[ED-TECH] End phone system nightmares by getting to a human

Do you every call support numbers and navigate through the menus, knowing that your question will require human intervention?  Print out http://paulenglish.com/ivr/ and keep it handy if you want to know the secrets to get to a human as quickly as possible.  No guarantee it will still work when you need it, but if it does it can reduce your frustration and not waste as much of your valuable time.

 

Bill Vilberg

305-284-3949 (work); 786-218-3052 (cell); 305-255-9138 (home)

 

[ED-TECH] Podcasting in the Classroom - Lunch and Learn announcement

On Wednesday, Nov. 30, 1:00-2:30 PM the Instructional Advancement Center will be hosting a webinar on "Implementing Podcasting in the Classroom."  The "BoilerCast" system at Purdue University (http://boilercast.itap.purdue.edu:1013/Boilercast/) records and distributes the lectures of more than 50 courses.  This session will describe (I hope) why they set it up as well as how they set it up.  The webinar is described on the https://www.academicimpressions.com/web_conferences/1105_podcasting.php web page. 

 

The session will be held in the Cuban Heritage Collection Conference Room of the Richter Library.  Lunch will be provided, registration is required.  Go to http://www.snurl.com/podcasts to register.

 

Bill Vilberg

305-284-3949 (work); 786-218-3052 (cell); 305-255-9138 (home)

 

[ED-TECH] Digital Textbooks - Friday, 11/18

Just a quick reminder that the Digital Textbook webinar will be presented on Friday, 11/18, 2:00-3:30 PM. 

 

This will be a presentation from some people in Colorado who have studied the electronic textbook situation.  I hope it will provide a full SWOT analysis with weaknesses and threats as well as strengths and opportunities.  Sometimes a presentation like this can paint too rosy a picture.  My expectation is that textbooks are going to change over the next 10 years, but we don't know what they will change into.  A session like this can help us prepare, even during a time of uncertainty.

 

To take part in this presentation, please go to http://www.snurl.com/textbooks and register.

 

Bill Vilberg

305-284-3949 (work); 786-218-3052 (cell); 305-255-9138 (home)

 

[ED-TECH] Mac Users: Apple Tech Update - 12/1

Apple Computer, Inc., will be on campus December 1 for a lunch-time presentation.  Lunch will start at 11:30 AM and the Tech Update will begin at noon and last until 2:00 PM.  The event is open to all University of Miami faculty, students, and staff.

 

The content seems to range from general to technical.  At a general level there will be a demo of Tiger, the new OS, iTunes with Podcasting, and the new iPods. At a technical level there will be a presentation on Tiger Server, Grid, and xSan and Cluster, as well as an update on the current hardware and new ProApps products.

 

Registration is required and can be completed on-line at http://seminars.apple.com/goToEvent.html?id=40483

 

This event is not being sponsored by the Instructional Advancement Center.  I heard about it and thought it worthwhile to distribute.

 

Bill Vilberg

305-284-3949 (work); 786-218-3052 (cell); 305-255-9138 (home)

 

[ED-TECH] Electronic Textbooks - Lunch and Learn session

On Friday, November 18, the IAC will host a Webinar on Electronic Textbooks.  The description leans toward on-line courses, but the material should be valuable to anyone interested in eBooks, I think.  Note that this webinar begins at 2:00 PM, so we will provide refreshments, but not a complete meal.

 

Registration is required.  To register, go to http://www.snurl.com/textbooks and fill out the on-line form.

Webinar: Using Digital Textbooks in Online Courses

Rhonda M. Epper, Director, Online Program Development, Community College of Denver
Lisa Cheney-Steen, Interim Director & Academic Dean, Colorado Community Colleges Online

The availability of learning materials in digital formats is growing rapidly. Libraries of digital learning objects, electronic course packs, and digital textbooks present new opportunities for faculty to enrich their online courses, while giving students the convenience of having course materials embedded into their online experiences. This session will provide an overview of the latest developments in digital textbooks, financial and hosting models being developed for pilot courses in Colorado, and explore the opportunities for expanding the use of digital textbooks in higher education.

Friday, November 18, 2005
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Cuban Heritage Collection Conference Room
Richter Library, 2nd Floor

Bill Vilberg

305-284-3949 (work); 786-218-3052 (cell); 305-255-9138 (home)

 

[ED-TECH] LillySouth

The LillySouth conference, Feb 17-19, has a call for proposals that closes 11/15, next Tuesday.  If you are doing anything with topics such as gender differences in learning, incorporating technology into teaching, encouraging critical thinking, using teaching and student portfolios, implementing group learning, or evaluating teaching, you might consider submitting a proposal, at least for a poster session.

 

Conference web site: http://www.uncg.edu/tlc/lillysouth/

 

Proposal submission page: https://utlc.uncg.edu/conference/lillysouth/

 

Bill Vilberg

305-284-3949 (work); 786-218-3052 (cell); 305-255-9138 (home)