Archive for the 'Classroom Technology' Category

John Lindner Debuts on YouTube

dwaldron April 6th, 2009

Professor John Lindner has made his YouTube debut. In his video, he demonstrates the use of a sympodium. In the course of this, he also explains how Eratosthenes, before 194 BC, determined that the earth was spherical and estimated its circumference with remarkable accuracy. Professor Lindner’s demonstration was conducted in conjunction with the work of Wooster’s learning community studying the pedagogical effectiveness of the sympodium device. The learning community’s work is funded by a grant from the Ohio Learning network.

Follow this link to view the video.

April is Instructional Technology Month

dwaldron March 28th, 2009

April has been designated Instructional Technology Month at the College of Wooster. Don’t miss these opportunities to see interesting new technologies and the exciting ways in which College faculty are using technology to enhance student learning.

  • Audio Projects
    Wednesday, April 1, 12:00 - 1:00
    Kauke 143
    Matthew Broda and Megan Wereley will present their use of podcasting in the classroom.
  • Teaching Matters — Writing with Technology
    Friday, April 3, 12:00 - 1:00
    Kauke 238
    Bill Macauley and Matt Gardzina will present on writing with technology.
  • Changing Shape of Education: Roles for Technology
    Tuesday, April 7, 11:00 - 12:00
    Kauke 243
    Steve Ehrman of the Teaching, Learning and Technology Group will present a lecture on this topic.
  • Video Projects
    Wednesday, April 15, 12:00 - 1:00
    Lean Lecture Room
    Angela Bos, Karen Taylor, and Amy Jo Stavnezer will present their use of video projects in the classroom.
  • Web Mapping
    Friday, April 17, 12:00 - 1:00
    Lean Lecture Room
    Instructional Technology will present web-based mapping tools such as Google Earth and census mapping and how they might be incorporated into the classroom.
  • Sympodiums
    Wednesday, April 22, 12:00 - 1:00
    Mateer 001
    Wooster’s OLN learning community will present its findings on the usefulness of the SMART Sympodium for classroom use.
  • Horizon Report Panel Discussion
    Wednesday, April 29, 12:00 - 1:00
    Mateer 001
    Join us for an open conversation about the annual New Media Consortium’s Horizon Report which focuses this year on mobile devices, geo-mapping and more.

Community Examines Effectiveness of Technology in Liberal Education

dwaldron November 9th, 2008

In the fall of 2008, the College of Wooster formed a Learning Community (LC) for Assessing the Effective Use of Technology in a Liberal Arts Curriculum. The work of this group is being funded by a grant from the Ohio Learning Network (OLN). Broadly, the LC’s goal is to develop a deeper understanding of the issues that inform the use of technology in learning and teaching. Each OLN LC must have a project that is the focus of its work. The focus of Wooster’s LC is the use of a Sympodium in John Lindner’s astronomy courses and Michelle Solensky’s introductory biology courses.

The three broad goals of the Learning Community are:

  • to enhance student learning
  • to understand the impact of the Sympodium on the instructor
  • to identify Information and Instructional Technology support needs

A number of project-related events will be scheduled throughout the year, including two workshops, one of which will be sponsored by the Five Colleges of Ohio.

Seeking multiple perspectives, the LC membership includes a diverse group of students, faculty, and staff from Biology, Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science, Information Technology, Instructional Technology, the Libraries, the Writing Center, and Educational Assessment, as well as representatives from the other four members of the Five Colleges of Ohio Consortium. President Cornwell attended the group’s first meeting, sharing some of his thoughts on the role of technology in higher education.

OIT is very excited to participate in the important work of this Learning Community. For further information, please contact Jon Breitenbucher, Principal Investigator of the project, or Simon Gray, project Convener.

Freedlander Theatre gets Media Upgrade

dwaldron October 22nd, 2008

Over the summer the Media Services group oversaw the installation of new media equipment in Freedlander Theatre. A new projector screen was installed on the theatre stage. Images are projected onto the screen by a new projector installed behind it. A custom-designed technologically-enhanced podium was added for use on the stage. The podium features a courtesy port to accommodate a laptop computer. It also features a built-in Pixie Pro unit used to control the projector and DVD/VCR unit. A new sound system was also installed in the theatre.

The new equipment provides a more professional environment for presenters and a better experience for the audience. This upgrade was part of a broader OIT initiative to enhance the presentation capabilities of larger campus venues and to enhance media support for campus events.

Psychology Acquires Personal Response Systems

dwaldron February 24th, 2008

In response to the VPAA’s solicitation of IT equipment requests, the Psychology Department reqested two personal response systems. This request was approved and the department is now in possession of two systems acquired from Turning Technologies. Each system consists of 20 wireless response keypads (”clickers”) and a small receiver that connects to the instructor’s computer via a USB port. Each system also includes software that integrates its operations with Microsoft PowerPoint.

These systems can be used to conduct anonymous polls and to assess the students’ collective understanding of particular points. Special slides are created in PowerPoint to present questions and possible answers. Students’ responses are entered via the keypads and captured by the receiver. Responses can be automatically summarized for presentation via PowerPoint. Instructors can then tailor subsequent instruction and activities based upon the results. Responses can also be retrieved for later analysis. It is also possible to use the system to track and record the responses of individual students.

The personal response system is easy to use—instructors already familiar with PowerPoint can become comfortable with the system’s essential functionality in less than five minutes. If you would like more information on personal response systems or would like to see a demonstration of this technology please contact Jon Breitenbucher or Joe Benfield. You can also learn more about personal response systems by visiting the vendor’s website.

Kauke 237 Cabinet Modified to Accommodate Camera

dwaldron January 28th, 2008

The media cabinet in Kauke 237 has been equipped with a drawer to permanently house a document camera. IT hopes to make similar modifications to other media cabinets in the building, thereby increasing the number of cameras in permanent locations. This will allow faculty members who rely heavily on document cameras to request rooms permanently equipped with these devices. This action will reduce the number of the mobile cameras that are reservable through the administrative coordinators. Comments about the document cameras in Kauke or the cabinet modification should be directed to David Waldron.

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IT Launches Documentation Effort

dwaldron January 20th, 2008

In an effort to better inform members of the campus community about the various information technology resources available to them, the Office of Information Technology has launched an effort to enhance the documentation of these resources and to improve its organization and accessibility. New documentation is being created in the College wiki and links to it can be found under the “Computing Resources” tab of the IT website. Currently, the wiki contains information about audio and video production resources, copying and printing services, classroom technology, IT help desks and networking services (including wireless). The documentation initiative will continue throughout the Spring 2008 semester and into the summer, and many new documents will be created. The initiative is being guided by User Services Intern Catherine Grandgeorge.

Kauke 141 Scaler Replaced

dwaldron January 9th, 2008

Persistent problems with the classroom technology in Kauke 141 were tracked to the room’s scaler. That unit has now been replaced. Similar problems had been encountered in Kauke 037 and Kauke 243. Those units were replaced earlier with positive results. As reported earlier, the problems with the scalers are the result of a manufacturing defect. The units with this defect are being repaired under warranty.

Five Classrooms Receive Technology Upgrades

dwaldron January 9th, 2008

Five classrooms are receiving technology enhancements over winter break. Academic departments requested these upgrades in response to the VPAA’s solicitation of information technology requests and proposals. These particular classrooms–Taylor 111, Taylor 302, Wishart 101, Morgan 105 and Scovel 004–were selected, in part, because the modifications could be completed between the fall and spring semesters. The remaining requests and proposals are still under consideration and it is hoped that additional classroom upgrades will be carried out once the spring semester concludes.

In Taylor 111, the ceiling-mounted projector and speakers are being replaced. A media equipment rack is being incorporated into the lab table in the front of the room. The rack will house a new dvd/vcr combo unit, cable TV tuner, amplifier, scaler, power conditioner and Mac Mini. A sympodium will sit atop the lab table. The classroom technology will be controlled by a Pixie Pro unit which will also be located on the top of the lab table.

A new ceiling mounted projector will be installed in Taylor 302 along with a new projector screen and new speakers. A new media cabinet will be installed. The rack inside the media cabinet will contain a new dvd/vcr combo unit, amplifier, scaler and power conditioner. The room will also receive a new Mac Mini. The technology will be controlled by a Pixie Pro unit.

Wishart 101 will receive a custom-built podium. This podium contains an equipment rack which will house a new dvd/vcr combo unit, cable TV tuner, amplifier, scaler, power conditioner and Mac Mini. The classroom technology will be controlled by a Pixie Pro unit mounted atop the podium. New ceiling-mounted speakers are being installed, along with a new ceiling-mounted projector and a projector screen.

Morgan 105 will receive a custom-built podium. This podium contains an equipment rack which will house a new dvd/vcr combo unit, cable TV tuner, amplifier, scaler, power conditioner and Mac Mini. The classroom technology will be controlled by a Pixie Pro unit mounted atop the podium.

A new ceiling-mounted projector and projector screen are being added to Scovel 004. A new media cabinet is being installed. The rack inside the media cabinet will house a new dvd/vcr combo unit, cable TV tuner, amplifier, scaler and power conditioner. The room will also receive a new Mac Mini. The technology will be controlled by a Pixie Pro unit.

IT is very pleased to enhance these learning spaces and looks forward to enhancing others.

Dan Krites Joins Media Services

dwaldron January 4th, 2008

The Office of Information Technology is very pleased to welcome Daniel Krites. Dan has just joined us as Presentation Technology and Event Support Specialist. In this role, Dan will provide multimedia support for events on-campus. He will also play a key role in the installation and support of digital technologies in our learning spaces. As Media Services shifted to NTS last summer, Dan will be reporting to NTS Director Vince Di Scipio. Dan comes to us with significant experience in the consumer audio/video electronics field and in customer service.

dkrites3
Dan Krites

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