Teaching with Technology Support

We provide demonstrations of current technologies for instruction, assistance and training to effectively integrate instructional technologies for learning, and services to prepare materials for teaching.

The Faculty Resource Center has staff, programming and services to support instructional technology in teaching:

number 1  Blackboard effectively.

  • Blackboard troubleshooting, enrollments and design
  • Hands-on Blackboard workshops – see our Google Calendar for days and times.  We have Introductory and Advanced training topics.
  • NEW - Online training via Adobe Connect web conferencing. Online training is the same as a face-to-face workshop, except it is delivered via a web browser.  Email the FRC to arrange for a training session.
  • Check out the Blackboard handouts and video tutorials on the FRC website.
  • For individualized help, sign up at frc@uccs.edu or call 255-4872.

number 2 Instructional design consultation to integrate technology effectively.

Instructional technology is essential for teaching in the 21st century, but it requires planning to use it effectively.  Integrating technology into course design, assignments, assessments and learning activities should be driven by course objectives.  Get design advice from an expert on how to improve your courses and specific ideas to use Blackboard effectively for your online, face-to-face and hybrid courses.  For an in-depth course design experience, enroll in the Certification for Online Instructors that is offered completely online.  A new session starts in late May. Call Sharon Stevens at 255-4287 for more information and to enroll.

number 3 Record you.

We have made recording course content easy for you to do by creating a small recording studio in Columbine Hall 203 equipped with microphones, cameras and recording software to record in a quiet space at your leisure.  We have access to a Mediasite Recorder that can record and upload the footage immediately to a streaming server. 

  • Video and audio recordings (lecture capture). You can deliver a full-blown lecture that is uploaded immediately to a streaming server (no files to download).  You can also choose to record only your voice and what is displayed on a computer monitor, such as a presentation.  Ask us to upload the files to the streaming server and the post the link to the recording  in your Blackboard course where your students can view it.  Here is an example of the Mediasite video.
  • Short focused videos. Consider recording 5-minute introductions for chapters or assigned readings to help students prepare for class. Post a link to these on Blackboard along with a quiz Informal personal introductions by the instructor can make a difference in how students perceive the online course environment at the beginning of the semester.  Follow this link for an example of a short focused video tutorial using Screenflow.

number 4  Discover new tools.

  • iClickers. Interactivity in large classes can be effective for student engagement activities, and the most common mode is through audience response devices call clickers. There is a large body of scholarship about the effectiveness of clickers and designing clicker questions.
  • Web conferencing. Currently, the FRC uses Adobe Connect web conferencing as a virtual classroom to offer synchronous (real-time) seminars and training.  Attendees log into meetings via a web browser and participate using audio, video, chat and telephone connections.  Meetings can be recorded for later use and accessed through a link posted on a web page or in Blackboard.  Adobe Connect is especially useful for online courses for synchronous class meetings but it can also be adapted for guest speakers, group work and desktop sharing.  If you would like to try out Adobe Connect in one of your courses, please let us know.  Examples of recorded sessions hosted by the FRC are posted on the Archived Programing page of our website.
  • Skype. This free web tool for face-to-face audio and video communication can be used to bring guest speakers into your classroom, as well as facilitate meetings with students and colleagues, and group work. Skype sessions can also be recorded.
  • Screen capture.  Using capture application, record anything that will display on the computer monitor as well as your voice and audio from the computer.   Screen capture applications installed on the FRC computers include Camtasia and Jing (www.techsmith.com), Screenflow (Mac only, www.telestream.com) and free products such as CamStudio (Windows only, www.camstudio.com). We can demonstrate this and other screen capture programs at the FRC. 

number 5  Teaching material preparation.

Plan ahead to have you instructional materials transformed into digital formats. Don’t wait  – we need a minimum of 5 working days to digitize the following:

  • Printed materials, handwritten notes, drawings and basically anything that can be put on a flat-bed scanner.  These can be converted into digital graphic formats such as PDF files or editable text, depending on the original.
  • Media such as photographs, 35mm slides, film negatives, overheads, VHS videotapes, and audio cassette tapes. If you need a digital photograph, we can do that, too.

Note: we can only prepare materials that will be used for instruction.  However,  we can show you how to digitize your personal materials using our equipment.

number 6 Help you with your dossier.

Coming up for a promotion and tenure review this fall? Putting together a teaching portfolio? Here’s how we can help you do it:

  • Document your teaching with short recordings, digitized teaching materials, FCQ data in graphical formats, screen captures of your Blackboard courses and pdf versions of Powerpoints and other presentations for your dossier.  All can be saved to a CD/DVD and included as supplemental material for your dossier.
  • Design surveys and class assessments to collect data on student learning in your courses.  We can even set up your Blackboard course to collect data.

FRC hours: M-F, 9 am - 5 pm, Columbine Hall 203, 719-255-4872, frc@uccs.edu