INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY SHOWCASE

Essential Tools and Resources

Marie Martino, Instructional Technologist | Morton College | 01.13.2011

FAST FACTS

81% of students use technology every day to prepare for class

74% of higher ed instructors say they incorporate technology into every class or nearly every class

From the CDW-G

2009 21st Century

Campus Report

BENEFITS OF ELEARNING

Connectivity – easy ACCESS to information on global scale

Flexibility – learning can take place 24/7, anywhere; (CONVENIENT for learner)

Interactivity – learning not static; can be immediate and autonomous

Collaboration – use of discussion & other types of tools support collaboration in/outside the classroom

Extended opportunities – materials can reinforce and extend learning beyond classroom

Motivation – multimedia/web 2.0 resources can make learning fun!

(Joint Information Systems Committee, aka JISC, Bristol, England: http://www.elearning.ac.uk/effprac/html/start_defin.htm)

IT TOOLBOX: SAMPLER

―Top 10‖ edu tech tools/resources:

Available through an MC subscription or FREE

on the Web

Work in the ―Cloud‖—means apps are web-

based, no need to install special software on

your computer

Access anytime, from anywhere

Reliable, trustworthy

Personal account required to use

BLACKBOARD CE 4.1

MC’s secure, password-protected LMS

Powerful, robust

Like a course website

Resource sharing, communication, assessment, and grading tools

Supports text, video, audio

Students cannot control content (excluding discussion board)

Access: https://webct.morton.edu/

EDMODO

―Social learning network‖

Lightweight LMS with Facebook-like interface

Secure, password-protected space

Share alerts, notes, various types of files, web links, polls

Includes a calendar, assignment upload tool, and gradebook that exports to spreadsheet (Excel and others)

Mobile-device friendly

Access: http://www.edmodo.com/

GOOGLE SITES

Create a Google-supported website

Offers visual editor to create/edit pages (don’t

need to know code); layout options

Integrates easily with all of Google’s tools

including Google Docs, Calendar, Picasa, Maps,

and YouTube

Public or private view settings available

Access: https://sites.google.com/

PB WORKS

Free ―Basic Education‖ account

Wiki website—known for ease of use; fixed layout

Create a course website or collaborative workspace for students

Advanced features available

Public or private view access

Password protected

Set permissions on student content creation/editing abilities

Access: http://www.pbworks.com

WORDPRESS

Powerful blogging (web publishing) tool

Dynamic communication/discussion tool

Many features--can also be used in lieu of a website-making tool; many layout options available

Public or private settings

Set student commenting or editing permissions

IT WP site on Blogs in the Classroom--http://mcblogsintheclassroom.wordpress.com/

Access: http://www.wordpress.com

TURNITIN.COM

Available through the MC Library—special

institutional code needed to create an account

Web-based plagiarism prevention application

Checks papers for plagiarism

Advanced tools include visual paper grading

mark-up tool and peer evaluation options

Access: http://www.turnitin.com/

GRAMMARLY@EDU

Made available by the MC Library

Use MC email address to obtain an account

Easy, automated writing/grammar instruction and feedback tool

Access: http://www.grammarly.com/edu/

3 ESSENTIAL RESOURCES

MC eLearning Blog --http://mcitblog.wordpress.com/

Campus Technology --Free online magazine about technology in higher edhttp://campustechnology.com/

Educause –Resources produced by non-profit organization that ―advances higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology.‖ http://www.educause.edu/

QUESTIONS?

Feel free to ask now

. . . or contact me later:

Marie Martino, Instructional Technologist

708-656-8000, x430

marie.martino@morton.edu

THANKS!!