Penultimate

Good Evening Online Faculty!

I've talked about the Evernote app in the past; this week I'd like to share with you a very complementary app to Evernote called Penultimate.

This app allows you to write just like you were handwriting in a notebook but it can be synced right to Evernote so all of your handwritten notes are quickly, neatly, and easily filed - digitally - rather than having a bunch of loose papers that can easily get mixed up or lost.

In Penultimate's own words:   "Penultimate is the original and easiest-to-use handwriting app for iPad that combines the natural experience of pen and paper with the flexibility and syncing of Evernote. Lose the paper, keep the handwriting, and remember everything."

I encourage you to check this free app out and try it for yourself!

Heather Thomton-Stockman
Online Instructional Specialist

iPad Headset Adapter

Good Morning Online Faculty!

I'm going to take a short break from iPad Apps this week and share with you a technology tip I received from Brian Craig, Online Legal Program Chair, as we prepare for our iPads.  To be able to still use your headsets with your iPad for various audio and video initiatives, you will need to get an adapter.  Brian has found this one to be a strong option if you currently use a headset with traditional microphone/headphone dual jack connections.  He also shared with me that he is using this adapter for a new lap top he has because the new lap top only offers a single microphone and headphone jack.

If you have a USB port headset like I do, you will need a different type of adapter.  From the research I've conducted and from my own experience, the Camera Connection Kit accessory for the iPad can be a viable option for you.  Here is additional information on it.  It is important to note that it may not work with all USB headsets and that Apple doesn't support this accessory beyond the Camera functionality, but from what I've read on a number of tech sites, it is a solid option for many USB headsets.

Obviously you will still have your own computer options to continue to use for audio and video functions within your online classes as the iPad will be an additional tool and resource for you to use but won't replace your computer needs; however, if you are looking to be able to use your iPad with added audio and video capabilities these might be some accessories you may want to explore more for yourself.  These are entirely optional and not at all required, but I thought the information may be helpful to some of you.

If you have any questions please let me know.

Thanks,
Heather Thomton-Stockman
Online Instructional Specialist

The Evernote App

When exploring different Apps for instructional use, I thought it would be beneficial to mention Evernote once again.

As the iPad initiative rolls out and we get lots of different pieces of information on how and when to use the iPad as part of our daily teaching, keeping all of the different pieces of information organized will be key and Evernote is an excellent app that can help you do just that.

Dr. Meredith Butulis, HFS Program Chair, offered an excellent in-service breakout session spring quarter. For those of you who may not have had the opportunity to join the session, here are some great resources she shared:

•  Getting started with Evernote Tutorial
• YouTube How To Series
• Evernote Site

Check Evernote out for yourself and let me know what you think!  Personally, as I prepare my family for a move, I have been using it on a daily basis to keep all aspects of my life organized!

Thanks,
Heather Thomton-Stockman

Online Instructional Specialist

The Apps Tab

Since we are talking about Apps for online education this quarter, it makes sense to discuss our own Apps tab available to us within CampusConnect. 

The Apps tab is available to instructors as well as students.  We all get busy with our daily tasks of grading and interacting with students, though, so in case you haven't had a chance to explore the Apps tab, I wanted to share a great video that our Blackboard Administrators have put together for your use.  

Hopefully this will serve as an added motivator to explore what the Apps tab can do for you!  The more comfortable you are with this feature, the more effective you will be at sharing it with and promoting it to your students.

If you have any questions please let me know.

Thanks,
Heather Thomton-Stockman
Online Instructional Specialist

There's an App for That!

With the upcoming iPad initiative and the ever present use of personal iPads and other notebooks and mobile devices in our daily lives and the daily lives of our students, I am going to spend a great deal of time this quarter blogging about the many different Apps available to us as instructors and that are available to our students.  If you have an app you love - whether for teaching or personal use - please send it my way as I'd love to share it with everyone.

The first App I'd like to share with you is one that our amazing librarian Elaine Settergren found:

• King of Math: This game app for iOS devices provides people with a fun way to refresh their skills across several areas of mathematics. The game starts you off as a farmer who must level up by answering several fast-paced math exercises across areas such as statistics, arithmetic and geometry.

Whether you teach a math specific course or not, I could see this as beneficial for all programs and all students.  Check it out and let me know what you think.  And once again, send your favorite Apps my way!

Thanks, 

Heather Thomton-Stockman
Online Instructional Specialist

"Better studying = less studying" : I like that!

Welcome to the start of another quarter!  And with the start of another quarter, we have a new batch of students and a wonderful opportunity to help guide our students in their educational and studying pursuits. This week I am blogging about another blog; a blog that was shared with me by our very own Catz Neset. Catz regularly engages in technology and social media opportunities to enhance educational knowledge and endeavors, and this blog she shared with me this week is very timely for the start of our new quarter.

As I mentioned above, we have the power to influence students to engage in better study habits, and as this blog explores, better studying can mean less studying...I'm thinking many of our students would like that idea!

Check the blog out, explore some of the strategies and ideas discussed, and share some with your students...then let me know how it goes!

Thanks,
Heather Thomton-Stockman
Online Instructional Specialist

Accessing Student Portfolios

I learned something new this week that some of you may already know but others may not so wanted to pass the information along. 

Now that students house their portfolio material directly within CampusConnect, it is easy for you as an instructor to access the portfolios as long as students share their portfolio with your username.  When this occurs, you will receive an email indicating a portfolio has been shared with you. 

To access the portfolio within CampusConnect, simply:

1. Click on the Tools tab;
2. Scroll down to Portfolios Homepage
3. Click on Received Portfolios and you will then have access to student portfolios that have been shared.
4.