Blackboard
- Blackboard
Blackboard is JMU's institutionally supported course management system. It allows instructors to perform a wide variety of tasks, including document organization and management, assignment management, testing and surveying, sending announcements and emails, using a discussion board, and managing grades.
Blackboard Tutorials - Elluminate
Elluminate is a tool for online synchronous communication. It allows instructors to meet with students in real time outside of the classroom. The program works as a plug-in to Blackboard and offers a wide variety of features including, VoIP, text chat, video feeds, desktop and application share, and a whiteboard.
- Respondus
Respondus is a stand-alone program that allows the user to create tests offline. The program works in conjunction with Blackboard in that it allows the user to upload tests created in Respondus directly to a Blackboard course.
- StudyMate
StudyMate is a stand-alone program that allows instructors to create activities and games for students. The program works with Flash and allows instructors to directly publish files to a Blackboard course.
Lecture Capture
- Adobe Captivate
Captivate allows you to record a sequence of events on your computer in order to demonstrate a specific piece of software or other electronic resource. Your final product is an Internet standard Flash file, making it very small in terms of files size while still retaining a fairly high level of quality.
- Adobe Presenter
Adobe Presenter is a tool for creating asynchronous online presentations with narration from standard PowerPoint presentations. Presenter’s key advantage over similar tools is that it is played primarily through the Flash plug-in, which creates a finished product that makes extremely efficient use of its file size. Flash is already installed and configured for more than 95% of all browsers, which makes for a trouble-free viewing experience for your users.
- Camtasia Relay
Camtasia Relay is a tool for capturing lectures and recording presentations. Relay contains basic in and out point trimming, but not sophisticated editing. Rather, Relay is designed for quickly creating and publishing lectures and presentations occurring on the screen with audio narration. Camtasia Relay works on both PC and Mac platforms and also includes a portable drive install.
Camtasia Relay Tutorial (PDF)
- Jing
Jing is a tool for capturing still pictures and creating short onscreen videos. Jing works on both PC and Mac platforms.
Jing Handout (PDF)
Research
- Survey Process 101: Basics for Beginners
Surveying is a growing trend in the research field. The Survey Process 101 presentation provides basic information about the entire surveying process, regardless of whether the survey is distributed in a traditional or online delivery format. The presentation describes the basic steps in the survey process, compares and contrasts different contact, response, and follow-up modes, explains the differences between convenience and probability sampling, and describes the basic considerations that factor into the survey planning process.
- Qualtrics
Qualtrics is JMU's institutionally supported surveying software. The program allows users to navigate the entire surveying process, including creating surveys, distributing surveys, collecting data, generating reports, and exporting data for further analysis.
Note: The Qualtrics handouts are for reference only. Completion of the workshop is required to gain a user account to the software.
Qualtrics Tutorial (PDF)
Qualtrics Use Policy (PDF)
- Online Surveying Overview Comparing Methodologies
Online surveying is a growing trend in the research world. The Online Surveying Overview presentation provides information comparing traditional surveying methods from online methods, including the differences between the methodologies for response rates, costs, and sources of error. The presentation also includes an overview of sampling approaches and basic tips for questionnaire design.
Social Media
- Blogging ... Exploring the Possibilities
Exploring the Possibilities ... Blogging is a guide that includes examples of blogs, Blogger Help videos, and resources to get you starting on instructional blogging with Google's Blogger. The guide itself is an example of a Blogger blog to give you ideas on how you can combine, text, photos, and video with this no cost, easy-to-use social media tool.
Blogging Tutorial (Resource Blog)
- Blogs and Wikis
Blogs and Wikis is a guide that includes examples of how instructors are using blogs and wikis for student learning. The guide provides resources with practical advise on using these social media tools. This resources is an example of a Google Sites wiki, and lets you see how you or a group of students can create a web site that combine text, photos, and videos with no specialized knowledge and at no cost.
Blogs and Wikis Tutorial (Resource Wiki)
- Google Docs
Google Docs makes creating, editing and sharing documents, spreadsheets and
presentations simple and free. Your docs are stored safely online, so you can access
them any time, from anywhere. Create a doc from scratch, upload an existing doc or
browse the template gallery for a format that suits your needs – it’s easy. You can even
use Google Docs to create an online form to collect data from others. - Google Sites
With Google Sites, you can easily create and update your own site. Google Sites allows you display a variety of information in one place—including videos, slideshows, calendars, presentations, attachments, and text—and share it for viewing or editing with a small group, an entire organization, or the world. You always control who has access to your site.
- YouTube
Using YouTube, you may upload and share videos with the public or a limited number of audience. You may search video clips that fit your needs and embed them in your PPT presentation, web site and Blackboard course management system. For additional information about the series of the social media workshop, please visit our blog at http://citsocialmedia.blogspot.com/
YouTube Handout (Resource Blog)
Audio & Video
- Flip Camcorder
Flip Camcorder (or Flip Camera or Flip Cam) is a pocket-size and user-friendly video camcorder. It can capture videos in 640x480 or 1280 x 720 resolution, at 30 frames per second and export them in MP4 format. With its built-in software named FlipShare, users may capture, edit and share videos in a few minutes. It has been reported in many studies that Flip Cam can help to create an authentic learning environment and improve students' engagement and class participation.
FlipCam Tutorial (PDF)
- Premiere Elements
Premiere Elements is the little brother to Adobe’s professional grade non-linear editor Premiere Pro. But don’t mistake it for a lesser tool. Premiere Elements includes everything you need to create sophisticated video presentations, numerous import options, easy to use editing tools, titles, transitions, effects, and a number of output options. Premeiere Elements is a PC only tool.
Clickers
- Clickers
The CPS student response pads or "clickers" are small, handheld devices that allow students to respond to questions asked verbally, on paper or on screen and enables you to instantly assess their comprehension of your lessons. With this powerful system you can ask multiple choice and numeric questions in classes of up to 1,000 students. The RF receiver connects directly to your computer's USB port. Student responses can be transmitted from up to 200 feet, and no line of sight between the response pads and receiver is necessary.
Downloads for CPS Software
CPS Download for PC (version 5.6) New Version 5.6!
CPS for PowerPoint PC (version 5.6) New Version 5.6!
CPS Download for Mac (version 1.50) New Version 1.5!
CPS for PowerPoint Mac (version 1.50) New Version 1.5! (Note, only compatible with Microsoft Mac Office 2004)Instructor Resources
Getting Started with Clickers Form
Steps to Implement Clickers into Your Course (PDF File)
CPS Introduction and Features for PC (PDF File)
Create a CPS Database (Word File)
Create a CPS Database Tutorial (Flash Presentation)
Additional CPS Settings (Word File)
CPS Team Activities (Word File)
CPS Report Features (Word File)Student Resources
Enroll Your CPS Clicker on CPS Online (Word File)
Enroll Your CPS Clicker on Blackboard (Word File)
Enroll Your CPS Clicker on CPS Online Tutorial (Flash Presentation)
Misc
- Concept Map
Concept Map is a graphical tool that represents the relationships between concepts. Among a variety of software that create concept maps, the popular ones are Inspiration and Cmap. Concept maps can be used in educational settings, such as course design, collaborative problem-solving, on-going and final assessment. The quality of a concept map is usually assessed by its thoroughness and density. The number of relevant concepts on a core concept (thoroughness) demonstrates how that core concept is defined in students’ understanding. Meanwhile, the complexity of the network on a concept map (density) shows the level of students’ understanding.
Concept Map Tutorial (PDF)
- Flickr
Flickr is a free online tool that makes it easy to share photos on the web. It is owned by Yahoo!, so the program requires a Yahoo! ID for access. Flickr's features include limited free monthly uploads, organizing features such as tagging and creating sets, and editing options using Picknik. Flickr also has a group feature for collaboration and sharing.
Flickr Tutorial (PDF)
- Photoshop Elements
Photoshop Elements is an affordable digital image manipulation program made by Adobe. It is the "little brother" of Adobe Photoshop, a professional level program used by image editors all over the world. Photoshop is generally considered to be at the top of the heap when it comes to image editing, but also comes with a learning curve that can make it difficult for the casual user to really use it effectively, not to mention its $699 retail price. Photoshop Elements started as a way of making digital image manipulation affordable (retail price at $99.99). The straightforward interface of Photoshop Elements, moreover, often makes commonly used tasks easier to access than the full version of Photoshop. Photoshop Elements is compatible with both PCs and Macs.
Workshop Handouts
- Blogging ... Exploring the Possibilities
Exploring the Possibilities ... Blogging is a guide that includes examples of blogs, Blogger Help videos, and resources to get you starting on instructional blogging with Google's Blogger. The guide itself is an example of a Blogger blog to give you ideas on how you can combine, text, photos, and video with this no cost, easy-to-use social media tool.
Blogging Tutorial (Resource Blog)
- Blogs and Wikis
Blogs and Wikis is a guide that includes examples of how instructors are using blogs and wikis for student learning. The guide provides resources with practical advise on using these social media tools. This resources is an example of a Google Sites wiki, and lets you see how you or a group of students can create a web site that combine text, photos, and videos with no specialized knowledge and at no cost.
Blogs and Wikis Tutorial (Resource Wiki)
- Camtasia Relay
Camtasia Relay is a tool for capturing lectures and recording presentations. Relay contains basic in and out point trimming, but not sophisticated editing. Rather, Relay is designed for quickly creating and publishing lectures and presentations occurring on the screen with audio narration. Camtasia Relay works on both PC and Mac platforms and also includes a portable drive install.
Camtasia Relay Tutorial (PDF)
- Flip Camcorder
Flip Camcorder (or Flip Camera or Flip Cam) is a pocket-size and user-friendly video camcorder. It can capture videos in 640x480 or 1280 x 720 resolution, at 30 frames per second and export them in MP4 format. With its built-in software named FlipShare, users may capture, edit and share videos in a few minutes. It has been reported in many studies that Flip Cam can help to create an authentic learning environment and improve students' engagement and class participation.
FlipCam Tutorial (PDF)
- Google Docs
Google Docs makes creating, editing and sharing documents, spreadsheets and
presentations simple and free. Your docs are stored safely online, so you can access
them any time, from anywhere. Create a doc from scratch, upload an existing doc or
browse the template gallery for a format that suits your needs – it’s easy. You can even
use Google Docs to create an online form to collect data from others. - Jing
Jing is a tool for capturing still pictures and creating short onscreen videos. Jing works on both PC and Mac platforms.
Jing Handout (PDF)
- Premiere Elements
Premiere Elements is the little brother to Adobe’s professional grade non-linear editor Premiere Pro. But don’t mistake it for a lesser tool. Premiere Elements includes everything you need to create sophisticated video presentations, numerous import options, easy to use editing tools, titles, transitions, effects, and a number of output options. Premeiere Elements is a PC only tool.
- Qualtrics
Qualtrics is JMU's institutionally supported surveying software. The program allows users to navigate the entire surveying process, including creating surveys, distributing surveys, collecting data, generating reports, and exporting data for further analysis.
Note: The Qualtrics handouts are for reference only. Completion of the workshop is required to gain a user account to the software.
Qualtrics Tutorial (PDF)
Qualtrics Use Policy (PDF)
- YouTube
Using YouTube, you may upload and share videos with the public or a limited number of audience. You may search video clips that fit your needs and embed them in your PPT presentation, web site and Blackboard course management system. For additional information about the series of the social media workshop, please visit our blog at http://citsocialmedia.blogspot.com/
YouTube Handout (Resource Blog)
