Online@UT Update
As the result of a competitive bid process over the course of the last 6 months, Blackboard, Inc. has been awarded the Learning Management System Contract for UTK. That means that we will be upgrading our current Blackboard System to the latest version in May 2011 during the mini-term session. As in the past, we will make special provisions to provide mini-term services without interruption, and will have the full production system up and running for summer session.

While the upgrade is significant, you will be able to adjust to the new system with little training. In the coming weeks, we'll begin a whole host of BB9 information and orientation sessions that will run through May. We have also created an upgrade information resource at http://online.utk.edu/support/bbv9.shtml. There you'll find the upgrade timeline, general information, special tutorials, and other support materials of interest. Please visit often.

If you are interested in receiving a special preview account, please complete the form found at http://online.utk.edu/contact/contact_default.shtml.

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Mark Your Calendar: IT CoP Brown Bag in February
In January we received an update on the Online@UT upgrade and discussed how faculty are integrating technology into active learning classrooms on campus. Bring your lunch and join colleagues in conversation about trends and issues in instructional technology on Wednesday, February 23 from 12:15-1:15 in Hoskins 191. For more information, or to be added to the IT CoP mailing list, contact Christina Goode at [log in to unmask] or 974-6470. 

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How Do You Use Your Smartphone?
The number of Smartphone uses for teaching and research is increasingly rapidly. Check out 6 Top Smartphone Apps to Improve Teaching, Research, and Your Life from last month’s The Chronicle of Higher Education to read tips on using your phone to collect data, record notes, and much more.

Course Capture in Hoskins 110
If you need to webcast one or more class sessions, or capture sessions for use later, the course capture system in Hoskins 110 is just what you need! In addition to real-time webcasting and time shifting of class sessions, this technology can be used to create supplemental presentations, to preserve presentations by guest lecturers, and for advance recording of review sessions prior to exams.

Please note that logistical and technical considerations require that this service be scheduled no less than 24 hours in advance, and may not be available at certain times. In addition, this facility cannot be reserved as a class venue on a semester-long basis, only for specific, individual sessions scheduled in advance.

For more information or to schedule a session, please call the OIT HelpDesk at 974-9900.

GTA@OIT Grants for Graduate Teaching Assistants
OIT sponsors GTA@OIT Grants to encourage UTK Graduate Teaching Associates and Assistants (GTAs) to incorporate technology into their teaching. GTAs with sole responsibility for teaching a course are paired with OIT instructional design staff to accomplish their goals for technology use.

In addition to mentoring, grant recipients receive a monetary incentive of $500 to purchase software, attend a professional conference, prepare a professional presentation or publication about integrating technology into a course, or use as a stipend.

GTA@OIT Spring 2011 grant proposals are due Friday, February 18, 2011 by 5pm. For the GTA@OIT Spring 2011 Call for Proposals, visit https://itc.utk.edu/services/gta/. For more information, contact Dr. Christina Goode via email ([log in to unmask]) or phone (974-9670).

More Technology Training Workshops for You and Your Students

Offerings in February include:

• WordStat
• Introduction to SAS
• R Basics
• Linux Basics
• R Programming
• Grammar Graphics
• Newton Cluster
• Optimizing Parallel Programs
• ATLAS.ti Basics
• SPSS Survey Design

• Creative Design: Dreamweaver, Photoshop
• Web Site Design: Dreamweaver
• Office: Access

• Introductory SharePoint
• SharePoint Team Sites

Registration is required for all workshops. To view descriptions and register for sessions, visit the OIT Training page. If you have questions or need help with registration for any of the workshops listed above, contact the HelpDesk at help.utk.edu or 974-9900.

Check Out IT Weekly!
If you’d like to receive weekly updates on timely information about IT and reminders of upcoming workshops, you can subscribe to IT Weekly, which is emailed on Fridays. To subscribe, go to the IT Weekly listserv page and click on "Join or leave the list (or change settings)".

January 2010
Scheduled: 100%
Total: 100%
Learn more

Register for a Workshop

Intro to Online@UT
Access your online course site, receive an overview of instructor development tools and resources, and learn to upload a variety of document types.
  • Mon, 2/7, 1-3pm

Blogs and Wikis in Online@UT
Explore Online@UT blogs and wikis, configure these tools for different purposes, and discuss their instructional uses.
  • Tue, 2/8, 9-11am

Intro to LiveOnline@UT
Learn how to manage your virtual classroom through live audio, text chat, real-time polling, and content sharing.
  • Wed, 2/9, 9-11am

Social Networking: Teaching & Learning
An investigation of social networking tools and a look at the opportunities for active learning.
  • Wed, 2/9, 12:20-1:10pm

Surveys & Evaluations in LiveOnline@UT
Take quick in-class surveys of your students and share the results; then build engaging evaluations and reuse them in other classes.
  • Tue, 2/15, 2-4pm

Online@UT Assessment Tools
Learn to create, manage, deploy, and grade online assessments. Develop question pools, surveys, and more.
  • Wed, 2/16, 10am-noon

Assignment Manager and SafeAssign
Learn more about this cross-referencing software to help students avoid plagiarism.
  • Fri, 2/18, 9am-11

Discover the LiveOnline@UT Recording Studio
Learn how to use this off-line recording application developed by Saba Centra.
  • Wed, 2/23, 9am-11

Grade Center Best Practices
Discover new and redesigned tools for managing grades online using the Online@UT Grade Center.
  • Thur, 2/24, 1-4pm

Register for a Workshop