Category: Dear TLT

DEAR TLT
Dear TLT, TLT

Dear TLT: Can I use OAKS to give feedback to students even if they don’t upload into the Dropbox?

Mendi Benigni

Dear TLT:

I had my students turn in paper copies of a short assignment so that I can easily grade them.  Can I still use OAKS to give them the feedback on their assignments?

Thanks,
Dr. Vince Benigni

Communication Department

 

Dear Vince,

You sure can.  In our latest version of OAKS professors can now leave feedback even if a student doesn’t upload an assignment.

Just create the Dropbox in OAKS then follow the instructions below to submit feedback.
Animated gif of the OAKS Assignment Submission

 

Text-based instructions:

  1. Start by clicking on the assignment name as you normally would.
  2. Next to the Search For text box make sure that it says Hide Search Options.  If it doesn’t, click Show Search Options.  This should open up a greater search area.
  3. From the drop-down list choose Show Everyone then click the magnifying glass next to the search for text box.  This will now open up a list of all students in your class even though they have not submitted an assignment.
  4. Next to their name you should see Evaluate. Click on Evaluate.
  5. Now you can grade this assignment as you normally would. If you have given the assignment a numeric grade you can type that in.  You can also leave text-based feedback in the Feedback box. And lastly you can choose add a file to upload to add a comment file or the scanned paper with the feedback on it.
  6. When finished click Publish.
  7. The student will now be able to see their feedback on this assignment.
Dear TLT
Dear TLT, TLT

Dear TLT: How Do I Remove Students from OAKS Who Drop My Course?

Chris Meshanko

Dear TLT,

After looking at my classlist in Banner, I noticed that two of my students have dropped. However, they still show up in OAKS.  How do I remove them from OAKS?

Sincerely,

Professor D. Kirke
History

[hr]

Dear Professor Kirke,

Thank you for contacting TLT! If you notice an inconsistency between your Banner and OAKS classlists, click on the Request a Student to be Added or Removed from your OAKS Course form under the OAKS Requests widget on the OAKS homepage (see image below).

Please contact your instructional technologist, if you have additional questions or concerns, and check out our upcoming training sessions at http://tlt.eventbrite.com.

Best regards,

TLT

 

Have a question for Dear TLT?  

Submit the following form to see it featured on our blog: http://goo.gl/n1N2tq.

Professor Kirke is from what literary series? The first faculty member to email tlt@cofc.edu, with the correct answer, will receive a TLT umbrella!

DEAR TLT
Dear TLT, TLT

Dear TLT: Why can’t my students post to my discussion board?

Mendi Benigni

Dear TLT,

I have created a discussion board in OAKS but none of my students can post to it?  What’s going on?

Sincerely,

Professor A. Van Helsing
Vampiric Studies

Dear Professor Van Helsing,

This is a common problem, especially for those who are new to the OAKS Discussion tool.  More than likely you have created a discussion FORUM but not a discussion TOPIC within that Forum.  Just like in the Content tool where you have to have at least one Module before you can add content, you have to have at least one Forum before you can add discussion topics.  A FORUM is just an organizational folder that holds the actual discussions.  The TOPIC is where the actual discussion takes place.  To fix this issue, just navigate to the Discussions area in your OAKS course and choose New > Topic.  Select the Forum in which the topic will reside and then place your instructions or discussion prompt in the Description area.

Once you’ve done this you will notice that the Topic is clickable whereas the Forum is not.  Your students can now post to your discussion.  Remember, you can add multiple Topics to one Forum so don’t think you have to create a new Forum every time.

If this does not resolve your problem then contact your TLT Instructional Technologist for assistance.

Sincerely,

TLT

Dear TLT, Video, Web 2.0

Dear TLT: Are There Any Note-Taking Apps That Sync With Videos?

Chris Meshanko

Dear TLT,

I am currently in the process of designing my first online course. Do any apps exist that would allow my students to take notes that automatically sync with my lecture videos?

Sincerely,

Professor R. Hinkley
Physics

[hr]

Dear Professor Hinkley,

Congrats on designing your first online course! If we understand you correctly, you are looking for a note-taking app that links a note to a specific point on a video’s timeline. So when the note is clicked, the video automatically jumps to the relevant part. There is indeed an online app, called VideoNot.es, that does just that!

VideoNot.es is not only perfect for taking notes on lecture videos, it can also be used to create transcripts for students needing accommodations. Because VideoNot.es is integrated with Google Drive, students can easily create and share notes. Notes can even be exported to Evernote.

For more information, visit the VideoNot.es knowledge base at: https://videonotes.uservoice.com/knowledgebase.

VideoNot_es__The_easiest_way_to_take_notes_synchronized_with_videos_
VideoNot.es

 

Please contact your instructional technologist, if you have additional questions or concerns, and check out our upcoming training sessions at http://tlt.eventbrite.com.

Best regards,

TLT

 

Have a question for Dear TLT?  

Submit the following form to see it featured on our blog: http://goo.gl/n1N2tq.

 

Professor Hinkley is from what television show? The first faculty member to email tlt@cofc.edu, with the correct answer, will receive a TLT stylus!

Dear TLT
Dear TLT

Dear TLT: What’s the Best Way to Access VoiceThread?

Chris Meshanko

Dear TLT,

I just discovered VoiceThread, and I love it!  What is the best way to access VoiceThread and share my presentations (with my students)?

Sincerely,

Professor S. Snape
Chemistry 

[hr]

Dear Professor Snape,

We love VoiceThread too!  With our site license, you no longer have to log on to VoiceThread.com.  Instead, you can go through the Multimedia Resources widget on your “course” homepage (in OAKS).

Screenshot_092214_112533_AM

This will take you directly to your MyVoice page.  It will also create a course folder under College of Charleston (on the left).  Please encourage your students to access VoiceThread in the same manner.

Screenshot_092214_115240_AM

To share a VoiceThread with your students, simply left-click (and hold) on it and drag it over to the appropriate course folder.  The folder will turn yellow when selected.

share

A message will appear once the VoiceThread has been successfully copied to the folder.

Screenshot_092214_015136_PM

Don’t forget to let your students know when you post a new VoiceThread to the course folder via an OAKS News Item or email.

Please contact your instructional technologist, if you have any questions or concerns, and check out our upcoming VoiceThread training sessions at http://tlt.eventbrite.com.

Best regards,

TLT

 

Have a question for Dear TLT?  Submit the following form to see it featured on our blog:  http://goo.gl/n1N2tq.

Dear TLT
Dear TLT, Innovative Instruction, instructional technology, Pedagogy, TLT

Introducing “Dear TLT” – Submit Your Questions Today!

Chris Meshanko

Have you ever told your students not to be afraid to ask questions because their classmates probably have the same question(s)?  Well, professors shouldn’t be afraid to voice their queries either!  It’s likely the questions you have about implementing instructional technologies are shared by your colleagues.  So we are starting an online community, called “Dear TLT,” to answer your questions, inspire discussion of best practices, and encourage interdisciplinary collaboration.  Much like “Dear Abby,” your instructional technologists will respond to your questions with advice, suggestions, and troubleshooting tips.

Dear TLT

To submit a question for TLT, please complete the following form:  http://goo.gl/n1N2tq.

We look forward to corresponding with you!

Please note: Questions will be answered on a first come, first-served basis and added to TLT’s blog as space permits. If you need an immediate response, please contact your instructional technologist.

Dear TLT, Portfolio, Productivity, Research

Dear TLT: How do I Merge Multiple PDFs into One File for T&P?

Chris Meshanko

Dear TLT,

I do not have Adobe Acrobat XI Pro, and I need to merge multiple PDFs into one file for my Tenure and Promotion (T&P) packet.  Are there any FREE solutions that will produce the same results?

Sincerely,

Professor C.F. Xavier

[hr]

Dear Professor Xavier,

Thank you for this very timely question!  There are FREE solutions available.  Since you did not mention if you are a Mac or Windows user, we will provide applications for both (see table below).

[table id=1 /]

Please contact your instructional technologist, if you have any questions or concerns, and do not forget to check out our upcoming training sessions at http://tlt.eventbrite.com.

Best regards,

TLT