ATTENTION WSU Instructors!

Did you know you can complete the WSU Virtual Web Camp at your own pace, in your own time?

In this six session intensive online workshop you will learn how to put your course materials online, convert your face to face lectures, reading and interaction to an online environment and teach an amazing online class.

This six session online course gives you all of the tools and information that you need to teach online successfully and joyfully.

For more information contact us at the CIT at cit@westfield.ma.edu

Fall Web Camp 2015

The Fall 15 Web Camp will be wrapping up on Monday, December 1st. This has been a great experience with instructors and CIT Student Staff learning to use the Plato (Blackboard Learn 9) system, and how to build a great online course. Instructors are working on online communication techniques, learning about new interactive tools, and are excited to teach their first online course!

Students are learning how courses are created, how to build out content, and most importantly how to assist the faculty with their online course needs. Participation in Web Camp is a major part of how our students are trained to work the Plato Help Desk, and get them familiar with the back end workings of the system!

Yay Web Camp!

BB World 2015

Check out the latest and greatest from Blackboard at Blackboard World 2015! 

http://www.bbworldlive.com/all/

Plato Help and Summer Fun!

The Center for Instructional Technology is home to the Plato Help Desk. Our students are here all summer to answer your questions and help with any Plato issues. 

If you need assistance with any Plato issues at all please submit a help ticket to the Plato Help Desk for the fastest service! 

Click here to get to the Plato Help Desk!

We are also here if you would like to learn about some of the fun new tools that can help to enhance your course in Plato. Stop by or email Lisa at lclark@westfield.ma.edu and ask about VoiceThread, Blackboard Collaborate, Atomic Learning and more!

Hope to see you soon! 

Have a great Summer!

The CIT Team

Summer Web Camp 2014

Two more successful Web Camp's are complete! We had several of WSU's most awesome faculty join us for both Spring & Summer Camps, and all instructors are now certified to teach online!

This Web Camp included faculty from a variety of departments including English, Music, Education, History, Criminal Justice, Movement Science, Communications, Social Work, Sociology, Geography and Regional Planning, Biology, Psychology, Economics & Business Management, and Computer & Information Systems.

Congratulations to those who completed these intensive training sessions! If you are WSU faculty and are interested in teaching online, check back here for the next Web Camp dates, or contact us in the Center for Instructional Technology for more information!

Happy Summer!

The CIT Team

What is Web Camp?

What is Web Camp?

Web Camp is step-by-step program that teaches faculty how to move their face-to-face course online. It covers topics including:  

• Online pedagogy,
• Best practices from Westfield faculty who are teaching online,  
• The design of your course following the WSU Best Practices Course Template, General use of the course management system,  
• An understanding of creating and using assessments online,  
• The tools and tricks (not limited to Jing, Audacity, Blackboard Collaborate, Skype)  
• CIT Course Guidelines and Quality Matters Course Rubrics

During Web Camp, faculty attend face-to-face classes, as noted above.  Participants are also required to meet with Lynn Zayac or her designee to discuss and present their instructional design and course plans.

Additionally, faculty will complete the following virtual trainings:
 

• participate and share in virtual discussion forums during Web Camp Week.
• participate in at least one live chat session with Lynn.
• participate in at least one Blackboard Collaborate Live Virtual Classroom training.

Please contact Lynn Zayac, Director, CIT (lzayac@westfield.ma.edu or x8142) or Lisa Clark, CIT (lclark@westfield.ma.edu or x8249) if you have questions about the Web Camp.



Fall 2012 Web Camp

October 23rd, 30th, November 6th,13th, 20th, and 27th

Tuesdays from 3:30pm-6:30pm



Spring 2013 Web Camp

February 25th, March 4th, 18th, 25th, April 1st & 8th

Mondays from 3:30pm-6:30pm



Summer 2013 Web Camp

May 29th, 30th, 31st, June 3rd & 4th

9am to 1pm each day

 

Plato Upgrade to Socrates!

The Center for Instructional Technology is pleased to announce that Westfield State University is officially in the process of upgrading to Socrates (Blackboard Learn 9) from Plato (Blackboard Vista) and will be picking up speed in the Spring 2013 semester.

Check out our new blog "Plato Upgrade Central!" 

This new blog will be updated with important information about WSU's upgrade to Blackboard Learn 9 aka Socrates from Blackboard Vista aka Plato. 


For information on how to migrate your course content to the upgraded platform, please contact Lisa Clark at lclark@westfield.ma.edu