Success!!! 3rd Annual OIED: October 20-22, 2011

Oregon State University’s Technology Across the Curriculum (TAC) is hosting this year's third annual Oregon immersive Education Days (OiED) in partnership with University of Oregon’s Information Services and the College of Education’s Center for Learning in Virtual Environments (CLIVE). The conference showcases best practices in teaching, outreach, and research-related projects making innovative use of virtual learning environments—that is virtual worlds, video games, and augmented reality applications. OiED invites faculty and staff from institutions across the state in an effort to build capacity, share resources, and create collaborative opportunities for advancing value in virtual learning environments throughout Oregon.

Oregon immersive Education Days (OiED) will be held October 20 through 22, 2011 at Oregon State University to feature projects hosted by virtual learning leaders from institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations, and other agencies statewide. The Oregon immersive Education Days presentations and activities will all be open to the public and free to attend for those registered. Educators, researchers and administrators will give a series of live and virtual presentations, providing attendees with an overview of Immersive Education and how virtual worlds and game-based learning technologies are used in and out of the classroom today.

Live video streaming will be available Thursday and Friday for those unable to attend the conference in person. Please register if you would like to be sent a live link to the conference or drop by with your avatar in-world in Second Life and watch from there: (slurl soon).

Be sure to pre-register on the OIED Blog !!! Here is the Registration Form .

New! TAC.FM - At TAC Faculty Matter!

At TAC we recognize that information technology (IT) holds a critical role in all areas of academic life. Technology is not the primary concern of most disciplines, yet it is impractical to pursue research, scholarship, teaching and learning in the 21st century without adequate IT skills. TAC seeks to raise the level of IT proficiency at OSU systemically. We pursue this aim by focusing on aspects of technology that cut across the disciplines, techniques and tools that operate across the curriculum.

Each week this fall during our Friday morning TAC.FM programs we'll bringing you information and news about upcoming events, workshops and webinars available on campus and on the web. Our show will regularly have a number of segments including TAC and IT News. We will also have an Faculty Lounge segment... hook up your microphone and join us. Found a cool app that you or your students find useful? We would love to hear about it, and perhaps even highlight it on a future show!

For more information! Learn more about TAC Webinars here.

Contact us by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone at (541)–737-1852. We look forward to hearing from you! Email us with your questions, suggestions and yes, even program ideas. 

Interested in joining Second Life and checking out Oregon State University's Beaver Island? We'll show you how...

Media Services Classroom Team has replaced all the enhanced classroom console computers this summer. Starting in Fall 2011 each classroom will use an iMac as its presentation computer. In the past several years the classroom computers have been MacPros with the power button on the front of the computer case.

However, the new iMacs have their power switch in a different location. You will need to know how to find the power button to successfully turn on the iMac computer on the teaching station. The Apple iMac computer is a self-contained desktop unit that incorporates as many parts as possible into the desktop unit. Included in the desktop unit is the display screen on the front, the CD/DVD drive on the right side, and other internal components. On the rear of the unit are peripheral connections as well as the power button. You may find additional USB connections available on the top of the teaching station countertop.

The easiest way to locate the power button is to examine backside of the iMac computer.
Step around to the classroom side of the teaching station and the power button will be on the lower right corner of the unit, as in the illustration below.
Note that, from the screen side, you may reach the power button by reaching under the left corner of the screen.
Press and release the power button to start the computer.

The remainder of the startup process,  that is, selecting Windows 7, or the Mac OS X operating system at startup, remains the same. You may view a video of this process [here ].

 You can download a PDF of this article [here ].

 Click on the [Read More...] button to see a list of other videos about the enhanced classroom consoles.

TAC is pleased to announce the Fall 2011 Workshop and Webinar schedule for the OSU community.

This fall we are offering 27 interactive remote sessions that faculty and OSU community members may participate in from office or home.  Our webinars are live sessions in which participants may interact by chat and/or voice.

TAC is also presenting more than 20 face-face workshops, over a dozen departmental and college orientations, Academic Success Center (ASC) sessions, and strategic collaboration workshops with the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL).

Every TAC topic is covered by both workshop, webinar, and online tutorials giving our teaching/learning community a range of options and preferences in learning style, including accessibility.

Via webinars we provide support for Cascades Campus, Hatfield Marine Science, and Extension Stations throughout the region.

Topics

• TurningPoint clicker system.
• What's new in Blackboard 9.1?
• Advanced PowerPoint design and pedagogy.
• Narrating PowerPoint with Adobe Captivate.
• Introduction to Mind-Mapping.
• Using clickers to enhance classroom interaction.
• 
  

We are very enthused about TAC.FM - Friday Morning TAC Tech Talk*, hosted by Mark Dinsmore.

Each Friday at 10am Mark will host an interactive Webinar focusing on technologies of value to the teaching/learning community. Mark will include guest experts and participants will be able to interact via voice, chat, and even screen sharing.

For additional information, please visit us on the web at oregonstate.edu/tac, give us a call, or drop by our office in Waldo Hall Rm. 130.

Students: Get $15 Off the TurningPoint NXT When You Trade in Your Qwizdom Clicker

When TAC learned that our current clicker vendor was raising prices for students, we set out to find a clicker that was better and cheaper. After a yearlong study involving instructors, students, and support staff, the overall consensus is that the TurningPoint NXT solution provides the most flexible, reliable, supportable, and cost-effective response system available.

We take technology changes that affect students very seriously. OSU has supported the Qwizdom Q4 for 7 years. The technologies have evolved and we must change with the times.

Student Trade-in Discount                                   

Students who return a Qwizdom Q4 to the OSU Beaver Store during a 30-day trade-in window will get $15 off at the time of purchasing a Turning ResponseCard NXT.  A clicker designed specifically for visually disabled learners will also be available.

This trade-in will occur only at the OSU Beaver Store and only at the time of purchase. Trade-in windows run 30 days, starting 7 days before the first day of classes, during the Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer terms of the 2011-2012 academic year. 

Clicker Support

Students can get clicker support from the OSU Walk-Up Computer Helpdesk in the Valley Library. Disability Access Services will support the accessible clicker. TAC recommends keeping a spare set of 3 AAA batteries for your Turning NXT.

Your thoughts and questions are always welcome.  Contact TAC at http://oregonstate.edu/tac/student.

Our TAC Blackboard 9 Quick Tips Fall 2010 edition is available for download NOW! using the link below.

OSU Faculty and Instructors: Watch for the full color edition coming soon to your departmental mailbox. If you don't receive one before the start of classes be sure to contact us (TAC @ oregonstate.edu) and we will drop one in the mail for you.

Download a copy: TAC FALL 2010 QUICK TIPS - BLACKBOARD 9 (PDF)

Skype is a peer to peer application that supports voice calls over the internet.  The application also supports chat, file sharing, and video conferencing.  Calls involving only skype users are no cost, as is the software download.  Skype calls can be made to landline phones and cell phones with a usage charge.  This brief guide will get you started with installing and basic use of Skype.  Access the Skype FAQ for comprehensive instructions.

Download this article as a printable pdf document.