8th Annual FITS Summer Workshop:
May 30-June 5, 2006
Contributed by Sherry Mou, Associate Professor of Modern Languages & FITS Faculty Coordinator; Carol Smith, FITS/Instructional Learning Services |
The 8th annual FITS Summer Workshop (May 30st - June 5th) is a mini-project based program designed to help faculty link methods to course goals. As in the past, it offers a series of plenary sessions, discussion groups & mini-courses focused on developing skills you can use to create a stimulating & effective learning environment in the classroom. Participants will have plenty of time to work on projects and receive one-on-one help from FITS staff members.
Additionally, facilities will be available for rehearsals & discussion groups. By the end of the workshop, participants will have a good start on a sustainable course project and will have developed a plan to implement effective use of technology for a component of a course. Finally, participants will have access to a variety of resources including staff, hardware & software that are available to support the project once the workshop concludes.
Important Dates:
April 7, 2006
FITS Workshop Project Proposals Due
April 7-17, 2006
Individual Project Consultations with Coaches and Faculty
May 30, 2006
Opening Day, 8:00am, Julian Atrium
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FITS staff members are available to discuss project ideas prior to registration, and sample project proposals are available online. We hope you join us for our workshop!
For more information, see http://www.depauw.edu/univ/fits/sum06. |
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Student Laptops in the Classroom: Melanie Finney's FYS Experience
Contributed by Dr. Melanie Finney, Associate Professor of Communication & Theatre, Coordinator of Conflict Studies
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Last fall, I offered a first year seminar about changes in communication technology and implications for social interaction. This was the second time I taught the course, and because of the Student Laptop Initiative, I was able to incorporate computers into this course in some interesting ways. Students did not bring their laptops to class on a daily basis, but only when requested, so there weren’t problems with students being distracted by their laptops during regular class sessions.
Students used their laptops in various ways in my class. For example, after an initial library instruction day, students used their laptops to access the DePauw Library website to find appropriate sources for a group project. I was able to move easily around the room, answering questions and helping students follow up on good sources. We used various databases and search engines, and I could respond immediately to questions and problems. Students were also able to share their ideas with one another and this active, hands on experience helped them gain confidence in their research skills.
Late in the semester, we used laptops to examine an interactive website known as ActiveWorlds (http://www.activeworlds.com), where individuals create an avatar, or a three-dimensional image to represent themselves. In ActiveWorlds, individuals can interact with one another using a text-based format, as well as explore different virtual worlds or locations. Because everyone was able to log on simultaneously, students were able to interact with one another in real time. Again, I was able to provide detailed direction and group instruction. This activity was much more productive than I had imagined, as students quickly realized not only the benefits, but the limitations of this type of technology. Similarly, we used our laptops one day to explore the limitations of synchronous vs. asynchronous communication, which previously was impossible to demonstrate.
Finally, I allowed students to use their computers for answering their written exams. Upon completing their exams, students immediately emailed their exams to me and we both had a written record of their answers.
If you are thinking of using laptops in your classrooms, consider what your objectives are and if technology is necessary to achieve those goals. On a day to day basis, I still preferred my students not to bring their laptops to class because I wanted to promote active discussion. There is the risk that students may not engage in as much dialogue when they are looking at (or hiding behind) a computer screen as when there isn’t a laptop present. Additionally, as the instructor, you voluntarily give up part of your control over what the students review or examine. Nonetheless, my experience in this particular course was very positive as the laptop initiative truly supported the goals and objectives of my class content.
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Laptop Plans for Fall
Contributed by Mike Moore, Manager of Technology Procurement, Library & Information Services |
This fall, the Student Laptop Initiative enters the second year of formal implementation. All entering students are now required to purchase one of the specified “program laptops” which includes bundled software and support services. When classes begin this fall, ¾ of the student body (all 1st, 2nd and 3rd year students), will be covered by the Initiative and thus presumed to have one of the DePauw recommended systems. Although the requirement is well publicized, all students accepted for admission receive a personalized letter reminding them of the requirement.
New for this fall, both Dell and Apple are introducing new laptop models that will be part of the Initiative. The Dell offering will be the Dell Latitude D620 which was introduced on March 29. Details about this model will soon appear on the student laptop web, but students will not be able to actually purchase the computer until the end of May. This is due to the preparation of the software bundle that is preloaded on these systems. The Dell system will be priced at $1,599, which includes the hardware, software and on-campus support.
Apple has announced the conversion of all their computer models to a new processor, the Intel Core Duo. One laptop model has been announced and others are reportedly to follow. Once Apple has completed their product line, the appropriate model(s) will be offered for student purchase. We hope to keep the Apple system at the same price point as last year, approximately $2,100.
If you have questions about the laptop program, contact Mike Moore (mikemoore@depauw.edu), or visit http://www.depauw.edu/laptop.
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What Can RSS Feeds Do for You & Your Students?
Contributed by Kathryn Millis, Coordinator of Reference & Research, Government Documents Librarian
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One of this year’s handy trendy tools is “RSS” (rich site summary or rich site syndication, depending on who you ask), which works like a cross between email and news headlines. You can use RSS to have new articles or summaries from your favorite journals, websites, blogs, etc., automatically delivered (or “fed”) to you.
The tables of contents of scholarly journals are now available as “feeds” from several database companies, making it easier to keep abreast of recent research. Most major news media, alternative or political websites, blogs, and an increasing number of government agencies offer RSS feeds that alert you to new articles or other information. RSS feeds can save you time, because you don’t have to regularly check those sources to see what, if anything, is new.
There are several RSS “readers” to chose from. Some work with your regular Internet browser, some are separate software, and some are on free websites, which you can use when away from your desktop. I’ve tried each, and use RSS feeds to automatically gather news about topics I’m interested in, like censorship, academic reference, and whatever NPR thinks I should know about today. Here are a few examples of things I’ve tried with the different RSS readers:
1. First, on “my” laptop, Firefox (which I prefer over IE) has an RSS bookmark folder. I’ve bookmarked the RSS feeds for the New York Times, Indianapolis Star, and other news sites. Once or twice a day, I open the folder, wave the mouse over the name of each news site, and see, without waiting for the page to load, that paper’s headlines. If I’m interested, I can open any or all of them with just one mouse click. Mac users will find RSS capabilities built into Safari and Opera. IE users are supposed to get similar capabilities in the next version.
2. Second, I’ve installed a free RSS “reader” on the computer. It works like an email program except that it only receives information (doesn’t send it) and only from the senders that I’ve specified. It never offers me cheap toner, the real estate opportunity of a lifetime, or petitions that started circulating the Internet sometime early in the Clinton administration. Wizz RSS (for Firefox users) Tristana (PC) and Net Newswire Lite (Mac) are free and well reviewed.
I have made several folders of RSS feeds that focus on common themes. My reader checks for new content every few minutes or hours. Some of the feeds get quietly put into their folders and wait for me. When I’m waiting for specific news, like a Supreme Court decision on the Patriot Act, I set the reader to monitor appropriate websites, like Cornell Law School, which offers a feed of decisions and orders, and the Washington Post, which offers a feed of general court news, and to alert me when it gets new content from either of them.
Another folder receives the tables of contents from some librarian journals, which are sent to me courtesy of IngentaConnect. This database covers 29,000+ journals, most of which we either don’t subscribe to from them, or don’t get at all. “Current awareness” or “SDI” services like this often announce articles days or weeks before our paper journal copies arrive, and weeks or months before they’re available in other databases, so I don’t have any alerts on these. I am never tempted by Ingenta’s offer to sell me the article for about $25; I use the library catalog’s journal search to see if we should soon receive it in another database or in print, or to request it via ILL.
Starting this month, several of the databases we get from Ebsco also send RSS alerts of new issues, or (even better) of new articles on a topic or by a specific author. (I’ll use this to get notified of new David Sedaris short stories.) A list of the databases, and instructions for setting up RSS or plain old fashion email alerts is available at http://www.depauw.edu/library/reference/searchalert.asp
Another folder compiles feeds from favorite radio and TV programs, like Frontline, Nova, and Tavis Smiley.
3. Third, because I regularly use more than one computer (my desk, the reference desk, the computer labs, the hotel when I travel. . . .), I set up a free Bloglines account, so my feeds are available to me when I’m in any of those places. Bloglines recommends new feeds that are similar to the ones I’m already reading. It also keeps track of the last month’s feeds, in case I get too busy to check it regularly, and saves specific items for me to use later.
You needn’t try each of these! I wanted to experience several alternatives, just as I’ve learned to search several kinds of online catalogs and databases. All work well for keeping up with current events or new journal articles.
4. A final, and very cool, thing you can do is to have RSS stories automatically added to your web site. Feed to JavaScript (F2JS) and Feed Digest (both free), write computer code that automatically inserts RSS feeds into your page. Your students will then have easy access to read specific columnists, or to news stories from the BBC, CNN, NPR, and dozens of other sites. Feed Digest can be most precise, gathering, from many sources, stories on a specific topic. Granted, you can simply ask students to keep an eye out for news stories on a topic, but this way, your web page will list stories from only websites you prefer they use.
One downside is that this method doesn’t keep track of old news. Today, they display today’s RSS feeds, but not yesterday’s. Tomorrow, they’ll have tomorrow’s feeds, but not today’s. |
Integrating RSS feeds into your site seems most useful if your classes deal with current events, politics, government, science, or other “news” categories, or if students might want to know about the newest materials from a specific publisher (like the U.S. Government Printing Office). You can also link to relatively light things, like “This Day in History” feeds from the History Channel and Encyclopedia Britannica, the “Analogy of the Day” and other word puzzles from Infoplease.com (publishers of Information Please Almanac), or columns by ombudsmen from the Christian Science Monitor and other news sources.
The libraries should be soon distributing news via RSS. We’re experimenting with several methods, and will welcome your feedback. If you’d like an in person demo of, or help setting up, a reader, or assistance finding relevant feeds, email me at millisk@depauw.edu. |
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New Laptop Security Devices Available at the Library
Contributed by Alicia Louden, START Coordinator |
The DePauw University libraries now offer a convenient way for students, staff and faculty to reduce the risk of laptop theft. Laptop anchors have been installed at various work stations throughout the library which provides a means for tethering your laptop and deterring opportunistic thieves. These devices, which are small, black rings attached to immovable surfaces such as built in furniture, work in conjunction with security cables that can be checked out from the circulation desk or purchased at many major retailers. The security cable simply loops through the anchor and is then attached to a small security slot found on most laptops. Visit the circulation desk at Roy O. West Library to see how these devices work and help prevent your laptop from walking away. |
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Macromedia Studio 8 Available for Download
Contributed by Alicia Louden, START Coordinator |
Recently, Macromedia released a new version of its Macromedia Studio software package, which includes new releases of Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Flash, Contribute and FlashPaper. This latest version, called Macromedia Studio 8, is already available for download from the Help Desk Web site and will be installed in all technology labs and classrooms over the summer. Those teaching with these tools are encouraged to download the software and begin exploring the new features available.
For more information, including updated support materials, please visit http://www.depauw.edu/it/helpdesk/downloads/studio8.asp or contact Carol Smith (clsmith@depauw.edu, x4287)
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Instructional Technology: News from the Field
ELI's "7 Things You Should Know..." Series
Contributed by David Diedriech, Technical Training Coordinator |
The Educause Learning Initiative (ELI) brings together higher education institutions such as DePauw and other organizations with the goal of advancing learning through IT innovation. One of their new tools to broaden awareness of these innovations, as well as promote best practices, is a series of articles highlighting seven things about new technologies or ideas. They very quickly present the “who, what and where” of the new technology, and then explain what makes it interesting or significant to those involved in instructional technology. Some recent articles have discussed such topics as Blogs, Wikis, and Screencasting.
As their website describes it, “7 Things You Should Know About...pieces provide quick, no-jargon overviews of technologies and related practices that have demonstrated or may demonstrate positive learning impacts. Any time you need to explain a new learning technology or practice quickly and clearly, look for a 7 Things You Should Know About... brief from ELI.”
Find out more at http://www.educause.edu/7ThingsYouShouldKnowAboutSeries/7495. |
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Staff Spotlight: Jin Kim & Emily Frame
Picture and Information Collected by Emily Frame, FITS Graduate Intern |
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Jin Kim, Multimedia Development and Support Specialist
Biography: I started working at DePauw from May 2004 after finishing graduate course work at Indiana University. My major is Instructional Systems Technology and minoring in Curriculum and Instruction. I got my bachelor and master degree from Korea National University of Education. I have a wife and one very talented boy who are into cello nowadays.
Areas of Expertise: I did numerous multimedia projects and web-based learning projects. I really like anything multimedia related project and especially using web as a medium.
Fun Fact: I like to play computer games with my son.
Emily Frame, FITS Graduate Intern
Biography: A recent graduate of DePauw's School of Music, Emily is the most recent addition to FITS as a new graduate intern. During her years as a student, Emily participated in the Information Technology Associates Program (ITAP) as an intern for the Music Instructional Technology Center (mitc). She is currently working towards a Master's of Music Technology at IUPUI.
Areas of Expertise: Digital Audio and Music Applications
Fun Fact: Emily loves to travel & is always dreaming about her next viaje!
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