This document provides information on instructional technologies including Blackboard Collaborate, Adobe Connect, and Insight. It summarizes the key features and uses of each tool. Blackboard Collaborate allows for synchronous online conversations and content delivery. Adobe Connect also enables real-time collaboration but is more commonly used for residential courses. Insight is software for controlling student computers during class sessions. The document provides support resources for each tool and additional resources like VoiceThread and ANGEL.

1. Instructional Technologies Including
Blackboard Collaborate, Adobe
Connect, and Insight
TA/LA Information Session 8.27.14

2. Ed Tech Advisor
• New tool which shows Penn State-
supported resources
• ETA enables you to match pedagogical needs
to education technology resources available
at Penn State
• Includes info on "Help Me choose a Tool",
"I'd Like To", "I'd Like My Students To",
"Show Me All the Tools"
• More information: http://sites.psu.edu/eta/
• Help Me Choose a Tool
I want:
• to disseminate information / deliver content to students.
• to have online asynchronous conversations.
• to have online synchronous conversations.
• students to participate in class.
• students to write and reflect.
• students to collaborate outside of class.

3. Blackboard Collaborate
• Used in World Campus courses
• Allows synchronous communication
with and among students
• Real-time voice, document and
whiteboard sharing (among other things)
• Sessions can be recorded which allows
for viewing at a later time (useful for
online education students)
• Better built-in accessibility features
• More resilient and more forgiving of slower internet connections
Image: Blackboard Collaborate
World Campus

4. Blackboard Collaborate
• Students may find this tool beneficial for team project collaboration and can request their
own rooms
• Meeting space for Blackboard Collaborate may be requested by filling out an online form:
https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/public/roomrequest/index.php
• World Campus Helpdesk supported:
http://student.worldcampus.psu.edu/technical-support/contact-us
• Additional information:
https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/public/bbcollaborate/collaborateintro.html
World Campus

5. VoiceThread
• A web-based application which allows you to
place collections of media such as images,
videos, documents, and presentations at the
center of an asynchronous conversation.
(Multimedia discussion forum).
• Unique interface
• Helps facilitate collaboration and asynchronous
learning
• Now has ANGEL integration to make it easier to
students to access the tool.
(In ANGEL>Add Content>External Tool>
Tool Provider>VoiceThread
Residential and World Campus

6. VoiceThread
• PSU and World Campus Helpdesk supported:
Penn State VoiceThread support:
http://voicethread.psu.edu/support/
World Campus Technical support:
http://student.worldcampus.psu.edu/technical-support/contact-us
• Additional information: http://voicethread.psu.edu/
Residential and World Campus

7. Adobe Connect
• Used more for residential courses
• Allows synchronous communication with and
among students
• Real-time voice, document and whiteboard
sharing (among other things)
• Sessions can be recorded which allows for viewing
at a later time
• Has a cleaner interface than Blackboard Collaborate (but has some technical and support
issues associated with using it in World Campus courses)
• Does not require Java, but does function better when user downloads a browser plug-in
Residential

8. Adobe Connect
• Mobile client available:
http://www.adobe.com/products/adobeconnect/mobile-meetings.html
• PSU supported:
Help Resources: http://kb.its.psu.edu/article/1616;
• Additional information: http://adobeconnect.psu.edu/
Residential

9. Insight
• Computer lab interactive control
software
• The teacher’s screen can be shown to all
students
• Show a student’s screen to other
students
• Poll students
• Testing: re-create "secure" testing environments
• Limit student activities on their computers
• Teachers can launch the browser, go to a website and the same website is displayed on the
student computer
Residential

10. Insight
• Run an application or a website on student computers
• Take control of selected student workstations
• View up to 256 student machines at the same time
• Send a message to any or all students
• Blank all student screens on the teacher channel and disable all student keyboards and
mouse devices
• From the console, shutdown, logoff or restart selected student machines
• More information: http://www.faronics.com/assets/Insight.pdf
Residential

11. Information on Additional Tools:
Online Education Tools Beyond Instruction
• ANGEL: Support knowledge base
http://kb.its.psu.edu/cms/article/191
• Turnitin: Writing assessment toolkit
http://turnitin.psu.edu/
• PSU WebApps: Provides access to several popular
applications
http://clc.its.psu.edu/RemoteAccess/WebApps
• Lynda.com: Free video tutorials on a myriad of popular technologies
http://lynda.psu.edu/

12. Thanks!
• Questions?
• Presentation available at:
http://www.slideshare.net/RondaReid/tala-technology-notes
Contact: Ronda Reid, rreid@ist.psu.edu