dwaldron August 8th, 2007
This summer, a number of important responsibilities shifted from Instructional Technology to Networks, Telecommunications and Systems (NTS). These responsibilities include the installation and maintenance of projectors, smartboards, projection screens, speakers, DVD players and similar devices in classrooms and presentation spaces. They also include providing media support for College events. To facilitate these changes, Media Technology Manager Anthony Liccardi has joined NTS and now reports to NTS Director Vince Di Scipio.
These changes will allow us to leverage the NTS group’s considerable experience in equipment installation and support. This will be particularly useful as IT looks to pay increased attention to campus classrooms, meeting rooms and presentation spaces. These changes are also intended to free Instructional Technology of these responsibilities, so that that department can focus more attention on learning space design, the evaluation of new technologies and their pedagogical implications, the provision of new services to faculty and to students, and the provision of more direct support for faculty in the effective use of technology in teaching and learning.
The Office of Information Technology is grateful to Vince and to Anthony for their roles in this transition and is confident that these changes will ultimately enhance the quality of IT services.
dwaldron August 8th, 2007
Back in March, IT announced that the DVD/VCR combo units in all Kauke classrooms would be replaced. Ten units were replaced during spring break. (Those in rooms 141, 142, 143, 236, 237, 238, 242, 243, 244 and 305.) The remaining units have now been replaced. The new units are capable of playing DVD regions one through six, and video cassettes in PAL, NTSC and SECAM formats. The original units supported a much more limited range of regions and formats. This replacement does not impact the way in which users interact with or control the devices.
Should you encounter a problem with any of these devices or with any technological equipment in any classroom please contact the help desk. The number is posted in each classroom. If the help desk worker is unable to resolve the problem over the phone, he or she will dispatch an appropriate technician.
dwaldron August 6th, 2007
When the 07-08 academic year gets underway, a new pool of equipment will be available for student check out. The pool will include:
- 6 digital video cameras
- 6 tripods
- 4 digital still cameras
- 3 digital audio recorders
- 2 lapel microphones
- 2 shotgun microphones
This new equipment is made possible by a successful Hewlett-Mellon grant authored by Janet Russell, Megan Werely, Anthony Liccardi and Jon Breitenbucher. The grant proposal noted that academic departments are “beginning to expand the definition of ‘text’ as they require students to produce films, blogs, web sites, and podcasts in order to demonstrate their learning.” This equipment is intended to facilitate the completion of these assignments, and to afford students greater opportunity to explore new digital media.
This equipment will be available for check out between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday at the new IT student help desk in Andrews Library. (Located just behind the circulation desk.) Use of this equipment is limited to academic assignments and projects. Requests for student use must come from the student’s instructor or I.S. advisor and should be made via email to IT_Loaner_Equipment@wooster.edu. Further information will be available in the Computing Resources section of the IT web site.
Congratulations and thanks to the grant authors!
dwaldron July 27th, 2007
Back in April of this year, IT announced the designation of Taylor 210 as a classroom technology demo room. The demo room is intended to provide faculty members and instructional technologists with opportunities to experiment with and to evaluate classroom technologies in a classroom setting. The technologies installed in the demo room will change on a regular basis. The experimentation and evaluation that is conducted here will help the College to determine which technologies are effective in our learning environments, and consequently, which should be deployed in our classrooms.
IT recently installed a model 600i SMARTboard in the demo room. The SMARTboard joins the sympodium already located there. Plans call for the future installation of a ceiling mounted document camera and an audio capture system.
Further information on the demo classroom will be available at the beginning of the new academic year.
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| Instructional Technology Intern Joe Benfield demonstrates the new SMARTboard. |
dwaldron April 4th, 2007
The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), the National Institute for Technology and Liberal Education (NITLE) and Project Kaleidoscope recently conducted a workshop on Learning Spaces & Technology on the campus of the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA. Iain Crawford (VPAA), Simon Gray (Associate Professor of Computer Science), Damon Hickey (Director of the Libraries), Janet Russell (Director of Instructional Technology) and David Waldron (CITO) comprised the Wooster team attending the event. The workshop was designed to help colleges and universities plan effective technology-enhanced learning spaces. These spaces include libraries, classrooms, and computing or multi-media labs.
The Wooster participants discussed how students might best be prepared for life, work, citizenship and leadership in our digital age and the knowledge democracy that is emerging, and how the College libraries, learning support services and the learning spaces across campus might be reimagined to enhance student outcomes. All the Wooster attendees are members of the Wooster’s taskforce on the future of the libraries. The group took advantage of the workshop to further the ongoing converstation about the development of a knowledge commons within Andrews Library. Janet Russell and David Waldron also updated the group on the creation of the instructional technology demo classroom in Taylor Hall and the renovation of Wishart 102 as a prototype technology-enhanced classroom. The group discussed the importance of collaboration and coordination between Information Technology, Instructional Technology and academic offices to ensure that technological operations, facilities and initiatives are aligned with learning goals and outcomes. The workshop attendees have scheduled a follow-up meeting to review the workshop and plan future activities.
David Waldron, Simon Gray, Iain Crawford, Janet Russell and Damon Hickey
during a break at the Learning Spaces workshop.
dwaldron April 3rd, 2007
In cooperation with the Departments of Physics and Math and Computer Science, the Office of Instructional Technology has designated Taylor 210 an instructional technology demo room. The demo room will provide faculty members and instructional technologists the opportunity to experiment with and to evaluate classroom technologies in a classroom setting. The technologies installed in the demo room will change on a regular basis. The experimentation and evaluation that takes place in the demo room will be used to determine which technologies should be deployed in classrooms across the campus.
The Office of Instructional Technology will be soliciting faculty input as to which technologies should be installed in the demo room. Each installation will be announced here in the blog. Questions? Contact Janet Russell, Director of Instructional Technology.
Stay tuned for further developments!
dwaldron March 20th, 2007
IT, Communications, Theatre, Purchasing, and Physical Plant have been collaborating on the development of a renovation plan for Wishart 102. One of the chief goals of the renovation of this classroom is the establishment of new standards for technologically-enhanced classrooms on the Wooster campus. The new design will reflect important lessons learned during the renovation of the learning spaces in Kauke Hall. The implementation of the new design in Wishart 102 will afford faculty and instructional technologists the opportunity to evaluate it fully, and their experience in Wishart 102 will inform the future development of technologically-enhanced classrooms on campus. The renovation of Wishart 102 is therefore seen as the development of a prototype.
The room will include a ceiling-mounted projector, motorized screen, dvd/vcr combo unit, speakers, amplifer, document camera, and, of course, a computer. The combo unit, amplifer, document camera and computer will be housed within a custom-designed podium located at the front of the room. The technology will be controlled using a Pixie Pro unit mounted on the podium. The renovation, however, goes beyond equipping the room with new classroom technology. The classroom furniture will also be replaced–with an eye toward flexibility in accomodating various teaching and learning styles. The goal has been to think holistically about the classroom space and the overall impact on learning.
Work will get underway soon after the end of the current academic year and will be complete by June 30. IT is excited to be working on a project of this nature, and is very pleased to be partnering with Communications, Theatre, Purchasing and Physical Plant. Developments will be published on the blog.
dwaldron March 20th, 2007
IT, Communications, Theatre, Purchasing, and Physical Plant have been collaborating on the development of a renovation plan for Wishart 102. One of the chief goals of the renovation of this classroom is the establishment of new standards for technologically-enhanced classrooms on the Wooster campus. The new design will reflect important lessons learned during the renovation of the learning spaces in Kauke Hall. The implementation of the new design in Wishart 102 will afford faculty and instructional technologists the opportunity to evaluate it fully, and their experience in Wishart 102 will inform the future development of technologically-enhanced classrooms on campus. The renovation of Wishart 102 is therefore seen as the development of a prototype.
The room will include a ceiling-mounted projector, motorized screen, dvd/vcr combo unit, speakers, amplifer, document camera, and, of course, a computer. The combo unit, amplifer, document camera and computer will be housed within a custom-designed podium located at the front of the room. The technology will be controlled using a Pixie Pro unit mounted on the podium. The renovation, however, goes beyond equipping the room with new classroom technology. The classroom furniture will also be replaced–with an eye toward flexibility in accomodating various teaching and learning styles. The goal has been to think holistically about the classroom space and the overall impact on learning.
Work will get underway soon after the end of the current academic year and will be complete by June 30. IT is excited to be working on a project of this nature, and is very pleased to be partnering with Communications, Theatre, Purchasing and Physical Plant. Developments will be published on the blog.
dwaldron March 8th, 2007
After conversations with the vendor, IT is pleased to announce that the DVD/VHS combo units in all Kauke classrooms will be replaced. We expect to replace 10 of these units over spring break and the remaining units this summer. The new units will be able to play DVD regions one through six, and video cassettes in PAL, NTSC and SECAM formats. While the original intention was to support these regions and standards, the current units cannot accommodate this wide range. This replacement will not impact the way in which users interact with or control these devices. One of the new units has already been installed and tested in Kauke 038 with positive results.
dwaldron February 2nd, 2007
Janet Russell has announced that she will leave her position as Director of Instructional Technology on May 31, 2007. Janet has accepted a position as Assistant Director of the Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship at Georgetown University. Her new duties will include teaching science pedagogy to graduate and undergraduate students; developing and leading workshops for faculty and graduate students; assisting in organizing and facilitating the Teaching, Learning, and Innovation Summer Institute and other major events; and participating in University strategic planning in areas related to the sciences.
Janet assumed her current position in the summer of 2005. Instructional Technology made significant advances under Janet’s leadership, including the implementation of Moodle and MDID. Janet also brought podcasting to campus, and began the exploration of channel 2 as a pedagogical tool. She played a pivotal role in the implementation of the classroom technology in the renovated Kauke Hall.
We will miss Janet’s energy and excitement, but wish her the very best as she prepares to assume her exciting new responsibilities.