Year: 2013

The more things change…use of media in the classroom.

This term I am taking a course that covers the history of educational technology.  You may hear more from me on the topic!  One of the themes that keeps striking me repeatedly is the pattern we have suffered in this field.  The challenges I face in my role today, such as a lack of a…Continue Reading The more things change…use of media in the classroom.

Conducting an Online Survey? Qualtrics is the tool for you.

What is it?  Qualtrics’ Research Suite is an online survey software solution for WPI Students, Faculty, and Staff that allows users to collect, analyze and act on relevant data. Who is eligible to create surveys?  All WPI Community Members with an @wpi.edu email address! How do I get there? https://wpi.qualtrics.com Where can I learn more?…Continue Reading Conducting an Online Survey? Qualtrics is the tool for you.

Collaborative Writing: Tools and Techniques: Workshop on June 6th

Google Docs or Dropbox? SharePoint or myWPI? Researcher or Editor? Project Manager or Writer? WPI Project teams make a host of decisions behind-the-scenes of their actual project work, deciding how to organize roles within their group, and which tools will be best for their needs.  Should we have a calendar to keep track of our…Continue Reading Collaborative Writing: Tools and Techniques: Workshop on June 6th

Lets get this discussion off the ground!

I recently attended a presentation entitled “Hitting the mark creating questions that generate critical thinking discussion” given by Drs. Barbara Fennema and Lou Anne Manning.  Their presentation was based off of the Elder and Paul Critical thinking framework but it referenced a resource that I had not previously been aware of: The Miniature Guide to The Art of Asking Essential Questions” (http://www.amazon.com/Miniature-Asking-Essential-Questions-ebook/dp/B0062QCP5O)….Continue Reading Lets get this discussion off the ground!

Echo360 Acquires ThinkBinder, an online collaboration tool for student project teams

Echo360, the company that powers WPI’s lecture capturing technologies, published a press release late yesterday announcing their acquisition of ThinkBinder, an online collaboration tool intended for student project teams.  ThinkBinder allows teams to have private, group-only discussion boards, file repositories, whiteboard space, and video chats – all hosted in the cloud – for managing project-related work.   This news is hot…Continue Reading Echo360 Acquires ThinkBinder, an online collaboration tool for student project teams

Self and Peer Assessment: Feedback on Group Work

I’m not kidding when I say that three faculty members have approached us very recently with a similar teaching challenge:  How can I use technology to help with team assessment?  And here in the TTL group, we LOVE a challenge. Each professor has slightly different needs, however all centered around the desire for students in…Continue Reading Self and Peer Assessment: Feedback on Group Work

Taking Classes with Google Glasses: Wearable Computers and Higher Education

Ok Glass, show me the future. With the first set of Google’s shiny new specs being sent out to the handful of lucky applicants, it’s only a matter of time before students and instructors end up with a pair over their eyes in a class.  And while it’s tempting to label the lenses as just…Continue Reading Taking Classes with Google Glasses: Wearable Computers and Higher Education

Pen Technology in Education

The use of pen-based technology at WPI breaks into three categories, as far as I can tell.  I am open to argument about this, though! 1.  Our amazing Interactive Media and Game Development courses.  I wish I knew more about what you do, but everything I see is beautiful! 2.  Writing in Class The process of…Continue Reading Pen Technology in Education

Why can’t I right-click to copy and paste in myWPI anymore?

The January 4th update to myWPI/Blackboard brought us some new features, including the new visual text-box editor (VTBE).   We’re very excited about the new VTBE as it introduces many improvements, including the ability to resize the text-box editor space (drag the hashmarks in the lower right-hand corner to resize your typing space) and also the…Continue Reading Why can’t I right-click to copy and paste in myWPI anymore?