Instructional Technology Support Services has several new options for web and social software course projects. These options include podcasts, blogs, wikis and web sites. Podcasts are audio or multimedia "shows" that are automatically delivered to subscribers through the Internet. Blogs are web journals that allow viewers to discuss the main topics by writing comments. Wikis are simply web pages that any visitor can edit, allowing a more collaborative web experience. Virtual Worlds are a recently evaluated technology that allows immersion in a three-dimensional computer generated environment where participants can explore, communicate, collaborate and create in new and exciting ways.
Service Level Agreement Requests for new course projects that involve social software will initiate a meeting with an ITS Instructional Technology Support staff member and, if appropriate other members of Hillgroup. The purpose of this meeting will be to have a conversation about the nature of the request and what resources would be necessary for it to succeed. Customized projects and/or workflows may require more planning time. If possible, initial planning should be completed before the start of classes for the supported course.
Support Model Descriptions:
Websites Using iWeb
Static websites can be created using some of the templates in iWeb. Photos, audio, video, and enhanced podcasts can be added using other applications in the iLife suite. iWeb allows individuals with little to no coding experience to learn how to apply basic design and information organization skills to a website that can be made publicly accessible through the academics.hamilton.edu web server. iWeb is a good choice for sites that have a multimedia emphasis and will not be updated frequently after the final site is created.
Websites Using Dreamweaver
Static websites can be created using the ITSST template using Dreamweaver. Dreamweaver is a professional website creation tool that provides students with exposure to the actual HTML and CSS code of web pages. The ITSST template is designed to provide an accessible introduction to website development without requiring that the student understand all of the underlying code. Instead students can focus on the principles of separation of content and layout using Cascading Style Sheets, creating a logical structure for information and navigation, and appropriate formatting, selection and emphasis of information and media such as photos and streaming video. A static websites using Dreamweaver is a good choice for sites that will require frequent updates and will not include large collections of images or enhanced podcasts.
Enhanced Podcasts
Enhanced Podcasts are basically audio and video slideshows, created using iPhoto and GarageBand, that are intended to presented in episodes. For the purposes of Enhanced Podcast projects at Hamilton College, projects can be uploaded as a collection of student work. The focus of Enhanced Podcast projects usually involves the creation of compelling audio which is augmented with carefully selected images taken by the student or downloaded from Flickr. Enhanced Podcasts can be viewed using QuickTime or iTunes or uploaded to the web using iWeb. File formats used are designed for distribution over the Internet and will not transfer to DVD, but are of suitable quality for public presentation using a projector. One of the goals of using enhanced podcasts is to provide an opportunity for podcast revision based on audience feedback and, so podcast projects may also involve some form of electronic communication ranging from email correspondence a comment-enabled blog.
Blogs
Blogs are online public forums where one or more administrators post entries to which others may contribute comments. They are good discussion tools when it is desired to preserve a sense of authority for the original topic posting. Blogs can work well for discussions where divergent thinking is desired. Blogs are supported primarily using BlogCFC on the Hamilton College web server and can be made accessible to a global audience or restricted to individuals with Hamilton College userids. Blogs are also supported within the Blackboard course management system when it is desired to restrict access to the blog to the students in a particular class.
Wikis
Wikis are designed to decentralize authority over content by providing anyone who had edit-level access to the wiki with the ability to add, modify and even delete any text on the wiki. Wikis can work well for collaborative writing assignments where convergent thinking is desired. Wikis can be supported through Blackboard or made accessible to any individual with a Hamilton College userid using Canvas blog on the academics.hamilton.edu web server. Wikis that are supported though the Blackboard learning management system are restricted to the students in a particular class.
Virtual Worlds
An exciting technology now being supported by ITSST is the use of Second Life for course projects. Second Life is a three dimensional virtual world created entirely by its residents. People access this virtual world though the Second Life software on either Windows or Apple computers, creating an account, and choosing a visual representations of themselves (called an avatar). Once "in-world" this avatar can be used to meet other people, explore different land regions and create new objects. Many educational regions, such as a virtual Van Gogh Museum, exist for students to explore and Hamilton College has secured land for building and student exhibits. One project that we have experimented with is a "virtual poster exhibit," in which students can display posters that are augmented with other objects and media such as 3D models and audio. Though projects in Second Life require careful planning to ensure that Second Life will support the intended project goals, there are countless ways that virtual worlds can be used to support teaching and learning.
