C-Term 2021 Academic Technology News

Welcome back faculty and happy 2021! Hope you all had a restful break and were able to get away from screens for a while. The ATC team is here to help you get ready for another Zoom-filled Spring term. Please read our updates below and if you have any questions please email us at atc-ttl@wpi.edu.

TechFlex updates & support 

 

C-Term Microphone & Classroom Tech Request 

The ATC would appreciate hearing about your C-term TechFlex intentions so that we can try to anticipate voice amplification microphone needs, AV equipment needs (e.g. document cameras), your use of the Echo360 software/hardware, and/or the use of Zoom in classrooms in support of your delivery formats.

Please complete the attached form (requires WPI login) once for each course you will be teaching in C-term and/or Spring semester.

 

Zoom Web Conferencing Updates 

In anticipation of growing Zoom recording needs, ATC has enabled Zoom cloud recording for all faculty. You should now see Record to the Cloud as an option in Zoom. While Zoom cloud recordings will only be kept on the Zoom server for 100 days, you can elect to have recording files automatically push over to your personal Echo360 library or WPI’s Ensemble media server if you’d like to keep them for longer.  To have your Zoom recordings go over to Ensemble, please contact atc-ttl@wpi.edu. If you’d like to have them go over to your Echo360 personal library, instructions on how to initiate that can be found in this online documentation.

Over the break, ATC installed Zoom capabilities in nearly all remaining classroom spaces. This includes an integrated camera and audio solution that should do a decent job capturing in-room student discussion for remote participants. For a list of C-term Zoom-enabled spaces, please consult this list.

 

New Lightboard Install! 

ATC will be partnering with the Gordon Library to install a Revolution Lightboard into Tech Suite 121 for use in recording micro-lectures or in live Zoom sessions. More information, including how to reserve time to use the Lightboard, will be forthcoming once the installation is ready to go (anticipated later this week). For those who are interested in a DIY lightboard option for home/office use, Destin Heilman and Mark Claypool will also be hosting a Zoom workshop on January 19 at 2pm on how they built their own inexpensive lightboard setups.

 

Communication and Collaboration 

Microsoft Teams has been integrated into Canvas to facilitate group project work and help students socially collaborate. Read about using Teams for Classes at WPI. 

The WPI Faculty Online Learning Community Microsoft Teams site has been created for sharing resources, strategies, questions about online and blended teaching. This new resource is supported by WPI Faculty Online Champions, the Morgan Center, and the ATC Technology for Teaching and Learning team.

Upcoming Workshops 

Sign up for a Coffee & Canvas session!  Need a quick refresher on Canvas basics? Want to do a deep dive into a specific Canvas tool? Grab your beverage of choice and book a 30 minute chat with a Canvas expert. Dates available mornings throughout January.

Book here: https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/CoffeeCanvas@wpi.edu/bookings/

Instructional Design  open office hours  on  Mondays 3-4pm, Wednesdays 9-10am, and Fridays 11:30am-12:30pm using this Zoom: https://wpi.zoom.us/j/393623552

Or, contact us at atc-ttl@wpi.edu to schedule a 1-on-1 session that works with your schedule.

 

On Demand and Micro Trainings 

We’ve recorded and collected our best workshops, and other “micro training” sessions where you can learn a topic in 10 minutes or less! On Demand and Micro Trainings

 

Transforming the Teaching & Learning Environment virtual conference access 

The ATC has secured institutional access to the 13th annual Transforming the Teaching & Learning Environment virtual conference presented by Northeastern State University. See the schedule of sessions, which run from Monday, February 3rd through Friday, February 14th, here. If you would like to access any of the sessions, please email atc-ttl@wpi.edu for access information.

Canvas Support 

Course site modifications: Please use our form for all Canvas site requests  https://www.wpi.edu/+canvasrequest

This includes adding TAs or staff to your course site, copying content from a previous term, merging sections into one site, or creating a new organization site. If you have a course with a CRN in Banner, a site will be generated automatically for you within Canvas. No need to take the time to request these!

 

Technical Help

Chat & phone support with Canvas are the best way for faculty & students to get immediate help for especially time sensitive things like taking a test, submitting an assignment, error messages, technical issues, etc.

Canvas Support via chat, phone, or email is available 24/7 for both faculty and students by clicking the Help button in the bottom left-hand corner of Canvas.

For email support, please contact  canvashelp@wpi.edu with any questions or issues!

 

Video publishing & sharing options

Running out of space in your Canvas site? In most cases, this is because large videos are hogging up Canvas Files quotas. WPI has a variety of ways to share videos with students that don’t count against your Canvas site quotas.  Our online video platform, Ensemble, provides storage, playlist functionality, public sharing links, and embedding options for your Canvas course site.

Another platform, Canvas Studio, provides additional interactivity options for use within Canvas. Studio's functionality includes screen recording, webcam recording, and auto-captioning.  When fully integrated into your Canvas site, students may collaborate and comment real-time on videos, as well as complete video project assignments through Canvas.    

Explore your video options at one of our upcoming workshops or email your questions to  atc-ttl@wpi.edu.

Echo360 Lecture capturing 

Echo360's "Universal Capture" software allows you to create lecture captures from your own computer and share with students. You can find out more about how to use Universal Capture here.

For more information or to schedule a training on Echo360, contact  atc-ttl@wpi.edu.

 

Web conferencing 

If you are interested in:

• Bringing a guest speaker to your classroom
• Teaching your class from home due to inclement weather

• Giving your students a tool to share and discuss ideas in real-time
• Hosting an online, interactive class or meeting

…you may be interesting in learning about Zoom, our web-conferencing tool.  Zoom supports simultaneous screen sharing, video, and audio (telephone or computer audio), as well as a suite of collaboration tools, and many more features.

To get started with Zoom, please  contact Jolene Cotnoir at  jcotnoir@wpi.edu.

Classroom engagement & surveys 

Poll Everywhere is a web-based polling solution where students use their phone, tablets, and laptops to answer questions used for lecture engagement. You can even use it in Zoom!  If you do not currently have access to Poll Everywhere or would like further training please use the Polling Request form.

Will your students be creating surveys and collecting data?

WPI has a site license for the fully featured Qualtrics suite.  No need to use "free" online services for your surveys!

For more information or to schedule a training on Qualtrics, contact  atc-ttl@wpi.edu