There has been much interest in the use of a virtual classroom for online teaching – UGA currently makes available a virtual classroom called Horizon Wimba (HW). At the last ITT Faculty Academy session, we did a quick demonstration of HW with the promise to follow up with an opportunity to experience it for those who were interested. So, we are going to hold an online HW session this coming Friday:

Friday, February 22 at 2:00 pm

You can attend from anywhere you like, as long as you have a computer (with the right configuration) and an Internet connection, such as your office or from home.

To attend, you just need to let me know of your interest to attend. I will then add you to a special eLC course that uses HW. (If you are receiving this email via some other email account, such as gmail or hotmail, then please send me your UGA email as I need that to add you to the eLC course.)

I will send everyone who replies detailed instructions on what you need to do in preparation (similar to what I send to my students in preparation for an online course).

I will plan on having about 20 minutes worth of ‘content’ for us to experience that shows the full range of HW’s features. But, I’ll actually plan to stay online for a full hour to make sure everyone has plenty of opportunity to ‘play’ with the system. But, many of you will likely get all the information you need in the first 20-30 minutes — you can “enter” and “leave” the HW classroom whenever and how often you wish.

I’m sending this to all ITT Faculty Academy participants over the past two years, plus the COE Online Teaching SIG. All are welcome to join in.

Again, just let me know of your intent to attend on Friday, then look for an email with detailed directions on how to prepare and where to “meet” on Friday.

Lloyd
email Dr. Lloyd Rieber

P.S. If you are interested, but have a conflict for Friday at 2 pm, please let me know. I’m happy to schedule other HW sessions.

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Here is a little more background about the Horizon Wimba virtual classroom:

A virtual classroom is a synchronous technology where people come at the same time to experience an educational experience in a space that resembles a real classroom (an experience that can happen “anywhere, but not any time”). Here are some of things that can be done in a virtual classroom:

-The teacher can conduct a lesson with PowerPoint slides with 2-way audio where students can ask questions (via internet audio or a chat window);
-The teacher can facilitate a whole class discussion;
-Ask students to answer pre-made polls with results computed and displayed immediately;
-Share a window on the teacher’s computer to demonstrate something (like an excel spreadsheet);
-Push web sites to students that open in new windows;
-Share video of the teacher (and the students);
-Send students to “break out” rooms to hold a small group discussion and then automatically bring them back to the main room to give a report.
-The virtual classroom can also be made available to students 24/7 so that they ‘meet’ to discuss issues, work on projects collaboratively, etc.
-HW sessions can be recorded and viewed later; this is very helpful for students who miss a class.

The Faculty Academy

On Friday from 1-4 pm in Room 618 Aderhold, we will be conducting the second of four sessions to support the Innovation in Teaching and Technology (ITT) Fall Faculty Academy. We have ten COE faculty participating in the academy. However, each academy session is also open to others in the college who might be interested in the topics we’re discussing. If you would like to join us, please just send me an email at <lrieber@uga.edu> to let me know you are coming to help in my planning (and to help me know how much food to order).

The Faculty Academy

Dear COE Community,

On Friday from 1-4 pm in Room 618 Aderhold, we will be conducting the first of four sessions to support the Innovation in Teaching and Technology (ITT) Spring 2013 Faculty Academy. We have 10 COE faculty participating in the academy. However, each academy session is also open to others in the college who might be interested in the topics we’re discussing. If you would like to join us, please just send me an email at <lrieber@uga.edu> to let me know you are coming to help in my planning.

Here is some background information…

Each session will be divided into three parts:

• Design Corner
• Technology Corner
• Hands-On Time

Among the design issues we will consider on Friday include some basic principles from a studio-based teaching approach and instructional design (both are courses that I teach). I will also briefly discuss some of the conclusions, predictions, and implications of several national reports that impact the future of the teaching mission of universities.

The technology we will be exploring on Friday is the suite of Google Tools. We also will take a few minutes to introduce a few other Web 2.0 tools, such as Pinterest, a pinboard-style photo/graphic sharing website that has gained much popularity over the past few months.

Time will be set aside during each session for hands-on time to work on projects, explore technology tools, and have conversations about innovative teaching with technology.

Remaining academy sessions are scheduled for the following dates and topics — all Fridays — from 1-4 pm:

• February 15 – Online Learning Essentials
• March 22 – Using Video
• April 5 — Mobile Learning

We will also orient folks to the SMART Technology throughout the academy sessions.

Of course, we will be exploring various teaching ideas, design strategies, tools, and technologies throughout the academy, largely in response to participant ideas and discussions.

We’d love to have other faculty join us on Friday. Again, just email me if you plan on coming (to make sure I order enough pizza).

Lloyd Rieber,
Director, Innovation in Teaching and Technology

I am very happy to announce a call for participation in the Spring 2013 Innovation in Teaching and Technology Faculty Academy. The purpose of the ITT Academy is to provide support and training to faculty to enhance their teaching with innovative instructional strategies supported with technology.

The faculty selected for the ITT Academy will identify and work on a project which is then implemented in one of the courses they teach. Four 3-hour workshops will be held during which a range of design ideas and technologies will be presented and discussed. Part of each workshop will be dedicated to hands-on development time where faculty work on their projects with assistance given as needed. Chosen faculty need to commit to attending all four sessions (although if slots remain open, we will then consider faculty who can attend at least three of the four). We also strive for highly collegial, enjoyable sessions with plenty of food and conversation.

Although the curriculum of the academy will be flexible, here are the technologies we’re planning on including:

–Google’s Suite of Tools & Other Web 2.0 Tools
–Online Learning Essentials
–Video & Audio Production
–Mobile Learning Essentials

On-going assistance will also be given to academy members as requested during the semester and continuing through project implementation.

Faculty will also be asked to read several national reports and articles about integrating technology into higher education.

This Spring 2013 class of the ITT academy is limited to 10 faculty. All chosen faculty must be full-time with at least 50% of their time budgeted for teaching.

ITT Academy sessions will be held from 1-4 pm on the following Fridays: January 25, February 15, March 22, ad April 5.

Those who complete the academy will be awarded with an ITT Faculty Academy Certificate suitable for including on a curriculum vita in the area of teaching effectiveness, and a modest stipend of $200 (to be used for travel, materials, etc.). Completion of the academy is marked by the successful implementation of the faculty member’s project in one of their courses and the reporting of that project.

To apply, simply send an email to Lloyd Rieber with the following information:

–Name & Rank/Position
–Department/program
–Confirmation that you are budgeted for at least 50% for instruction
–Confirmation of your intent to attend all of the scheduled ITT Academy Sessions*
–Brief (1-2 sentences) description of a general idea for a technology-support teaching project

*If you are only able to attend three of the four sessions, you are still encouraged to apply. However, preference will be given to those faculty who can attend all four.

Faculty who successfully complete the ITT Academy will be expected to share their projects and their design stories with other faculty. It is also hoped that these faculty will choose to become mentors to other faculty at future ITT academy offerings.

The call for applications will remain open through Friday, January 18 with the selection of faculty announced by Monday, January 21.

Lloyd Rieber
Director, Innovation in Teaching and Technology