Faculty Directions, Fall 2004 - Director's Corner
Carla Rathbone
Educational Technology Services
The major change starting this semester is the adoption of BlackBoard 6.1 as the course management system for use in online learning. Provost Dori Helms charged a course management system (CMS) taskforce, representing faculty, staff and students, to recommend a system that would best meet the overall technology needs in teaching and learning. After an intensive, year-long study, the taskforce concluded that Blackboard would best meet the long-term needs and better position Clemson faculty and students for the future. I would like to thank the CMS taskforce for their hard work and dedication over the past year to ensure the success of the pilot and to formulate a decision that is representative of faculty and students. If you would like more information on the CMS pilot study, there is an article dedicated to the study in this issue. There is also information pertaining to Blackboard training and assistance.
ETS is increasing its support of online course delivery in distance education. We are working with faculty members by offering workshops and cosultation in the best practices of technology in distance education. Enrollment in distance education courses has increased significantly this year over the last year. we encourage feedback and requests from faculty members for assistance and joint projects, and we are interested in supporting and improving all aspects of course delivery.
We have also extended our Breeze pilot program through the fall 2004 semester. This technology supports various media for audio, video, text, file sharing and delivery of information into one package that is easily accessible and designed for use via the Web. It has proven to be very useful for distance learning courses and easily complements our course management system. Faculty have also found other innovative uses for long-distance participation in conferences and workshops.
Finally, we have implemented a program this fall to increase student technology training as a result of our Student Technology Training Task Force. As laptop requirements expand to all five colleges and the use of technology, such as the eportfolio initiative, continues to grow, ETS will provide the necessary training and assistance to prepare faculty and students for using these technologies the first day of class.
We wish you the best this fall semester and encourage you to take advantage of the technological services and support available. Please email us at ETS-L@clemson.edu or phone 656-0971 if you have questions or need assistance.