Tech-It-Out

Each month, the committee will review learning technologies to support the work of faculty and students.

Faculty and staff are often busy, and it can be difficult to keep up with what is new on the technical side of things. Thus, the mission of the Tech-it Out Committee is to identify learning technology tools and strategies that enhance the student learning and teaching experience. For other faculty and staff, they may “live” on the cutting-edge side of technology but these faculty need a way that they can share their insights and strategies with others. Therefore, another key component of the committee is the free forum opportunity to share insights with colleagues.

• Preview learning technologies and discuss their usefulness in the classroom.
• Recommend and promote technologies that enhance teaching and learning.
• Create a community of practice to deepen knowledge and expertise through interaction and discussion.

The tech-it out sessions are a 45-minute meeting composed of three parts:  

• Part one features a choice between at least two 10 minute “awareness” sessions where faculty will be introduced to a technology tool, or new ways of using existing tools.  These sessions are called an awareness session because the session is not a training session, but rather an opportunity to learn what a tool is, why a faculty would want to use it, and where interested faculty can learn more about the tool on their own. Faculty will pick the session that interests them the most and learn about the tool that is introduced. 
• Part two is a 5-minute blackboard tip.  A short tip will be provided about a new Blackboard feature. 
• Part three features a 30-minute opportunity for open discussion about current technology tools that you are interested in or are already using which have promise in the classroom.  This free conversation does not have an agenda but is an opportunity to share insights with colleagues as a member of the “tech it out” community of practice.  

Tech it out sessions occur the last Friday of every month from 2:00-2:45 PM during the Fall and Spring Semesters.

View a list of upcoming Tech-it-Out topicsnew window, along with the links to register.  For questions, contact Michele Knight.