TTU's Technology Institute's Newsletter April 2007
D2L
iLearn @ Tennessee Tech: Where online and enhanced courses are headed
A Brief History:
TTU has had course materials on the web for quite a while. In the beginning, instructors that put their materials online used text editors like Notepad and had to know how to write HTML. In 1999, we began using a Course Management System called WebCT. This software brought instructors an easier way to put course materials online, but also added a lot more functionality. It included password protection, discussion boards, internal course email, quizzing, assignment dropbox, and more.
Where we are going:
Starting the Fall 2007 semester we will no longer use WebCT on our campus. We will be moving to a new learning environment called iLearn. The software behind iLearn is Desire2Learn. The software is an improvement over WebCT, but it is different. For those that will need to transfer their courses from WebCT it will take some time to adjust your courses to the new framework. The process of moving your information is actually quite easy though. In iLearn, there are some new and improved tools that you can use to improve the students learning experience. This is a great opportunity to create and update your content and materials as you transfer to the new system.
Where we are now:
Where are we now in online education and incorporating using these tools in helping students learn today? There is a web site that will contain information for faculty and students about iLearn. You will find documentation and other assistance at http://www.tntech.edu/iLearn .
The Institute for Learning Opportunities (formerly the Institute for Technological Scholarship) has begun training faculty across campus on using iLearn. We are offering multiple workshops for all types of users and levels. We have workshops that assist faculty who teach completely online, use WebCT for enhancing their traditional courses, departmental training for those departments that choose to and those interested in trying something new. We also offer workshops that cover different uses of the specific tools in iLearn to reach goals of student learning. To see a list of workshops available or to register for a particular workshop, go to the Institute web site (http://www.tntech.edu/institute ).
We are here to help you transition as easily as possible so contact us if you have any questions or need some assistance.
Support Contacts:
Lauren Neal (Campus-wide)
email
The Institute for Learning Opportunities
Clement Hall room 215
372-3675
Jessie Daniels – ( College of Business )
email
372-6466
- Lauren Neal
