Faculty Directions, Spring 2004 - Director's Corner

Carla Rathbone
Educational Technology Services

ETS continues to expand its programs and services to help faculty, students, and staff effectively integrate technology with teaching, learning, and administrative work. Suggestions from faculty are critical to ensuring ETS focuses resources and services appropriately. The following paragraphs describe ETS initiatives to promote greater awareness of IT resources and support of best applications for use. If you are interested in serving in an advisory capacity or providing occasional responses or suggestions, please let me know by emailing me at bone@clemson.edu.

Communication. We understand the importance of communicating information to users in a timely manner. Currently we send CCIT bulletins to all users, as well as specific emails to faculty, staff and student email lists as needed. Periodicals, such as computing@clemson.edu and Faculty Directions give updated computer information and showcase faculty use of technology both in and out of the classroom. One new initiative is Student Directions. Please see "Coming Soon: Student Directions" for more information on this upcoming student-written newsletter.

Student Technology Training. The work of this ETS-initiated taskforce is explained in the article "Student Technology Training Task Force."

Distance Education. This taskforce focuses on the technologies used for distance education. The goal is to better advise and collaborate with colleges, departments, and programs on best methods and usage.

Eportfolio. ETS is responsible for the technology component of eportfolios. We are researching tools and resources, as well as continuing to provide training on eportfolio development for students in courses or programs piloting eportfolios.

ETS Web site. We have updated our Web site to reflect expanded services and to improve the ease of finding information and accessbility.

Course Management System Pilot. We have started the evaluation process through the release of our first round of surveys to faculty and students. We encourage participation in this process to determine the system that best meets the majority of user needs.

New technologies. We have purchased a license for Macromedia Breeze, primarily for use in our distance education courses. We will pilot this technology with a few classes this semester and then evaluate its effectiveness for use in other programs as well.

We look forward to working with you in the New Year and, as always, we appreciate your continued support.