services

Instructional Technology works with faculty, graduate assistants and staff to create digital projects that focus on teaching creatively and effectively with instructional technologies.

Throughout the academic year, we offer individual consultations and group sessions that cover a variety of technology tools and techniques. Our events include panel discussions on creative uses of technology and teaching at Emerson. We also host the annual New Technologies : New Connections series, which highlights emerging technologies and their implications for teaching and learning.

If you are planning a digital project for teaching and would like assistance with the instructional design or development, please contact us. To register for a consultation or group session, please contact the listed instructor at least one working day in advance.

Administer Online Surveys or Quizzes
After reviewing the differences between WebCT's survey and quiz tools, we work with you to develop a survey or quiz for your class. We also go through the steps to post your syllabus.

Best Practices for PowerPoint in the Classroom
Whether designing slides for presentations or course notes, PowerPoint use can engage a class. This session demonstrates strategies for designing presentations that promote student understanding, critical thinking, and listening. Strategies include matching multimedia features with selected information and course concepts.

Blogging Basics for Teaching
Learn how blogs can enhance your students' writing, editing and research skills as well as encourage in-class and out-of-class discussion. Drawing upon Emerson class blogs and faculty practices, this workshop introduces the fundamental skills and best practices of blogging.

Digication: E-Portfolio, Teaching and Student Development
Emerson faculty are currently testing the e-portfolio tool, Digication. Come see how you can use this tool for showcasing and assessing student coursework and for coaching students with setting up a portfolio for their professional development.

Digitizing Film Clips
Copy clips from DVDs and make them available for student access online. Using freely available Handbrake software, we will guide you through the few steps needed to digitize your clips.

Integrate Multimedia in your Course Website
Explore simple uses of Flash, video, and audio to enrich your class and engage your students.

Online Video Stream for Your Class
Learn how to compress a file for streaming and place it on our Stream server. Discussion involves the benefits of streaming and demonstrates current practices by Emerson faculty.

Podcasting and RSS Feeds
Instant polling can raise student awareness of course topics as well as collect opinions on trends, issues, and events. RSS feeds collect news headlines on a particular topic and send updated headlines with summaries and a URL to your course. This workshop provides an overview and how-tos to leverage these resources quickly and easily. Also included is an introduction to databases of digital teaching materials.

Post Grades Throughout the Semester
Learn how to create a gradebook that allows students to privately access their grades online. We also go through the steps to upload your course syllabus.

Presenting Copyright Protected Visuals Online
Using PowerPoint and Flash software, we will show you how to present copyright-protected images to students online through a simple process.

Strategies for Successful Online Discussion
Have you found that the quality or quantity of participation in online discussion falls below your expectations? This workshop focuses on tips and strategies for using WebCT's online discussion tool. We show you techniques faculty have used to structure online discussion assignments, set expectations for students, and define the role of the instructor or TA within the discussion environment.

Visual Arts and Image Management
If you use a large number of images in your coursework, WebCT's Media Library tool can make them available to your class online. Each semester you can transfer and continue to build this database, which will be privately accessible to students in your class.

Visual Imagery: Editing & Presenting
Learn how to use profession tools to edit and display images used for your teaching. We’ll be showing you the basics of Photoshop, and introducing you to the newest version of PowerPoint.

WebCT Basics: Upload Files, Create Web Links, Organize Course Materials
This 30-minute session provides an overview of the WebCT interface and guides you through uploading your syllabus and other files.