Communicating | Accessing information | Creating resources | Available technology
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There are a lot of different technologies out there and more being created every day. In many cases, you can accomplish the same end result using many different technologies. What's important is figuring out what you want to do and let that guide you in choosing te tools. Of course, it's easier to do that when you have a sense of what is possible. Here are some of technologies or tools you might want to consider. What do I mean by technologies? Let's leave it kind of gray. I mean the different ways in which you can create, input, display or transmit information with the tools that currently exist.
Communicating with your class:
Mailing lists -
Mailing lists are probably the easiest way to get a discussion going with your class. A mailing list lets you or your students send email to one address (like sp999l@rice.edu) and have it go to everyone in the class. You can use it for distributing important information or for getting discussion topics going that you can pick up in class.Newsgroups -
Newsgroups are very similar to mailing lists, but require that each reader check the newsgroup to see if new messages have been added. It's a little like having messages posted at your local post office and having to go there to read them instead of having them delivered to your house. Newsgroups are not recommended if you have students who plan to use public lab PCs or Macs to access the newsgroup because it is difficult for them to submit messages.Private mail aliases -
Most email software lets you create mail aliases which can be used to send a mail message to a list of different email addresses. If you would like to send emails to all of the students in your class, but don't think you would ever need to have students send email messages to each other, you can use this option, but consider setting up a mailing list for your class instead. It's a great way to get discussions going outside of class and in some cases, students can help each other find answers to questions so you don't have to.Providing access to existing information:
There are a lot of existing resources you may want your students to take advantage of. Here are some of the resources you may want to look into.
Rice Cable TV -
The Rice Cable TV network can campus-cast videos at scheduled times on Rice Cable Channel 8. Most of the podium-equipped classrooms have cable connections and can be used to display Rice Cable broadcasts through the podium VCR and video projector. Students can also view these broadcasts from their dorm room or from various public TV sets on campus. They cannot be viewed from off campus. You will need to get copyright release to campus-cast the video prior to broadcast. Contact Hubert Daugherty to schedule a video for campus-casting.SCOLA -
News and educational TV programs from around the world are broadcast by SCOLA and can be viewed on Rice Cable Channel 5. Check the SCOLA web site for their Channel One broadcast schedule. If you are a language instructor, you may want to make your students aware of the broadcast times for particular languages, or you may want to contact the Language Resource Center about taping a show and then request it be rebroadcast at a scheduled time on the Rice Cable TV system.Existing web sites -
Creating a web page for your course can be a fairly simple thing to do, but you may not have the time or inclination to do it. You can still direct your students to important sites on the Internet by giving them the sites' web address or URL.Creating your own resources:
Web-based course materials -
Course web pages are an easy way to make information available to your students. Information can include the couse syllabus, class notes, assignments, and links to relevent Internet sites. More advanced pages may include audio, video and interactive assignments or online quizzes. Rice has a RealMedia server for serving streaming audio and video.PowerPoint presentations -
PowerPoint is an easy-to-learn package which is part of Microsoft Office.You can create presentations that can be used in the classroom and/or converted for display on the web. Presentations can can include lecture outlines, graphics, audio and video.
Classroom podiums -
Twenty-one classrooms are currently equipped with technology podiums, which provide access to several different types of technology in the classroom. Equipment generally includes two computers, a VCR with Rice Cable TV access, a document camera and video and audio projection system for displaying all types of media in the classroom.Requesting A/V equipment -
A large variety of audio / video equipment is available upon request for classrooms not equipped with a Rice Podium. See the Audio/Visual Services equipment page for a listing of available equipment. An online request form makes it easy to reserve equipment.Reserving public computer labs -
There are a number of public computer labs (including the Gardiner Symonds Teaching Lab), which can be reserved for occasional use by classes at Rice. Lab configurations, a list of software and reservations are all available online.
Classroom
Technology Services (cts@rice.edu)