Category Archives: Getting Started
Introducing Gradient
August 31, 2012
is a web based writing and peer assessment tool developed by the ITAP Informatics Team at Purdue University. It allows students the opportunity to practice reading and writing skills using course-specific scholarly material. Students are first asked to respond to a question submitted by their instructor. Next, students are provided with three structured writing prompts, [...]
Fall 2012 ITaP Instructor Workshops available for registration!
August 10, 2012
Starting August 14th, ITaP Academic Technologies will be offering hands-on workshops to assist instructors with the many tools in the new course management system, Blackboard Learn. The Learn workshops include the new video integration tool, Kaltura, which allows easy use of videos within Blackboard courses. In addition, workshops on the i>clicker student response system, Qualtrics [...]
Qualtrics at Purdue; new features available
June 19, 2012
We are fortunate to have access to the Qualtrics Survey Tool as our university-wide survey instrument. Qualtrics is a wonderful tool; simple and easy to get started, yet detailed and in depth enough to create a survey with any numbers of bells and whistles. In addition to workshops delivered by ITaP, the company has a [...]
Overview of Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK)
May 11, 2012
Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge (TPACK) is a theoretical framework for examining the funds of knowledge which educators use in order to design and develop lessons infused with technology (see the figure below for a graphic representation of TPACK). The term was originated by Dr. Punya Mishra and Dr. Matt Koehler. According to these researchers, [...]
Blackboard Learn Provides Enhanced Group Functions
March 15, 2012
Group functions within Blackboard Learn now allow for collaboration between students using blogs, file exchange, discussion board, journals, tasks, and Wikis. Students within a group can participate in real-time lessons and problem solving exercises. Groups may be set up manually, randomly automatic and by self-enrollment. Any number of groups or students to a group may [...]
Teaching and Learning – Online Tutorials
February 24, 2012
ITaP’s Teaching and Learning website has some great online training information and exercises for the various tools and services offered by Purdue University. These tools include Blackboard Vista, Adobe Connect, Confluence, and more. This training includes text, images, and videos to help keep faculty and students on the right track.
Three Kinds of “Deleted Student” in Blackboard Learn
February 6, 2012
In Blackboard Learn there are three kinds of deleted students. This is not handled the same way it was in Vista. _ “Unenroll” – this deletes the student completely, including all the student’s work. Not recommended, as there is no record of the student in the class. – “Make Inactive”-This is something the instructor can [...]
Blackboard users group meets Jan. 31 to hear about Learn 9.1 features
January 19, 2012
The cross-campus Blackboard Users Group will meet from 1:30-2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 31. Users may attend in person or connect online via Adobe Connect. Users of Blackboard or other teaching and learning technology tools are invited to join this community to share strategies, tips and techniques. The focus of this semester’s meetings will begin [...]
Taming Outlook Email Addressing
December 28, 2011
Ok – not really, but this may help… Let’s start with email… Apologies to Lindsay. A few weeks ago I sent him an email unintentionally. Well, I intended the email, just not to him! I sent it to the wrong person, of course. And I would like to blame Outlook. It tries SO hard to [...]
Student Trainers Program
November 28, 2011
Students Helping Students is more than just a motto, it is the reality of the Information Technology at Purdue (ITaP) Student Trainers program.