Aug. 19, 2019
The start of the semester is busy. But the start of the semester is also the perfect time to try something new.
This fall, OIT has several opportunities for faculty to incorporate new technology into their courses.
Whether you’re looking for an easier way to take attendance or something to engage your students (VR, anyone?), we’ve got something for you.
No. 1: Qwickly Attendance
Looking for a better way to track attendance in Canvas? Qwickly is a customizable attendance application that integrates with your Canvas courses.
We’re looking for interested faculty to participate in a pilot of Qwickly for the fall semester.
No. 2: Learning Portfolios
This year, we continue pilots of Portfolium, a learning portfolio application. Learning portfolios (ePortfolios) are collections of student work and other evidence from their career in higher education — often accompanied by reflections — that demonstrate students’ broad skills and competencies.
No. 3: Google Course Kit
Raise your hand if you use Google Drive and Google Docs for everything. For those who prefer to use Docs to review student papers, we have good news: Google Course Kit is now integrated with Canvas.
St. Edward’s has beta access to Course Kit, which allows students to submit directly from Google and for faculty to grade and make comments using Google tools — all while using Canvas as the central LMS.
Bonus: You can save your most common comments in a Comments Bank and reuse them.
No. 4: Google Tour Creator
And there’s more on the Google front. The Digital Media Center is participating in a Google-sponsored pilot of Tour Creator. For those unfamiliar, Google Tour Creator lets you put together 3D virtual tours that can take your students to places they otherwise may never go.
The DMC even has a 360-degree camera if you’d like to create new content for Tour Creator.
No. 5: Wireless Projection
Wireless projection technology allows you and your students to project from any device at any time, without all the hassle of cords and adapters. It can help create a more student-centered learning environment that supports greater engagement, collaboration and accountability.
Ready to cut the cord? Solstice wireless projection is now available to try in all Ragsdale and Fleck conference rooms (except Fleck 305). Alternately, you can contact OIT support to pilot the technology in your classroom.
Interested in What Your Peers Are Trying?
The Teaching, Learning and Technology Roundtable awarded grants to four faculty-led technology pilots for the 2019 academic year. Check out the projects for inspiration on how to incorporate these new technologies into your course.