CTC Ed Tech News November 4, 2014

I'm back from my vacation – it was long enough so that it's great to be back.  Let's just say the Caribbean Ocean is very nice.

It's About the Learners 

In this 23-minute podcast titled "Brilliant: The Science of How We Get Smarter" Annie Murphy Paul outlines conditions in which we can access our maximum intelligence… that is, we are "smarter." My take is that the ability is there –and that there are many conditions when we are unable to access all of our intelligence. What can we do as instructors to help our students reach their maximum potential? One answer is in this short article on how to engage students: A 4-Step Recipe for Maximum eLearner Engagement by Karla Gutierrez. I encourage you to think about these concepts as you structure your classes.

Withdrawal Deadline Coming Up

November 14 is the withdrawal deadline for students in regular full semester classes. If a student stops coming to class, you have these choices until November 14:

• Ask the student to withdraw (you may or may not get a response).
• Use the online form to withdraw him/her from the class.

Whether the student withdraws or you withdraw him/her, the student will receive a "W"as a grade for this class. If a student has stopped coming to class and has not withdrawn, you must give him/her a grade at the end of the semester:

• F for failing the class or
• NB (No Basis) for not having completed enough work to be graded.

Please note that a last date of attendance is required for F and NB grades.

Cool Tool: Voicethread

Voicethread is an interactive tool that has been added to our Blackboard shell. It's like a PowerPoint on the web, with the addition that anyone can add comments to each slide – and the comments can be text, audio, or video. This video explains Voicethread. Here are the help pages for using Voicethread in Blackboard.

eTech Fair

The UAA eLearning Workgroup presents its annual eTech Fair during Distance Education Week, November 10-14, 2014. Check out the schedule. All sessions are online via Blackboard Collaborate and there is no pre-registration. Join a workshop by clicking the blue title in the schedule at the proper time. Scroll down or click the green presenter name to read the workshop description.