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 eCampus Sees Rapid Growth This Semester
The back-to-school growing pains are showing in our eCampus Blackboard system.Today, we are managing more than 8,000 courses, with more than 60,000 students, and nearly 2,500 faculty-- and that's just this fall semester. Naturally with the continued growth in users and content, there will be hiccups. The Faculty Help Desk can assist during those busy times. According to Daniel Luciani, eCampus Administrator at the LeCroy Center, "the system is always at its peak during the beginning of semesters. The best course of action is to plan ahead and stagger exams, assignments and interactive activities throughout the semester."
ECampus is currently operating on the new Blackboard V9.1 platform and it has a lot of new bells and whistles. Using social networking tools will be a lot easier-- Flickr Photo, SlideShow, and You Tube are just a few you can choose from. Another new feature, Content Collection, provides file storage that is accessible directly from an instructor's course. With just a click, instructors can link to items in the Course Content Collection while designing content. A simple drag and drop feature makes information in one or more file folders available for uploading.
For more information and Quick Tips:
Manuals (PDF)
Tutorials (SlideShow)
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Biology-1408 Online Available Spring '12 With the production of a new biology course for non-science majors coming to an end, biology instructors will be able to use this course starting in January 2012. The LeCroy Center has created a new course that brings biology to life, literally. In this online course students will use interactive activities, animated diagrams, videos and self-tests to complete each lesson. Everything from the theory of evolution to human genetics is explored. Accompanying video demonstrations and a student lab rounds out the 4-credit hour course. Read more... 
Biology Content Specialist, Jennifer Baggett shares her take on Biology Online If you are interested in using BIOL-1408 online, contact the FAST Team, at: cbwells@dcccd.edu. |
 Geology Online - A Rock Solid Course Available January 2012 The final takes are being completed for the long-awaited Physical Geology Online course. Instructors can use this course beginning January 2012. This 4-credit hour introductory course combines easy-to-use modules, online guides, animation, student interaction and short video clips. By adding features like the "LabPartner" video segments, faculty have the luxury of designing a course to meet the needs of all students. Couple that with interactive activities, assignments modules and a sample course syllabus-- this course will rock. Read more... If you are interested in using this new GEOL-1403 online course, contact the FAST Team: cbwells@dcccd.edu. |
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 What's New, What's Cool, What's Free
(written by Cheryl Wells, FAST Team, LCET, former instructor)
When I was in the classroom I always changed at least one thing from semester to semester. Why did I do that? It kept me from getting bored, and created a better learning experience for my students.
In the traditional classroom I had the opportunity to interact with my students, and they formed bonds with each other. The distance learning instructor faces challenges with interaction and learning that the face to face instructor doesn't encounter.
Some of the challenges in distance learning are:
- reducing the isolation experienced by students taking online courses
- using emerging technology to engage students online
- encouraging interaction between students
Here are some tools you can experiment with to help you meet these challenges.
Yahoo Avatars http://messenger.yahoo.com/features/avatars/
Distance learning students may feel isolated because they never actually see the other students in the class. To help with this, you can have students create an avatar.
Audiopal http://audiopal.com
Use Audiopal to make a free audio recording that can be easily uploaded to an eCampus course.
Shmoop http://www.shmoop.com
Shmoop are free study guides instructors can us to supplement their content.
Quizlet http://quizlet.com
Use Quizlet to create flashcards, or browse and use millions of flashcards created by students and teachers
For more information, contact The FAST Team.
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 Online Tool for Information Overload While in college, most students are assigned to write research and term papers in different subjects. Papers that require the use of books, essays, journals and a library. A new tool, infoLAB has been developed to assist students think strategically about information and the processes of preparing a paper.
In just 45-minutes, students learn to: * Investigate a topic * Search for information * Locate the information in the library * Evaluate the quality of the information InfoLAB is available for faculty to link in their eCampus courses via the DCCCD Library Module on the My DCCCD tab. Faculty can also contact a librarian to get quiz pools to use within their eCampus course. InfoLAB was developed as a cooperative effort of the DCCCD Library Instruction Team and the FAST Team. Click here to see infoLAB Online |
 If Not Now ... When?
That's the question to be addressed at the 2011 National University Technology Network (NUTN) annual conference. The NUTN Conference will be held in Fort Worth, September 26-28, 2011. Opening keynote speaker, Dr. Adrian Sannier, Senior Vice President of Product for Pearson Learning Technologies will explore the unfulfilled expectations for technology in education and consider whether conditions are finally right for major change. The LeCroy Center will receive the prestigious NUTN Institution Achievement Award for effective use of technology in teaching and learning. DCCCD faculty and staff are offered discounted registration fees. The NUTN Network provides networking and professional development opportunities for innovative leaders in the advancement of teaching and learning. For more information about the NUTN Conference... If you would like registration information at the DCCCD reduced rate, contact Patti Jennings at: pjennings@dcccd.edu |
 Watch DCCCD Online
and On TV 24/7
DCTV
Did you know the Dallas County Community College District has its own cable television station? It's no secret. Actually DCCCD broadcast it's first educational television course, "Government by
Consent", some 40-years ago, on local PBS Channel 13. Today, the LeCroy Center continues to broadcast educational programming daily on local cable stations around the metroplex. DCTV (Dallas Colleges TV) is available 24/7 for cable subscribers with AT&T U-Verse, Time Warner Cable, and Comcast.
In addition to broadcasting on television, DCTV is available online. Award-winning course video programs produced by The LeCroy Center are featured daily along with popular program hours like "Movie Classics" award-winning documentaries by Annenberg Programs, Global Warming and The Diversity Series, McQuistion TV, and the United Nations series. Campus events and activities are also a regular feature.
Watch online now...
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 District Council Looks at Distance Education and TechnologyFor the past three years the Distance Education and Learning Technologies Council (DELT) has been working to make distance learning available across the DCCCD. This Fall 2011 semester, data suggests more than 33,000 students are taking at least one course online. Distance and blended learning continues to be among the fastest growing courses district-wide and nationally. Technology is changing how and where students learn-- which affects enrollment trends, technology, marketing, and retention efforts. Information sharing and planning is key to achieving student success-- the DELT Council works to share information, make necessary strategic policy recommendations, address system-wide issues, address emerging issues, and avoid duplications. The DELT Council |
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The LeCroy Center 2011 Retirees We would like to thank our retirees for 175 combined years of service to the DCCCD and The LeCroy Center.  (click here to view video tribute)
Congratulations to: * Jim Picquet 39 years * Karen McClendon 30 years * Linda Turner 26 years * Mary Adams 22 years * Ruth Ann Abbey 14 years * Thomas Upton 14 years * Gene Barnes 13 years * Jeff Hanne 13 years * Susan Hackett 10 years * Pat Lawton 7 years |
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Professional
Development Webinar Programs
Fall 2011
Sept. 7, 12, 21, 26, 2011
Making the Shift from Classroom to Online Course Design (4- part series)
September 13, 2011
Implementing a Comprehensive FERPA Training Program for Student Employees
Sept. 13, 2011
Supporting Today's Students through Virtual Tutoring
September 14, 2011
Leading Forward: Technology Planning for Sustainable Advising
Sept. 20, 2011
Demystifying Open Educational Resources
Sept. 26 - Oct. 10, 2011
Using Portfolios in Academic and Workforce Education
Sept. 27, 2011
Faculty Motivation from the Inside Out
Oct. 4, 2011
Strategies for Successfully Teaching Math Online
Oct. 11, 2011
Internet Course Development Process: Center for Teaching and Learning, Moraine Valley, Community College
Oct. 17 - Oct. 31, 2011
Strategies for Student Engagement in e-Learning
Oct. 18, 2011
Reviewing Online Course Development and Delivery: An Ongoing Process
Oct. 24 - Nov. 7, 2011
Alton Brown
A Few of the Secrets of my Semi-Moderate Success
Oct. 25, 2011
Internet2 K-20 Initiative - How Community Colleges Can Get Involved
Nov. 1, 2011
Reclaiming Free Time: Productivity Ideas to Work Smarter, Not Harder
Nov. 8, 2011
Teaching Science Online Part 1 - Best Practices Putting Lab Science Totally Online
Nov. 15, 2011
Universal Design
Nov. 7 - Nov. 21, 2011
Al Duncan
Rise N' Thrive: From Great Potential to Exceptional Performance
Nov. 28 - Dec. 12, 2011
Strategies to Increase Student Motivation and Engagement
Nov. 29, 2011
Creating a Peer Mentoring Program for New Online Faculty
Dec. 5 - Dec. 19, 2011
Robert and Kim Kiyosaki
Why "A Students Work for "C" Students: The Benefit of Financial Education
Dec. 6, 2011
Complying with Copyright and Ownership Issues in Distance Education
Dec. 13, 2011
Motivating the Generations in the Classroom and Out
Jan. 10, 2012
Teaching Science Online Part 2 - Ten Tips to Teaching Science Totally Online
For more information contact your Campus Teleconference Coordinator
Susan Hackett, shackett@dcccd.edu
http://www.starlinktraining.org/
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FAST Help -- FAST Team
Faculty Access to Supportive Technology
- FREE eCampus Templates
- Cool Tools and Tricks for Online Courses
- LCET Free Services for Faculty
- Universal Design for Online and Hybrid Learning
- Quality Matters
- Using iPads in Education
- Using Video in Online Courses/Video Repository
- eCampus Training
FAST Team Phone: 972.669.6426 http://fastteam.pbworks.com/ fast@dcccd.edu
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