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STARLINK
FEBRUARY 9-23, 2009 "Award-winning Tools, Tips, and Techniques for Online Instruction"
FEB. 23-MARCH 29, 2009 "Family Involvement in Classroom Education: Promoting Retention and Persistence"
APRIL 20-MAY 4, 2009 "Award-winning Tools, Tips, and Techniques for Classroom Instruction"
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Distance Learning Update
The LeCroy Center
Dallas County Community
College District
9596 Walnut Street
Dallas, TX 75243
Provost: Pam Quinn
Editor: Angela Auzenne
972-669-6657
aauzenne@dcccd.edu | |
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Take a New Year's Look at the LeCroy Center |
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By Pamela K. Quinn, Provost, The LeCroy Center
 Here's to the beginning of another great year at the LeCroy Center serving our colleges and students. Last year so many exciting opportunities came our way, starting with the production of an online physical geology course and ending the year with the debut of the new Digital Resource Repository (read more about those projects in this newsletter). Work on the district-wide Distance Learning Strategic Plan made big strides, as well. The 11 committees submitted more than 125 recommendations for ways to improve and advance distance learning within our district. Some of the work on those recommendations has already begun-- starting with marketing, technical infrastructure and institutional research.
The LeCroy Center is now starting its fourth year hosting the National University Telecommunications Network, NUTN (pronounced Newton), a professional development organization for distance learning professionals. Look for more opportunities for professional development webinars, audioconferences and the national conference in Summer 2009.
The LeCroy Center, part of the District's Educational Affairs area, has already launched into its planning and budgeting cycle for next year. With so many things happening in distance and blended learning, we look forward to meeting the needs of our faculty and students in whatever way we can. The LeCroy Center provides the instructional technology infrastructure for all online classes, and we support the faculty and student help desks for technical questions for eCampus and eConnect. With so much happening, we are always here to support the needs of the colleges and help lead the way into the future. Let us know when and where we can help, and we'll do our best to comply.
Have a Happy New Year.
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| Add Videos to Your Online Course: Click Here |
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| FREE Videos - Digital Resource Repository
 You are just a click away from adding some "electronic-spice" to your online and on-campus classes. More than 2500 video clips, or learning objects, are available for your use with the new Digital Video Resource Repository. It's a catalog of short video clips and interactive multimedia activities that can be loaded into your eCampus course shell, in the blink of an eye.
The searchable online library, is the brainchild of Dallas TeleLearning (The LeCroy Center National Marketing Department), and San Bernardino Community College in California. The robust digital media system allows for seamless interface with eCampus, is equipped with a user-friendly click-through operation, and is ready for use.
- Business
- Health & Wellness
- English
- Geology
- Science
- Government
- Sociology, and more!
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| Time-Savers to Speed Along the eCampus Super Highway |
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Let's face it, fast, lightening-speed is the name of the game when it comes to saving time on the Internet. Students, are looking for the quickest downloads, seamless streams and instant responses. Here are a few tips to help you and your students save time and breeze through eCampus, our online course management system.
- Consider flex-entry start and end dates and times for exams.
- Limit exams to 55 minutes. If a test must be longer than 55 minutes, consider making two exams.
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Use small images in your exams.
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Consider saving Microsoft Word documents and Powerpoint presentations as a web page using file compression software, such as Winzip. The zipped file will easily upload to eCampus. Another option is to save it as a PDF.
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Courses should be made unavailable at the end of each semester, unless you have students with an "I" (Incomplete). This will help to preserve the integrity of the grades and course statistics.
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Archive your course at the end of each semester and save to a backup drive.
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Download your Grade Center records weekly and keep a copy on your computer. Post a picture, contact information and relevant information about yourself in the Staff Information section so students have a sense of who you are.
Faculty Help Desk
972-669-6460
Monday-Friday
8:30am - 6:00pm
Technical Support Desk - 972-669-6402 - Available 24-hours
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Jump On the Technology Van Wagon |
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The Mobile Production Van
 Enhance your online course with a personal welcome, instructor profile, customized message or brief orientation for your course. The DL mobile production unit will come to your campus to videotape you and provide an electronic link for your online use. Contact the Distance Learning Coordinator at your campus or Rick Walker to schedule production services.
Rockin' With Geology - Available online Fall 2009
A new 4-credit hour online Physical Geology course will be ready for use later this year.
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15-online lessons + 15 online labs + lab manual + kit and textbook.
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Interactive activities to reinforce learning of geological terminology, rock properties, and reinforce safety awareness.
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Flash animations and audio to allow the introduction of motion to illustrate and clarify geologic concepts and processes.
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Integrated video modules that expand on specific lesson topics, connect with real geology experts, and explore sidebars, plus "MyLabPartner" video segments to demonstrate procedures and anticipate questions.
Update Your Software Skills
Watch DCCCD-TV Online, 24/7
Now students have another avenue to view their video-based distance learning  courses. DCCCD-TV is now available online, live, 24-hours a day. That's right, you and your students can view our award-winning programming online anytime, via live simulcast. The district TV cable service is available to residents of Dallas County who have access to local-area cable television services. Programming for the cable channels includes educational, informative and entertaining information about the Dallas County Community College District. Check out some of our video course programs, along with weekly "Movie Classics" and "Connections", programs featuring vintage and current happenings around the district.
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| Dallas TeleCollege Unveils New Website |
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What's clear and concise and read all over? The NEW Dallas TeleCollege website.
We're rolling out a brand new Dallas TeleCollege web experience for DCCCD distance learning students.
- Easy-to-use and navigate
- DCCCD-TV simulcast live, 24/7
- Information that is useful and easy to find
- Quick links to what you need, when you need it!
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NUTN Honors Futurist |
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 The National University Telecommunications Network, NUTN, will honor internationally recognized futurist Elliott Masie with the NUTN 2009 Distinguished Service Award at its 27th annual distance learning conference, "Quality in Motion", to be held in Saratoga Springs, New York, June 21-23, 2009. This is the highest honor given by the NUTN Advisory Board which is composed of leaders in higher education representing institutions at the forefront of distance learning. Mr. Masie was selected for his vision and contributions to the fields of learning and emerging technology. The Quality in Motion conference will be co-hosted by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and The Rochester Institute of Technology.
NUTN is a membership-supported organization committed to dynamic leadership and the support of applications of new and emerging technologies in distance education. As a premier distance learning professional development organization, NUTN provides vision and experience to higher education institutions and professionals serving numerous constituencies and organizations. NUTN is headquartered at the Dallas County Community College District's R. Jan LeCroy Center for Educational Telecommunications in Dallas, Texas. For more information about NUTN and the Quality in Motion conference, visit www.nutn.org.
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We would love to hear from you and find out how you are using distance learning at your location. Please forward inquiries, comments or story ideas to: The Distance Learning Update: aauzenne@dcccd.edu
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