Monday, August 20, 2012

Playing a YouTube Video in Chrome

There is a problem that can occur when trying to play a YouTube video in Blackboard while using the Chrome browser. The instructions at http://www.gcccd.edu/online/documents/BB-Chrome-YouTube.pdf explain how to get these videos to play. Please pass this information on to your students if you have YouTube videos embedded in your Blackboard courses.

Friday, August 10, 2012

Flex Week Workshops

Here is a list of workshops that many of my blog readers may be interested in. See the full Professional Development schedule for more information. All these workshops will be held in E-206. I hope to see you all there!

Monday
11:30 - 12:30 pm
Accessibility

Tuesday
9:00 am – 10:00 am
Films on Demand Streaming Video

Noon - 1:00 pm
Social Media for Departments and Classes

2:30 pm to 4:30 pm
Great Practices in Online Teaching

CANCELLED
Lecture Capture

Wednesday
5:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Blackboard I – Getting Started

7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Blackboard II – Course Menu and Content

Thursday
2:30 am to 3:30 pm
Blackboard III – Grade Center

4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Blackboard IV – Tests & Quizzes

Friday
9:00 am to 10:00 am
Blackboard V – Safe Assign

10:00 am to Noon
Open Lab with TLC Staff


Wednesday, August 8, 2012

New Semester Preparations

Welcome back for the Fall Semester! We've prepared several resources to help you prepare for the new semester on the new Online Success website. There is a Blackboard Semester Checklist web page that lists things you'll need to do in your Blackboard containers. There is a very useful Word file ("downloadable checklist") on that page with a more detailed list that you can print out and check things off as you finish them.

There is an important emerging legal issue that I'd like to remind you about as you prepare your syllabi. It is increasingly important that online instructors establish an ongoing drop policy and implement it. It is the responsibility of the instructor and the college to assure that students receiving federal and state financial assistance be dropped from online classes when they cease to be active. The most common measure of inactivity is the passing of a week without communication with the faculty member or submission of course work (simply accessing the Blackboard container is not sufficient to demonstrate “activity”). The federal government has audited colleges to see if students are receiving financial aid for periods longer than they were actively involved in the class. Further, they are asking colleges to reimburse them for money paid to inactive students!

Information about your drop policy should be included on your syllabus that defines exactly when and under what circumstances students will be dropped for inactivity. For example, “Students who are inactive will be dropped from the course. If an entire week goes by with no activity on your part either through discussion board participation, email communication, or submission of work, quiz, or exam, you will be dropped. Therefore, it is imperative that you let me know if, for some reason, your contribution to the class will be interrupted.” In reality, we recommend you send a warning notification to students after a week of inactivity and allow a few days for them to respond.