Events
- Annual Convention
- Great Teaching Round-up
- Leading from the middle
- fall conference for faculty leaders
- The Texas Network
"I think there is something more important than believing: Action! The world is full of dreamers, there aren't enough who will move ahead and begin to take concrete steps to actualize their vision."
Events: Annual Convention 2009
Technology Seminars
All sessions will be conducted at the Renaissance Hotel on Friday afternoon, February 20. No fee or pre-registration is required, but seating may be limited. Room locations will be published in the program, which is distributed at convention registration.
Attendees who have laptop computers may wish to bring them for any "hands on" training or software that may be available at some sessions.
"Introduction to SoftChalk LessonBuilder"
2:30-3:45
Presenter: April Zimmerman, Technical Support Supervisor, Alamo Community College District
Discover the power of SoftChalk LessonBuilderTM. That’s what you’ll do in this session. SoftChalk is an easy-to-use web lesson editor for which every public, two-year college in Texas holds a perpetual site license. Colleges that didn’t already have a license at the start of this school year were provided one by the Virtual College of Texas.
With SoftChalk, you create engaging, interactive web lessons without knowing any HTML or programming. You spend your time developing content, not learning how to use complex software. And the results are impressive: polished, professional-looking online lessons that include interactive learning games, multiple types of questions, pop-up text annotations, friendly navigation, and other student-engaging features.
April will guide this tour of SoftChalk. She will demonstrate its key features, answer questions, and convince you that creating sophisticated, student-appealing, interactive eLearning lessons is within the reach of every instructor.
"Millennials: Reaching and Teaching Digital Natives with Web 2.0"
2:30-3:45
Presenter: Manoucher R. Khosrowshahi, Government Professor, Tyler Junior College
The Millennials (Born after 1980) are bringing more to the colleges than tattoos, flip flops, low hanging saggy pants that expose body parts or undergarments, Iphones and IPods. They have new ways of learning communicating, collaborating and getting things done via new technology.
This presentation will explore the millennial generation and Web 2.0, identify their unique characteristics, and provide some strategies for teaching and working with these students. Furthermore, we will talk about evolution of web 2.0, related concepts and technologies, and web 2.0 applications to teach and reach millennial students.
"New Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro for Education"
2:30-3:45
Presenter: Rick Miller, Senior Solutions Engineer -Education, Adobe Systems Incorporated
Learn how you can transform everyday work into the extraordinary! Acrobat workflows can simplify and enhance teaching, collaboration and administrative processes while providing safeguards that help keep confidential information private. With Acrobat, it's easy to include a wide range of information in one file while preparing course packages, dynamic presentations, requests for research grants and other material.
"The Texas Network for Teaching Excellence in CTE: Everything You've Been Looking For and More!"
2:30-3:45
Presenters: Terry Mouchayleh, Director of Professional Development and Evaluation, Austin Community College, Marcos Molina, Technical Support Manager, Fund for Professional Excellence in the Community College, and Richard Moore, Executive Director, Texas Community College Teachers Association
Join this session to learn about this Perkin-funded project, The
Network, which is the result of a unique partnership between community colleges, statewide professional development consortia, and TCCTA. Now in its second year, The Network provides online modules, webinars, a portfolio system, a variety of resources, and a robust search function, all at no cost to the user. The session will provide a demonstration of the site content and capabilities.
"Classroom Mashups: The Texas Course Redesign Project and the Texas Learning Objects Repository in Your Classes"
4:00-5:15
Presenters: Kevin Lemoine, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Academic Affairs and Research Division, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; and Vanessa L. Davis, Assistant Director of Academic Programs, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
In 2007 the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board began exploring the development of a statewide digital learning objects repository that would serve as a clearinghouse for the materials developed through the Texas Course Redesign Project. A beta version of the Repository is now available for faculty use. This session will explore how faculty can access and use the Texas Learning Objects Repository as well as discuss ways in which materials developed through the Texas Course Redesign Project can be incorporated into their classes.
"Hybrid How-to: Effective Strategies for Creating and Enhancing Hybrid Courses"
4:00-5:15
Presenter: Carol Barbay, Professor of Psychology, Lamar State College–Port Arthur
Carol Barbay will discuss recent developments in creating and enhancing hybrid courses. After a brief discussion of hybrid course model designs, the presentation will explore strategies you can take back to your teaching and learning environment and use immediately. Whether you are just getting started or you are looking for ideas to bring your hybrid course up to A+ level, this presentation will offer action ideas that you and your students can use right away.
"Introduction to the Dallas Digital Resources Repository"
4:00-5:15
Presenter: Becky Stinson, Academic Partnership Manager, LeCroy Center for Educational Telecommunications
Imagine that you have access to 2,500+ video clips (typically 2 to 7 minutes long) on a wide range of topics that can be included in a variety of courses--online, hybrid, or classroom. Better yet, attend this session and see for yourself. That’s what the Digital Resources Repository offers--plus even more, including graphics, interactive tutorials, and other web-based content. All Texas public, two-year colleges have access to this Repository through a statewide collaborative license provided by the Virtual College of Texas.
Also to be demonstrated is the media management tool that comes with the Repository. It’s used to build and manage playlists of clips from the Repository and other sources, including materials you’ve created yourself—video, audio, text, PowerPoint, Excel and web links.
Bring to this session curiosity and interest in creating student-appealing, media-rich courses. Becky will conduct this introduction to the Digital Resources Repository.
"Mathematics Software: What’s the Difference? "
4:00-5:15
Presenter: Merideth Kolaski, Technical Sales Representative, Hawkes Learning Systems
The need for and use of technology in the classroom has become increasingly prevalent in mathematics courses. But with all the software options available, it can be difficult to determine the differences from one system to another. Hawkes Learning Systems (HLS) is a unique program that stands out from the rest. Not only is it different from any other software system available, it has also been proven to be more effective in helping students learn and retain mathematics skills. Curious about the differences that HLS has to offer? Come and discover how HLS is the perfect technology solution for student success!
"Video Production with Production Premium CS4 in Education"
4:00-5:15
Presenter: Rick Miller, Senior Solutions Engineer -Education, Adobe Systems Incorporated
Video has officially escaped the TV. It is everywhere, web pages, mobile phones, iPods. From the classroom to the meeting room learn how Production Premium CS4 gives you the same tools used in Hollywood to create stunning video. Then learn how to get that video out to the web, phones, and more to reach your audience. If you are new to video, or even a seasoned pro you won't want to miss this.
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