A RWU newsletter designed to keep the faculty informed of the academic technology resources that are available to them on campus

Platt, Shawn

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HELIN Digital Commons

January 2008, Volume 2, Issue 4

DOCS@RWU

Roger Williams UniversityDOCS@RWUe-ATS Newsletter Academic Technology Services1-1-2008January 2008, Volume 2, Issue 4Shawn PlattRoger Williams University, splatt@rwu.eduFollow this and additional works at: http://docs.rwu.edu/atsnewsThis Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Academic Technology Services at DOCS@RWU. It has been accepted for inclusion in e-ATS Newsletter by an authorized administrator of DOCS@RWU. For more information, please contact mwu@rwu.edu.Recommended CitationPlatt, Shawn, "January 2008, Volume 2, Issue 4" (2008). e-ATS Newsletter. Paper 12.http://docs.rwu.edu/atsnews/12What’s New at e-ATS? January 2008 Volume  2,  Issue 4 Roger Williams University Did You Know?  Starting on Wednesday, January 23 IT staff members will be sitting at the Learning Commons Information Desk to answer questions and lend support to anyone that needs software related assistance.  Look for Shawn, Scott, Robin, Bonnie and Russ from 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM every Wednesday during the Spring semester.  Prof. Bob Ristino introduced the use of e-portfolios to his Communications class “Introduction to Mass Media” in the Fall 2007 semester.  Not familiar with e-portfolios?  An electronic portfolio, also known as an e-portfolio or digital portfolio, is a collection of electronic evidence assembled and managed by a user, usually on the Web. Such electronic evidence may include inputted text, electronic files such as Microsoft Word and Adobe PDF files, images, multimedia, blog entries, and hyperlinks. E-portfolios are both demonstrations of the user's abili-ties and platforms for self-expression, and, if they are online, they can be maintained dynamically over time. Some e-portfolio applications permit varying degrees of audience access, so the same portfolio might be used for multiple purposes.  An e-portfolio can be seen as a type of learning record that provides actual evidence of achievement.   With assistance from instructional technologist Robin Levesque, Prof. Ristino provided students with the basics of setting up an e-portfolio in the Blackboard system.  Prior to the introduction of e-portfolios to the class, students provided a hard copy scrapbook on a particular subject.  With the initiation of the e-portfolio, the need to cut out pictures and carry around lots of paper was eliminated. The departure of binders and paper was a welcomed relief to Prof. Ristino, but certainly not the driving motivation behind the use of e-portfolios.  With digital content students could easily look to the internet to obtain images and video clips that best demonstrated the view they were try-ing to express.  The images and video by no means replaced the impor-tance of good writing skills.  The almost endless supply of images and content assisted students with creativity and enhanced the written word.   Prof. Ristino was extremely pleased with the content and quality of students’ e-portfolios and definitely sees a place for the use of e-portfolios in the classroom.  He encourages other faculty to explore the value of e-portfolios and Robin Levesque is also available to demon-strate and assist setting up an e-portfolio to anyone interested.  And let’s not forget the students.  After given some initial instruction, stu-dents embraced this new approach and created work that if desired, can become a part of a greater academic portfolio. A word about Word 2007 and Outlook 2003  Faculty are gradually getting upgraded to Office 2007.  Outlook, however is still 2003.  If you were previously relying on Word to act as your editor using e-mail, Word 2007 and Outlook 2003 are not compatible.  You will need to have a version of Word 2003 on your computer in order for the automatic spell check to work.  Be advised that you can still choose “tools” then “spell check” with Word 2007 and Outlook 2003. TurningPoint  Audience Response System     TurningPoint audience response system integrates 100% into Microsoft® PowerPoint® and allows audiences and students to participate in presentations or lectures by submitting responses to interactive questions using a ResponseCard® hand-held/computer device.  Using a TurningPoint audience response system, your PowerPoint presentations become powerful data collection and assessment tools that collect real-time audience responses and dramatically improves productivity and results for your business or educational organization. Author, deliver, assess and report without ever leaving PowerPoint®.  Engage participants, assess learning, gather data, or enhance presentations with TurningPoint.  Contact Robin Levesque if you are interested in learning more about using TurningPoint. Shawn Platt X3001 Associate Director, Academic Technology Services splatt@rwu.edu  Bonnie Hatch X3619 Instructional Technologist bhatch@rwu.edu  Robin Levesque X3665 Instructional Technologist rlevesque@rwu.edu  Russ Beauchemin X3637 Digital Systems Support Technician rbeauchemin@rwu.edu  Scott Lopes X5305 Academic Technology Manager slopes@rwu.edu ATS Staff Welcome back! 

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January 2008, Volume 2, Issue 4

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