How Can I Make My Life Easier?

What are those options I keep seeing on Blackboard? Why should I care?

What can I do with them?

What is Panopto?

This is another program which allows you to share notes and PowerPoint of your computer screen with your students. You may also record a class lecture or share a whiteboard with students. http://www.panopto.com/ The VCCS has a contract so talk to your IT individuals to find the address for your schools connection.

Jazz up your PPT with Prezi

This is a fun program to use when you are talking on screen--- but you can just create for presentations.http://prezi.com/Here is my first attempt.http://prezi.com/seteuj11qavt/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share

What is Slideshare?

You will find it at : http://www.slideshare.net/This is a terrific free program which will allow you to upload handouts using PowerPoint, Open Office, PDF, or Keynote and share presentations on the Internet. This will allow you take your handouts and move them to an easily accessible area.

What is Sophia?

This is a delightful site for teachers by teachers and will allow you to find or create lesson or quizzes or find some that have already been created. There is an option to get suggestions from other teachers about your lesson if you wish. http://www.sophia.org/ http://www.sophia.org/tutorials/transitional-wordsMy group number is: 3935c6

What is ScreenCast-O-Matic?

This is a simple free program which will allow you to create an easy video lesson for your students. http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/ This is an extremely simple program to use; all you need is a camera and a microphone.

Where can I keep the video?

You can save your video on the this free program. http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/

It is simple to save your work here and allows you the option to copy/ embed your work.

Jing will help you grade papers

This is one of my favorite sites and has allowed me to save a lot of time. http://www.techsmith.com/jing.htmlJing is a free program which will allow you to save up to 5 minutes of video. That may not seem like a lot, but it works well with our students’ attention span.This program is by the same company that created Camtasia. Your school may be able to provide you with Camtasia which allows you to edit and do other things.

You Tube

I have always found it amusing that it isn’t Utube--- but there are a lot of excellent lessons to be found here which can be added to your Blackboard. https://www.youtube.com/

Once you are registered, you can join groups which strike your interest, and these groups will Lead you to other groups… Try Educator.com.

Looking at BlackboardHave a look at the top row for your categories.

Slideshare and You Tube

Panopto

Step 1 and Panopto

Go to Course Management/Control Panel/Tool Availability/ Find Panopto and make it available. You will only need to do this once.

Step 2 and Course Tools

Step 3 and Configure

Your school’s link

You must log in to BB before going to the site. On the dropdown menu select BB Production.

Download the Recorder

Here is your recording screen

Talk to your IT person to get the details of setting up your recorder.

Check out the Panoptos.