e-Learning 2.0 Conference ~ Recap

Drexel’s 6th annual e-Learning 2.0 Conference on March 20th was a tremendous success!  With 162 attendees from 45 institutions all over the region, this year’s conference was the best yet.  We received a total of 38 proposals in the areas of Best Practices, Pedagogy, and LMS Support & Administration from individuals at 18 different institutions in the tri-state area.  26 of these proposals were accepted, resulting in a conference program that included 35 presenters and co-presenters representing 13 institutions. 

The conference program featured a lunch-time keynote presentation by Dr. Mark Milliron, President and CEO of Catalyze Learning International, on developments in Technology Use in Teaching and Learning with special emphasis on his recent interest in Retention of Online Learners. To access the conference presentations, including Dr. Milliron’s, an archive has been posted on our website at http://www.drexel.edu/irt/eLearningConf2008.  We look forward to many more successful e-Learning conferences!

Thank You to the e-Learning 2.0 Committee!

Many thanks to those who served on our committee and/or reviewed proposals for this year’s conference:

Scott Beadenkopf     Neumann College/Drexel University
Jan Biros                   Drexel University
Georglyn Davidson   Bucks County Community College
Kevin Donahue         Villanova University
Tony Frisby              Thomas Jefferson University
Kenneth Hartman      Drexel eLearning
Dominique Kliger      Temple University
Joan Lesovitz            Villanova University
John Morris               Drexel University
Josh Piddington        Gloucester County College
Jennifer Pohlhaus     Villanova University
Mike Scheuermann   Drexel University
Chris Shields             Drexel University
Richard Wack            Villanova University
Dave Wartel              Harrisburg Area Community College
Alvin Wong                Eastern University

We are looking for volunteers to participate on the committee, to review proposals and plan next year’s conference!  If you are interested, please email us at el2n@drexel.edu.

***Special Event***
Wimba Voice Tools / Classroom Showcase
Date: Tuesday, June 17, 2008   

Learn how to use these tools to augment your course content.

Wimba Voice Tools: Perfect for language learning and creating vocal exercises in any subject, these web-based voice tools facilitate and promote vocal instruction, collaboration, coaching, and assessment.

Wimba Classroom: Teach and meet live online. This fully- featured live virtual classroom supports audio, video, application sharing, and content display, enabling instructors to add vitally important elements of interaction. Personalize online courses by holding live, online classes, office hours, guest lectures, webcasts, and meetings.

Time: 8:30 am – 1:00 pm   
Location: Patten Auditorium (Matheson Hall, Room-109)

Continental Breakfast and Buffet Lunch Provided

Stay Tuned: Drexel’s “Summer Institute” is Coming!

Drexel’s first-ever “Summer Institute” will offer area institutions a unique learning opportunity this summer!  The Institute will feature a two-day workshop series presented by experienced Drexel University faculty and administrators on best practices, pedagogy, and emerging technologies in online teaching and learning. 

In addition to the scheduled workshops, there will be ample opportunity for networking, collaboration, and idea-exchange.  More details will be announced in next month’s newsletter, so watch for that and we look forward to your participation!

Our Training Sessions are Now Open to You!

Drexel’s Online Learning Team offers a variety of training workshops on Blackboard Vista (full- and half-day), Impatica, Camtasia, Dreamweaver, and EndNote.  In addition, brown bag lunches on technology products of interest (OneNote, TurnItIn, Wimba Voice Tools, etc.) are generally held once per month. 

Now, we are opening up spots for each session to those outside the Drexel community on a pilot basis.  Included in this edition is a schedule for the spring and summer months (please check the http://www.drexel.edu/IRT/services/workshops/index.html for the latest updates).

If you are interested in attending any of the sessions, please email olt@drexel.edu with your name, institution, and contact information.  All sessions will be held in room 116 of the Korman Center on Drexel’s main campus (on 33rd Street between Market & Chestnut Streets) unless otherwise noted.

2008 Workshop Schedule for Spring & Summer

Blackboard Vista 4 Workshops
- for New Vista Users
- 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (lunch is provided)

  • Friday, May 30
  • Friday, July 25

Bb Vista 4 Refreshers
- for Current or Experienced Bb Vista Users
- 9 a.m. to noon

  • Thursday, May 22
  • Tuesday, July 22
Brown Bag Lunch Sessions
- noon to 1 p.m. (bring your lunch and we will provide a soda and dessert)
  • Thursday, April 24 (OneNote)
  • Tuesday, May 13 (TurnItIn/MS Word Reviewing Option)

Impatica Demo & Training

  • Tuesday, May 13 - 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
    - Impatica Fundamentals - AND- How to Record Narration in PowerPoint
  • Thursday, June 19 - 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
    - Impatica Fundamentals - AND- How to Record Narration in PowerPoint

Camtasia Demo & Training

  • Tuesday, May 13 - 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
    - Camtasia 5 Fundamentals
  • Friday, May 16 - 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
    - Camtasia 5 Intermediate
  • Thursday, June 19 - 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
    - Camtasia 5 Fundamentals
  • Wednesday, June 25 - 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
    - Camtasia 5 Intermediate

Dreamweaver Training

  • Wednesday, April 23 - 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
    - Intermediate Dreamweaver
  • Wednesday, May 7 - 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
    - Advanced Dreamweaver
  • Wednesday, May 28 - 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
    - Basic Dreamweaver

EndNote Workshop

  • Tuesday, April 22 - 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

(Please check for schedule updates on our website at  http://www.drexel.edu/IRT/services/workshops/index.html).

TurnItIn! – Completely Redesigned – Watch for the New Version!

iParadigms has made “visible improvements as well as speed and reliability enhancements to TurnItIn!” The improvements resulted from “several years of work based on extensive feedback gathered from our users.”

TurnItIn! has “18 million users at over 8,400 post-secondary and secondary institutions in 103 countries. It is the most widely used web-based educational tool on the planet for helping students learn to properly cite their sources and receive meaningful feedback on their essays, and for helping faculty to digitally assess and grade student work. If you prefer the previous version of TurnItIn, you can switch back with a single click.”

Job Opportunities

Drexel’s Online Learning Team has a vacancy which is posted at Drexel University's HR website, with the title: Web Developer.

We are looking for an individual who is a team player interested in supporting Drexel and partner school members using the Bb Vista 4 LMS, integrated and emerging technologies, as well as instructors and administrators using technology to enhance their face-to-face or blended courses. Additionally, a background in data mining is preferred, i.e., skill in using Access, Hyperion, SPSS, SharePoint, and related applications.

The Web Developer position would also have some focus on:

  • web development and web design
  • understanding of best practices in information architecture implementation and content management applications
  • solid communication skills (oral and written)
  • training and customer service
  • working well on a team
  • documenting and sharing information and expertise
  • outreach and promotion of services and support
  • self-direction, creativity, and problem solving.