Archive for the 'UW Green Bay' Category

Transition to Qualtrics a Smooth One at UW Green Bay

Posted November 16, 2009 * Comments(0)

The Qualtrics online survey tool has successfully been introduced to UW Green Bay.  The UWGB Learning Technology Center communicated to our campus that the former survey software (SelectSurevy ASP) will be eliminated next spring as Qualtrics becomes our new campus standard. Our Learning Technology Center staff is helping the transition be a smooth one. We have conducted group training, one on one consulting, and even have dedicated staff to transfer surveys, and in some cases survey results, from the old application to Qualtrics.
Qualtrics is already being used by many individuals and departments at UWGB and the feedback about Qualtrics thus far has been very favorable. People are finding Qualtrics to be user-friendly and intuitive. One department will be using Qualtrics for online course evaluations at the end of this fall semester. We hope more departments and people will consider this tool for course evaluations in the future.  Meanwhile, Qualtrics is suiting the needs of our campus survey users, due to the quality of the product and the available support.

Unique Processes Help Clicker Implementation at UW-Green Bay

Posted July 22, 2009 Comments Off

At UW-Green Bay, many unique processes occur behind the scenes to ensure successful implementation of Student Response Systems, or clickers for instructional use.  First, the Learning Technology Center (LTC) requires all instructors who plan to use clickers to let them know before the following semester’s course schedule is due.  Once the classes are flagged in the PeopleSoft Student Information System (SIS), they appear in the course catalog as clicker classes so students are aware of the fact that they must have clickers and pay a clicker rental fee (which occurs automatically via the SIS when they register) for the class.

When the semester begins, students check out the clickers from the library circulation desk, much as they would a book or other resource.  This upcoming fall 2009 semester, there will be an additional step in the checkout process that will also register the student clickers – this will link the student information with the clicker device ID and send it to a roster that instructors can download and use with the clicker software.  In the past, students registered themselves on a separate web page, but they would often make mistakes or neglect to register their clickers resulting in no participation credit or other problems. The new automated registration process will eliminate such problems.

At the end of the semester, clickers are returned to the library (if not, a fee will be applied to the student’s account).  The library staff then cleans the clickers and checks them for any major blemishes or technical problems.  The LTC staff also replaces the batteries and upgrades the firmware for all clickers annually. 

Initially, there was significant growth in clicker use, but in recent semesters, the number has plateaued at about 25-30% of the student population using clickers each term.  Green Bay’s clicker processes work very effectively, and they help students and instructors easily incorporate clickers in the classroom to enhance teaching and learning.

Here is a video that provides a nice overview of clickers and examples of how they are used at UW-Green Bay (created in Fall 2008): Link to Introduction to Clickers YouTube Video.

Submitted by Leif Nelson
UW-Green Bay

UW-Green Bay Second Life Nursing Complex

Posted May 6, 2009 Comments Off

As of May 1, the UWGB Nursing Complex Island is now available for the public. Until now, it was a private “invite-only” region as we worked on the initial development and construction.  While the various projects and buildings are not yet complete, progress has been tremendous.  Some of our Nursing staff have become very savvy with Second Life as they have been actively exploring other regions, experimenting with audio conferencing in Second Life, decorating offices and other spaces, and getting used to the settings and controls of the interface. 

The Nursing Complex region includes a replica of Mary Ann Cofrin (MAC) Hall, complete with classrooms, offices, furniture, and textures that were created from still images of the real MAC hall. Our region also has representations of other notable features from the GB campus like the arboretum and Lambeau cottage as well as some structures that take advantage of the creative freedom afforded by a virtual environment e.g., a custom-built amphitheater with a large display screen.

Two of our Learning Technology Center Students, Kyle MacDonald and Julie Harvey have been involved in the development of a poverty simulation with one of our Social Work/Nursing instructors, Christine Vandenhouten.  The simulation involves very innovative use of Second Life scripting language in order to assign avatars to different families and keep track of their finances and health.  The poverty simulation includes many buildings including a police station, grocery store, and others.

The initiative is supported with a WI-TECNE grant and the involvement of the UWGB Nursing department in conjunction with the Learning Technology Center. We have learned much about virtual island management, group settings, hardware settings, 3D design, and even a new scripting language. There are plans to use our Second Life region for course activities in Fall 2009 (and perhaps sooner) by our Nursing Department.  Eventually, we will have a virtual nursing lab and other health-related items, and other GB faculty and staff have expressed some interest in future possibilities.  We look forward to seeing instructional activity in our Second Life region.  Feel free to stop by the island and look around. SLURL:http://slurl.com/secondlife/UWGB%20Nursing%20Complex/93/107/35  I’ll give you a tour if I’m in world.

 

Submitted by:

Leif Nelson (SL name: Alf Alter)
Learning Technology Center
University of Wisconsin – Green Bay
nelsonl@uwgb.edu