst for conversations among colleagues, a showplace for best practices, and a tool for sharing ideas and possibilities.

As technology continues to become more prevalent in our society, it is important to ensure that our students know how to use it in an effective and responsible manner. As educators it is our duty to demonstrate this through our own use in and out of the classroom. I hope that this newsletter can be one of the many tools you use to achieve this lofty goal.

                                                                                                           Kristopher Wiemer
                                                                                                            Instructional Technology Specialist

Table of Contents

• Blackboard Update
• September Workshops
• Web Sites of Interest
  • eZines
  • WebQuests
  • NASA
• Requests for Information
• Coming Soon
• Contact Information

Instructional Technology News

As the saying goes, “All good things must come to an end.” But they are usually replaced by something “bigger and better.” The Instructional Technology Support site is no exception. After several weeks of creative inspiration and elbow grease, the Instructional Technology Support site is sporting a new look and more information. In addition to the original content, you will find updated information, new tutorials, tip sheets, and links to interesting web sites. Be sure to stop by the new site and remember comments and suggestions for new material are always welcome.
http://www.philau.edu/ITS

In addition to the new and updated content, you can also find all the previous issues of Instructional Technology @ PhilaU (http://www.philau.edu/ITS and click on the IT@PhilaU link).

Blackboard Update

As of September 2, 2003, we have 102 live courses on Blackboard representing all 5 Schools.

As many of you know, Blackboard has undergone some major changes in the past few weeks. Here is a brief summary:

1. We have added a new server, Bb Development (http://bbdev.philau.edu) where all course development for the upcoming semester is done. The only courses on the original server, Bb Production (http://bb.philau.edu) are current, ongoing courses. The same UserID and Password will get you into both servers. Students do not have access to the Development Server.
2. Students are being enrolled into their Blackboard courses electronically from the information in Datatel. The exception to this is if you are creating a single Blackboard course for all your course sections (e.g., you teach M101.123 & M101.124, but have one Blackboard site, M101.999), in which case you will need to enroll the students yourself.
3. UserIDs have been brought in line with all PhilaU network and e-mail IDs. If you are having problems logging in to either of the Blackboard servers, try your e-mail/network login ID. You can get the password by calling the OIT HelpDesk or myself.

With all these changes you might be asking yourself, how do I get a Blackboard Course up and running? Following is a step-by-step guide to getting a Blackboard Course for your class(es).

1. Contact the HelpDesk (helpdesk@philau.edu or x4648) and request a course be created for you. Please be sure to give them your name, Course Number, Section Number, and Course Name. If you have used Blackboard for a previous semester of this class, please give them that information so that we can copy that data into your new course.
2. You will be notified when the course has been created. At this point in the semester, all courses will be automatically located on the Production Server (http://bb.philau.edu). The course will be populated with students during the next data load (usually within 48 to 72 hours) or you can populate the course yourself.
3. If you have been working on a course on the Development Server, please contact the HelpDesk and let them know you want the course to be made live. Again, be sure to give them the Course Number, Section Number, Course Name, and your name.

Information on setting up courses for the Spring Semester will be sent out in mid to late October.

If you have any questions about setting up a Blackboard Course, please contact me to discuss your needs and concerns.

September Workshops

There are several workshops being offered this Fall on using Blackboard. Following is a list of workshops that are being offered during the month of September. Descriptions can be found at http://www.philau.edu/ITS and click on the Workshops link.

To register for any of these courses, go to http://www.philau.edu/ITS/register.htm.

Upcoming workshop topics include effective use of Microsoft PowerPoint, effective use of Smart Classrooms, and creating web sites.

Web Sites of Interest

E-zines
What is an e-zine? It is an electronic magazine. In some cases it is a stand-alone journal and in others it is a companion to a print magazine or journal. Here are a couple of e-zines that I have found useful.

• Converge (http://www.centerdigitaled.com/converge)
  This monthly e-zine features articles on education policy, educational technology, and pedagogy. An e-mail version of the Table of Contents is available as a monthly reminder that a new issue has been posted.
• From Now On: The Educational Technology Journal (http://www.fno.org)
  This monthly e-zine focuses on the use of technology in the classroom, pedagogy, ethics, and computer literacy. Written by Jamie McKenzie, a nationally recognized Instructional Technologist who has presented at many regional, national, and international conferences on educational technology.
• Syllabus (http://www.syllabus.com)
  This monthly e-zine is the companion to the print journal by the same name. Focusing on the use of technology in higher education, this journal looks at many of the issues we face in our everyday teaching.

WebQuests
What is a WebQuest? To quote Bernie Dodge of San Diego State University, “A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented activity in which some or all of the information that learners interact with comes from resources on the internet, optionally supplemented with videoconferencing [and print materials].” Originally conceived as a tool for K-12 teachers, WebQuests are becoming more and more prevalent in higher education. The WebQuest Page at San Diego State was recently named Editor’s Choice by MERLOT (a site dedicated toward finding quality web sites for higher education). I strongly encourage you to take a few moments to explore this site. I have also included a couple of examples of WebQuests that I have created.

• The WebQuest Page (http://webquest.sdsu.edu/)
  Created by Bernie Dodge at the Educational Technology Department of San Diego State University (updated regularly)
• Intellectual Property – A Computer Ethics WebQuest (http://persons.marlboro.edu/~kwiemer/dem1/webquest/index.htm)
• Where in the World? GPS (http://persons.marlboro.edu/~kwiemer/dem2/gpsproj/intro.html)

NASA
I have been fascinated with space and the space program since I was a young boy. As I became an adult, I continued to explore this field through books, movies, research projects, and the web. Although I know that I will probably never get a chance to go to space, I was able to send a small piece of myself (well at least my ideas) into space when I launched an experiment that I created with a couple other high school teachers and our students. The results were outstanding and being able to experience the launch at Cape Canaveral was one that I will cherish for the rest of my days. From time to time, I will include a few sites that I have in my vast collection that may be useful to you in your teaching, or your own desire to see space first hand.

• NASA HQ (http://www.nasa.gov)
  The main web page for all things NASA. Includes links to the various NASA Space Centers, educator sites, and sites related to the various aspects of NASA’s mission.
• Human Space Flight (http://spaceflight.nasa.gov)
  A history of America’s trail to space from Gemini to the International Space Station, including the people, the space craft, and the missions.
• NASA Education Program (http://education.nasa.gov)
  NASA Education Program reaches all levels of education and includes distance learning opportunities, experiment opportunities, and online resources.
• Hubble Gallery (http://hubblesite.org/gallery)
  A web gallery of images captured by the Hubble Space Telescope.

Request for Information

What are you doing in your classes? Do you have a technology strategy/tool that has worked well for you and your students? Are you doing something innovative with Blackboard? Do you have a tip or trick for making Blackboard easier to use? Is there a topic you’d like to see investigated in this newsletter?

Send your ideas, questions, comments, concerns, best practices, etc. to wiemerk@philau.edu.

Coming Soon

Upcoming topics include handheld computers (Palm, Pocket PC), PowerPoint, Blogs, and your questions and answers and best practices. Check the Instructional Technology Support web site for new additions and changes this month including online tutorials and expanded resources.

Contact Information

Kristopher Wiemer, Instructional Technology Specialist
Paul J. Gutman Library, Room 111
(215)951-6332
wiemerk@philau.edu
http://www.philau.edu/ITS (click on IT@PhilaU for archives)
http://staff.philau.edu/wiemerk