Using Blackboard for STEM Workshop

This blogpost will outline the content for today’s workshop entitled, “Using Blackboard for STEM Courses.”

This workshop will introduce Blackboard 9.1  tools which promote learning in math and science courses.  Among the tools discussed will be Wimba classroom, Elluminate, math notation tools, and echo 360.  Collectively, these tools allow for electronic white boards, voice recordings, screen capture and more.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1.  Articulate one way in which they will employ a new tool in their course.
2.  Articulate why one technology tool would be better suited than another for achieving learning outcomes.

1. Livescribe -- The LiveScribe pen (pictured left) allows you to record your pen movements and voice and share them via the web.
2. Utilize Math Notation Tools [MathType [download], WebEQ Editor, Equation Editor in MS Word, or Equation Editor in Google Docs] to write test questions in Blackboard.
3. Draw an equation by hand, take a picture with your phone or scan, then upload to Blackboard
4. Use screencaptures from a computer to record your screen with mouse movements and voice and then upload to the Internet.  Blackboard includes a tool called Echo 360 which automatically uploads your screencast to Blackboard.  

• [Tip: Change the appearance of your cursor when recording screencasts:  

http://www.math.uaa.alaska.edu/~afkjm/techteach/?q=node/54

5. Record a virtual classroom using Wimba Classroom -- Wimba Classroom allows you to record a virtual class and archive the session.  View a blog post from the Center for Academic Technology blog on our recent Wimba workshop.  Blackboard is currently integrating Elluminate into their offerings.  Look for this tool in the fall of 2011.
6. Use a FlipCam to Record a Short Lecture.  View a blog post from the Center for Academic Technology blog on our using flipcams in the classroom.
7. Use a Calculated Numeric Response Question in Blackboard - This question resembles a fill-in-the-blank question. The user enters a number to complete a statement. The correct answer can be a specific number or within a range of numbers.
8. Employ Problem Based Learning -- Employ  journals, discussion boards, voice board in Blackboard to elicit written responses from students.
9. Free Tutoring Services -- Smartthinking is a free online tutoring service available to UDC students.  
10. External resources:
1. A free computational Knowledge Engine: http://www.wolframalpha.com/
2. AMSER, the Applied Math and Science Educational Repository -- http://amser.org  
3. Math in the Movies: http://world.std.com/~reinhold/mathmovies.html
4. Internet Based Simulations: http://www.csun.edu/science/software/simulations/simulations.html
5. Teaching College Math Blog: http://tcmtechnologyblog.blogspot.com
6. Using the Internet to Spice up Math: http://www.mindomo.com/view?m=38cc4f6a467acbfde4be796e68399450