Instructional Software
NOTE: Give consideration to the ways in which your use of any of the following technologies includes or complements the diversity of learners in your courses: students with physical and mental disabilities, diverse gender identities, ethnic and religious affiliations, and other characteristics. For further information see CELT's Learner-Centered Design Library Guide page.
Classroom Response Systems
Using a classroom response system, known as "clickers" can add interactivity to large lecture classes. With the receiver and response pads, you can give short quizzes, take attendance, play learning games, instantly assess students' comprehension of your lecture, and more. View Sociology professor Patrick Ashton's presentation (PDF) about the many ways he uses "clickers" in his classroom to engage students in thought-provoking discussion of sensitive issues. Go to the i>clicker web site to read cases studies by faculty using clickers in a variety of disciplines.
i>clicker Availability
Contact the ITS Helpdesk for more information about getting started with i>clicker.
Tips for Teaching Effectively with Clickers (PDF)
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Learning Management System
Blackboard is an online course management tool designed to help faculty more effectively manage students, as well as organize and deliver content via a password secured learning environment. From your course syllabus and grades, to notes, assignments and assessments Blackboard allows your students the ability to access, study and work on class materials 24/7 and from almost any internet connection.
Accessing Blackboard
Blackboard can be accessed using a variety of internet browser software, including Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari. Your IPFW computing ID allows you to log into the system. Blackboard provides an "app" to allow you to view your Blackboard courses on a mobile device such as a smart phone or an iPad.
Getting Started
Visit Blackboard's OnDemand Learning Center for documentation, tutorials and resources. ITS has created a web page of selected resources tailored to IPFW faculty. ITS Client Support offers workshops on the mechanics of using Blackboard. Follow this link for training topics and a schedule. If you would like assistance in how to use Blackboard effectively in teaching, please contact CELT. For technical assistance with the software, please contact the ITS Help Desk at 260-481-6030.
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Web Conferencing
Web conferencing allows faculty and students to interact, meet, and collaborate in real time over the Internet. Web Conferencing systems provide a collection of tool for participants to use and can include: white-boarding, screen-sharing, live chat, presentations, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), and many other capabilities. IPFW is currently utilizing Adobe Connect as its web conferencing tool.
Connect uses Adobe Flash, already installed in 97% of the world’s browsers. Currently, two Connect system components are available, Connect Meeting and Connect Presenter and can be used to facilitate distance learning, professional development and collaboration world-wide.
Connect Meeting is used for real-time meetings and seminars enriched with interactive presentations and discussion capabilities. It combines existing learning content with real-time interactivity between presenters and students for engaging collaborative teaching and learning experiences. Connect Meeting presenters can use PowerPoint slides, live and recorded video, Flash animations, live screen-sharing, audio, and two-way text chat to deliver more effective presentations. Connect Meeting can be used to deliver lectures at a distance, connect with guest speakers, hold virtual office hours, and much more. All meetings can be recorded and archived and made available to students who were not able to attend the session.
Adobe Presenter is a plug-in fully integrated with Microsoft PowerPoint that simplifies the creation and sharing of narrated, self-paced, media-rich presentations. With Adobe Presenter, IPFW faculty and staff can create dynamic presentations and training courses, complete with a narrated voice-over, directly from within PowerPoint. It’s easy to incorporate video, animations and even software simulations.
Adobe Presenter can also function outside of Connect and allows instructors to create Flash-based learning objects, including narration and assessments, using PowerPoint. Use Adobe Presenter to develop tutorials or create narrated lectures using PowerPoint. Interactivity can be easily added with quiz questions throughout the presentation. Presentation can be included as simple Blackboard Vista content and quizzes can be tracked by the Vista gradebook with loaded as a SCORM object.
Getting Started
If you would like to use Connect for teaching, research or meetings, simply use your Purdue Career Account Login information to login to Adobe Connect, which is hosted by Purdue at West Lafayette. For assistance in getting started with web conferencing, one of the Academic Computing Consultants with the ITS User Technology Support group can help or answer your questions. To schedule an appointment with an Academic Computing Consultant contact the ITS Help Desk at (260) 481-6030.
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Plagiarism Detection Software
SafeAssign is a powerful tool to help students learn proper citation of sources and help them to avoid plagiarism. For more information on how SafeAssign can help you meet your teaching and learning goals please see the “Guide for Using SafeAssign” brochure. You may also download a complete guide or view a video clip that will walk you through using SafeAssign via Blackboard Vista.
How it works
A student uploads a paper through the SafeAssign tool that has been added to your Blackboard Vista class. SafeAssign’s software uses advanced pattern-matching technology to compare the submitted text to the content in the SafeAssign databases. The content of these databases contains millions of books, journals and over 5 billion pages on the Internet. The results are returned in the form of customized Originality Reports, in which any text matches found in SafeAssign’s databases are highlighted and linked to their source. These reports allow students to see where plagiarism might have occurred.
For a step by step tutorial in making a SafeAssign assignment, go to page 206 of the Blackboard manual (PDF). It's available online at the ITS website.
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Computer Screen Capturing
Capturing and recording what is on your computer screen for students can be a powerful visual teaching tool. Computer Screen Capturing is a snapshot of your computer screen. It can be either a still image, or with special software, you can capture and record activities on your desktop with audio narration and speech bubble enhancements. IPFW currently supports MatchWare Screencorder.
Accessing MatchWare ScreenCorder
MatchWare ScreenCorder is available from the IPFW network. To download and install this application on your campus computer, you must be connected to the network. Go to Start > IPFW Applications > Employee > Multimedia and click on MatchWare ScreenCorder 5.
Getting Started with MatchWare ScreenCorder
For more information about the capabilities offered by MatchWare ScreenCorder visit Matchware.
The Academic Computing Consultants with ITS User Technology Support group can help you get started or answer questions you have about the application. To schedule an appointment with an Academic Computing Consultant contact the ITS Help Desk at (260) 481-6030.
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Concept Mapping Software
“Mind mapping” was developed in the late 1960s by Tony Buzan as a way of helping students take better notes using key words and images. Mind mapping encourages a brainstorming approach to the handling and organizing ideas and information. It is related to concept mapping, which is using a diagram to represent concepts, ideas, tasks or other items linked to a central theme. IPFW makes available MatchWare’s OpenMind to faculty and students.
Accessing MatchWare OpenMind
MatchWare OpenMind is available from the IPFW network. To download and install this application on your campus computer, you must be connected to the network. Go to Start > IPFW Applications > Employee > Office Productivity and click on MatchWare OpenMind 2.
Getting Started with MatchWare OpenMind
For more information about the capabilities offered by MatchWare OpenMind visit Matchware.
The Academic Computing Consultants with ITS User Technology Support group can help you get started or answer questions you have about the application. To schedule an appointment with an Academic Computing Consultant contact the ITS Help Desk at (260) 481-6030.
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Test Creation Software
Respondus is a tool for creating and managing exams that can be printed to paper or published directly to Blackboard. Use the following links to go to Vibe to view instructions on Creating a Respondus File, Publishing Quiz/Survey to Blackboard Learn Using Respondus 4.0, or Importing Questions From Test Bank Network in Respondus, as well as other topics. Requires IPFW login.
Accessing Respondus
Respondus is available from the IPFW network. To download and install this application on your campus computer, you must be connected to the network. Go to Start > IPFW Applications > Employee > Utilities and click on Respondus.
Getting Started with Respondus
For more information about the capabilities offered by Respondus see the Respondus website or review these demonstration movies.
Computing Consultants with ITS User Technology Support group can help you get started or answer questions you have about the application. To schedule an appointment with an Academic Computing Consultant contact the ITS Help Desk at (260) 481-6030.
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Study Guide Creation Software
StudyMate Author by Respondus lets instructors create ten Flash-based activities and games using four simple templates. These activities are great for learning vocabulary and providing interactive study guides for students.
Accessing Respondus
Respondus is available from the IPFW network. To download and install this application on your campus computer, you must be connected to the network. Go to Start > IPFW Applications > Employee > Utilities and click on Respondus.
Getting Started with StudyMate
For more information about the capabilities offered by Respondus see the Respondus website or review the demonstration movies found at the respondus web site. The Academic Computing Consultants with ITS User Technology Support group can help you get started or answer questions you have about the application. To schedule an appointment with an Academic Computing Consultant contact the ITS Help Desk at (260) 481-6030.
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iTunesU and Podcasting
Apple’s iTunes is a free computer application used for playing and organizing digital music and video files as well as transferring them to iPods (or other compatible players) so that these materials can be watched and/or listened to anytime and anywhere. Apple has made available to colleges and universities the opportunity to leverage the technology behind iTunes to support teaching and learning as well as other vital aspects of the university, such as marketing, student support, community outreach, athletics, etc. through a program called iTunesU.
Colleges and universities around the country are taking advantage of this opportunity because it allows students to quickly access and load audio and video content onto mobile devices that can be listened to or watched multiple times wherever the student might be. It is this flexibility that is key to supporting the “anytime, anywhere” learning style of today’s students who expect technology to be ubiquitous. iTunesU @ IPFW complements existing IPFW instructional delivery systems such as Blackboard and the Web and enriches course content. For more information on iTunesU@IPFW or podcasting, please call (260) 481-6354 to schedule an appointment with a CELT consultant who can provide you with service to your specifications, or complete an online Design & Technology Consultation request.
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Online Teaching
This page includes the topics listed below. Click on the topic in order to go directly to it.
Consultation Services and Training
IT Services provides one-on-one consultations and training in how to use the Blackboard Learn 9.1 course management system and CELT provides instructional design, design, and Blackboard consultation services that you may request by completing an online request or by calling (260) 481-6354.
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Planning for an Online Course
If you are teaching an online course, you have special considerations for online learning identified in our IPFW Online Course Design Standards (PDF). To create a syllabus for an online course, you also may wish to use the IPFW Model Syllabus for an Online Course (DOC). This template has been created in a web-accessible style, and you may save, rename, and use it for your course. Of particular value are links to campus resources and prepared statements on diversity, civility, classroom research, and special needs that you are welcome to include in your syllabus. Please follow the Tips on Using Styles for Your Syllabus to make the best use these models. CELT also has listed the Ten Factors of Retention in Online Courses (Shanley 2009, 2011) and Online Teaching Resources Indexed to Student Rating Issues on the “Online Learning Evaluation Form” (evaluation form distributed by Division of Continuing Studies).
A lot of good teaching practices will transfer well from face-to-face to online courses, yet what works face-to-face requires transformation for the dynamics of online learning. If you like, you also can give some thought to these ideas from people “in the trenches” in a series of short videos produced by Penn State World Campus Faculty Development. You can select videos to review or simply start at the top and each short video will play in sequence from the World Campus Competencies for Online Teaching Success. (Videos).
TIP: Videos usually play well in Mozilla Firefox and Chrome. Trivia: Mozilla Firefox is a nonprofit organization.
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Building Online Content
Some basic ideas on building online course content are given in a short article titled 12 Tips for the Online Teacher (PDF). You also can find substantial resources for building your course content in the Online Resources Handout at the IPFW Library Guide on Using the Web to Build Course Content. Lastly, excellent strategies are offered in the following resources.
Online Teaching Tips (from several instructors). (Video 5:11)
Integrating Online Resources into your Teaching (COFA.online) (Video 6:13)
Bonk, C. (2010). Planning an Online Course. (Video 9:52)
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Accessibility Techniques
Give consideration to the ways in which your online course includes or complements the diversity of learners in your courses: students with physical and mental disabilities, diverse gender identities, ethnic and religious affiliations, and other characteristics. For further information see CELT's Learner-Centered Design Library Guide page, which offers a wealth of information and examples of best practices, instructions on how to make your documents and Powerpoints accessible, along with local and national resources and standards.
IT Services offers Web Accessibility training and resources on its Web Accessibility Training page.
Course Accessibility to Students is Standard 6 of the IPFW Online Course Design Standards (PDF).
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Adding Images
Adding images to an online course can enhance student interest, give visual appeal, and can support key concepts. Basic ways to get started are provided in the file Photo Icons for Online Courses. These steps will help you in changing the size, cropping, and preparing images for use in Blackboard.
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Creating Banners
Adding a banner can visually identify and add a unique look to your Blackboard courses. We have provided three documents to help you design your own banner: Course Banners without photos, Course Banners with a photo, and Course Banners with multiple photos. Also the file Course Banners for use in Blackboard compiles all three documents in one for your convenience.
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Creating Tables to Organize Images and Text
Creating tables within your online courses can organize your images and text when you build course content. The file Creating Tables in Blackboard to Organize Images and Text will build upon the information provided in the photo icons document.
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Online Assessments
Another important part of building online content involves not just creating assessments, but building the information that students will need in order to prepare for online assessments. For this purpose, you will find practical tips and examples regarding tests and quizzes in IPFW’s Assessment Tips for Online Courses in Blackboard 9.1 (PDF). For help in building tests, IT Services offers workshops and technical assistance that will be invaluable.
You also will want to consider how to prepare assignments that can reduce the likelihood of cheating in the online classroom. As you may already know, much research has been done on what works well and you can find practical guidance to provide students as well as “plagiarism proof tips” in “Plagiarism-Proofing” Assignments. (PDF)
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Online Teaching Practices
In planning your online course, you may want to know something about the best practices for teaching online, too. Among these are making effective use of discussions and keeping a strong personal presence in the online classroom. You will find excellent approaches in the following materials.
Ten Best Practices for Teaching Online (Boettcher, 2011) (HTML)
Conducting Effective Online Discussions (Video 6:49) (perspectives from several instructors at different universities, Australian Learning and Teaching Council)
Students Feelings and Desire for Sense of Community (Drouin & Vartanian, 2010) (PDF)
TIP: Many of the best practices for online teaching come from the best practices in classroom teaching. For example, if you already use productive discussions in the classroom, you are likely to have success in planning productive ones online. And, how you “grade” class discussions in a face-to-face class would be worth considering when planning you how you will “grade” them online. Although you will want incentives for online participation, you will want to carefully evaluate the alignment of what you set up in online policies with the values you hold in your teaching and learning philosophy.
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Online Teaching Assistants
You may have the opportunity to have an online teaching assistant for your course. If so, you can get started with the areas of guidance for online TAs, sample teaching assistant guide, and the TA checklist template in Preparing Guidance for Online Teaching Assistants.
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Peer Review of Online Course Design and Materials
If you seek new ideas for your online course, are looking for affirmation of your course design, or you would like to gather evidence to document your teaching effectiveness, consider requesting a formative peer review conducted by one of eight IPFW faculty who have been trained in peer review by Quality Matters ™, a national organization that has developed research-based standards for measuring online course quality. Your course will be reviewed using the IPFW Online Course Design Standards (PDF). The process and the standards are described in the IPFW Online Course Design Process and Standards document. The results are confidential and there is an incentive available. Contact the CELT Director at (260)481-6504 or by email to arrange your review.
MERLOT, Multimedia Resources for Learning and Online Teaching, offers peer review of online learning resources using carefully defined evaluation criteria. Visit the MERLOT web site, which contains a rich repository of free online teaching resources developed by faculty from around the world, for more details.
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Online Teaching Awards and Honors
Full and part-time faculty members who have taught online for 3 semesters or more may be nominated to receive the DECCO Award for Innovative Online Teaching. Application deadline is the Monday following Spring break.
Blackboard accepts submissions for the Blackboard Catalyst Awards and Exemplary Course Program from December 1 – February 29. The Blackboard Catalyst Awards honor those who push the boundaries of their educational programs and technology in order to deliver innovative and effective learning experiences.
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Online Teaching Journals and Professional Associations
For your further exploration, CELT also has prepared a list of Distance Education Publications, Organizations, and Networks (DOC).
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Online Teaching Resources
The CELT Library contains books about online learning and teaching and the Helmke Library subscribes to an excellent newsletter, Online Classroom, published bi-monthly and filled with tips and tactics to enhance your students’ learning and make your life easier.
If you want to find out more about using other technology for teaching, you will find additional resource links at the other CELT Teaching with Technology sections. In addition to CELT Workshops and Conferences, each week the CELT Director sends out the “CELT Clipboard” announcing upcoming workshops and events.
If you are concerned about student readiness for online learning, you may want to use resources at the Continuing Studies site on Online Learning where you can find the “Online Orientation” tutorial (Video, 11:03) and other useful links for students. You also can find training videos, resources, and mobile learn resources for instructors and students at the following IT Services sites.
Instructor Resources for Blackboard Learn 9.1
IT Services Web Training (instructor and student resources)
Essential Training for Instructors (lynda.com; instructors must be on the campus network to access these lynda.com videos)
Essential Training for Students (lynda.com; students also must be on the campus network to access these lynda.com videos)
Blackboard On Demand Learning Center for Students (tutorials and resources for students)
Information Technology Services or IT Services Web Training (instructors and students on the campus network can select the lynda.com icon and explore software and other tabs to find tutorials for other applications as well as Blackboard)
IT Services Knowledge Base (select Blackboard Learn to go to resources for online course building and use of online course tools)
Technology FAQs for Faculty (topics on technology support, wireless connections, and elearning)
Technology FAQs for Students (topics on computer labs, wireless, elearning, and computer training)
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Digitizing Media
Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT) can help you convert pictures, drawings, 35 mm slides, and video into a digital format for use in teaching Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) courses. Please call (260) 481-6354 to schedule an appointment with a CELT consultant who can provide you with service to your specifications, or complete an online request. Sorry, we cannot digitize audio cassettes.
Additionally, CELT helps support streaming media. If you have a video or DVD that you would like to make available to your students via streaming, please call (260) 481-6354 to schedule an appointment with a CELT consultant who can walk you through the process, or complete the online request form. We also recommend you review the overview to the copyright laws, "Understanding Copyright (PDF)."
If you are digitizing your own media, CELT recommends that you print and keep a copy of the completed Fair Use Checklist (PDF) and/or Technology, Education and Copyright Harmonization (TEACH) Act Checklist (PDF) as documentation for your transfer to digital media. A CELT consultant can help you complete these forms if you have any questions.
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Using Video
Video Production Support
IPFW offers a variety of ways that you may produce video in support of instruction.
Tegrity Lecture Capture
Using the IPFW licensed Tegrity software, you can record and distribute classroom lectures for your students to view online. Instructors and students can access it at https://ipfw.tegrity.com/ using any browser. Go to the Tegrity website to see a demonstration of this software. For more information, contact Mike Phillips, Media Services Technologist, at (260) 481-0209.
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Distributing video with Media Vault (Kaltura)
The IPFW Media Vault is a place for faculty, staff, and students to store and stream university related media for instruction, branding, image, and athletics. It is available at http://stream.ipfw.edu using any browser. Instructions for embedding a Media Vault link in your Blackboard course can be found in the IT Services Knowledge Base in Vibe. For more information, contact Mike Phillips, Media Services Technologist, at (260) 481-0209.
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Video Camera Loan
Faculty can borrow digital video cameras for classroom recordings from Audio Visual Technology Services (AVTS). In most cases you must provide your own operator and media. Make a loan request using the online request form at the AVTS web page. Students may borrow video equipment to use in curriculum-related projects from Studio M in Walb 220 by completing an online loan request form, or by calling (260) 481-0114.
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Videos available from the library
Helmke Video Archives contains videos of the American Democracy Project, Anthropology Luncheon Lectures, Distinguished Lecturer Series, Omnibus Lecture Series, Opus, and We Shall Remain 5-part PBS Series.
You can search the IUCAT catalog to find video titles available from the IPFW Helmke Library, selected other regional campuses in the IU system, and holdings at IU Bloomington in both Wells Library as well as ALF (Auxiliary Library Facility).
To order a video title, please follow this procedure:
- Login with your IPFW username and password to IUCAT using the special Fort Wayne access link. Be sure to search ALL libraries (Fort Wayne is set as the default). Conduct a search. You can use the DVD/video search option (on the right of the screen) to search only video holdings.
- If the item is held by Helmke Library, select regional campuses, or ALF, you can select "Request Delivery" to the right of your browser window to have the title delivered to your office directly.
- If the item is in the IU Wells Collection, open http://www.indiana.edu/˜libmedia/forms/media-schedule-request.html in a new window and order the item through this online request. Please note that IPFW Faculty currently must order any IU Wells video outside of IUCAT.
Allow up to a week for delivery of videos. Also, to order videos from IPFW, select other regional campuses, and ALF, please remember that you must be logged in to IUCAT with your IPFW username and password.
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Video Conferencing Facilities
The Division of Continuing Studies (DCS) schedules the use of Kettler G 20, G 22, 227,and Helmke B 35 for delivering and receiving distance courses locally and regionally via two-way videoconferencing. Classes held in these rooms can be recorded and subsequently embedded in Blackboard for later viewing. Classes held in Helmke B 35 are also cablecast on College Access TV Channel 5. Contact the DCS at (260) 481-6624 for more information.
If you wish to schedule a videoconference meeting with another IU campus, contact the IT Services Helpdesk at (260) 481-6030.
Find tips and strategies for teaching via two-way videoconferencing at this comprehensive wiki created by IPFW faculty.
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