The Hoot http://www.calvin.edu/it/academic/hoot A blog about teaching & technology. en Copyright 2011 2011-07-11T12:56:43+00:00 http://www.calvin.edu/go/hoothttp://www.calvin.edu/it/academic/images/thehoot.gifThe Hootcalvin/hoothttp://feedburner.google.com CIT: A new look for Google Apps http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/calvin/hoot/~3/tABQaw6iaMI/ http://www.calvin.edu/it/academic/hoot/comments/cit-a-new-look-for-google-apps/ From the CIT Google Apps Team: “Google is rolling out a new look and feel across Google’s products, and these interface changes will also be released to Google Apps services, such as Calendar and Docs, over the next months.” “We encourage you preview the new look over the next few weeks to gain familiarity with upcoming changes.” “On the Google Apps What’s New site (http://whatsnew.googleapps.com/new-look), you’ll find information about the release process.” Announcements, Technology Tips From the CIT Google Apps Team: “Google is rolling out a new look and feel across Google’s products, and these interface changes will also be released to Google Apps services, such as Calendar and Docs, over the next months.”

“We encourage you preview the new look over the next few weeks to gain familiarity with upcoming changes.”

“On the Google Apps What’s New site (http://whatsnew.googleapps.com/new-look), you’ll find information about the release process.”

]]> 2011-07-11T12:56:43+00:00 http://www.calvin.edu/it/academic/hoot/comments/cit-a-new-look-for-google-apps/ Moodle/KnightVision: End of semester information http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/calvin/hoot/~3/1AzcaeRE8WE/ http://www.calvin.edu/it/academic/hoot/comments/moodle-end-of-semester-information/ KnightVision courses will no longer be available after June 10, 2011. You may request assistance migrating your KV courses to Moodle until June 1. Spring Moodle courses will be removed July 1, 2011. Before July 1, we encourage you to do at least one of the following things: Copy your spring course(s) back into your Master course(s). Confirm your Master course(s) are empty before you begin. If needed, request to have courses purged (may take up to 36 hours to process) Confirm the number of topic areas is the same in both your Master and semester course Create a backup of your course(s) Course backup files will automatically be saved to the files area of your course. Make sure to also save the backup in another location for future access to the course. Request a temporary extension Fall 2011 courses All fall Moodle courses (as of May 1) are available to faculty only. Fall classes will be made available to students automatically the week of August 15th. This is a system-wide setting that cannot be customized. If you have content in your courses you don’t want your students to see, you can “hide” sections or items until you are ready to make them available. To hide topic sections, click the eye in each topic section. You can also hide individual items as you create them by selecting “hide” in the item settings. All content you have hidden will be displayed in light gray. If you are teaching a fall course but can’t see it in Moodle, please contact the Registrar’s Office to confirm you have been assigned as the instructor of the course. Once the Registrar’s Office adds you as the instructor for a course, the course will become available to you within 12-24 hours. KnightVision courses will no longer be available after June 10, 2011. You may request assistance migrating your KV courses to Moodle until June 1.

Spring Moodle courses will be removed July 1, 2011. Before July 1, we encourage you to do at least one of the following things:

Copy your spring course(s) back into your Master course(s).

  • Confirm your Master course(s) are empty before you begin.
  • If needed, request to have courses purged (may take up to 36 hours to process)
  • Confirm the number of topic areas is the same in both your Master and semester course

Create a backup of your course(s)

  • Course backup files will automatically be saved to the files area of your course. Make sure to also save the backup in another location for future access to the course.

Request a temporary extension


Fall 2011 courses
All fall Moodle courses (as of May 1) are available to faculty only. Fall classes will be made available to students automatically the week of August 15th. This is a system-wide setting that cannot be customized. If you have content in your courses you don’t want your students to see, you can “hide” sections or items until you are ready to make them available.

To hide topic sections, click the eye in each topic section. You can also hide individual items as you create them by selecting “hide” in the item settings. All content you have hidden will be displayed in light gray.

If you are teaching a fall course but can’t see it in Moodle, please contact the Registrar’s Office to confirm you have been assigned as the instructor of the course. Once the Registrar’s Office adds you as the instructor for a course, the course will become available to you within 12-24 hours.]]> 2011-05-18T13:09:31+00:00 http://www.calvin.edu/it/academic/hoot/comments/moodle-end-of-semester-information/ KV goes away June 10th…Learn Moodle now! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/calvin/hoot/~3/iNTlcK4JdVs/ http://www.calvin.edu/it/academic/hoot/comments/kv-goes-away-june-10th...learn-moodle-now/ T&L is offering a number of Moodle workshops in May & June. Note: These are the last four workshops before KnightVision will no longer be available to faculty on June 10, 2011. For more information or to register for Moodle workshops Announcements, MOODLE, Workshops & Lunchbytes T&L is offering a number of Moodle workshops in May & June.

Note: These are the last four workshops before KnightVision will no longer be available to faculty on June 10, 2011.

For more information or to register for Moodle workshops]]> 2011-05-10T15:09:52+00:00 http://www.calvin.edu/it/academic/hoot/comments/kv-goes-away-june-10th...learn-moodle-now/ Wimba Classroom connecting Calvin College to FL, NM and CA http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/calvin/hoot/~3/X7FTQ2tQJsU/ http://www.calvin.edu/it/academic/hoot/comments/wimba-classroom-connecting-calvin-college-to-florida-new-mexico-california/ People all across campus continue to find new and unique ways to use Wimba Classroom in their teaching and learning. Wimba Classroom is a set of web-based collaboration tools used for: video conferencing audio-conferencing application sharing sharing an interactive whiteboard chatting Calvin’s education department is using Wimba Classroom to record, critique, and remotely support student teachers in southern California and New Mexico, as well as in a variety of locations in the Grand Rapids area. Philosophy Professor Steve Wykstra and Nellie Kooistra, Department Assistant for the Nagel Institute, recently used Wimba Classroom to record 9-hours worth of lectures given in Florida. They exported the recordings (using MP4-based files) onto DVDs to give to their 20+ attendees from all across the United States. If you have found an interesting way to use Wimba Classroom, share it with us in the comments area! To learn more about Wimba Classroom, visit the links below. (To login, click on the Participant Login button if prompted to do so and/or enter your first name and press Enter) Wimba Teach information & tutorials Wimba Design information & tutorials Best Practices, Faculty Highlights People all across campus continue to find new and unique ways to use Wimba Classroom in their teaching and learning. Wimba Classroom is a set of web-based collaboration tools used for:

  • video conferencing
  • audio-conferencing
  • application sharing
  • sharing an interactive whiteboard
  • chatting

Calvin’s education department is using Wimba Classroom to record, critique, and remotely support student teachers in southern California and New Mexico, as well as in a variety of locations in the Grand Rapids area.

Philosophy Professor Steve Wykstra and Nellie Kooistra, Department Assistant for the Nagel Institute, recently used Wimba Classroom to record 9-hours worth of lectures given in Florida. They exported the recordings (using MP4-based files) onto DVDs to give to their 20+ attendees from all across the United States.

If you have found an interesting way to use Wimba Classroom, share it with us in the comments area!

To learn more about Wimba Classroom, visit the links below. (To login, click on the Participant Login button if prompted to do so and/or enter your first name and press Enter)

Wimba Teach information & tutorials
Wimba Design information & tutorials

]]> 2011-04-11T14:37:55+00:00 http://www.calvin.edu/it/academic/hoot/comments/wimba-classroom-connecting-calvin-college-to-florida-new-mexico-california/ T&L Digital Studio new media series http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/calvin/hoot/~3/0aP4Zw5KNiw/ http://www.calvin.edu/it/academic/hoot/comments/tl-digital-studio-new-media-series/ The T&L Digital Studio staff is offering a Friday afternoon training series showcasing a variety of technologies you can use to enhance your teaching and learning. No registration necessary. Getting Started with Digital Photography April 8th | 3:30-4:30pm | HL121 Publish Your Own Book with Adobe InDesign April 15th | 3:30-4:30pm | HL121 The World of Scanning: Images, Slides, Documents April 29th | 3:30-4:30pm | HL121 Getting Started with Apple’s Final Cut Pro May 6th | 3:30-4:30pm | HL121 Additional information/details We look forward to sharing and exploring these technologies and new media literacies with you! Questions? Please Daniel Christian at x6-6647 or the Digital Studio at x6-5885. Workshops & Lunchbytes The T&L Digital Studio staff is offering a Friday afternoon training series showcasing a variety of
technologies you can use to enhance your teaching and learning. No registration necessary.

Getting Started with Digital Photography
April 8th | 3:30-4:30pm | HL121

Publish Your Own Book with Adobe InDesign
April 15th | 3:30-4:30pm | HL121

The World of Scanning: Images, Slides, Documents
April 29th | 3:30-4:30pm | HL121

Getting Started with Apple’s Final Cut Pro
May 6th | 3:30-4:30pm | HL121

Additional information/details

We look forward to sharing and exploring these technologies and new media literacies with you!

Questions? Please Daniel Christian at x6-6647 or the Digital Studio at x6-5885.

]]> 2011-04-05T16:02:24+00:00 http://www.calvin.edu/it/academic/hoot/comments/tl-digital-studio-new-media-series/ Upcoming Moodle learning opportunities http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/calvin/hoot/~3/kbtxK0tnWYQ/ http://www.calvin.edu/it/academic/hoot/comments/upcoming-moodle-learning-opportunities/ For the next three Wednesdays afternoons T&L will be offering a Moodle workshop series covering some of the most highly used features in Moodle. We welcome you to come for just one session or join us for them all…It’s up to you! We are also offering a Moodle classroom workshop on April 18, 19 & 20. (Registration information below.) Getting started Wednesday, March 30 | HL 122 | 2:00-4:30 p.m. Communication, student accountability & collaborative learning Wednesday, April 6 | HL 122 | 2:00-4:30 p.m. Assessment, feedback and the gradebook Wednesday, April 13 | HL 122 | 2:00-4:30 p.m. Moodle classroom workshop April 18, 19 & 20 | HL 122 | 1:30-4:00 p.m. Additional information and registration Announcements, MOODLE, Workshops & Lunchbytes For the next three Wednesdays afternoons T&L will be offering a Moodle workshop series covering some of the most highly used features in Moodle. We welcome you to come for just one session or join us for them all…It’s up to you! We are also offering a Moodle classroom workshop on April 18, 19 & 20.
(Registration information below.)

Getting started
Wednesday, March 30 | HL 122 | 2:00-4:30 p.m.

Communication, student accountability & collaborative learning
Wednesday, April 6 | HL 122 | 2:00-4:30 p.m.

Assessment, feedback and the gradebook
Wednesday, April 13 | HL 122 | 2:00-4:30 p.m.

Moodle classroom workshop
April 18, 19 & 20 | HL 122 | 1:30-4:00 p.m.

Additional information and registration

]]> 2011-03-29T16:01:39+00:00 http://www.calvin.edu/it/academic/hoot/comments/upcoming-moodle-learning-opportunities/ Fall and interim Moodle courses going away on March 1 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/calvin/hoot/~3/WsATYGggm48/ http://www.calvin.edu/it/academic/hoot/comments/fall-and-interim-moodle-courses-going-away-on-march-1/ Fall and interim Moodle courses will be available until Tuesday, March 1; however, you can request a course be extended if you have a student with an incomplete. Request an extension Before you copy your semester Moodle course(s) back into your Master course(s), you need to make sure the Master course(s) is/are EMPTY. (Once a course is purged, you’ll also want to make sure there is the same number of topic areas in both your Master and fall semester courses.) Request your course(s) be purged (emptied) (Note: Request to have your courses purged may take up to 36 hours to process, so we recommend you make your requests very soon.) Importing (copying) your semester Moodle course(s) into your Master course(s) Reminder: All courses need to be out of KnightVision by June 10, 2011. After June 10, faculty will no longer have access to their courses in KnightVision. MOODLE, Technology Tips Fall and interim Moodle courses will be available until Tuesday, March 1; however, you can request a course be extended if you have a student with an incomplete.
Request an extension

Before you copy your semester Moodle course(s) back into your Master course(s), you need to make sure the Master course(s) is/are EMPTY. (Once a course is purged, you’ll also want to make sure there is the same number of topic areas in both your Master and fall semester courses.)
Request your course(s) be purged (emptied)

(Note: Request to have your courses purged may take up to 36 hours to process, so we recommend you make your requests very soon.)

Importing (copying) your semester Moodle course(s) into your Master course(s)

Reminder: All courses need to be out of KnightVision by June 10, 2011. After June 10, faculty will no longer have access to their courses in KnightVision.

]]> 2011-02-15T15:39:05+00:00 http://www.calvin.edu/it/academic/hoot/comments/fall-and-interim-moodle-courses-going-away-on-march-1/ Moodle Tip: Using groups http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/calvin/hoot/~3/HRkdFHBBur0/ http://www.calvin.edu/it/academic/hoot/comments/moodle-using-groups/ Using groups for an activity Once you’ve set up your groups (click Groups link from Admin block), you can designate different activities (such as forums) be completed by groups when you set up the activities. There are three group options: No groups (default) - means only individual students will complete the activity Visible groups - groups of students will complete the activity PLUS be able to see the work of other groups (but not edit or contribute) Separate groups - groups of students will complete the activity AND no other groups can see their work. If you use groups for an activity, students will access the activity by clicking on the activity link. This will take them directly to their group’s area for that activity. Communicating with groups Once you’ve set up your groups, you can send groups of students emails using the QuickMail block. QuickMail will detect the groups you’ve already created so you can designate groups to which to send an email.  (Note about QuickMail: When you use the QuickMail block, the formatting of the email doesn’t “stick” for those receiving the email. They end up only seeing one big paragraph of information.) Another option for communicating with groups Set up a separate forum for each group. When you need to communicate with them, post the message to their discussion board and select Mail now before you submit. Postings to a forum are usually received by students within the hour. MOODLE, Technology Tips Using groups for an activity
Once you’ve set up your groups (click Groups link from Admin block), you can designate different activities (such as forums) be completed by groups when you set up the activities. There are three group options:

  • No groups (default) - means only individual students will complete the activity
  • Visible groups - groups of students will complete the activity PLUS be able to see the work of other groups (but not edit or contribute)
  • Separate groups - groups of students will complete the activity AND no other groups can see their work.

If you use groups for an activity, students will access the activity by clicking on the activity link. This will take them directly to their group’s area for that activity.

Communicating with groups
Once you’ve set up your groups, you can send groups of students emails using the QuickMail block. QuickMail will detect the groups you’ve already created so you can designate groups to which to send an email.  (Note about QuickMail: When you use the QuickMail block, the formatting of the email doesn’t “stick” for those receiving the email. They end up only seeing one big paragraph of information.)

Another option for communicating with groups
Set up a separate forum for each group. When you need to communicate with them, post the message to their discussion board and select Mail now before you submit. Postings to a forum are usually received by students within the hour.

]]> 2011-02-14T18:04:04+00:00 http://www.calvin.edu/it/academic/hoot/comments/moodle-using-groups/ Moodle Tip: Is your course list on your My Moodle page ever so long? (Mine too!) http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/calvin/hoot/~3/VjbLRAJ1Nts/ http://www.calvin.edu/it/academic/hoot/comments/moodle-tip-is-the-list-of-courses-on-your-my-moodle-page-ever-so-long/ While you are not able to delete any of these courses, we do have a tip for making your My Moodle page more manageable. Only the courses that are available to students (shown in blue) are listed at the top of your My Moodle page. Courses that are unavailable (shown in gray) are pushed down to the bottom. So…by making your Master and Master Collaborative courses unavailable to students (even though there are no students enrolled them) will send them to the bottom of the page. To make a course unavailable, go into the course > select Settings from the Administration block > change Availability to This course is not available to students > click Save changes. Now, Victor Norman has come up with a nifty script that lets you choose the courses you want to see (...hiding all the rest). If you bring him a coffee or a little something tasty…he might be willing to share! : ) MOODLE, Technology Tips While you are not able to delete any of these courses, we do have a tip for making your My Moodle page more manageable.

Only the courses that are available to students (shown in blue) are listed at the top of your My Moodle page. Courses that are unavailable (shown in gray) are pushed down to the bottom. So…by making your Master and Master Collaborative courses unavailable to students (even though there are no students enrolled them) will send them to the bottom of the page.

To make a course unavailable, go into the course > select Settings from the Administration block > change Availability to This course is not available to students > click Save changes.

Now, Victor Norman has come up with a nifty script that lets you choose the courses you want to see (...hiding all the rest). If you bring him a coffee or a little something tasty…he might be willing to share! : )

]]> 2011-01-05T14:11:37+00:00 http://www.calvin.edu/it/academic/hoot/comments/moodle-tip-is-the-list-of-courses-on-your-my-moodle-page-ever-so-long/ Spring 2011 courses now available in Moodle http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/calvin/hoot/~3/r8dzJJhunaM/ http://www.calvin.edu/it/academic/hoot/comments/spring-2011-courses-now-available-in-moodle/ All 2011 spring courses are now available to faculty in Moodle. No spring courses have been created in KnightVision and will only be created in KV by request. Master and Master Collaborative courses will continue to be available in KnightVision through spring semester. To find out how to get help moving your KV courses to Moodle, request spring courses be created in KV &/or view interim workshop opportunities, please visit: Moodle update & information for spring 2011 Announcements, MOODLE All 2011 spring courses are now available to faculty in Moodle. No spring courses have been created in KnightVision and will only be created in KV by request. Master and Master Collaborative courses will continue to be available in KnightVision through spring semester.

To find out how to get help moving your KV courses to Moodle, request spring courses be created in KV &/or view interim workshop opportunities, please visit: Moodle update & information for spring 2011

]]> 2010-12-01T18:12:35+00:00 http://www.calvin.edu/it/academic/hoot/comments/spring-2011-courses-now-available-in-moodle/