Category Archives: CTL Home Page
Secure Online Testing
Respondus Lockdown Browser Pilot Program Over the years, faculty have expressed interest in a more secure environment to deliver online exams. In response, the CTL is testing Respondus Lockdown Browser (RLB) during AY 2017-18. RLB is a stand-alone browser replacement … Continue reading
Video Conferencing Product Demonstrations
UVM is exploring synchronous platforms to provide video/web conferencing and real-time collaboration services. As part of this process, there will be four vendor demonstrations: Thursday May 25, 10:00am – 11:00am, Zoom Thursday May 25, 12:00pm – 1:00pm, Blackboard Collaborate/Ultra Tuesday May 30, 3:30pm – … Continue reading
Software to Help Prevent Cheating on Bb Tests
UVM is currently piloting a tool called “Respondus Lockdown Browser” that can prevent students from opening other windows on their computers while taking a test in Blackboard. We have until May 13, 2017 to evaluate this tool so we’re looking … Continue reading
UVM’s Streaming Media Server and Online Video Platform (OVP)
An Online Video Platform (OVP) is a service for storage, management,and delivery of audio and video. OVPs are trendy, and the EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative tells us why in their December 2016 article, 7 things you should know about OVPs. Big names … Continue reading
Putting the Student Hat Back On
“When the Teacher Becomes the Student” is an interesting, short read from Maryellen Weimer, PhD of Faculty Focus. Her 2 take-aways are: I would almost guarantee that if you struggle to learn something in a course other than your own, it … Continue reading
The Sound and Fury (When Classroom Discussions are Difficult)
Sometimes class discussions are difficult because students are hesitant to participate or because one student tends to dominate. And sometimes—as we’ve heard from faculty in these turbulent times—they’re difficult because emotions are running high and some students may be angry … Continue reading
But it had the Blackboard logo in it…
The recent political debacle involving hacking of a certain official’s computer reminds us once again of the ease and dangers of phishing. You may have been even more tempted recently to click on one of those links in an email … Continue reading
“Returning to the Classroom after the Election”
Whether or not we choose to engage students in dialogue about the election results, we should recognize that some students’ emotional responses may interfere with their ability to focus. This blog post by the University of Michigan’s Center for Research … Continue reading
Knowing Thyself Gets a Hand from Exam Wrappers
Most of us can identify with the chagrin students feel when they earn a grade that they’re not happy about. But, as with most of life’s stings, the disappointment comes with a learning opportunity. An exam wrapper (or assignment or project wrapper) … Continue reading
iClicker “Gotchas”
The scales have been tipped a little here at the CTL Doctor Is In program. Typically, at the beginning of a semester, the majority of our visits from faculty are about some aspect of using Blackboard, but for the first … Continue reading