Tag: Dedman College

Categories
Survey

2019 Faculty Technology Survey

Response themes
Response themes

The fourth annual Faculty Technology Survey was conducted in May 2019. The survey was developed collaboratively between the Office of Information Technology (OIT) Academic Technology Services (ATS) and the Academic Technology Council (ATC). One-hundred and four (104) faculty in Dedman College responded to the online survey. Respondents were Moderately Satisfied with overall technology services at SMU, as well as classroom and instructional technology. They were Slightly Satisfied with research technology services at the university.

Over 250 comments were recorded. With regard to better supporting teaching activities, the top three themes were improving classroom technology, Canvas, and wireless mirroring. The top three related to increasing Canvas use were training, satisfaction with the current strategy, and frustration with the Grades tool in Canvas. Relative to better supporting research activities, satisfaction with the current strategy and increased training offerings were most frequently identified, followed by access to software. Respondents commented that the IT Help Desk and Academic Technology Services were most helpful, while classrooms, the refresh process, and OIT communications were the most frustrating.

The corresponding survey report offers recommendations categorized using the Run, Grow, Transform model of Lean IT. Run recommendations include continuing to modernize and standardize classrooms based upon the Fondren Science 123 model. Grow include developing a grade sync capability between PeopleSoft (my.smu.edu) and Canvas, as well as updating Genuse computing resources for research and teaching needs. Transform includes revising the annual refresh process to better account for a wide array of research computing needs and developing a NextGen instructional technology lab for faculty to experiment with emerging teaching tools.

Categories
Classrooms

FY20 Classroom Upgrades

Clements Hall
Clements Hall

This fall several classrooms across Dedman College will offer new technology. Dedman Life Sciences 132 is undergoing a complete overhaul. It will include a new controller, projector, screens, whiteboards, and a Mersive Solstice Pod for screen mirroring.

What’s more, in conjunction with the extensive facilities work done in Clements Hall this summer, network capacity will be increased followed by various updates to classrooms. These updates include stabilizing the projectors, new data cables run to the lecterns, and lighting adjustments to prevent screen glare.
Clements 120 and 126 will have new screens, laser projectors, and touch panel controllers. Both rooms will also include Mersive Solstice Pods.

Lastly, this summer all classroom PCs across Dedman College are receiving new SSDs to replace their current drives. These machines are being reimaged to provide a “Guest” login option. An improvement in overall speed and performance should be noticeable as well.

Want to learn more about the classroom upgrades in Dedman College and across the university?

Categories
Video

Now Available: Hyer Video Studio

WP_Video_Studio_Collage
Dedman College faculty using the Hyer Video Studio.

Dedman College faculty may now schedule time in the new Hyer Video Studio. The studio can be used for quick self-service recordings, as well as more polished recordings with support from Academic Technology Services. A LightBoard is also available for use when recording. Since launching in March 2019 the studio has generated close to 100 faculty videos.

Studio time must be reserved in advance. It is currently available Monday through Friday from 9 am to 3 pm. If you would like to schedule time in the studio, please contact Michael Robertson.

Watch this short video for more information.

Categories
Resources

Academic Technology Group

DC Academic Technology Group in Canvas

Have you explored the Academic Technology – Dedman College group in Canvas? It contains helpful pages, links and other resources for Dedman College faculty. If you do not see it under your Courses list in Canvas, please contact me. The Academic Technology – Dedman College group was previously named the Faculty Group for Dedman College.

Categories
Resources

Equipment Checkout for Dedman College Faculty

Zoom camera

Zoom cameras, Wacom Intuos Pro pen tablets and more are available for checkout by Dedman College faculty through the ATS Office in Hyer 104. Checkout lasts 2 weeks but may be extended upon request. Contact me or stop by Hyer 104 to learn more.

Laptops are available at the IT Help Desk for loan to faculty and staff. The IT Help Desk is located in the Fondren Library West lobby. They have 14 Windows and 2 Mac laptops. Faculty laptops are also available for checkout through the ATS Office for Dedman College.

Categories
Resources

Making Sense of File Storage

Box

What’s the difference between Box and CrashPlan Pro?

Box is a cloud storage, file management and sharing service for SMU. If you want to securely share a file with someone at the university, or outside the university, Box is a great option. CrashPlan Pro is SMU’s desktop backup software. It creates an exact copy of your computer (or copies what you tell it based on the parameters you provide) in the event of future data loss. CrashPlan Pro is not for file sharing.

Categories
Training

Rapid Learning: Five Ways to Maximize Class Time

This is the first in a new series of Teaching and Technology Rapid Learning videos by faculty in Dedman College. Each is around five minutes long. In this video, Aria Cabot discusses how she applies best practices in online course design to her on-campus Italian courses. Even faculty who don’t teach courses online can apply best practices from online design to improve their face-to-face courses and maximize class time. This video covers rethinking Syllabus day, implementing virtual office hours, backward design, plus creating online assessments and student feedback opportunities.

The Teaching and Technology Rapid Learning Series is produced by the OIT Academic Technology Services Office for Dedman College. If you are interested in sharing with your peers engaging and innovative ways to teach with technology, contact Michael Robertson to learn more about recording a Rapid Learning video.

Categories
Resources

Conversations That Include Everyone

Try this poll!

Poll Everywhere is available to all Dedman College faculty. It is a classroom response system and much more. It does not require students to purchase any clicker hardware or user license. Students can respond via desktop, laptop, or text message.

The following are the top 3 most frequently used poll types in Poll Everywhere:

Multiple Choice Polls (MCP)
MCPs are probably what you’ll use most often. They’re the workhorses used for quick formative assessment or for standard quizzes you intend to grade. Deploy a simple MCP every 10 to 15 minutes to bring wandering minds back into the fold.

Word Clouds
Word clouds are a great way to gauge students’ reactions to a topic, or to distill a topic to a one-word takeaway. They’re also a ton of fun (you’ll see words grow bigger and smaller on screen as students send in their responses). One of my favorite uses is a “before and after” activity. Ask students what they think of a topic before you cover it, then do the same at the end of class to see how students’ perceptions of that topic changed.

Q&A
Use a Q&A to collect feedback during a lecture, or just leave one open at the beginning of class as an always-on comments/questions/concerns forum. One very popular use for Q&A: leave one open behind students as they give a presentation, encouraging the class to engage with the material being presented. Keep in mind that students can upvote their favorite responses, so the most popular float right to the top.

Contact me if you would like to learn more about Poll Everywhere, or to request an account.

Categories
Canvas

Outcomes in Canvas

Outcomes setup in Canvas

If you use Canvas for assessment reporting, take a look at this FAQ. It addresses common Canvas outcomes questions that the Office of Institutional Planning and Effectiveness and OIT encounter. If you need any assistance with setting up outcomes in Canvas please contact me, the IT Help Desk, or the Office of Institutional Planning and Effectiveness. Don’t wait until the end of the semester, start setting up your course outcomes in Canvas today!

Categories
Canvas

Analytics Beta in Canvas

Analytics Beta in Canvas
Analytics Beta in Canvas

Currently, Analytics Beta allows instructors to track average course grades for student submissions using an interactive chart or table. Data is for viewing only and cannot directly be changed. Page views and participation metrics include an aggregate across all devices, including Canvas mobile apps.

Use Analytics Beta to:

Analytics Beta can be accessed from Course Navigation. By default, this link is hidden in Course Navigation in each course and must be enabled. To enable Analytics Beta, open Course Settings and view the Navigation tab. Move the Analytics Beta link to the enabled section and save the page. Contact me or the IT Help Desk if you would like to learn more about Canvas Analytics Beta.