:TeachTech

As we move more and more into a solid Web 2.0 world (and probably are already in the bleeding edge of Web 3.0) – the ease of publishing and media creation with these kinds of tools and sites is astounding.

This means that student created content will be easier to produce and easier to share both in our courses and outside of the courses. As an example, here is a YouTube video from one of our recent International Studies trips through the Tennessee Consortium for Interational Studies (TnCIS).

We bring you: Set Dancing in Ireland:

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ETS is happy to announce that we have added another tool to our Faculty Toolbelt of instructional technology. Starting this semester, instructors have the option of requiring the use of Respondus LockDown Browser (LDB) for tests, quizzes and exams in the Desire2Learn (D2L) environment for their online students.

From the Respondus website:

Respondus LockDown Browser is a custom browser that locks down the testing environment within Desire2Learn. When students use Respondus LockDown Browser they are unable to print, copy, go to another URL, or access other applications. When an assessment is started, students are locked into it until they submit it for grading. (Supports Windows and Mac OS X 10.3.9+.)

In a nutshell, for any quiz in the D2L Quiz tool, you can check a box that requires it to only be available in the LDB. The browser is being installed in the open lab for the summer and is scheduled to be installed in the classroom labs for the Fall. Online students can download the browser from the support site so they will have it in place for any required exams.

One important note: the LDB will NOT be in the Testing Center as it conflicts with other software needed in the Center. Since the Testing Center provides a proctored environment, this should not be a problem.

For more information, visit the ETS Faculty Toolbelt page or join a D2L Quizzes workshop this summer at ETS!

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Title: D2L Training: Discussions
Location: GN 232
Description: A look at the discussions tool in depth
Start Time: 10-00-00
Date: 2008-05-22
End Time: 11-30-00

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Title: D2L Training: Content
Location: GN 232
Description: We will look at the Content tool in depth
Start Time: 14-00-00
Date: 2008-05-22
End Time: 15-30-00

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Title: D2L Training: Quizzes
Location: GN 232
Description: We will look at the Quiz tool in depth
Start Time: 10-00-00
Date: 2008-05-21
End Time: 11-30-00

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Title: D2L Training: Quizzes
Location: GN 232
Description: We will look at the D2L Grades tool in depth.
Start Time: 14-00-00
Date: 2008-05-20
End Time: 15-30-00

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If you would like some hands-on training in the new version of D2L, make your plans to join one or more of these sessions next week.

Each session is 90 minutes in Goins 232. There is room for 10 folks so first come, first computer!

Tuesday, May 20

• 10 AM – Grades
• 1 PM – Quizzes

Wednesday, May 21

• 10 AM – Quizzes
• 1 PM – Grades

Thursday, May 22

• 10 AM – Discussions
• 1 PM – Content

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We have our spankin’ new version of D2L installed. Configuration is still in progress so if you encounter any errors or other strangeness, pass them along to ETS.

Enjoy!!

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The Desire2Learn server is offline now as the D2L staff does their job upgrading us to the latest version (8.3). After they are done with their part, ETS staff will work to get the server nice and tidy for all of us to use starting this summer.

Exciting, isn’t it?

The support site has been updated with new information and tutorials. If you are curious about what is coming ahead, take a peek.

Image: ‘processor upgrade‘
www.flickr.com/photos/10994112@N00/24807663

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We here at ETS are joining in the celebratory mood that is Graduation Day!!

Many of our faculty are off for the summer doing those summer kinds of things. But, we just know that the perpetual motion machine that is technology innovation never takes the summer off.

So, with that awareness, we offer a few tips of how to keep up with all those techno-changes while vacating:

1. Stay tuned to TeachTech right here!! (hey, we had to start with this one, didn’t we?) We will keep posting all summer so new things of interested to teaching with technology as well as training we will have on our new version of D2L will always show up here.

2. Create your own Netvibes or iGoogle page and fill it some select RSS feeds. Having your own portal or start page can really streamline your information influx and allow you to pick and choose what to follow in the technology work (well, any world – really). Visit Netvibes or grab a Google account (if you don’t have one) and add content to your iGoogle page. New to this stuff? Visit our Technology Tuesday session on Netvibes or view a nifty Netvibes tutorial.
What sites to add? Some of our personal favorites for technology/teaching feeds are:

• Online Learning Daily (OLDaily)
• The E-Learning News
• ReadWriteWeb

3. Create a del.icio.us account and start saving your links there. You can use tags to organize related links together and also to find others who share your interest and see what they are saving as well. It is a great way to build a resource list for a class, personal interest or hobby.
New to del.icio.us and social bookmarking? Start with our Technology Tuesday session and then learn more from this video:

del.icio.us tutorial on TeacherTube

Have a great summer! Stay tuned for more D2L fun!

Image: ‘Graduation Cake Guy‘ Share This

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