The presentation outlines the integration of supported instructional technologies, highlighting new features in Blackboard and Wimba Classroom, along with the emergence of cloud technologies in higher education. It provides usage statistics for Blackboard among faculty and students, introduces new tools and features like the Blackboard portfolio tool and live collaboration via Wimba, and discusses the implications of adopting cloud technologies for teaching. The focus is on promoting technology that enhances learning while considering faculty and student needs, as well as the evolving landscape of educational technology.

1. Teaching with Technology UpdatesPresentation for Council of DeansFaculty Development and Instructional Design CenterJuly 14, 2010

2. Presentation GoalsShare information on supported instructional technologiesHighlight new features now available in Blackboard and Wimba Classroom Explore emerging “cloud” technologies that are becoming increasingly popular in higher education today Discuss implications for use of “cloud” technologies in teaching

3. Supported Technologies

4. BlackboardLearning management system available campus-wide for teaching since 2002Used for posting electronic materials, grades, communications, etc. 94% of NIU students and 73% of faculty use Blackboard More details: www.niu.edu/blackboard

5. Use of Blackboard by (individual) Students21,447Usage % for spring ‘10 with 22,705 enrolled is 94.46% of total number of students

6. Use of Blackboard by (individual) Faculty/Staff/TAs to Teach1,205Usage % for spring ‘10 with 1,661* faculty/instructors/TA/teaching staff is 72.45%*1,661 includes only those providing direct instruction

7. Number of Course Sections in Blackboard2,269Usage % for spring ‘10 with 5,378* sections is 42.2%*No. of course sections including thesis, dissertation, and independent studies is 5,378

8. Number of Enrollments in Blackboard77,580Students enrolled in several courses in a semester that use Blackboard

9. Blackboard Portfolio ToolBundled with current Blackboard Content System that NIU has licensed (no additional cost)Limited customizationAt the recommendation of NIU Computing Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC), faculty input is being sought for implementationFaculty pilot this summer and fall

10. Blackboard Portfolio Tool

11. Portfolio FeaturesStore portfolio artifacts in the Blackboard Content CollectionCreate portfolio for either personal (student, faculty, staff) accomplishments or course requirementsLink to coursework artifacts in BlackboardUse pre-configured portfolio templates

12. Portfolio Features (cont.)Share portfolio with faculty for commentsShare portfolio with other classmates as well as non-NIU usersControl access to who can view portfolio and for what duration of timeExport portfolio for offline access outside Blackboard or archive to CD

13. Upgrade to Blackboard 9.1Major upgrade planned for May 2011Redesigned interfaceMany new requested features addedTesting beginning this summer, support materials and training to be developed this fallFaculty pilot of Blackboard 9.1 during Spring 2011More details coming this fall

14. Wimba ClassroomLive collaboration with studentsFully-integrated with Blackboard but also available for access without Blackboard loginArchives available for online or on-demand offline or mobile viewing

15. CPS (e-Instruction Clickers)Student response system allowing faculty to receive feedback from students wirelesslyCan be used in conjunction with Blackboard with results from class assessments automatically uploaded to Blackboard Grade Center

16. New Blackboard Features Now Available

17. Blackboard Mobile LearnMore details: www.niu.edu/blackboard/mobile

18. Mobile Learn (iPad) Demo

19. Blackboard Mobile LearnThrough a partnership with Sprint, Blackboard currently only offers the free Mobile Learn app on Android and BlackBerry devices on the Sprint network in addition to iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch over Wi-FiAdditional apps and access on other networks available for licensingMore details: www.niu.edu/blackboard/mobile

20. New Wimba Classroom Features Now Available

21. Increased Video Device SupportWhile Wimba previously only recognized specific USB web cameras, existing video hardware and infrastructure can now be leveraged. If your computer supports the video camera, so does Wimba Classroom! Data cameras and video equipment used for other specialized lab procedures, such as those used in the physical and health sciences, can now be used with Wimba Classroom.

22. Higher Quality VideoDefault window size and video window encoding size have been doubled The default video encoding bit rate has also been doubled

23. Archive ReminderPresenter is reminded to start archive at beginning of session

24. Hand Raised ChimeChime is now played when a hand is raised to alert presenters when students raise their hand

25. Shortened Guest Access LinkShortened link for easier distribution to guests via email

26. MP3 and MP4 Download LinksEasier for students to now download either the audio (.mp3) or video (.mp4) archives directly from the list of archives for the room

27. Teaching in the “Cloud”

28. Educause.edu/cloudcomputing

29. What is Cloud Computing?IT Perspective: delivery of scalable IT resources of the Internet, as opposed to hosting and operating resources locally on a college or university networkUser Perspective: accessing, creating, and consuming content using web-based software services available from any Internet-connected computer; content and even software is hosted completely online

30. Teaching with Technology Institute

31. Teaching with Technology InstituteCollaborating in the Cloud (Google Wave)Creating Tutorials in the Cloud (Screenr, Screencast-o-Matic)Writing in the Cloud (Wikis, Blogs)Presenting in the Cloud (Prezi, Slideshare)

32. Technology Showcase Featured hands-on opportunity with new technologies, including: Tablet PC, Kindle, iPad, iPod Touch, iPod Nano, clickers, netbook

33. Google WaveWeb-based application representing a rethinking of electronic communicationRather than sending separate copies of multiple messages to different people, content resides in a single spacePart conversation, part document creation, combining features of both synchronous and asynchronous communicationswave.google.com

34. Google Wave Demo

35. ScreencastDigital recording of computer screen output, often containing audio narrationWhy use a screencast?Demonstrate and teach software featuresDemonstrate technology steps or processesProviding “virtual tour” of Blackboard course

36. Screencasting Demo

37. BlogOnline chronological collection of personal commentary and linksEasy to create and use from anywhere with an Internet connection, including mobile devicesEducational ApplicationsJournal development of ideasInteract outside the “walls” of Blackboard

38. Sample Blogbit.ly/twti2010blog

39. WikiWeb page that can be viewed and modified by anyone with access to the InternetCollaborative documentconstructionEducational ApplicationsClass or topic web siteGroup project presentation alternative Collaborative data collection / analysisPeer editing and review

40. Sample Wikibit.ly/twti2010wiki

41. Presentation Toolsslideshare.netprezi.com

42. Implications for Use of “Cloud” Technologies in Teaching

43. RealitiesInstructional technologies continue to advance rapidlyTechnology use variesStudents are using these technologies and expecting to use them in learningFaculty are experimenting with new technologies that may not be officially supported by the institutionNew faculty may bring different technology expectations

44. Questions for ConsiderationHow does the institution support emerging technologies?Are “free” tools available from Google and others truly free?How are openness and opportunities for inter-institutional collaboration managed?How is student data protected?When “walls” are removed, what must be considered?

45. SummaryFaculty Development’s focus:Promote technology for enhancing teaching and learning, and not just for the sake of using new technologyRecommend technology that can be learned quickly and easily, and is free or affordableEmerging Trends in Learning TechnologiesIncrease in the use of mobile and “cloud” technologiesIncrease in more platform-independent learning toolsBlurring lines between the use of institutional and non-institutional technology (e.g. email)