Online Tools for Teaching & Learning
Below is a list of technology related tools to help enhance your online, face to face or hybrid courses. The Office of Information Technology's College Application Services area (formerly (TRI) recognizes that technology is a tool and successful teaching and learning requires expertise in many areas. We are available for consultations on what might work best for your specific course goals. Please set up an appointment to discuss any projects you would like help with or just a brainstorming session to help you get started.
Course Rosters
Faculty may login here to view an updated version of all of your course rosters online.
Course Management Systems (CMS)
GCC has been offering faculty Course Management Systems (CMS) for over a decade. CMS provides one central place to store course documents, administer tests, calculate grades, facilitate online discussions, chat or conduct demonstrations. This software is not only for online classes, many face-to-face and hybrid courses are more productive with their materials all in one location, accessible from anywhere.
Blackboard
Blackboard is one of the most popular course management systems in the world used by 12 million people. Some of the benefits are:
- Intuitive interface for instructors and students.
- Content repository that allows you to implement content created by textbook publishers.
- Threaded discussion board.
- Chat and Whiteboard capabilities for synchronous demonstrations.
- Assignments feature collects detailed information when assignments are submitted - can enforce deadlines.
- SCORM compliant - third party software (like Softchalk and Respondus) may be implemented directly.
- Dynamic release of content (after one lesson is done, the next lesson can be populated automatically).
- Coming soon (projected Fall 2006) the ability to add/drop students and upload grades directly into our current SIS system.
For more information, please see the Blackboard page.
"A La Carte" Technology
Some faculty choose not to use a Course Management System and build their own customized online experiences for their courses through websites or combining parts of CMS with web applications. We offer some tools you can add to your course in addition to or in place of a CMS.
eGCC
GCC's nationally renowned system of customized network accessible tools for students and faculty. Students can login to virually any computer on campus at any time and have access to over 250 applications customized by their instructors for the courses they are registered for. Course folders are spaces on the network that can be shared by specific groups of users. These folders can be course-specific, section-specific, or accessible by multiple groups.
To request special application access, increase in student server space or course folders please see the eGCC page. After a course folder has been created it can be found when you are logged into a campus computer in the S: drive. You may also access your S: Drive from off-campus.
Questionmark Perception
The Questionmark Perception testing software allows faculty members to create exams and surveys that are delivered on-line via a web browser window. Access is controlled through eGCC usernames and student ID numbers. Scheduling can be controlled with respect to both time and location, so students could be restricted to a specific classroom at a specific time, or they could be able to take quizzes from anywhere, whenever they want.
We are not currently setting up new users on this software until we do an upgrade. If you are a current user and need support, contact Michelle Blomberg, Instructional Technologist. Or, you can visit the Questionmark Perception site
WebScribe
Designed by College Application Services's Bobby Sample, the WebScribe program allows you to create HTML pages from custom GCC template pages.
FormWiz
Also designed by Bobby Sample, the FormWiz program allows you to create interactive HTML forms using ColdFusion with a simple interface.
Respondus (A Blackboard tool)
The Respondus editor lets you work online or offline to create Blackboard exams. It includes many familiar tools such as an equation editor, spell checker, table editor, and support for media files. Respondus will also import exam questions from word processor files, convert assessments from other e-learning systems, publish quizzes directly to a Blackboard course and print exams. For an account, please contact Michelle Blomberg.
Softchalk Lessonbuilder
Easily take digital content like handouts and worksheets and create interactive web pages. This tool is SCORM compliant (that is, grading ties into Blackboard). Easy to package interactive content and upload it into Blackboard . Check the TED Center schedule for training.
You're also welcome to either download a 30-day free trial or contact Michelle Blomberg for access to the campus site license.
Podcasting and iTunesU
Podcasting allows an instructor to record their lecture directly to an MP3/MP4 audio or video file and then make that file available online for their students. Students can have access to the Podcast by streaming the audio online or downloading the Podcast to their computer or MP3 player.
Our Media Department can use professional recording equipment and resources for exceptional sound quality. Contact Michelle Blomberg for more information and to coordinate your project for you.
Web Blogs
For an introduction to blogging, please take a look at Will Richardson's Weblogg-ed. If you are curious enough and want a free place to practice and try it out, see the new hosted service Edublogs.org offering free service for educators.
Computerized Testing Center
If you are teaching a distance course and wish to have your students take their tests in our computerized proctored Testing Center in HTI-143, please contact our Testing Center Coordinator, Betty Minich to make arrangements. Students may not drop in unless arrangements have been made in advance through the instructor.
Networking and Training Opportunities
GCC TED Center - Offers training in Blackboard, MIDAS, Softchalk and many other applications.
CIS 236 Web-Based Teaching and Learning - This course is offered in online format through GCC and other MCC District Colleges, check the course schedule for more details and semester offerings.
Faculty Connection Center - Located in HT2-125 run by faculty volunteers, a resource center for Faculty.
Academic Commons - Offers a forum for investigating and defining the role that technology can play in liberal arts education.
Sources for Online Course Content and Learning Objects
Maricopa Learning eXchange - MLX is an electronic warehouse of ideas, examples, and resources (represented as "packages") that support student learning at the Maricopa Community Colleges.
Connexions - A rapidly growing collection of free scholarly materials and a powerful set of free software tools to help: Authors publish and collaborate, Instructors rapidly build and share custom courses and Learners explore the links among concepts, courses and disciplines. Like Ebay for course content.
Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching - MERLOT is a free and open resource designed primarily for faculty and students of higher education. Links to online learning materials are collected along with annotations such as peer reviews and assignments.
