Introducing Assess-It! 

DU Portfolio has always hosted a behind-the-scenes program assessment function, allowing DU departments to collect and evaluate learning artifacts via a secure online system. After almost two years of conceptual planning, departmental meetings, focus groups, input from existing users, and close work with the Office of Academic Assessment, the CTL is in the final testing phase of its new software program, Assess-It!   

Much like the previous assessment program, "Assess-It! permits students to submit the usual artifacts of learning, such as papers and exams, but now students can submit a wider range of work, such as images, media and anything that can be digitized, including art, music, and even websites for the purposes of program assessment," says Janette Benson, director of the Office of Academic  Assessment. "We've worked diligently to make the new program very flexible, more intuitive and with a wider range of options that will make program assessment more meaningful, with the ultimate goal of increasing student learning and making teaching more effective." 

Look for Assess-It! to be launched in the coming months. Jenn Light and Carrie Lorenz will be available over the summer to meet with specific groups and orient them to the new system.   

DU Faculty Member Wins National Award!  

Congratulations to Mike Keables, a 2011 winner of the Blackboard Exemplary Course Program!

Mike Keables, Associate Dean of Natural Sciences & Mathematics and Associate Professor of Geography, began designing NATS 1201: Environmental Systems I, for the online environment through the CTL's Teaching Online Workshop in the Fall of 2009. "We were so impressed with Mike's course that we've used it as an example for other faculty members in our workshop. We are so glad that his hard work is being recognized nationally," says Kathy Keairns, Senior Instructional Design Coordinator at the CTL.  

The Blackboard Exemplary Course Program is a national program recognizing best practice in designing engaging online courses. Submitted courses are evaluated against a rubric by fellow instructors and course designers in the areas of Course Design, Interaction & Collaboration, Assessment, and Learner Support. Upon learning about this award, Mike expressed that, "Teaching online was something that I've always been interested in but had never really attempted. The Teaching Online Workshop offered by CTL provided me with an excellent foundation for what it takes to develop an effective online course. It also challenged me to think differently about how to present content and keep the students engaged in the learning process."

Mike's award will be officially announced at the Blackboard World Conference in Las Vegas this July. Read more about Mike's online teaching and learning experiences in the CTL Faculty Showcase! 

A Big Thank You to Jeanie Tischler! 

If you've ever received a CTL grant, borrowed equipment, or attended one of our workshops, you've likely interacted with Jeanie Tischler. 

For over 10 years, Jeanie has been the smiling face at the forefront of our work.  In mid-May, she will be moving to the school of Art and Art History, pursuing a long-held desire to work closely with the arts. 

The CTL staff would like to congratulate Jeanie on this new venture, and express that her always positive attitude and amazing organizational skills will be sorely missed!  

Learn How to Build Mobile Android Applications! 

The forthcoming book, Flash Development for Android Cookbook, written by the CTL's Joseph Labrecque, offers over 100 recipes to build exciting Android applications with Flash, Flex, and AIR. 

The book enables Flash developers to branch out into Android mobile applications through a set of essential, easily demonstrable recipes. The book will take you through the entire development workflow: from setting up a local development environment, to developing and testing your application, to compiling for distribution to the ever-growing Android Market.

Now available for pre-order from Amazon and Packt Publishing!