Monday, February 13, 2012

Clickers in the Classroom

Looking to make your classroom a more interactive environment?  Come see how Turning Technologies can help you achieve this with clickers in the classroom.  The Media Resources Center is hosting a representative from Turning Technologies for a demonstration and to answer your questions.  This event will be held in the FLS 35 room at the Media Resources Center from 2:00 to 3:30 on February 23rd.

Demo of SMART Board and Podium

Join us for a SMART technologies demonstration of the SMART Board 600 and SMART Podium interactive pen display as well as an ultra-short throw projector. There will be two sessions on Feb. 27 at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. in Wallace Hall  113A – COE Dean’s Conference Room. Space is limited. Please RSVP to Chad Sloan (chad.sloan@wichita.edu, x. 7730).

Friday, January 27, 2012

elearning Roundtable Discussion

"Most of us are, presumably, the products of compulsory educational practices that were developed during the Industrial Revolution. And the way most of us teach is a relic of the steam age; it is designed to support a factory system by cultivating 'attention, timeliness, standardization, hierarchy, specialization, and metrics,' [Cathy] Davidson said [at a keynote speech for the Humanities, Arts, Sciences, and Technology Advanced Collaboratory]…. Human beings don't function like machines, and it takes a lot of discipline—what we call "classroom management"—to make them conform. Crucial perspectives are devalued and rejected, stifling innovation, collaboration, and diversity.

"Now the Internet offers a radical expansion of… liberation: It challenges institutional authority, it's uncontrolled, and it has the potential to disrupt existing hierarchies, opening up new fields of vision, and enabling us to see things that we habitually overlook." - William Pannapacker, "Invisible Gorillas Are Everywhere," The Chronicle of Higher Education, January 23, 2012.

Come discuss these ideas along with the rest of the article (available by following this link to the Chronicle of Higher Education) in our first elearning Roundtable, Wednesday, February 1, 12:00 PM – 12:50 PM in the Flexible Learning Space 35 in the Media Resources Center.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Spring Training Schedule Announced

The Media Resources Center has announced their spring semester training schedule.  Some new topics are being offered, including for the Blackboard Rubric tool and Panopto Unison.  Other trainings being offered include a variety of Blackboard topics, Panopto Focus and Respondus.  Please visit the elearning Resource Hub and click on the Training and Events Calendar to see the entire schedule and find information on how to register. 

Panopto Unison

A new tool allowing the uploading of videos and then streamed is now available for faculty and staff.  Panopto Unison is a powerful video content manager that accepts most popular video formats and allows for easy linking or embedding in Blackboard or a website.  To learn more please visit the MRC's Panopto website or contact Chad Sloan at chad.sloan@wichita.edu.  

Application to Teach in FLS 35

We are looking for faculty/instructors who wish to take advantage of both the technology and the flexible environment in their teaching and student learning by having classes meet in the Media Resources Center’s new Flexible Learning Space 35.


About the space:
The Flexible Learning Space is configurable and suitable for webinars, HD videoconferencing, trainings, meetings, group work and more. The space holds approximately 35 participants though the capacity may be slightly more depending on seating and/or need for seating at tables. The room may be configured or customized by the user as desired.

For more information about the furniture and equipment visit: http://www.wichita.edu/fls.

How do I apply?
To apply, applicants may simply email a one page description of how they would utilize the space to Corey Ray (corey.ray@wichita.edu). Particular attention to technology and furniture “teaching scenarios” should be included in the description. Applicants should highlight why the space would offer more to them than a traditional Master or Projector Plus Classroom.

Deadline for Application is December 22, 2011.


What are the requirements?
Class participants (students and instructors) will agree to be surveyed 2 times by the MRC  (middle and end of semester). The MRC may also request to record or photograph sessions to capture the experiences of participants. Additionally, faculty/instructors will be asked to provide a 1-2 page summary report about their experience which may be shared with future applicants and used to improve future experiences in the facility.

When is the space available?
For the purposes of this program, the space is available from 8-5, M-F. Other times may be  available via request. Contact the MRC for more information.

I don’t want to teach all my classes there, but I am interested in some.
Preference will be given to those applications requesting regular class schedules.  Requests for a limited number of uses or a one-time-only use will be considered on a space available basis.

Can I use my own laptop/iPad/equipment?
The room is capable of supporting personal equipment via digital/analog connections. iPads may also take advantage of apps to connect wirelessly to the room desktop as a remote kiosk.

Will training or support be provided?
Support will be provided for room technology and space configuration. Faculty will be given training and an overview of how the room works and can be configured and may choose to teach with or without room-based support as desired.