How to Apply for the 2014 Summer Technology Institute

By shopware AG [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia CommonsNote: To apply for the Summer Technology Institute, please fill out the application form.

The Summer Technology Institute, sponsored by the Office of the Provost and the Center for Teaching, Learning and Scholarship, is an opportunity for faculty to participate in a learning community of faculty across disciplines and schools engaged in an exploration of the effective uses of technology in teaching, learning, collaboration, and scholarship.

Faculty who consider themselves basic users or do not currently use technology in their courses are especially encouraged to apply.

A $500 stipend accompanies participation in the summer institute.

The program features a weeklong institute in June, held at Washburn Lounge on the Brattle Campus. Here, faculty will engage in a rich mix of dialogue, hands-on practice, project-based learning, reflection, and application to explore innovative ways technology can be integrated into their teaching. Regular gatherings over the course of the academic year will extend conversations and deepen learning begun at the Summer Institute.

Major topics addressed at the Summer Institute include:

  • Instructional Design
  • Technology-Enhanced Course Design Strategies
  • Use of Instructional Technology tools including myLesley (Blackboard, myLesley Voice Tools, Voicethread, Collaborate, and Blackboard Instant Messenger)

Expectations for Summer Technology Institute Participants

Faculty are expected to:

  • Participate in a 5-day training seminar: June 9-13, 2014
  • Develop a technology-enhanced learning activity for a 2014-2015 course
  • Attend at least 2 “brown bag” discussion workshops during the 2014-15 school year
  • Present a workshop or poster session at the 2015 eLearning Institute

Important Dates

March 7, 2014 Applications Due
March 31, 2014 Participants Announced
June 9-13, 2014 Summer Institute
January 2015 eLearning Institute

Application

To apply for the Summer Technology Institute, please fill out the application form.

How to Make Printable Versions of Your Weekly Sessions in Blackboard

It is possible to make printable versions of your weekly sessions or modules for your students in Blackboard whether or not your materials are organized in folders or in learning modules.

chromeTo begin, you’ll need to log into your course using the Chrome browser. If you don’t already have Chrome installed on your computer you can download it here. Please note that Firefox is still the browser we recommend that you use for Blackboard activities but the Chrome browser appears to be the only program that allows us to create printable copies of Blackboard screens.

1. Once you’ve logged into your course via the Chrome browser make sure the Edit button is toggled to the “On” position.

2. On your sidebar locate the menu item where your course materials are housed. For example, you may have an item titled “Course Modules or Course Sessions.” Right click on this link. A menu will open. Select the “Open in New Tab” option.

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3. At the top of your browser you’ll now see 2 separate tabs. Click on the item that is labeled with the same title as the menu item that houses your course materials. In this instance we’ll click on the tab called “Course Sessions.”

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4. On the screen you’ll now see a list of the sessions or modules that appear in your course. Right click on the week you would like to make a printable for and once again click on the “Open in New Tab” option from the menu that appears.

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5.  At the top of your browser you’ll now see 3 separate tabs. Click on the item that is labeled with the same title as the session or module that you’d like to create a printable version. In this instance we’ll click on the tab called “Week One: Getting Your….”

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6. You’ll now see all of the content items for the week you selected in your browser window. At this point we recommend that you minimize any sidebar menus (located on the left hand side of the page) that appear in your course.

If you’re using Learning Modules with a Table of Contents you can minimize the table by clicking on the icon indicated below:

toc
To minimize your main course menu (or sidebar) click on the arrow icon.

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7. Now, at the top of your screen, locate the menu item called “File.” Click on this item. A menu will open. Select the “Print” option from the menu.

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8. In the print menu window click on the “Change” button located in the Destination area.

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9. In the new window that appears, locate the Local Destination section and click on the “Save as PDF” option.

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10. A new menu will appear. A preview of your course session will be located on the right hand side of the page. Click on the Save button found on the upper left hand side of the window.

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11. The Save As window will open. Here you can rename the file and select the location on your computer that you would like to house the document you’ve created. When you’ve made your edits and/or selections click the “Save” button.

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 12. Now you can upload this printable version of your content to the class or email it directly to students. Please contact elis@lesley.edu if you need additional assistance. You can also print these instructions.

myLesley Improvements Coming This Fall

Fall_leavesWhen the new school year kicks off on September 4th you’ll not only be reveling in the fantastic smell of shiny new textbooks, fancy pens, and a clean slate. This Fall you’ll also be unwrapping a completely refreshed and upgraded Blackboard interface. As the leaves start to change and the air becomes crisp here are just a few of the exciting additions you can look forward to using with students in both your online and face-to-face classes:

Inline Grading for Assignments
You can now view, comment, and grade student-submitted assignment files without leaving the Grade Assignment page. This is a very exciting tool and we think you’re going to love how much time and extra work it’s going to save you.

Learn more about this new option via written instructions or video.

New Discussion Board Look and Feel
The discussion board now has a completely revamped user interface. Forums and threads are better organized allowing for a more streamlined experience for both instructors and students.

Learn more about this new option via written instructions or video.

A More Intuitive Text/Content Editor
Blackboard now uses a a text editor based on the TinyMCE platform. We bet you’ll recognize it as soon as you sign in and you’ll be formatting your course text, adding images, and laying out tables like a pro in no time.

Learn more about this new option via written instructions or video.

In addition, please review our Professional Development calendar for training opportunities throughout the semester and check out the complete list of new features on our website.

New Online Seminar: Twitter as a Learning Tool

twitter_iconPlease join eLIS for a fully online two-week seminar in myLesley. This class is designed to introduce participants to social media through the lens of Twitter. Participants will collaboratively explore the functionality of the tool by employing specific networking strategies discussed during the class.

Never used Twitter? No problem! We’ll work with you to learn the ins and outs of this popular social media platform.

Twitter as a Learning Tool runs from April 8th – April 21st.

Register for the Seminar

In addition, we are also hosting a brief webinar on Monday, April 8th at 3 PM EST. The Twitter as a Learning Tool: Kickoff Webinar will introduce participants to the basics of Twitter, including a walk-through of the technical logistics, how to sign-up for an account, and an exploration of the unique Twitter vocabulary. Anyone who is new to Twitter (whether you plan to participate in the two-week seminar or not) is welcome to attend.

Register for the Webinar

We look forward to tweeting with you!

Professional Development Opportunities for Spring 2013

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Faculty Brown Bag – MyLesley Tips & Tricks
Friday, March 8
1:15pm – 2:30pm
Doble Hall, Room 309
Register for the Brown Bag

Join Nicholas Pietrowski, Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education and Psychology, for a discussion of best practices for faculty use of myLesley for web and mobile devices. This hands-on talk will highlight how myLesley is being used to increase faculty efficiency, engage students, and expand the possibilities of learning.

Using Group Work for Student Collaboration
A Fully Online Course Taught in myLesley
March 18 – March 31
Register for the Seminar

This seminar will help you design group activities in your myLesley course. We will identify strategies for designing and scaffolding group work. You will also design a series of learning activities, tied to your course’s learning objectives, that require students to work collaboratively (either completely online or across face-to-face and online activities). We will provide resources for structuring and assessing these activities. Tools explored in this seminar may include Group areas and discussions, wikis, blogs, VoiceThread, and/or Webspiration.

Faculty Brown Bag – Social Media for Social Change: Researching Current Events through New Media
Wednesday, March 20
12:00pm – 1:30pm
University Hall, Room 3-085
Register for the Brown Bag

Join Laura Fokkena, PhD Candidate in International & Comparative Education, as she explores how students can augment (not replace!) traditional research by following current events via Twitter, Facebook, wikis, blogs, photo- and video-sharing sites, livestreaming, and other social media.