Instructional Support
Educational Technology Resources for SOU Faculty
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INSTRUCTIONAL
SUPPORT
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Classrooms
For classrooms, the current campus instructional technology standard is
to provide an overhead projector, VCR, and television in each room. Approximately
30 classrooms including labs have connections to the campus network and
the Internet. During the past few years, approximately 15 classrooms have
been modernized as “smart rooms” which have network/Internet
connections, computer-based teaching stations, display equipment such
as LCD projectors, large monitors, audio systems, and other appropriate
instructional devices. A number of departments have also acquired their
own notebook/LCD units.
Classroom scheduling is done by the Academic Scheduling Coordinator in the Registrar’s office, in consultation with department chairs. For specific classroom information or requests, please contact the Academic Scheduling Coordinator at 2-6602.
Media
Services
In addition to permanently installed classroom equipment, Media Services
provides short-term check-outs of slide, opaque, and overhead projectors,
projection screens, notebook computers and portable LCD projectors, cassette
decks, camcorders, microphones, PA systems, clipboard easels, and related
items. A high-intensity LCD projector suitable for large-room computer,
multi-media, and video displays is also available. Delivery service is
available for teaching support with a minimum 24 hour notice, pending
availability of equipment. Each department office acts as drop-off/pick-up
point. Equipment is not available for student use.
For information, equipment check-out reservations and repair, call Media Services at 2-6393, or visit their web site: www.sou.edu/media/
Computer
Labs
There are 23 student computer labs on campus. Each lab provides unique
hardware and software resources for students. However, from most labs
on campus it is possible for students to log in to the network using a
personal network account, access files they have stored in their personal
network directories (the F: drive), access their E-mail and get to the
Internet.
The largest computer lab on campus, and one of the largest facilities of its kind in the Northwest, the Computing Services Computer Lab houses more than 200 microcomputers and operates on a Novell NetWare network to provide software services to Windows and Macintosh computers, as well as access to the Internet and electronic mail. Output for the entire laboratory is done on high-speed laser printers. Special facilities for visually and physically disabled persons are available. Scanners and color printers provide specialized input and output capabilities. There are 2 classrooms with 25 Windows computers plus an instructor workstation and an LCD projector in each. There is one classroom area with 20 Macintosh computers plus an instructor workstation and an LCD projector. Like other classrooms, these are scheduled by the Academic Scheduling Coordinator.
Students can find important information about services and facilities at www.sou.edu/studentcomputing/. The Main Computer Lab also serves as the primary resource for campus-related student technical support.
Main Lab: 2-6969. www.sou.edu/studentcomputing/labs/mainlab/
Information on many other labs, including the Library ITC and discipline-specific labs, is available at www.sou.edu/studentcomputing/labs/
E-mail
Many options are available to faculty to communicate with their students.
These include student e-mail, listservs, and the Web.
You can e-mail to your students through CRN numbers by typing CRN@students.sou.edu in the TO: field of an e-mail. For example, for the class CRN 1234, type 1234@students.sou.edu when addressing the e-mail.
Listservs are another option for handling group e-mail. They have the advantage of more flexible handling of who is part of the list, and can easily include on-campus and off-campus e-mail addresses. For more information, see the article on “SOU Listservs” in the Spring 2000 newsletter.
If you use Blackboard for your course, there are web-based forms for sending e-mail to individual students, groups, or the entire class. For more information, see the Blackboard Instructor Manual.
Web
The SOU web site is considered a strategic extension of our efforts in
recruitment, student services, and instruction. A wide variety of information
and resources is available, including class schedules, the University
Catalog, Banner Student Information System, and much more.
For creating and managing web resources for their classes, many faculty prefer to use Blackboard (see below). Others prefer to create and post web pages within their department’s directory or their personal web directory. If you create your own web site for your class, please register it using this form, so students can find it easily (at this page), even if they forget the web address for the class.
To create your own personal web page, just create a directory (folder) at the root of your F: drive called “public_html” and put an index.html file and other web pages and graphics in it. Then anyone can access it at http://www.sou.edu/~yourname/ (for example, http://www.sou.edu/~smithj/).
For more information on creating web pages at SOU, including policies, guidelines, and instructions, please see www.sou.edu/web/. For support and training options, contact the Help Desk at 2-6900.
Blackboard
Blackboard is a web-based learning environment available to SOU instructors.
You can use any or all of its features including online posting of your
syllabus and announcements, lecture notes, assignments and quizzes. It
also includes a course calendar, online grade book and threaded discussions.
It can be used independently or in conjunction with classroom instruction.
It is available at http://courses.sou.edu.
If you are planning to use Blackboard for a course, first request a Blackboard account by sending e-mail to Bob Wright. Then submit a request for a course site by going to http://courses.sou.edu/course_request.html.
Throughout the term 1-hour help sessions for instructors using Blackboard will be held on a regular basis. These will be open sessions where you can get help, ask questions, learn new techniques or work on your Blackboard course site with help from SOU support staff. For more information on these training sessions, as well as instructions, tips, and links to other resources, visit www.sou.edu/blackboard/. For direct support, contact the Help Desk at 2-6900. The makers of Blackboard also have valuable resources online, including a computer-based tutorial at: http://resources.blackboard.com/scholar/general/pages/ictraining/
Acceptable
Use Policy
All faculty, staff, and students are expected to be familiar with and
abide by the SOU Computing Acceptable Use Policy. You can read it online
at www.sou.edu/it/policies/accept.shtml.
