Archive for the ‘How To’ Category
Adding a PDF to your blog post
Posted by: Joel Galbraith in How To, Try it! on August 3rd, 2009
Due to popular demand, I’ve created a short “how to” movie on adding PDF (or other documents) to your SOG blog post.
Let us know if there are other topics on which you’d like similar tutorials.
-Joel G.
Multi-use Computer Training Room (1300). Now Open for Business.
Posted by: Joel Galbraith in How To, SOG, Teaching, Try it! on July 30th, 2009
A couple weeks ago, construction was completed on the new multi-use, computer classroom in 1300, funded by the Knapp Foundation. The 20-computer, 30-seat room is now ready and can be scheduled in CollegeNet. The room has already accommodated multiple successful inaugural training sessions. It has been thrilling to see people in the room anxiously engaged in learning new skills where just months ago the space served as a large, concrete storage closet–packed with the building’s odd and ends and surplus furniture–but no longer!
ITD hosted two Outlook training sessions which were well-attended, and useful to those in attendance. If you missed those, links to the edited archives will be available shortly. In addition Dale Roenigk has also conducted a couple Microsoft Excel trainings in the room.
I’m attaching excerpts of James Balfour’s original detailed room description below:
The room is equipped with a fixed podium, computer, VCR/DVD player, document camera, and a connection for a laptop. A wall panel allows easy control of which device is sent to the projector. The room also has dimmable fluorescent lights controlled with a wall panel near the podium. Three round tables are also available at the rear of the room.
The classroom supports software training for 20 students (i.e. Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Blogs, Turning Point etc.). As part of your conference, you may also bring in outside instructors to train clients on software and applications relevant to their jobs. The space can also be used as a normal lecture space, but note that the desk arrangement is fixed.
We would like to thank Sean Downing for all of his work coordinating contractors and ensuring the project was completed as quickly and accurately as possible. We would also like to thank Kelly Medlin for her behind-the-scenes work coordinating and tracking expenditures on this Knapp Foundation project.
Faculty Spotlight: IDE Online Presentations
Posted by: Greg Whisenhunt in Distance Learning, Faculty Spotlight, How To, Instructional Design, Just for Fun, Presentations, Tools on April 27th, 2009
Indigent Defense Education
- Faculty: John Rubin, Whitney Fairbanks, and Alyson Grine
- Program Manager: Meredith Murray
- Events: Indigent Defense Education
- Type: Narrated PowerPoint: recorded during live presentation
- Tools: PowerPoint, Adobe Presenter, lavalier microphone
- Date: Fall 2008-ongoing
- Clients: Indigent Defense
- Link (view sample):Involuntary Commitment Process
Objective:
Make Indigent Defense training available for clients unable to attend live sessions.
There’s nothing like experience…coupled with feedback, reflection and do-overs.
Posted by: Joel Galbraith in Best Practice, How To, Presentations, Tools, Uncategorized on February 12th, 2009
I made a presentation today to the SOGroovy photo club on framing and composing principles in photography. In the process–and courtesy of my fellow SOGers–I (re)learned a couple key teaching lessons:
- Relate the material to your audience’s experiences. Angela W. was bold enough to speak out and mentioned how similar some of these design principles were to the page layout work she’s done. I’m glad she made the connection, because I missed that important teaching opportunity, to relate the material to my audience–or even to ask them to reflect and share on how it related to them.
- When showing examples, also share appropriate “non-examples” (aka poor examples) to allow your audience to see the contrast and value of following your proposed procedure. On this note, I received feedback (always nice, thanks Cindy L.) that some poor examples would have been helpful in understanding the design principles I was trying to teach.
- Take a calculated risk, and learn/try something new. We often expect our students to learn new material and procedures, but may be unwilling ourselves to learn or try something new (i.e. change our slides, class format, learning activities, lecture style, handouts etc.). Knowing I would have a very gracious and forgiving audience, I tried a unique, new presentation tool* (NOT PowerPoint). It took some getting used to, but I’m getting the hang of Prezi and am impressed. I practiced a good deal, and felt I was ready to break from my traditional presentation routine–based on feedback, the risk paid off.
Click image to launch presentation
I’m glad we’re a learning organization at the SOG–willing to speak up and share ways we can all improve. I believe all present were instructed and edified by the experience. If you’re interested in seeing the presentation (or simply the tool), view my online Prezi presentation here: Framing and Composition 101
*If you’re up to try a new approach, and have a creative glint in your eye, ask your TLS representative if Prezi is right for you.
-Joel G.
Distance Learning Preferences Poll: To listen or Read?
Posted by: Joel Galbraith in Best Practice, Distance Learning, How To, SOG, Tools on February 9th, 2009
There’s often a difference between what we prefer, and what we really do. This issue is seen in distance learning preference as well. Most people generally prefer face-to-face instruction, but we’re all capable of learning in different ways, and do so on a regular basis (informally) while listening to the radio, reading an article etc. We wouldn’t want all our learning to be classroom delivered.
In the distance learning world, instruction and knowledge is technologically mediated (delivered), and can generally take the form of temporal or time-based media (audio, video, presentations, lectures), or non-temporal media (text, images, slides only). When we’re in a hurry, or are only marginally interested, we often prefer text which is easily skimmed. There are times when we want to hear a good lecture, or casually listen while doing other things…and selectively pay attention when we get to the good (interesting) parts. Each has its merits. One is not “better” for learning than the other…at least not on those grounds)
But I’m curious, Which do you prefer? To read or to listen?, and perhaps more importantly, if your online SOG training were to be presented in this way, which do you think you’re more likely to sit down and actually “do”?! Take the Poll (omit your name if you wish)
TurningPoint: Why use TurningPoint?
Posted by: Joel Galbraith in Best Practice, Distance Learning, How To, Presentations on February 4th, 2009
Here’s a summary from SOG brownbag participants of great reasons/ways to use TurningPoint:
-Increase interaction
- increase likelihood of participation over “raise your hand” questions (Rich D.)
- Engage your audience and involve participants in your presentation. (Rich D.)
- Increase trainee attentiveness (TLS).
- empower audience with instant results “most of us chose ‘D’, why was that wrong?”
TurningPoint: Creating a Question Slide
Posted by: Joel Galbraith in How To, Tools on February 3rd, 2009
In case you missed our TurningPoint Basics brownbag, I assembled some key pieces of info here….
1) There’s more to success with TP than just knowing the tools. Please come see us or your colleagues for ideas on how to use TP to increase class participation, engagement and learning.
2) Cool TurningPoint Tip!
Wanna ask a TP question, but you don’t have a pre-built slide ? There *IS* a way to spontaneously insert a question slide any time during your TurningPoint presentation. Simply hit the F5 key, and a window appears to enter a question and response options on the fly (i.e. should we proceed to a new topic? Yes, No).
Thanks to Tyler M. for challenging me to figure this out!
3) Print out this guide with 10 steps for TurningPoint presentation success.
4) Take a look at this short tutorial (1:26 min) on adding question slides to your powerpoint. Find other great…
