Collaborate Virtual Classroom – Available now

Blackboard Collaborate is a multiplatform software solution that enables live web conferencing on a multitude of devices including your personal computer, tablet, and smart phone.

Using Collaborate, anyone can create a virtual classroom on demand whether it’s a scheduled event or an impromptu meeting. View slides, participate in live audio discussions, guide users through a web tour, and even enable screen sharing of your own device or take control of another.

Dr. Lois Spitzer
Dr. Lois Spitzer

Stockton faculty have already begun to take advantage of this service as part of their hybrid and online classes. Dr. Lois Spitzer, Associate Professor of Teacher Education, has been using Collaborate to record her class lectures within a hybrid format based on the idea of the flipped classroom. “In class, the students are doing what was traditionally assigned as homework (e.g., working on exercises, collaborating on projects) and at home, they're doing what was traditionally done in class (e.g., listening to lectures)."

Dr. Joe Marchetti, Professor of Education, uses Collaborate to allow his students to make presentations.


A Sample Collaborate session showing the program interface. Click image to enlarge.
“By giving the student 'moderator' privileges, they can take over control of the class and make their presentations. They use their webcams and microphones integrated through their computer connection.  It’s an excellent tool for those students who need the flexibility of not having to show up at a specific location at a specific time.”

Bob Kachur
Bob Kachur

Professor Bob Kachur uses collaborate as both a lecture recording platform and support tool, providing students with feedback on test results and instructions for assignments. In all he’s create 62 unique lecture recordings using Blackboard Collaborate.

"It’s an excellent tool for those students who need the flexibility of not having to show up at a specific location Dr. Joe Marchettiat a specific time.”
-Dr. Joe Marchetti

Recently, the usefulness of this service was demonstrated at the Collaborate Now! event held on October 10, 2013 at the University of Pennsylvania. Stockton received an invitation to do a presentation and Shelly Meyers, Associate Professor of Education, and Linda Feeney, Director of E-Learning responded with a session titled “Using Collaborate in an Online Course to Increase Student Engagement: A Flipped Classroom Case Study.”


A Collaborate classroom can be created from within any Blackboard course.

Linda went to Philadelphia to interact with the live audience. When it came time for the presentation, Shelly and seven of her students joined the presentation via Collaborate. Shelly was in her office and her student were in various locations on and off campus.

In addition to the classroom, there are many other uses for this resource including candidate interviews, remote training, online office hours, guest speakers, as well as online advising. Learn more about Blackboard Collaborate by viewing this brief online orientation. If you’d like to start using Collaborate in your classroom contact the Office of E-Learning for more information.



Camtasia Studio – Stockton offering licenses to create interactive content.

More than a simple lecture capture tool, Camtasia Studio offers advanced video editing features within an easy to grasp interface with extensive online tutorials, as well as phone and priority web support. Faculty that wish to produce content using Camtasia can be granted access to a free license and headset microphone to use during the duration of their project.

To combine features such as audio, video, and on screen images previously required software with a high learning curve and an even higher price tag.  With Camtasia, all of these features are available within a single package for both PC and Mac platforms.  The produced video is compatible with all the latest web enabled devices such as tablets and smart phones and also allows for the addition of closed captioning, a requirement for accessibility needs.

"Camtasia Studio proved to be an invaluable Dr. Jack Devinepedagogical tool"
-Dr. Jack Devine

Dr. Jack Devine, an adjunct professor for Arts and Humanities, incorporated Camtasia produced videos into his introductory American History course for the first time last summer. He states, "I was teaching it as an online course for the first time and was looking for a way in which to incorporate slide lectures that I normally give in the classroom. Camtasia Studio proved to be an invaluable pedagogical tool in presenting these lectures by means of recorded slide narratives. I feel that the slide narratives were a welcome respite for the students from what was otherwise a diet of heavy readings. They broke up the course and added a certain degree of variety that otherwise would have been lacking. In the future, I hope to add a few more of the slide lectures using the Camtasia software."


Click the image above to see how to quickly record a PowerPoint presentation.

Whether you need to create an introductory video, or an advanced media presentation, Camtasia Studio may be just what you’ve been looking for. If you’re interested in using Camtasia to produce content for your classes, please contact the E-Learning Office for more information.

 

 


Appointment Scheduling in Blackboard

With preceptorial advising already underway, the E-Learning office would like to remind Faculty of a great resource already available within Blackboard.  The Stockton web appointment scheduling system (WASS) allows you to create a virtual sign-up sheet for student appointments.  No longer do you need to post sign-up sheets on your office doors. Every semester a course is automatically created for every preceptor with your preceptees already added in as students.

Not a preceptor, no problem, the tool can also be used for any purpose where meeting sign-ups are required.  Block out times when you won’t be available and know for sure which students signed up for a specific time.

A user guide on using the WASS appointment system is available here.  If you need assistance in setting up an appointment calendar in Blackboard, please contact the E-Learning office.


Stockton has become an institutional member of the Association for Authentic, Experiential and Evidence-Based Learning (AAEEBL)

In an effort to learn more emerging trends in e-portfolios, the College has become an institutional member of the Association for Authentic, Experiential and Evidence-Based Learning (AAEEBL). The organization is committed to the value of e-portfolio for learning,  assessment and life-long career success and is working to serve the emerging field. AAEEBL provides benefits such as generous conference discounts and seats on a variety of committees that invite professionals to collaborate, share and learn.  More information can be found at www.aaeebl.org.


Issue #2 · November 2013
Inside this Issue:

Upcoming Training Dates:

For other technology training courses, please visit the Computer Services training schedule.

Office of E-Learning
Room: K-206
Phone: 609-626-3479
elearning@stockton.edu

Visit us Online at:
www.stockton.edu/elearning