Welcome to Fall Semester!

From Cindy Jennings & the Department of Learning Technologies

Please remember to connect with the Department of Learning Technologies to assist you with instructional design, selection and use of technology in teaching and learning.

Individual and group consultation and customized programming are available to meet your needs at your convenience.

Our specific services include:

• Instructional design support for face-to-face, blended, hybrid, and fully online course development
• Virtual learning environments (Adobe Connect)
• Blackboard
• Voice Thread (*newly integrated into Blackboard)
• Digital pedagogy, including digital storytelling
• Using mobile devices in the classroom
• Teaching and learning with blogs and wikis
• Digital citizenship
• Digital content creation & curation, including lecture capture & instructional video creation with Echo 360 (including captioning)
• Creating accessible learning materials

We also support:

• Student Technology Enrichment Program (STEP-UP Quality Enhancement Plan)
• BYOD Initiative
• Tablet Checkout Program
• (*New*) Title III Active Learning Initiative

What's *New* in Blackboard?

• Photo Roster Now Available

Addition of the *new* Photo Roster to available tools in Blackboard will all faculty to easily identify students. Find the Photo Roster in the Control Panel, Course Tools (and for more information, visit UTS IT News:

• Voice Thread Integration

Voice Thread is a cloud-based application that provides robust resources for communication, collaboration and connection online. The seamless Blackboard integration means that your students have access to Voice Threads you create and link to your courses without having to create individual accounts.

Watch this brief introduction:

For more detailed information about features, visit the Voice Thread About Page.

And, an excellent Higher Education Webinar Series is available to help explore pedagogical use of Voice Thread.

Blackboard Admins have provided this guide for Creating a Voice Thread in Blackboard. USC Creating a VoiceThread.pdf

• Campus Pack 4.9 Interactive Tools Upgrade

Campus Pack Blogs and Wikis in Blackboard were upgraded in late summer. A summary of the new environment is provided here: bb91-cp4-aug2014-interactive-tools-faculty.pdf

Remember that excellent Blackboard Instructor help is available from the Help link at the bottom of your Control Panel menu in each course shell.

A full set of video tutorials can be accessed from the Blackboard Learn Videos Page or directly from Blackboard TV.

Coming Soon to Blackboard:

A minor upgrade will take place in Decemter after grades are due to be turned in. The upgrade is currently scheduled for Wednesday, December 17th, starting at 5:30 p.m. The system should be back up and available early Friday, December 19th. The upgrade promiises new features such as easier assignment building, improved Student Portfolio, full student preview, and more. As soon as further details are available, we will pass them on.

Take 3 Minutes to answer 3 Questions to help us plan opportunities that best meet your needs

From Robert Thomas & the Department of Media Services

Every summer, Media Services upgrades the oldest smart classrooms with the latest technology.  These are the eight (8) classrooms that were upgraded this past summer:

• CASB 101, 102, 103, and 104
• Hodge 255 & 256
• Media 319 & 320
  

These eight smart classrooms also received the first installations of Crestron's AirMedia, which allows for wireless connectivity to the projector from a laptop, MacBook, and any iOS or Android mobile device.  AirMedia is the latest addition to the revised smart classroom standard, and one that allows for greater classroom participation by our students.

Also over this past summer, Media Services was responsible for implementing seven (7) of the Technology Requests approved by the IT Advisory Committee during the Spring 2014 semester.  The approved Technology Requests funded upgrades to:

• The Athletics Performance Center
• CASB 117
• Hodge 266
• Library 247
• Smith 102C, 230, & 315

The Technology Request funded upgrade to CASB 117 also included an Echo360 HD Capture Station; and thanks to Palmetto College funding, an Echo360 HD Capture Station was installed in Media 320, bringing the total number of Echo360 HD Capture Stations to eight (8).

If you would like to explore how Echo360 can be utilized for lecture capture or event recording and streaming, please contact Derrick Hopkins, Echo360 Administrator, at extension 5569.

*Be on the Lookout*:

Technology Requests are a great way to request technology for your learning environment.
Jeanne Skul, Vice Chancellor for ITS, will be sharing the next opportunity & call for proposals for these projects in early spring semester.
Media Services is available to provide consultation and quotes for your requests.

From Luke VanWingerden & the Department of Client Services

Computer Health Checks

The new program called Computer Health Checks, started in September, offering you the opportunity for your University computer to be given a check-up and a clean bill of health.

The Computer Health Checks Include: 

• Cleaning your computer with antibacterial wipes, screen cleaner and compressed air.
• Scanning for potentially harmful software, adware, and viruses that your computer may be infected with.
• Ensure that your computer software and operating system has the latest updates.
• Inspecting your computer for any hardware issues or malfunctioning parts.
  

At the conclusion of the check-up, we will provide you with an analysis of any findings and any maintenance we have performed on your computer. If there is a need for further assistance we will try to schedule a time for you to bring your computer by the HelpDesk when it is convenient for you.

COST: This Computer Health Check is FREE to you and your department. All of the USC Upstate Dell computers have accidental damage coverage, so we can fix anything that is broken no matter how large or small or the reason it may have been damaged.

When: Take note of the following dates that we will across campus and in your building.  Please allow approximately 1 hour for us to clean and scan your computer.  You will not need to be present during the scan. We will be in your building from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm on the date listed below. Please watch for more information on the specific location within your building as the date approaches.

Contact the HelpDesk know if you have any questions.

Lunches with Luke (*Starts Today*)!

When: Tuesday, October 21st, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm (Stop by when you are able to)

Where: CLC Dining Hall Quiet Room

Cost: $5 for a faculty/staff meal

You are cordially invited to join this informal conversation about any technology related matter.