Instructional Resources for Engineering Online Faculty
Overview
There are many resources that can enhance the online learning experience for students while making your job as a Distance Education instructor easier. The purpose of this site is to inform you of various instructional strategies and associated technologies currently in use by some of your engineering colleagues.
North Carolina State University has a strong track record in the delivery of high quality opportunities for distance learning. Many of the resources described on these pages are university-supported and available to any faculty member at no cost. Additionally, Engineering Online staff members, who are aware of the specific needs of teaching and learning in engineering, can also provide support for integrating these resources into your teaching. All of these resources have been locally reviewed and are in use by your colleagues here at NCSU.
If you have specific questions about any of these resources or have other instructional challenges for which you'd like to find practical solutions, feel free to contact Dede Nelson, who serves as the Engineering Online Faculty Resource Coordinator. Dede can be reached at dede_nelson@ncsu.edu or 919.515.9149
New synchronous communication options for Distance Education students
EOL faculty have found that synchronous communication via web conferencing applications can add a valuable dimension to their students' learning experience. Many have used NCSU supported Elluminate Live! with their students for online office hours, TA help sessions, advising or for student-led work group work. With the end-of-life for Elluminate approaching at the end of 2012, its replacement product Collaborate will be in use beginning August 8, 2012.
At the same time, a select number of WebEx accounts will be available to EOL faculty who may be interested. The WebEx usage is in a pilot phase to gauge the interest and suitability of WebEx for EOL faculty and their students. You can contact dede_nelson@ncsu.edu to learn more about web conferencing options and EOL provided support.
Blackboard's Collaborate to replace ElluminateLive
Collaborate is Blackboard’s replacement product for its Elluminate Live! web conferencing application. Piloting of Collaborate at North Carolina State University began with the Summer 2012 semester, and beginning August 8, 2012, Collaborate will totally replace Elluminate for the Fall 2012 semester.
Click the "Getting Started" link at the left to learn more about EOL support during this transition. You can also learn much more about the University's search for a permanent web conferencing soluton and the transition from Elluminate to Collaborate at: http://delta.ncsu.edu/lms_services/synchronous_learning/
EOL faculty currently have an option for use of WebEx
With an increase in cross-functional teams that are often spread around the globe, engineering professionals frequently use web conferencing products to communicate. WebEx is commonly found in professional settings and many faculty feel the use of this tool in course related assignments provides students with valuable real-world experience in using technology for collaboration. WebEx has many of the same features of the University supported Collaborate web conferencing application, but many instructors particularly like the fact that a microphone/speaker headset is not required and that, unlike Collaborate, WebEx allows PDF or MS Office formatted documents to be shared and annotated. Contact dede_nelson@ncsu.edu if you're an EOL faculty member who is interested in participating in the EOL WebEx pilot.
Other instructional tools to supplement your teaching
Flash Video Clips of Problem Solutions: LiveScribe
LiveScribe calls their product a smartpen and they define it as a “computer within a pen” that can capture handwriting and simultaneously record audio and synchronize it to the writing. Different than any digital pen, the Echo lets users tap on their notes to replay what was recorded from the exact moment they were writing.
The Echo, adds audio recording synchronized to your handwriting. Point the pen to a spot in your notes (or click on your computer screen), and hear what was said when you wrote it. Here is a sample of a flash video clip that is generated through this product:
Several versions of the pen are available. The 2GB version (starting at $99) will have storage for 200 hours of audio and 32,000 pages of digital notes.