Instructional Technologies Support is offering a variety of workshops for faculty and staff.  Some focus on the pedagogy of using tools effectively; others on learning technology skills.

For questions or for more information, call ITS at 245-2319 or email mwfarris@txstate.edu

Fall 2009 ITS workshops are here!

To register for a workshop:

Enter your contact information and preferred OS below.

Select your workshop(s) by clicking the appropriate button(s), then click the [Register] button at the bottom of the screen.

Please make a note on your calendar to remind yourself to attend your workshop(s)!

Unless noted otherwise, seats are limited to the first 18 faculty and staff members who sign up.

TRACS Course Management System 

For TRACS workshops, click here

Gato Website Content Management System 

For Gato workshops, click here

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Technology and Pedagogy Workshops:

Survival Skills for Online Teaching

The following 1.5-hour workshop is designed for faculty who are planning to teach an online course.

Survival Skills for Online Teaching is for faculty teaching online for the first time. It covers topics such as:

• developing online lessons and assessments
• facilitating online discussions
• creating an effective course syllabus
• tips for supporting students in the online classroom

Panel: Online Course Management and Communication

Learn about practical tips and lessons learned regarding online course management and communication from seasoned online instructors: Sally Jones, Social Work, and Alejandra Sorto, Mathematics.  Topics include effective communication, online community, student participation, feedback, and managing instructor and student workload.

Dr. Liz Strand, Supervisor, Instructional Design, Instructional Technologies Support

Using Online Discussions Effectively

Learn how to effectively use online discussion in face-to-face, hybrid, or distance courses, and facilitate discussion forums to enrich the understanding of course content.

This virtual workshop will be held on-line. You can participate using any computer on or off campus. A reminder email will be sent to the email address you provided that will contain the URL you will use to attend the workshop. Use the internet browser and operating system you are comfortable with. You must have computer speakers to hear the presenter.

Patrick Smith, Instructional Designer, Instructional Technologies Support

Promoting Active Learning with Technology

Learn about strategies that engage students in the learning process and how technology can accommodate those strategies.

This virtual workshop will be held on-line. You can participate using any computer on or off campus. A reminder email will be sent to the email address you provided that will contain the URL you will use to attend the workshop. Use the internet browser and operating system you are comfortable with. You must have computer speakers to hear the presenter.

Dr. Liz Strand, Ms. Ann Jensen, Mr. Patrick Smith, Instructional Design, Instructional Technologies Support

Building Online Communities

This workshop covers the benefits of fostering an online community in your class. You will see examples of how online communication tools, such as YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter, can be used to help build community in your classes. Hands-on experience will be gained with various social networking tools.

Patrick Smith, Instructional Designer,  Instructional Technology Support

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Improving Use of Technology Workshops:

Introduction to Adobe Connect

Communication is a key element in education, but meeting face-to-face isn’t always the easiest option. You will learn how Adobe Connect can allow you to hold entire class sessions, meet with colleagues at various institutions, or even hold your office hours from any location you can access the Internet.

This virtual workshop will be held on-line. You can participate using any computer on or off campus. A reminder email will be sent to the email address you provided that will contain the URL you will use to attend the workshop. Use the internet browser and operating system you are comfortable with. You must have computer speakers to hear the presenter.

Patrick Smith, Instructional Design, Instructional Technologies Support

Connect for Advanced Users

Have you tried Adobe Connect and liked what you’ve seen? Would you like to take your use of Connect to the next level? In this workshop you will learn how to use advanced features in Connect to maximize your teaching potential. Topics covered include online polling, advanced screen sharing techniques, breakout rooms, and editing Connect recordings.

Introduction to Adobe Connect is a prerequisite for this workshop.

Patrick Smith, Instructional Design, Instructional Technologies Support - By appointment only.  Please contact Patrick Smith at ps35@txstate.edu

Captivate Simulations (Limited to eight participants)

Ever wished you could show your students how to use software or navigate a website instead of having to repeat the same instructions over and over? In this workshop you’ll learn how you can easily create animated, interactive tutorials that will save you time and effort when teaching your students how to use technology.

The workshop will be followed by 30-minutes of open lab time in which participants may choose to remain and work with the instructors on specific Captivate projects. (Captivate is for PC only)

Patrick Smith, Instructional Design, Instructional Technologies Support

Captivate Presentations (Limited to eight participants)

Take your presentations to a new level by making them interactive and accessible by your students at any time. In this workshop you’ll learn how you can create presentations that include audio, interactive animations, and quizzes. You’ll also learn how to create decision-making activities where your students’ responses determine the outcome of the presentation.

The workshop will be followed by 30-minutes of open lab time in which participants may choose to remain and work with the instructors on specific Captivate projects.  (Captivate is for PC only)

Patrick Smith, Instructional Designer, Instructional Technologies Support

(Captivate Presentations- CLASS IS FULL) Friday, November 20, 2009. 1:30 – 3:00pm. Alkek 148.

Introduction to Digital Still Photography (Limited to ten participants)

Learn how to use your camera and convert images for best results with email, web, and printing. Covers camera settings, composition, resolution, post-production image manipulation, and camera options. Bring your camera and connector cables to the class so you can get practical hands-on experience in taking pictures and manipulating them on the computer.

Brianne Corn, Instructional Technology Support Photographer

(Intro to Digital Still Photography-CLASS IS FULL)   Wednesday, October 14, 2009.  9am-noon.    Alkek 148.

Photo and Image Editing  (Limited to ten participants for each session)

Learn how to edit images (re-size, crop, add text, and make minor alterations) in PhotoShop Elements.

Beginning Level (Oct 16, 2009) Step by step instruction on basic functions and on photo retouching skills. (CLASS IS FULL)

Intermediate Level (Oct 23, 2009) Prerequisite: Basic knowledge of the the tools and functions. Workshop will feature instruction on use of special effects, and complex retouching, along with filters, masking and layering.

Teri Andrews, Instructional Technology Support Graphic Designer

Core Skills in Second Life

Prerequisites:  Background knowledge of Second Life/ Mac or PC experience.  Attendees should go to www.secondlife.com and sign up for an account (which is free) before attending the workshop.

In this hands-on workshop, the attendees will visit educational sites in Second Life (SL) including the Texas State virtual campus, while improving their navigation, communication,and searching skills in SL.
 
Participants will leave the workshop with an improved sense of what the SL environment is capable of, pros and cons of using SL in their classes/projects, how to locate others with similar interests, how to get land for educational projects, and how to get support at Texas State University for SL projects.
  
NOTE: Attendees that complete the session will be given 3000-lindens (Second Life currency) to get their Second Life projects started.

Emin Saglamer, Instructional Technologies Support
Prerequisites:  Background knowledge of Second Life/ Mac or PC
 

Advanced Skills in Second Life

Prerequisite:  Core Skills in Second Life.

By appointment only.  Please contact Emin Saglamer at secondlife@txstate.edu

Effectively Utilizing the Media Cabinets in Classrooms

Michael Harrison, William Lamonde, Kevin Huffaker, Chris Dean, Edward Ellis-Lai

Tips and Tricks for Teaching Interactive Television Classes

Ron Akin, Director Classroom Technologies

Both above workshops are by appointment. To request a classroom training session, please call Classroom Technical Support at 245-3172. You may call anytime Monday-Thursday from 7:30AM to 7:30PM and Friday from 7:30AM to 5PM.

TRACS Course Management System 

For TRACS workshops, click here

Gato Website Content Management System 

For Gato workshops, click here