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Webinar 2PM Tuesday February 14 

The topic: "Test Deployment Options in Blackboard."  Join David Gray at 2PM by logging in here.  This is a webinar, meaning that you can participate from wherever you are. 

Want to spread the love on Valentine’s Day? Join this brief webinar to find out how you can deploy tests to your students via Blackboard; that’ll make them feel the love!

A list of the topics schedule may be found here. Faculty seeking Professional Development credit should add the session to their PD contract.  If you’re unsure about your computer’s readiness for this session, you can go to the “Blackboard Collaborate webconferencing” page. That page has a utility to check your operating system and Java versions, to confirm that they are ready to go.  To see an archive of past webinars, click here.  To login when the time comes:

Other Upcoming Training

• Wednesday February 8 Strategies for Retention in Online Classes 3 - 5pm room LL-109

• Thursday February 16  Using Google Earth  1 - 3pm room LL-109

• Friday February 24 Blackboard Collaborate: Synchronous Interactive Blackboard Tool 9 - 11am  room LL-109

Camtasia and SnagIt Licensing

We have been able to license TechSmith's Camtasia and SnagIt products for the new semester.  Camtasia is the easiest and fastest way to create screen videos, convert PowerPoint to video, create mp3 audio files, or edit multiple videos and static images into a continuous video using such sophisticated editing features as multiple soundtracks, text overlays, screen effects like spotlighting, highlighting, picture-in-piecture, and pan and zoom effects.  SnagIt is the world's premier screen image capture program with an easy to use but powerful image editor to add callouts, images, stamps and other effects to the output. The licenses are available for any full-time faculty or staff member at the college to be installed on District-owned computers.  To arrange for installation call the Information Services help desk at ext. 2140, or send email to helpdesk@palomar.edu. 

TechSmith has a wonderful series of video tutorials and documentation for these products for those who wish to get up to speed quickly.  Click here for the Camtasia learning center, and here for the SnagIt learning center.  We are licensed for the current versions of both products, Camtasia version 7 and SnagIt version 10.  We will be offering workshops on Camtasia and SnagIt next semester.

POET and the Online Teaching Checklist

As part of the recent Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accreditation process it was identified that Palomar College lacked a way to validate that our online instructors were prepared to teach online.

Our solution was to develop Palomar Online Education Training (POET), driven by the “Validation of Preparedness to Teach Online” Checklist [PDF]. The Checklist was approved by the Senate, TERB, and the Academic Technology Committee. In compliance with the accreditation recommendation, POET validates that our instructors have received online training.

POET takes about 10 hours to complete, but since it is modular, it does not need to be completed during any one semester. PD hours may be listed as variable hours. POET is open entry/exit, so if you missed the orientations to the training, contact Lillian Payn (lpayn@palomar.edu or ext. 3626) to get started. If you want to use the checklist to evaluate your existing or planned online classes, please download the pdf here.

Whether you are new to teaching online or looking for new approaches, the POET series guides you through the process by offering methods, techniques, tools, checklists, and best practices for delivering an effective online course. POET focuses on the pedagogy of online learning through four modules: Online Learning, Using Blackboard Tools (or other management systems), Effective Design, and Course Management. You will earn a Certificate of Completion at the end of the training.