Smith College Technology And Resource Adviser
Smith College Admission Academics Student Life About Smith news Offices
  Home > Offices > Information Technology Services > TARA > TARA > Welcome  
 
       
   

SPRING 2020 TECHNOLOGY UPDATES AND REMINDERS


Summary

On this page, you will find:

  • A few classroom updates that were completed in January
  • Moodle information
  • Additional technology-related information that you might find helpful as you prepare for Spring ‘20

Classroom Technology Updates

  • Applied Operating System (OS) and application updates to classroom computers This is a regular maintenance process that runs OS and application security and patch updates between semesters. These maintenance items are turned off during the semester to minimize potential disruptions. There is no change to how you use classroom computers. 
  • Improved interface for display and audio mute controls on touch panels - Based on user feedback, we 1) increased the contrast of the on, off and mute controls so that it is easier to discern whether a given button is active, and 2) relabeled the mute button on the video controls page to read “video mute” and changed to “unmute” when in the muted state.

  • Upgraded Sabin-Reed 220 and 301 to multi-projection configurations - Upgraded equipment to allow different content to be displayed on each screen. Updated instructions on how to use the new configuration This change was requested by faculty teaching in these rooms. 

  • Expanded Wireless Projection - We received requests to add wireless screen sharing capability (via Zoom) to a number of spaces. (Wireless screen sharing allows anyone in the room to show their screen on the room display. ) 

New locations include:

    • Bass 103
    • Several labs in Ford Hall
    • Lilly Hall second- and third-floor conference rooms 

This functionality was already available in most Registrar scheduled classrooms. We will continue to work with departments to add wireless projection functionality to departmental classrooms. 

Feedback and Class Help - We would love your feedback on what works for you and what doesn’t in our classrooms. Please email classhelp@smith.edu to

  • give us your feedback.
  • request help in the classroom.
  • make an appointment to get introduced to the classroom equipment.
  • make us aware of needs in your classroom. 
  • report a problem.
  • request document cameras that replaced overhead projectors, webcams or one of our few VCRs for VHS tapes that cannot be converted.
Classroom Equipment Loan Reminder- Laptops and useful devices for classroom instruction are available for loan from the Class & Event Help Desk in the Seelye basement. Email classhelp@smith.edu to make a request for:
  • Presentation remotes
  • Mac display adapters
  • Laptops for short-term loans (To reserve, please email at least 48 hours in advance.


Digital Pedagogy and Scholarship Consultation

Email academictechnology@smith.edu to schedule an appointment with our Libraries/ITS blended team, “Learning, Research and Technology,” (LRT) which collaborates with faculty to explore, design and implement effective use of technology within their teaching, learning and research. During a one-on-one consultation, we can discuss the ways technology might support your pedagogical goals and enhance the student experience. We welcome your ideas, at any stage, half-baked or fully formed.

For documentation and other information about educational technology at Smith, visit  http://www.smith.edu/edtech.

Digital Media Projects

Smith Media Studios - Henshaw D, Smith Media Studios in conjunction with the LRT team offers support for:

  • Media project planning
  • Video and audio recording and production
  • Streaming media
  • Captioning 
  • Media duplication and conversion

Letting us know that your class will be doing a media-based project helps us better support your students. Please send a short project description or any questions to sms@smith.edu.

Moodle

Courses Visible - Beginning January 21, courses will be visible to students. If you do not want your students to see your course yet you can make it invisible to them. See instructions under Local Help in Moodle or visit moodle.smith.edu/mod/page/view.php?id=450808

If you need to import content from an existing course into a Spring 20 course smith-moodle-import-instructions has instructions on how to copy materials from your earlier iterations of a class. 

If you want us to move the content for you smith-moodle-import-request leads you to a form where you can request assistance moving course materials. Please submit a separate form for each course you would like to have copied.

Posting video to your Moodle course is best done through Panopto. Under the CREATE menu in Panopto, you can upload almost any type of video file for students to view through Moodle. To see how to use it, visit: Upload a Video to Panopto for Sharing in Moodle. Your video should conform to copyright laws and be captioned.  Visit www.smith.edu/edtech under Media Production for some helpful guidelines. Email sms@smith.edu for help with captioning.

The Technology-accessibility website provides information in the Instructional Materials section on assuring that the materials you post to Moodle are accessible to all of your students. 

For Moodle support, contact the IT Service Center at 413-585-4487 or email our new address ithelp@smith.edu.

 

 


 |  Last updated January 22, 2020

DirectoryCalendarCampus MapVirtual TourContact UsSite A-Z