Microsoft Producer

Essential for all instructors using Blackboard or providing student materials online. Any materials provided to students in Blackboard or over the Internet in any way are subject to specific copyright laws. These laws are more restrictive than those covering face-to-face instruction. Be sure you know how to protect yourself from a copyright infringement law suit!

Videotape and DVD. Available on-going. Email Bobbi Dubins or Janet Murray to obtain.
Also view an overview of copyright guidelines for online resources.

Blackboard I- An Introduction to Blackboard

An introduction to the Blackboard course management system, how it is used by students, and how it can be useful to instructors. Includes an overview of Blackboard and the functions most commonly used by instructors teaching on Blackboard for the first time. Appropriate for instructors considering using Blackboard for teaching online as well as using Blackboard to supplement face-to-face courses.

Topics include:

1. Overview
2. Advantages for the instructor
3. How to get a course created on Blackboard for the first time
4. Understanding the student enrollment process (enrolling and listing users in your class)
5. Using the announcements feature
6. Using the grade book feature to allow students to check their class grades online
7. Using the internal (Blackboard) email feature
8. Making course handouts, study guides, etc. available to students online
9. Learning and teaching resources available for instructors ("ACM Faculty Resources" course: Faculty tutorial, sample student handouts, web sites useful to students learning Blackboard, etc.)
10. Blackboard full motion video tutorial - for students and faculty

This training session is available face-to-face (see above schedule), online and on CD. To access the online training go to www.allegany.edu/dl/facultytraining/.
To request a copy of the training on CD email Bobbi Dubins.

Email Lee Reams or Bobbi Dubins for information.

Blackboard II

Covers intermediate Blackboard functions for instructors with some experience using Blackboard. Goes a step beyond the introductory functions of Blackboard to include how to set up tests/quizzes, how to use the gradebook for more advanced grade tracking, how to use the discussion board to encourage online students to communicate with each other/instructor and/or work collaboratively, how to use a textbook publisher course "cartridge" in your course, and how to customize your course settings.

Topics include:

1. Creating tests and test pools
2. Exporting and Importing Test Pools from Course to Course
3. Grade Book Functions (managing items, weighting items, modifiying items)
4. Exporting the Grade Book into Excel
5. Setting up and using the discussion Board
6. Loading a course "cartridge"
7. Exporting a course
8. Archiving (backing up) your course
9. Copying a course or part of a course to another course
10. Modifying course settings (navigation buttons, course availability dates, course name, etc.)
11. Viewing course statistics

Email Lee Reams or Bobbi Dubins for information.

Creating Tests in Blackboard

Learn how to create quizzes and tests in Blackboard. Produce high quality, learning style based tests and quizzes for students. Included are specific instructions on how to incororate some of the more interesting test question types such as quiz bowl, hot spot, random block, calculated formulas, file response, multiple answer, and jumbled sentences. Learn how to include photo images and audio files in questions, answers and feedback. We will also explore Blackboard test feedback features as a way to help students master content and perform self-checks.

Email Lee Reams for information.

Blackboard Best Practices

For all faculty using Blackboard. Available online.

The session takes about an hour to complete and covers:

1) Beginning of semester procedures for faculty::
What happens at the beginning of each semester, how and when students are automatically enrolled in Blackboard courses, what faculty need to do to verify correct enrollment, when BB courses are available for students to log in at the beginning of the semester, etc.

2) End of semester procedures for faculty::
When courses are made unavailable to students after the semester ends, how to give students continued access to your course to work on incomplete grades, how and when to request your BB courses be "rolled over" for future semesters, how long will BB courses be kept on the server, etc.

3) Protecting your course data: Recommended backup procedures and timing

4) Student Confidentiality: protecting student personal information and student work.

5) Copyright Law: Instructor liability and basic guidelines.

To complete the training:

1. Log in to Blackboard
2. Choose "ACM Faculty Resources" course
3. Read the announcements and then click on "Online Training"
4. Choose "Best Practices for the Use of Blackboard"

Contact Bobbi Dubins with questions.

Web Enhancing Your Course

Preparing to use Blackboard to provide course materials, grades, or quizzes/tests to students in your face-to-face classes. This session is for instructors who have no or little experience in Blackboard.

Topics include:

1) What constitutes a "web enhanced" course?
2) Identifing components commonly used in web enhanced courses (announcements, tests/quizzes, study guides, online grade book etc.)
3) Finding pre-written resources for instructors (publisher course cartridges, re-usable learning objects)
5) Determining what features are most appropriate for your specific course and discipline
6) Basic copyright law issues
7) Step by step approach to web enhancing your course

Available online.

To complete the training:

1. Log in to Blackboard
2. Choose "ACM Faculty Resources" course
3. Read the announcements and then click on "Online Training"
4. Choose "Web Enhancing Your Course"

If you don't have a Blackboard username, email Bobbi Dubins for assistance.

Reviewing Your Online Course Using the Quality Matters Rubric

This session is intended to give instructors an opportunity to become familiar with the Quality Matters Peer Review Rubric used to assess and assure the quality of online courses by the Maryland Online Quality Matters project. Use this session as a starting point to find ways to improve your own online course or to decide whether you would like to participate in the Quality Matters project. Session covers a brief explanation of the Quality Matters project and an overview of the rubric items.

The rubric consists of eight general standards and forty specific standards covering the below areas:

1. Course Overview
2. Learning Objectives
3. Assessment and Measurement
4. Resources and Materials
5. Learner Interaction
6. Course Technology
7. Learner Support
8. Accessibility

Email Bobbi Dubins to register.

Improving Your Web Course - Hands On Workshop **NEW** (for instructors looking for ways to improve their onkine courses)

Using a specialized rubric, this session gives instructors an opportunity to "review" their own online course and compare it with the generally accepted standards of the "Quality Matters Inter-Institutional Quality Assurance in Online Learning Peer Course Review Rubric" grant.

The objective of the session is to help instructors identify ways to improve their online course. Examples and specific ideas will be provided. At the completion of this session, participants will be able to:

• Use the rubric tool developed by the Quality Matters grant in order to improve their online course
• Understand the eight general standards of the Quality Matters Peer Course Review Rubric
• Identify specific changes that will improve their course
• Identify the areas in their courses that are exceptional

Participants in the session, working in pairs, will be asked to share their courses with each other. Participants will then work collaboratively to identify problem areas, brainstorm solutions to common problems, and share ideas.

This is a "hands on", two hour session. There is no lecture, only a brief introduction to the rubric. This is an excellent way for instructors to take their online courses "to the next level"!

Email Bobbi Dubins to register.

Designed for instructors preparing to develop a web course for the first time, this session explores the issues instructors should consider as they embark on developing their course. Covers:

1. Instructional issues:

a. Changes to the course syllabus needed in order to accommodate online students
b. Review and examples of appropriate assignments and activities specific to online courses
c. Uses and methods of assessment and testing; challenges of testing in the online environment
d. Effectively communicating with students without wasting time (email strategies to help you work more efficiently)
e. "Community building" and how it affects student learning in the online environment
f. Organizing your course in a way that facilitates student learning
g. Copyright issues
h. Tips for getting your course started smoothly

2. Faculty skill issues:

a. Outlines the technical skills needed to teach successfully online.

Email Bobbi Dubins to register.

Online Teaching Strategies and Best Practices

Learn ways to make teaching online easier and more effective. Topics covered include: how to get your online course started smoothly, how to increase student learning by designing assignments appropriate for the online environment, how to structure your course to create a positive learning environment, how to facilitate effective "classroom discussion" and how to incorporate collaborative learning into your online course.

Will be available online starting September 15, 2006.

To complete the training:

1. Log in to Blackboard
2. Choose "ACM Faculty Resources" course
3. Read the announcements and then click on "Online Training"
4. Choose "Online Teaching Strategies and Best Practices"

Engaging the Online Learner

This session discusses and gives examples of activities instructors can use to more effectively engage students in online courses. Examples will be given of ice breakers, team activities, reflective activities, games/simulations, and learner led activities. Rita-Marie Conrad's book "Engaging the Online Learner" will be the basis for this session. Dr. Conrad is a nationally recognized leader and author in the field of distance education.

147 Tips for Teaching Online Groups

Using the book of the same name by Hanna, Glowacki-Dudka and Conceicao-Runlee, we will discuss various tips to make designing and teaching an online course easier and more effective. Topics include: preparing yourself to teach online, myths and constraints of online teaching and learning, organizing your course, and implementing your course. Regardless of your level of experience, you are sure to take away a useful hint or tip.

Introduction to the Quality Matters Project

What is the Quality Matters project and how can faculty and institutions benefit from it?

In 2003, Maryland Online (MOL), a statewide consortium of 19 Maryland community colleges and senior institutions, received a grant from FIPSE. The Quality Matters project developed a continuous improvement model for assessing and assuring the quality of online courses. The project identified 40 elements, distributed across eight broad standards, shown to positively impact student learning. These elements were then incorporated into a rubric which can be used to assess online courses.

Key to this process is a faculty-centered, peer based review process. Over the course of the 3 year grant, 103 courses were reviewed and 709 faculty members were trained as peer reviewers. Over 158 institutions from across the nation participated in the project. The project has received numerous awards and recognitions.

Since the expiration of the grant in August 2006, the project is continuing as a project within Maryland Online. As institutional members of MOL, we may continue to use the rubric and the peer review process to assess and improve the quality of our online courses. Concensus among participating faculty has been that it is improves the quality of online courses, as well as being an excellent professional development activity for faculty.

 

Adding Audio and Video to PowerPoint Presentations

Covers how to add audio and video to your PowerPoint presentations, including:

1. How to add audio and video already pre-packaged in PowerPoint,
2. How to import audio and video from external sources (such as a textbook CD or a file you have already created yourself)
3. How to create your own audio using Powerpoints "record" tool.
4. How to create your own audio using the Windows "record" tool.
5. How to record video from a web cam on your own computer and incorporate it in your PowerPoint presentation.
6. How to incorporate music from a music CD or a web site into your presentations.

Email Bobbi Dubins to register.

Scanning Photos and Forms

Learn how to use a scanner to make digital images of photos and
forms that can be easily loaded into Blackboard.

Email Lee Reams to register.

Microsoft Producer

With MS Producer you can:

1) Integrate PowerPoint presentations with audio and video, and synchronize the audio and video to create impressive, auto-run presentations. The presentations can be saved to CD and distributed to students. The end product is very professional looking.

2) Create video screen captures. You can capture what’s on your computer screen in full motion (for example, as you demonstrate software), while at the same time capturing your voice explaining what you are doing.

3) Create digital video. If you have a web cam on your pc, you can use MS Producer to record a “talking head” video of yourself, edit it, and then save it in a format that can be written to CD or uploaded to the Internet.

4) Edit digital video. If you have recorded video clips that you would like to provide to your students, MS Producer can be used to edit it. There is no need to purchase and learn professional video editing software. MS Producer is FREE, and easier to learn than most video editing software.

Training consists of two, two hour sessions.. Participants must sign up for both Part I and Part II. Sessions will be limited to 10 people, so if you are interested please pre-register as soon as possible by sending an email.

Participants must also have a firm knowledge of basic PowerPoint. If you are a bit rusty with PowerPoint you should attend a PowerPoint training session before signing up for MS Producer.