Tag Archives: Multimedia

A New Year, a New Semester

Posted on January 6, 2012 by | Comments Off on A New Year, a New Semester

Happy New Year! Winter break is flying by, and we are quickly approaching the beginning of another new semester. With these new beginnings, there is no better time to try something new and step out of your comfort zone. Here are a few fresh ideas for you to try in your classes this semester:

Use the Interactive Whiteboards

Those whiteboards in every classroom are more than just a fancy projector screen-they are interactive. Project your computer screen to the whiteboard, then directly interact with whatever is on your computer from the whiteboard. Use the markers to highlight, annotate, and write on the screen, and use your finger to navigate the web or whatever you wish. Take snapshots of the screens and then upload them to Blackboard to share with your students. The possibilities are endless with these interactive whiteboards, and they can definitely make a huge impact in any course. If you would like to learn more about the whiteboards, do not hesitate to contact us!

Create a Class Blog

Last semester, we introduced WordPress Blog Service to the campus, which is available to all faculty, students, and staff. Creating a blog is a great way to share information and stay connected with others. Students are very well connected today, so a blog could be a great way to keep them connected to the class and material even when they are not physically in the classroom.

Encourage Creativity

In the Media Lab, we offer so many tools for students to utilize for class projects. From Flip Cams to video editing software, students have the tools they need to create creative, elaborate projects. This semester, think about encouraging your students to express their creativity with a project utilizing Multimedia tools. If you would like to discuss the tools we have or have any other questions, feel free to come see us in the Media Lab in BRK 180!

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The “5” Series is Back-with Blogging!

Posted on October 21, 2011 by | 1 Comment

A few months ago, we launched a “5 ways to use a…” series, giving you new and creative ideas to utilize some of the fantastic tools we have available for your use! To refresh your memory and keep you inspired, here is a “flashback” of…

5 ways you can use… a Blog!

The internet has started a new era of educational tools that have great capabilities to be an effective addition to your classroom.  One of the most versatile and useful tool is the blog. Blogs are a great way to communicate with students outside the classroom in an environment which is both easy to update and easy to navigate. Blogs lend themselves to be useful in various aspects of class including writing and journaling, collaboration, classroom management, and tutoring.  Here are 5 ideas to get you started:

  1. Promote collaboration and reflection among your students by posting a meaningful quotation, excerpt from a novel, or a news article, and ask them to reflect in writing and relate the piece to the material being covered in class.
  2. Blogs encourage participation in discussions, which can be particularly effective with shy students. Post a question weekly to your blog requiring students to respond and comment on their peers’ responses.
  3. Assign a project requiring students to create their own blog and use it as a portfolio of their work and career goals. The blog will become a valuable tool they can use to build connections and network.
  4. Easily incorporate sources from the “real world” such as news articles, videos, or websites to relate class material to the current events in the world.
  5. Try hosting a debate on your blog. Post a question or controversial topic and have students make their points and debate with one another. This encourages collaboration, discussion, and critical thinking.

UIS’ newly launched blog service, WordPress, is available for all faculty, staff and students for free. It is simple to navigate and update, and a great communication tool for educators and students alike. Checkout our WordPress Blogging Service informational page to start your blog today!

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5 ways you can use…A Blog!

Posted on July 25, 2011 by | 3 Comments

The internet has started a new era of educational tools that have great capabilities to be an effective addition to your classroom.  One of the most versatile and useful tool is the blog. Blogs are a great way to communicate with students outside the classroom in an environment which is both easy to update and easy to navigate. Blogs lend themselves to be useful in various aspects of class including writing and journaling, collaboration, classroom management, and tutoring.  Here are 5 ideas to get you started:

  1. Promote collaboration and reflection among your students by posting a meaningful quotation, excerpt from a novel, or a news article, and ask them to reflect in writing and relate the piece to the material being covered in class.
  2. Blogs encourage participation in discussions, which can be particularly effective with shy students. Post a question weekly to your blog requiring students to respond and comment on their peers’ responses.
  3. Assign a project requiring students to create their own blog and use it as a portfolio of their work and career goals. The blog will become a valuable tool they can use to build connections and network.
  4. Easily incorporate sources from the “real world” such as news articles, videos, or websites to relate class material to the current events in the world.
  5. Try hosting a debate on your blog. Post a question or controversial topic and have students make their points and debate with one another. This encourages collaboration, discussion, and critical thinking.

UIS’ newly launched blog service, WordPress, is available for all faculty, staff and students for free. It is simple to navigate and update, and a great communication tool for educators and students alike. Checkout our WordPress Blogging Service informational page to start your blog today!

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The Power of Multimedia

Posted on April 6, 2011 by | 1 Comment

The other day we introduced a class to various multimedia tools available for use in the Media Lab to help assist them with their final project for the semester, where they are instructed to get creative and use multimedia. Going over all of these fun tools even got me excited for their final project, even though I am clearly not a student in the class.

The Media Lab offers wonderful resources for students to use both within the lab and for checkout to use on their own time. From Flip cameras to microphones and movie editing software, students are provided with an area where they can utilize tools and also get assistance from student workers and full-time staff.  They are provided with all the tools needed to create videos, blogs, documentaries, audio essays, or anything else their creative minds can conjure up.

Utilizing the tools available for students in the Media Lab is the perfect opportunity to get your students more involved in class material and evoke their interests in technology. Instruct your students to get creative using multimedia tools for projects and perhaps they will gain more from the project than they would writing a typical paper. Be sure to visit us in the Media Lab in the lower level of Brookens Library and we will be happy to help you and your students!

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