Technology for Pedagogy

UVA offers a range of instructional technologies, from hardware to courseware, that faculty and graduate instructors can employ in their classes. Below is a growing list of those options, but this by no means exhausts the possibilities for integrating technology into pedagogy. Not sure what you need? Talk to the TTSP for options.

Digital classrooms

Bryan Hall: since 2006, all classrooms in the English department's own Bryan Hall are "wired" and outfitted with: overhead projector; computer with Internet and standard UVA-licensed software (e.g. Home Directory, Office suite), also includes USB ports for portable drives; DVD/VHS player; CD player; and input cables to plug in your own laptop (through the VGA port). A staff consultant, David Brinton, is available for help in the building: reach him at 982-3005.

Cabell Hall and Arts & Sciences Equipment Rental: the older classrooms in Cabell Hall are serviced by ASCIT (Arts & Sciences Center for Instructional Technology). Through ASCIT, you can check out all kinds of A/V and computer equipment. Their reservation system is online.

Other buildings: For classrooms in McCloud Hall, please contact Becky Bowers at 924-0133 or rdb7w@virginia.edu. For classrooms in Ruffner Hall, please contact the Educational Technologies Office of the Curry School.

ITC Labs and Classrooms: Need to reserve a room of your own? ITC makes available fully wired classrooms around grounds. Visit their labs and classrooms site for information on classroom locations, sizes, available software, and reservations.

Instructional Toolkit

Toolkit is UVA's in-house course management software (CMS). Its offerings are straightforward and quite useful for just about every class. Toolkit makes available basic information on getting started, using its features, and FAQs. The best part of Toolkit is behind the scenes: its integration with the student information system and the course offering directory. Toolkit will get an upgrade by 2009; beta testing is scheduled to start in January 2008. Suggestions and requests for help can always be sent to itc-toolkit@virginia.edu.

Collab

The next generation of Toolkit. Collab is UVA's version of an open-source course management system (called Sakai). Collab is very flexible, and can be used for course sites as well as other collaboration efforts. You can see live demos of Collab every other week.

Collaboration sites: As of October 2007, anyone can sign up for a collaboration site, if only to try out the interface. Collaboration sites could be very useful for departmental reading groups, group projects, committees, or collaborations with persons anywhere. Merely invite your participants and get started.

Course sites: starting January 2008, these will have all the back-end functionality of Toolkit (e.g. automated class rolls, links to COD, scanning services, etc.) plus a range of new tools. If you're willing to have your spring's class try out Collab, send them an email request. By Fall 2009, all course sites will be created through Collab.

Online waitlist

You can manage waitlists for your classes without paper forms and constant student emails through UVA's Electronic Waitlist. There are pros and cons to this option, however; if you are not sure, please talk to the TTSP.

Lecturing and class presentations

Presentation software is a useful tool for lectures and conference papers. Here's an introduction to PowerPoint and other software options.

Social bookmarking

Here's a good illustrated introduction to social bookmarking in plain English. Social bookmarking allows individuals and groups to share and search bookmarks online. The most popular site is del.icio.us, though there are other options. You can have your class collect and tag sites and research tools appropriate to your course.

Create PDFs

PDFs are document files that can be read across different computing platforms. The library uses this format for scanned chapters and articles that they upload to Toolkit. PDFs can be used for other things, too, such as keeping and distributing copies of documents. You can make your own with Adobe Acrobat Professional software, available in UVA's computing labs with scanners. You can also use some office software (e.g. MS Office in UVA's labs) to convert documents into PDFs. If you haven't done this before, ask for help from the TTSP or library staff.

Online PDF converters: there are plenty of free services that allow you to convert documents (such as Word or Excel documents) into basic PDF files. For example, at PDF Online and PrimoOnline, you can upload files and get PDF versions emailed to you.

Blogs

Introduction: Easy-to-use online journals. The Duke Center for Instructional Technology gives a good overview on instructional blogging and suggests using the popular (and free) online software Blogger. The University of Tennessee has a more comprehensive discussion of blogging history, how tos, and the potentials of academic blogging.

Academic use: Blogs can let students can keep course journals as well as include multimedia and links. Because blogs allow for multiple authors, students groups and/or instructors can collaborate on a blog together.

Why the buzz about blogs? What distinguishes a "blog" from anything else? Let's be clear: a blog is just like any other webpage, except created by easy-to-use software. What has made them popular? Three reasons:

Ease of updating. Blogging software is very streamlined and very efficient.
Independent media: blogs have exerted all kinds of force on the landscape of media and politics because, as media outlets of their own, bloggers are free to do, cover, write about almost anything they want, and to deliver it fast. Of course, traditional media outlets now have plenty of blogs too, in part for the third reason ...
Syndication: the content of blogs lives in databases and can be made available to subscribers through RSS (really simple syndication). With any blog aggregator or RSS reader, users can collect "feeds" and get new content directly, without having to visit. Like email, RSS is one of the most significant content delivery systems on the Internet.

Wikis

Start with this illustrated introduction to wikis. Made famous by Wikipedia, wikis allow any registered user to create and edit pages on a given site. For an example of a wiki in action, check out the UVA Writing Center, whose whole site is a wiki. The writing center uses its collaborative features to allow various staff members to make updates, and to workshop papers. Wikis are a feature of Collab, both collaboration and course sites.

How to use/edit a wiki: two steps. First, you must register with and log in to whatever site you're using. Second, to make changes or updates use the "[edit]" links on the page you want. You'll see a text input box. Wiki uses a simplified markup language; here's the reference guide from Wikipedia, including instructions on making new pages and links.

Chat

Start with this recent article, "Tips for Using Chat as an Instructional Tool." Chat will be available through Collab.

Pedagogical tech in action

Want to see some examples of how other faculty and instructors are using technology in their classes? Check out:

Mapping St. Petersburg: Professor Connolly has worked with ASCIT to create an interactive Google map for his Russian literature class.
Projects and courses at Duke University: examples from an array of departments and faculty.
(Please email the TTSP with suggestions and examples.)

Outside help:

Personal consultations
Email the TTSP, Paul Fyfe, for one-on-one consultations about what technical options are right for you.

Work with ASCIT
The Arts & Sciences IT staff is ready to help with technical questions and ideas for new applications.

Teach with Technology
From the Teaching Resource Center (TRC), a series of articles on using technology in and out of the classroom.

ENGL teaching resources
Handouts, assignments, activities, discussion advice for courses in literature.

Directory of learning tools
Search the categorized lists for specific tools or browse for new ideas.

Pedagogy (journal)
Peer-reviewed journal in the discourse of pedagogy for undergraduate and graduate education.

Publications on teaching
A "top 15" list of short readings, compiled by the Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, Harvard University.

Duke Center for Instructional Technology
A nicely designed site about pedagogical tools and how to use them in the classroom.

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