ANGEL Tip #8: Extended Testing Time

Sometimes you find it necessary to give a particular student(s) extra time when taking an assessment.  This is very easy to do in ANGEL when using the testing feature.  All it involves is creating two teams – one for the extended testing time and one for the rest of the class –  and then customizing the settings.

Here's what you do:

1. Go to the Manage tab in your course and click on "Teams".
2. Click on "Add a Team".
3. Give the Team a name – it might be something like “extended testing time” or whatever helps you identify the team that needs extended time. You can also just call them Team A or Team B.
4. Click "Save".
5. You will see your list of students.  From your list of students, place a check-mark in front of the name of the student(s) who needs extended testing time.
6. Click “Add Selected” and then "Done".
7. Repeat the process for creating a team that will include the rest of the students in the class.  
8. After you have created your teams, go to your Lessons tab and locate the specific assessment. 
9. Hover your mouse over the assessment and click "settings".
10. Click the "Advanced" radio button (near the top).
11. Click the "Access" tab.
12. Next to "Team Access," select "Selected Teams" from the drop down box.
13. Check the box in front of the team who needs extended times and then click that team name.
14. You should see a pop up box called Custom Team Settings.  Check off  "Advanced Settings".
15. You will see the override settings that you can select to accommodate the team who needs extended time.
16. Make sure to click "Save" once you have selected your extended time options.

If you have any questions please contact the ANGEL Helpdesk at angel@northshore.edu.

Best Practices for Smart Classrooms: Environmental Factors

When presenting in the classroom using technology, it’s always a great idea to see what might be getting in the way of good teaching and learning.  It really helps to visualize what a good learning space might look like for your particular needs. 

• How should desks or tables be arranged?
• Does it make sense to project on a screen or a whiteboard?
• What kind of flexibility exists for lighting in the room?
• How should I set those lights for note taking yet visibility of any projected materials?
• How should the shades in the room be positioned?
• Are there noise factors in the room?  If so, how can they be minimized?
• Am I able to be mobile in the classroom as I present?  How can I be less tethered to the podium in the room?
• What else gets in the way of great teaching and learning?

Here are some good links that address the issue of the learning space as it relates to good pedagogy:

What Makes A Great Learning Space?

http://www.gensleron.com/cities/2011/7/21/what-makes-a-great-learning-space.html

Learning Spaces

http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/lrm22/learning_spaces/

Best Practices in Learning Space Design
http://www.educause.edu/ero/article/best-practices-learning-space-design-engaging-users

What have you done in your classroom to minimize how environmental factors affect teaching and learning?

Please let us know how we can help you show your best teaching in the classroom by minimizing learning space issues.   Contact us at itd@northshore.edu.

More Infographics To Think About: Part 2

There are a lot of great infographics out there about technology and education, despite the concerns and issues that some have identified with education-based infographics.  Here are a few more to review and think about.

These two infographics look at the use of technology by college students.  The "2012 Students and Technology" infographic is based on an annual survey of undergraduate students by EDUCAUSE and presents information on student technology ownership and student uses of technology in their college experiences.

Click to see full graphic. Source: http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ERS1208/EIG1208.pdf

 The "Technology Use on College Campuses" infographic presents similar data on how students are using technology and what their technology preferences are.

Click to see full graphic. Source: https://s3.amazonaws.com/infographics/Techonology+Divide.png

These two infographics provide information on ways faculty are using social  media in the classroom.  The "Teachers' Guide to Social Media" infographic presents ideas on how social media can be used in classes to "connect, notify, teach, and currate". 

Click to see full graphic. Source: https://s3.amazonaws.com/infographics/Teacher-Guide-Social-Media-800.png

The "How Today's Higher Education Faculty Use Social Media" infographic presents the results of research by Pearson Learning Solutions and Babson Survey Research Group on the various personal, professional and teaching uses of social media by faculty.

Click to see full graphic.  Source: http://www.pearsonlearningsolutions.com/assets/downloads/pdfs/pearson-social-media-infographic-2012.pdf

The "Blended Learning: A Disruptive Innovation" infographic examines what blended learning is.  Even though the focus is K-12, it does provide some good background information and a general overview on blended learning models.

Click to see full graphic.  Source: http://knewton.marketing.s3.amazonaws.com/images/infographics/blended-learning.jpg

The "Status of Online Education" infographic is based on survey data from the Babson Survey Research Group and presents data on online education as seen by chief academic officers at institutions across the country.

Click to see full graphic.  Source: http://www.pearsonlearningsolutions.com/assets/downloads/reports/changing-course-survey.pdf

The "Flipped Classroom" infographic presents information on what the flipped classroom model is and how it is implemented.

Click to see full graphic.  Source: http://knewton.marketing.s3.amazonaws.com/images/infographics/flipped-classroom.jpg

The "State of Digital Education" infographic looks at the impact of the Internet on education.

Click to see full graphic.  Source: http://knewton.marketing.s3.amazonaws.com/images/infographics/state-of-digital-education.jpg

And the "Envisioning the Future of Education Technology" infographic examines a variety of emerging technologies and what their impact might be on education.

Click to see full graphic.  Source: http://edudemic.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/envisioning-the-future-of-education-technology_50291a3e6125d.png

These are all infographics on technology and education.  What infographics are you seeing relative to your disciplines?  Do you see a use for infographics in the classroom?  Has anyone considered infographics as an output for a student research project?

Best Practices for Smart Classrooms: Accessing Resources

There are many resources for Smart Classrooms that are available on NSCC's Campus Pipeline (http://pipeline.northshore.edu) under the "My North Shore" tab.  

When you click on the "My North Shore" tab, look under the "College Departments" header and then click on the "Academic Technology" link.  

This is the initial view under Campus Pipeline.  Note the College Department section on the left.  Note Academic Technology in that section.

Here you'll find many helpful resources from classroom documentation to step-by-step guides and video tutorials.  If you have any questions about these resources, please contact Dave Houle at dhoule@northshore.edu.

These are the resources under
Campus Pipeline -> MyNorthShore -> CollegeDepartments -> Academic Technology
 

Infographics To Think About: Part 1

The rise of Web 2.0 tools, access to big data, and availability of easy-to-use image editors have produced a plethora of infographics in the last few years.  One can find infographics on anything from Star Wars profits to world water usage to real and artificial Christmas tree usage.  They can be quite useful in creating a visual summation on a range of complex information and data. 

In fact, there is even an infographic explaining just "What Is an Infographic."

Click to see full graphic. Source: http://www.customermagnetism.com/infographics/imgs/what-is-an-infographic.jpg

In this blog post, we're going to take a look at some of our favorite infographics that deal with technology, education and college.  This first infographic actual identifies and explains different concepts and elements of technology and education.  It professes to be an "Edtech Cheatsheet."

Click to see full graphic. Source: http://jeffhurtblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/EdTechCheatSheetInfographic.jpg 

Next, let's take a look at textbooks.  Those costly but sometimes essential resources for a college course.  This infographic explores the benefits and challenges of digital textbooks.

Click to see full graphic. Source: http://hbculifestyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/digital-textbooks.gif

This infographic looks at how the digital world is impacting student experiences and learning.  

Click to see full graphic. Source: http://thumbnails.visually.netdna-cdn.com/infographic-how-technology-is-facilitating-education_50290f237b01d.jpg

Similar to the one above, this infographic considers the go-to Apps that are impacting education for students and educators alike.

Click to see full graphic. Source: http://www.collegerecruiter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Apps-and-Education-Infographic.png

Continuing along these lines, this infographic considers the impact on the classroom that digital technology is impacting. 

Click to see full graphic. Source: http://techloy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Digital-Classroom-Infographic.png

Here, we have an infographic on gamification in education (which if you want a sense of what that looks like, I encourage you to check out Jane McGonical's TED Talk, Gaming Can Make a Better World).

Click to see full graphic. Source: http://s.knewton.com/wp-content/uploads/gamification-education.png

 Interestingly, this infographic explores usage and interest among faculty and instructors with regards to social media.  We're familiar with students' usage, but there isn't much talking about instructor usage.  

Click to see full graphic. Source: http://www.saltywaffle.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/social-media-2011-2010-infographic.gif

These last two infographics explore the future of higher education.  

Click to see full graphic. Source: http://collegeof2020.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/The-Future-Of-Higher-Education-800.jpeg

Click to see full graphic. Source: http://www.peterpappas.com/images//2012/02/six-emerging-technologies-in-education.jpg

Infographics are not beyond your own abilities.  There's lots of advice about what makes a good infographic.  There's also resources and tools out there to help you make an infographic. 

What infographics do you enjoy?  What are some of your favorite sources for infographics?

ANGEL Tip #7: Customizing Your Course Home Page

As you navigate your ANGEL course shells, do you ever think, “Boy, I wish I could do …..?” Sometimes you want to rearrange the course home page to better appeal to your particular students.  You may see some components you would like to take off the page and some you would like to add to the page.  I, personally, like the course home page to highlight any announcement I make.  I do this by  having only the announcement component on my course home page.  A Math instructor, however, may want to have a calculator on his/her course home page or a Composition instructor may want to include a dictionary.

You can add and remove components on your course home page very easily.  Right under the title of your course, you should see an “Edit Page” link.  If you click on that link, it will open up the editing page.

To delete a component, just hover your cursor over the shaded area of the component title and click the "X" button on the right hand side.  

If you want to add a component to the home page, just click the “Add Component” button and check the box in front of the title of the component  you would like to add.  Click the “Add Selected” button and the "Save" button.  And it’s done!

You can also have a color theme for your course.  This will also provide a background image to the course that you can relate to your subject matter.  For instance, if you teach History, you may want to add a globe or, if you teach Early Childhood, you many want to add a theme of little hands.  This is also very easy to add.

1. Go to the "Manage" tab in your course.
2. Under Course Settings, click the "Course Theme Selector" link.

You should see available themes under the drop down arrow. You can look at how your course will appear by clicking on each theme.  However, your course theme won't change until you select the "Apply" button and then the "OK" button.

If you have any questions please contact angel@northshore.edu.

Let us know what themes you are using and what components you use on your home page for your courses.

Using Prezi Without Losing Your Mind

We had a great series of workshops prior to the start of the Spring 2013 semester, including one on Prezi.  Since it is a great tool for learning inside and outside the classroom, we thought we'd follow up with this blog post for those that couldn't make the workshop.  You will also find the Prezi that we created for this presentation and here is access to the handout that we provided.

So what is Prezi?  It's most basic description is that it is 3-dimensional presentation tool that can used to align and present information in a more meaningful way.

BENEFITS: As a web-based program, Prezi has a lot to offer.

• Free:  A free account is available to anyone.  If you register for their education license with your school email address, you will have an enhanced account with more space and usages rights. 
• Easy to Use:  After checking out some introductory and how-to material, you can easily begin work on a Prezi using mostly pointing and clicking.  No programming skills needed and no software to download.
• Single or Collaborative Use:  Like other Web 2.0 tools, users have the option of working on it together or singularly at the same time (and at different computers).  Additionally, one can present a Prezi online to another audience that is not present. 
• Visual Appeal:  In lieu of the standard PowerPoint, the ability to move from slide to slide on screen adds a bit more visual stimulation for presentations (so long as the tool isn't overused). 
• PowerPoint Integration:  If you already have created PowerPoints, you can upload and integrate them into a Prezi very easily.  You can also integrate PDF files as well.

CHALLENGES:  Though Prezis are enjoyable to use for education, there are certain challenges to contend with when considering using them.

• Limited Space:  Even with an education license, you're limited to 500 megabytes.  That amount may be more than enough, but if you're teaching several different classes and plan to use one for each class, you might fill up that space quickly.
• Clunkiness: Because of the nature of Prezi working within a browser, occasionally the program can get a bit clunky and you'll be unable to drag or move around the way you want.  Typically when this happens, you will need to save the Prezi, exit the Prezi, and close the browser and/or clear the cache and then return to it.
• Getting to Advance:  Prezi can be easy to learn but it takes planning and practice to develop a rich presentation that fully utilizes the tools that Prezi has available.  We recommend looking at a lot of the examples made available on the site in order to get a stronger sense of what can be done.
• Movement Overload:  Because of the movement feature in Prezi and how it can draw attention, early users often use too much motion.  They mistake the availability of movement for the relevance of movement.  Movement should be selective and relevant--otherwise it becomes a gimmick that doesn't help keep focus (as well as occasionally induces nausea).

USES:  Keeping those things in mind, we turn now to consider what are some of the best ways that you can use Prezi for education.

• Standard Presentation:  There certainly isn't anything keeping you from uploading your PowerPoints and using Prezi as a straightforward presentation tool.
• Conveying linear-based ideas:  Prezi works great when trying to convey information that is formulaic or process-oriented.  Telling a story, explaining a pattern, or moving through a routine all lend themselves well to being displayed in a Prezi.
• Conveying nonlinear ideas:  Prezi also works great for grouping related information communicating differences according to space and alignment. If you want to identify features of a culture or elements of a story, you can use Prezi to differentiate the different pieces. It's also useful for honing in on elements of a contained piece.  For instance, you can move about to focus in on different aspects of an image (a cell, painting, landscape, etc.). 
• Visualizing Integrated Concepts:  When working with a complex system, Prezi really shines.  This is where layering your information and using the depth of a Prezi can help communicate the "big picture" as well as the smaller pieces (that is, see the "Forest" and the "trees").
• Brainstorming & Mindmapping:  Finally, Prezi can also be used to help students or even the instructor to bridge connects and ideas.  This could work well in groups of students working on a project as they could all be in a Prezi (by collaborating) at the same time and connecting their ideas.

Do you use Prezi?  How useful have you found it?  What are your students reactions to using Prezi? 

Mobile Devices in the Classroom

This blog post was developed by the ITD Team (Andrea Milligan, David Houle, Lance Eaton and Pat Lavoie).

Though we should be deliberate in how we embrace mobile technology, what are some of the ways in which it can enhance our classroom experiences and student learning? In mid-January, the Instructional Technology and Design team facilitated a conversation with faculty on this topic during a Mobile Devices in the Classroom workshop. Potential benefits and challenges were explored along with a discussion around potential useful classroom applications.

When it comes to mobile devices in the classroom, it is clear that they can provide some great advantages to making it a more rewarding experience.  Mobile devices can be used to

• Provide students with instant access to the world in the classroom. This is great for looking up words that they are unfamiliar with, translating words they do not know, incorporating data into the discussion, doing research on a topic being discussed in class and communicating with experts.
• Provide students with opportunities to engage, interact, and create in a classroom environment and beyond that may not have been previously possible.  Students can create presentations on the fly, develop videos encapsulating a conceptual process, manipulate interactive course materials, or work together on writing something within the class without hovering over each others' shoulders.

However, there are definitely challenges to consider and overcome: 

• Access to mobile devices:  Not every student will have access to a mobile device.  One way of overcoming this is having students work in groups around an activity that uses a mobile device.  Another way is to plan ahead and give students choices about doing the work in class or on their own in the computer labs or at home.
• Cost of apps:  If you are going to be using various mobile tools, be careful about requiring students to purchase apps.  While students may be able to get financial aid for books, money for apps is likely to come out of their own pocket.  An alternative to this is to focus on free apps (of which there are plenty) or work with web-based free programs (e.g. Poll Everywhere).
• Cost of data plans:  Be careful about how much demand you put on the students' mobile devices in terms of the data they need to use.  Some students pay per individual text or have limited texting plans and others may have smart phones but with limited data plans.  A good approach to this would be to remind students that they can log onto the school's Wi-Fi to avoid using their own data plans (texting charges would still apply).
• Platform plurality:  There are many different platforms when it comes to mobile devices--it is not just Android, Apple, & Windows, but we are also dealing with smart phones, tablets, and laptops.  When you are looking to employ mobile devices in the classroom, it is important to find strategies that are platform agnostic in that they can be used on all platforms.  This might require some additional research to provide options for people on different platforms.  A tool like EdShelf allows you to seach for tools by platform.  Or, when trying to find particular apps, look beyond the platform-specific app store as many apps are available on multiple platforms.
• Technical support:  Students are going to have technical issues with their devices and the software employed.  Be sure to have a reference guide for the different types of support (e.g. the school's Helpdesk, the app's support link, etc). 
• Physical tech support:  It is important to think about battery life and access to power sources.  Some mobile devices will not last more than 3-4 hours of continued use.  Students will need to be aware of where the power outlets are.  You may need to consider different seating accomodations during a project to allow for access to power outlets.  You might also want to consider providing students with advance notice, if possible, of a mobile activity so they can come to class with their devices charged.
• Printing support:  Be sure to direct students to this link so they know that mobile printing has now been enabled for certain mobile devices in certain locations on NSCC's campuses.  This would come in handy, particularly, for students using their mobile devices to write papers.
• Projection support:  Depending on the device, you may or may not be able to hook it up to classroom projector (if in a smart classroom).  Additional cables might be needed to hook up your mobile device to the projector so you will want to think about this ahead of time and look at the nature of the classroom to determine what you should have. 
• Instructional support:  Students' do not intuitively know what to do with the mobile devices for instructional purposes and they may not full understand what is expected of them in using a mobile device inside or outside of class.  As an instructor, you will want to provide clear guidelines about how students will be using the mobile devices and the means by which they can achieve "success" when using them in your course. 
• Familiarity:  Some students are likely to be neophytes to the particular app or usage of technology that you are employing for class.  A good way to help students avoid feeling overwhelmed by mobile device use is to give them some time to play with the particular tool/app/device and gain some familiarity with it.  Additionally, you might create a low-stakes assignment for them to do so they will gain some confidence with the device.
• Appropriate usage:  As tools, mobile devices can do wonderful things, but students are likely to be easily distracted by them so it is important to prepare for such challenges within the class.  Several recommendations for making mobile devices useful but not a distraction would include:
• Clear guidelines and expectations about proper usage added into the syllabus and/or covered in class.
• Direct work on mobile devices towards a particular goal or project (that is, require a "finished product" as proof of their usage).
• Identify a particular window of time in which they can use the device and provide them with a challenge to accomplish in that limited time.

Resources:  Here are some great resources to consider for different ways of using mobile devices for the purposes of learning. 

Engage

• Poll Everywhere - "Instant audience feedback" - on the web, via Twitter, or via text messaging
  http://www.polleverywhere.com/
• TED - "Riveting talks by remarkable people, free to the world."
  http://www.ted.com/
• VoiceThread - "Conversations in the cloud" around media.
  http://voicethread.com/
• StudyBlue Flashcards - "Make, study and share online flashcards, study guides and quizzes."
  http://www.studyblue.com/

Create

• Evernote - "Makes it easy to remember things big and small from your everyday life using your computer, phone, tablet and the web."
  http://evernote.com/
• Skitch - "Get your point across with fewer words using annotation, shapes and sketches".
  http://evernote.com/skitch/
• Web Clipper - "From interests to research, save anything you see online—including text, links and images—into your Evernote account with a single click."
  http://evernote.com/webclipper/ 
• Evernote Peek - "Turn your notes, audio and image in Evernote into study materials with Evernote Peek."
  http://evernote.com/peek/ 
• EduCreations - "Teach what you know. Learn what you don't."
  http://www.educreations.com/ 
• Prezi - "A presentation tool that helps you organize and share your ideas."
  http://prezi.com/

Collaborate

• Google+ - "Share the right things with the right people."
  http://plus.google.com
• Google Drive - "Do more than just store your files. Share files with exactly who you want and edit them together, from any device."
  http://drive.google.com
• DropBox - "A service that lets you bring your photos, docs, and videos anywhere and share them easily."
  https://www.dropbox.com/
• Trello - "A collaboration tool that organizes your projects into boards. In one glance, Trello tells you what's being worked on, who's working on what, and where something is in a process."
  https://trello.com/ 
• inClass - "Organize your schedule.  Share your notes."
  http://www.inclassapp.com/

Research

• Side by Side - "A multiple-window reader/browser with offline reading and note taking capabilities."
  http://leibao.webs.com/Apps_by_Bao_Lei/Side_by_Side.html 
• OverDrive - "eBooks and audiobooks for libraries and schools."
  http://www.overdrive.com/ 
• Google Translate - "Online language translation service instantly translates text and web pages."
  http://translate.google.com/
  http://www.google.com/mobile/translate/

For More

• iTunes App Store
  https://itunes.apple.com/gb/genre/ios/id36?mt=8 
• Educational Apps for Apple
  http://www.apple.com/education/apps/ 
• Windows 8 App Store
  http://www.windows8apps.com/ 
• Educational Apps for Windows 8
  http://www.windows8apps.com/apps/education/ 
• Google App Store
  https://play.google.com/store/apps 
• Educational Apps for Google
  https://play.google.com/store/apps/category/EDUCATION

You can also check out our Prezi presentation:


We would love to hear from you.  Are you using mobile devices in the classroom?  If so, how are you using them?  What benefits or challenges do you see around using mobile devices in the classroom?  What apps are you or your students using?

Best Practices for Smart Classrooms: Get Trained!

Generally, formal training sessions for Smart Classrooms are held at the start of each semester.  They are publicized in the Bulletin, on our blog, and on Campus Pipeline.  One-on-one training is also available by appointment.  If those options do not work, tutorials are posted on our Academic Technology page on Campus Pipeline.

1. Log into Campus Pipeline.  
2. Choose the "My North Shore" tab.  
3. Notice the "College Departments" header in the first column.  
4. Click on "Academic Technology".  
5. Click on "Smart Classroom Tutorial".  
6. Then, under the "Smart Classroom" section, click on "Smart Classroom video tutorial".   

You can also find our video on Youtube:



After using the Smart Classroom, please contact us and tell us about your experience or ask any remaining questions.  We will be posting another tip within the next few days!

Welcome Back – Interested in Using Instructional Technology?

Are you interested in incorporating instructional technology into your teaching?  Do you have questions about using one of the many instructional technology resources available to you here at North Shore Community College (ANGEL, Google Docs, Smart Classrooms, Clickers, etc.)?  Would you like to brainstorm creative ways to engage your students through instructional technology?  Team members from Instructional Technology and Design are available to assist you.  Please feel free to stop by our offices in Danvers (DB234-DB239) and Lynn (LW307, ext. 2145) or send us an email at itd@northshore.edu.  We are here to help!

As you start the spring semester, we would like to make you aware of a few resources that you might find helpful.

• Teaching with Technology Overview, Spring 2013  
• Where to Call About Technology at North Shore Community College, 2012-2013

ANGEL

ANGEL is NSCC’s Learning Management System (LMS) and all courses automatically have an ANGEL shell that provides faculty with a “private classroom” area for you and your students.  If you are new to using ANGEL and would like to schedule a one-on-one training, please send an email to angel@northshore.edu.

Classroom Technology Training
Smart Classroom training sessions will be held on several dates at the start of this semester.  If this is your first time teaching in a Smart Classroom or if you have questions on how to use the Smart Classroom in new ways, please consider attending one of these sessions.  The dates and times are as follows:

• Tuesday, January 22nd 2:00p.m. to 3:00p.m. in Lynn LW235
• Wednesday, January 23rd 5:30p.m. to 6:30p.m. in Danvers DH106
• Monday, January 28th 5:30p.m. to 6:30p.m. in Lynn  LW235
• Thursday, January 31st 1:00p.m. to 2:00p.m. in Danvers DH226

If the dates and times listed above are not convenient for you, please contact Dave Houle at dhoule@northshore.edu to set up a one-on-one training.  You can also setup times with Dave to start or further advance your use of other classroom technologies, such as using Smart Carts, Computers on Wheels, Computer Classrooms, Smart Boards, Clickers, NetOp School, or mobile device integration.

Have a great semester!

-Instructional Technology and Design