Program Archives
The following programs were offered live online by the Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center using the Wimba Classroom collaboration suite. Archives are made available for on-demand viewing. Click here for a schedule of upcoming online programs.
*Note: Before attempting to view a recorded session, run the Wimba Classroom Setup Wizard to ensure that your computer is properly configured for an optimal viewing experience. To view any archived session after clicking the provided link, click Participant Login and then enter your name in the Participant Login box. Then click the Enter button to launch the recorded session.
- Controlling Student Access to Materials in Blackboard - 11/20/2009
Course content does not always apply to all users in the course. Faculty at times may wish to create custom learning paths through course content and activities, displaying content to certain users for a limited period of time. This online session will walk participants through the process of managing course content, assessments, assignments, or other activities within Blackboard using the Adaptive Release feature to create personalized learning paths for students. Principles for effective implementation within existing Blackboard courses will be shared. Click here to view session recording | Click here to view podcast in iTunes
- Tracking Student Performance in Blackboard - 11/17/2009
Blogs have become common tools for communicating and collaborating online. While setting up a blog takes only a matter of minutes, effectively incorporating blogs into online teaching requires purposeful planning and structuring of activities to leverage the power that blogging brings to the learning environment. This online session will share the experiences of incorporating instructor and student blogs into an online course as well as practical recommendations for those considering utilizing blogs in online learning. Click here to view session recording | Click here to view podcast in iTunes
- Tips for Teaching with Blogs - 11/13/2009
Blogs have become common tools for communicating and collaborating online. While setting up a blog takes only a matter of minutes, effectively incorporating blogs into online teaching requires purposeful planning and structuring of activities to leverage the power that blogging brings to the learning environment. This online session will share the experiences of incorporating instructor and student blogs into an online course as well as practical recommendations for those considering utilizing blogs in online learning. Click here to view session recording | Click here to view podcast in iTunes | Handout | Creating and Using Blogs | Sample Blogs | Blogging Bookmarks | Literature on Blogs
- Teaching During a Health Crisis - 10/27/2009
The redesigned Grade Center in Blackboard 8.0 provides not only an easier-to-use interface for posting grades and feedback for students but also numerous new features including smart views, grading periods, and calculated columns for more easily accessing, entering, sorting, and managing grades in Blackboard. This online workshop will share proven tips and best practices for configuring the Blackboard Grade Center that will save you time and make it easier than ever before to post grades and provide feedback to students. Click here to view session recording | Click here to view podcast in iTunes | Resources for Teaching During a Health Crisis
- Timesaving Tips Using the Blackboard Grade Center - 9/30/2009
The redesigned Grade Center in Blackboard 8.0 provides not only an easier-to-use interface for posting grades and feedback for students but also numerous new features including smart views, grading periods, and calculated columns for more easily accessing, entering, sorting, and managing grades in Blackboard. This online workshop will share proven tips and best practices for configuring the Blackboard Grade Center that will save you time and make it easier than ever before to post grades and provide feedback to students. Click here to view session recording | Click here to view podcast in iTunes | Timesaving Tips Handout | Upcoming Blackboard Workshops
- Blackboard 8.0 Grade Center Overview - 8/5/2009
With the recent upgrade of the Blackboard course management system to version 8.0, NIU faculty will see an entirely redesigned and newly named Grade Center. This online workshop will review the significant changes in the layout and functionality of the Grade Center and will introduce new features, including: using inline editing, entering comments, sending email from the Grade Center, using interactive and non-interactive views, and customizing the default Grade Center look. Click here to view session recording | Click here to view podcast in iTunes | New Features in Blackboard 8.0 | Upcoming Blackboard Workshops
- Free Software Tools for the Classroom - 6/2/2009
Many of the software tools that are the most useful in the classroom are unfortunately also some of the most expensive software tools. Often, budgets require that software is limited to a few users or a few locations, which prevents faculty and instructors from utilizing the technology with their students. It even prevents students from learning from these valuable tools. Don’t let licensing fees hold you back! There are free versions of many of the expensive software tools, if you know where to look. This online session will introduce free versions of some of the most common software programs and share ideas for using them in the classroom. Click here to view session recording | Click here to view podcast in iTunes
- Blackboard 8.0 Self and Peer Assessment Preview - 5/19/2009
Blackboard 8.0 brings some very exciting new features, including the Self and Peer Assessment tool. This tool allows students to submit work through Blackboard which is then evaluated by a random group of fellow students. Students may even reflect upon and evaluate their own work. This online (not a hands-on) session will explore some practical applications for using Self and Peer Assessment in a course and will provide a brief overview of how the Self and Peer Assessment tool functions. Click here to view session recording | Click here to view podcast in iTunes | Self and Peer Assessment Resources
- Blackboard 8.0 Grade Center Preview - 5/11/2009
With the anticipated upgrade of the Blackboard course management system to version 8.0, NIU faculty will see an entirely redesigned and newly named Grade Center. This online (not a hands-on) workshop will preview the significant changes in the layout and functionality of the Grade Center and will introduce new features that will be available after the upgrade, including: using inline editing, entering comments, sending email from the Grade Center, using interactive and non-interactive views, and customizing the default Grade Center look. Click here to view session recording | Click here to view podcast in iTunes | New Features in Blackboard 8.0
- Requesting and Combining Blackboard Courses Using the Blackboard Faculty Tools - 4/23/2009
The Blackboard Faculty Tools (BFT) are a suite of web-based utilities integrated within Blackboard for use at NIU. Using the BFT faculty can perform a variety of Blackboard course tasks, including: requesting new courses, requesting new shells, and removing shells. The updated BFT will now also allow faculty to combine multiple course sections into a single Blackboard course. This online workshop will walk participants through the process of requesting and combining Blackboard courses using the BFT. Click here to view session recording | Click here to view podcast in iTunes | Blackboard Faculty Tools documentation
- New Features and Tools in Blackboard 7.3 - 3/3/2009
With the recent upgrade of the Blackboard course management system to version 7.3, NIU faculty can expect to see a number of new and enhanced features when they log in to Blackboard. The new version introduces significant changes in the layout and functionality of the discussion board, some enhanced features in the gradebook and assessment component as well as a new early warning system that monitors student progress in a course and alerts faculty to possible performance problems. This online session will highlight these new and enhanced features and tools.Click here to view session recording | Click here to view podcast in iTunes | Blackboard 7.3 documentation | Blackboard 7.3 tutorials
- Creating and Sustaining Groups in Blackboard - 1/28/2009
The two major complaints we hear from students about group projects are (1) the problems of getting members together for meetings and (2) the inequity of effort among group members. Virtual groups, easily established using Blackboard, can address both of these legitimate concerns. Additionally, online groups can enrich class discussion and provide a virtual environment for sharing documents. This on-line workshop will walk participants through the process of setting up Blackboard groups and will discuss some of the principles that make group projects successful. Click here to view session recording | Click here to view podcast in iTunes | Session slides | Bookmarked articles | Blackboard groups documentation
- Redesigning Course Materials for Online Delivery - 11/18/2008
The true challenge in delivering online materials is keeping the environment dynamic and interactive. The goal of this workshop is to provide suggestions and offer examples of how to retool current course materials and develop other instructional aids that will promote an effective online teaching and learning experience. Click here to view session recording | Click here to view podcast in iTunes | Session slides | Session handout
- Plagiarism Prevention Using Blackboard SafeAssign - 10/22/2008
Despite our efforts to educate students regarding the principles of solid academic writing, students may not always understand how to properly reference source content. The new SafeAssign plagiarism prevention service that is now integrated in Blackboard allows students to protect the originality of their work as well as to have it checked for inadvertent citation errors prior to submitting to the faculty member for credit. This online session introduces the features of the SafeAssign plagiarism prevention service and its integration with Blackboard and will cover how to incorporate opportunities for students to self-check their work for citation errors. Click here to view session recording | Click here to view podcast in iTunes | More details regarding SafeAssign | SafeAssign Wiki
- Conducting Online Office Hours Using Wimba Classroom - 10/16/2008
Whether teaching in a traditional face-to-face, hybrid, or online course, offering optional office hours provides students with the opportunity to seek further clarification and assistance, enriching the learning experience. The Wimba Classroom online collaboration suite is one technology that integrates seamlessly with Blackboard and can be utilized to offer online office hours, allowing students to communicate in real time with faculty at a mutually convenient time and location. This online workshop will provide a brief introduction of Wimba Classroom and explore best practices of conducting online office hours using Wimba Classroom. Click here to view session recording | Click here to view podcast in iTunes | Session slides
- Constructivism: A Holistic Approach to Teaching and Learning - 09/25/2008
Constructivism is about how students learn - that students construct their own understanding and knowledge of the world through experiences and by reflecting on those experiences. Instructors help make connections between facts and ways learners ask questions, explore options, and assess prior knowledge. This online workshop will provide an overview of constructivism and ways instructors can use this approach in teaching and students in their learning. Click here to view session recording | Click here to view podcast in iTunes | Session slides [PDF]
- New Tools & Features in Blackboard 8.0 - 04/29/2008
With the upgrade of the Blackboard course management system to version 8.0, NIU faculty can expect to see a number of new and enhanced features when they log in to Blackboard. The new version introduces significant changes in the functionality of the discussion board, transition of the Blackboard Gradebook to the completely redesigned Grade Center, as well as a new "Self and Peer" assessment tool that will allow students to review and grade their own work and the work of their peers, among others. This online session will highlight these new and enhanced features and tools. Click here to view session recording | Click here to view podcast in iTunes | Session slides [PDF] | Version 8.0 Online Documentation
- Introducing the New Plagiarism Prevention Features in Blackboard - 03/26/2008
Despite our efforts to educate students regarding the principles of solid academic writing, students may not always understand how to properly reference source content. The new SafeAssign plagiarism prevention service that is now integrated in Blackboard allows students to protect the originality of their work as well as check it for inadvertent citation errors prior to submitting to the faculty member for credit. This online session introduces the features of the SafeAssign plagiarism prevention service and its integration with Blackboard and discusses how to incorporate opportunities for students to self-check their work for citation errors. Click here to view session recording | Click here to view podcast in iTunes
Are you interested in learning more about using the Wimba Classroom collaboration tool in your teaching? Click here for more details. For a schedule of upcoming online programs, click here.
Last Updated: 11/20/2009
Get Started Using Wimba Classroom