FTRC Launches New "Lunch & Learn" Series
by Deb Brandenburg
During the last academic year, the Faculty Technology Resources Center (FTRC) conducted a series of faculty roundtable discussions to identify services that would assist faculty in using technology to enhance the academic experience in the classroom. Among the recommendations faculty made was that we provide regular technology presentations that spark faculty interest. In response, the FTRC has been conducting a series of luncheon presentations to enable more faculty the opportunity to attend: hence, the name, "Lunch & Learn."
The first "Lunch & Learn" session was held in July. During this session, on "How to Use Test Builders for Online Testing," we:
- reviewed some popular test building software (i.e., Examview, Respondus, and Diploma);
- demonstrated how to use these test builders to write questions, create tests, and then add the tests and pools to Blackboard; and
- demonstrated how to use these test builders to import test questions to Blackboard from existing text (e.g., a Word document).
Due to overwhelming faculty interest, the FTRC conducted a repeat session in August. The Presentation Technology & Services Group (PTSG) taped the test building session. To view this presentation, visit the FTRC web site, and click on the "Lunch & Learn: Assessment Builders in Blackboard" link at the top of the page.
In September's session, we focused on "How to Use the Student Response System (PRS) with Interactive PowerPoint," and demonstrated features that provide users the ability to:
- Build an interactive PowerPoint presentation with the Turning Point plug-in for PowerPoint;
- Collect dynamic student responses with the PRS (Personal Response System);
- Integrate student PRS registration with Blackboard; and
- Generate student response reports and integrate them with the Blackboard Online Gradebook
There were many interested faculty, so the FTRC repeated this session in October.
In October, the Center for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning (CET&L) joined the FTRC in co-sponsoring the "Lunch & Learn" series, as we conducted a special session for faculty who are participating in the e-Portfolios pilot on Blackboard. Just as an artist puts together a portfolio of art samples, a student or faculty member can use e-Portfolio on Blackboard to collect, store, and package content to showcase his or her academic, creative, or professional work. For more information on Blackboard e-Portfolios, please visit http://blackboard.uc.edu/support. Under INSTRUCTORS, select Blackboard Documents. See Chapter 5 of the "Content System User Guide" and "Blackboard How to Use e-Portfolios."
Mr. Randall Roberts, Senior Librarian in University Libraries, presented the November session on Personal Bibliographic Management (PBM) systems. This session focused on using EndNote and RefWorks as examples of electronic PBM systems that are readily available for UC faculty.
The FTRC is now planning for more exciting sessions next quarter, including a session on Tablet PCs, which will be conducted by Fred Siff, VP and CIO. Faculty, watch for email invitations from the FTRC - and be sure to respond quickly! Availability is limited and we quickly fill (generally 25) seats.
Please direct any questions about "Lunch & Learn" to ftrc@uc.edu.
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