Tools/Techniques Guide
Academic Technology supports a number of software and hardware tools and techniques to assist faculty in successfully creating technology-supported learning environments. The Resource Guide outlines many of the options for using technology in course development. Many of these tools are available at no charge or at a reduced rate.
In addition, techniques for using technology in the curriculum to enable students to realize their educational goals are outlined. In keeping with the University’s first priority to promote the welfare and intellectual progress of students, techniques are offered in the use of technology to provide an inclusive, cooperative community for learners. The goal of providing an accessible learning environment, which is available to all students, is part of that effort and is in alignment with the Accessible Technology Initiative (ATI).
Blogs
Blog is short for web log. It is an online site that displays postings in chronological order. A typical blog combines text, images, links to other blogs and web pages, and other media related to its topic. Blogs are easy to create and require no specialized knowledge of web programming. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. MORE...
Captioning
Captioning is the process of creating words to display a transcription of the audio portion of the program as it occurs. There are many different tools to create captions. The University supports DocSoft for captioning which uses speech recognition to create transcriptions. Speaker training is recommended with DocSoft for optimal results. Another option for captioning is to use Automatic Sync for a negotiated fee through the CSU. This service uses live transcriptionists so the accuracy is very high. MORE...
Clickers
Clickers are student response systems used to foster interaction with students in the classroom. Students use response pads to reply to faculty questions. Results are recorded in a "grade book" and can be displayed by the instructor in real time. MORE...
Elluminate/Collaborate (webconferencing)
Elluminate/Collaborate is the webconferening tool supported by the university. Elluminate/Collaborate can be used to create an online classroom in real time with voice–over IP, talking head, application sharing, PowerPoint, video, web tours, closed captioning, and more. Elluminate/Collaborate sessions can be archived to create tutorials that students can access on demand. MORE...
Learning Management System
A Learning Management System (LMS) is a courseware system designed to support teaching and learning in an online environment. Learning Management Systems are also sometimes referred to as Course Management Systems (CMS) or Virtual Learning Environments (VLE). Following a year–long evaluation, the University decided to adopt Moodle as its campus supported learning management system.
LecShare
LecShare allows you to add audio to PowerPoint presentations and helps you to ensure that your audio PowerPoint presentations are ADA compliant. With LecSharePro you can create digital lectures that can be delivered in a variety of formats including QuickTime videos and podcasts. MORE...
Lecture Capture
Lecture capture systems record audio with video and/or data from lectures and presentations. With this technology you can create video lectures for integration in online and hybrid classes or capture your on-campus lectures so that your students can “rewind” your lecture to review the content. The Faculty Technology Center is piloting a lecture capture system this year and is looking for faculty interested in learning more about this technology and participating in the pilot. For more information contact the FTC at ftc@csun.edu.
Moodle
Moodle is an open source Learning Management System (LMS). The word Moodle is an acronym for modular object oriented dynamic learning environment. It contains activities and resources to support teaching and learning in an online environment. Following a year–long evaluation, the University decided to adopt Moodle as its campus supported learning management system. MORE...
Media Sharing
Media-sharing is done through sites that allow user contributed media. Common media-sharing includes podcasts for audio, YouTube for video and Flickr for photography. Media-sharing can be used a number of ways for educational activities. For instance, the instructor can create instructional materials and post them for students to view. Or students could be required to create assignments and post those. Media-sharing sites can be a rich resource for existing supplemental materials. Instructors can point students to these resources or as an example, give their students the assignment to locate and share back resources they find. Furthermore, the commenting feature of most media-sharing sites promotes communication and community building.
Podcasting
A podcast is a series of digital audio or video media files. These are typically subscribed to via a RSS feed but they can also be downloaded directly. The term comes from the popular portable media device in which these files are played - the iPod. However, they can be played on many different devices and computers. The term combines iPod and broadcast to form podcast. A simple way to think of a podcast is that it is like a weekly radio (video) "show." A simple podcast can be an audio recording of lecture that is distributed via the web and downloaded by students.
Respondus
Respondus is a Windows-based authoring tool that makes it easy to create and manage exams for Moodle and other learning systems. MORE...
Second Life
Second Life is an online virtual world that has been around since 2003. Second Life avatars can explore the world (known as the grid), meet other residents, socialize, participate in individual and group activities, and create and trade virtual property and services with one another. It is used by many colleges, universities, libraries and government entities as an educational platform. CSUN has its own Second Life Island. MORE...
Social Bookmarking
Social bookmarking is a way to store and organize web resources which are then searchable. Common social bookmarking services include Delicious, Furl and Ma.gnolia. They are useful in creating shared reading and resource lists. In addition, by tagging sites the community of users are building a folksonomy – a shared language of keywords.
Social Networking
Social networking is a way for people with shared interests or friends to connect. Common social networking sites include MySpace which is mostly for teens, Facebook which is popular among college students, LinkedIn which is a professional networking site and Ning which allows users to create their own social network
SoftChalk LessonBuilder
With SoftChalk LessonBuilder you can create interactive web–based course materials. Online lessons can include games, quizzes, pop–up glossaries, audio, and video. MORE...
Student Response Systems (Clickers)
Clickers are student response systems used to foster interaction with students in the classroom. Students use response pads to reply to faculty questions. Results are recorded in a "grade book" and can be displayed by the instructor in real time. MORE...
StudyMate
StudyMate lets instructors develop Flash-based activities and games that can be created and embedded in Moodle or online, without having to know Flash programming or HTML. MORE...
Turnitin
Turnitin is an online plagiarism prevention tool, which screens student work against a digital database of publications, papers and websites. The university provides Turnitin accounts for faculty to use in their courses. MORE...
Universal Design
According to the Center for Universal Design, Universal Design "is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design." Creating accessible universally designed learning environments is an important aspect of providing students with an environment in which they can learn. Blending Accessibility Standards and Open Standards in a structured learning environment is based on the principles of Universal Design.
Web Conferencing
Web Conferencing is used to remotely conduct live synchronous activities via an online interface. Web Conferencing is sometimes referred to as a "webinars" or "webcasts". The web conferening tool supported by the university is Elluminate.
WebCT
Spring 2010 was the final semester the University used WebCT as its learning management system. Following a year–long evaluation, the University decided to adopt Moodle as its campus supported learning management system. Moodle is now the primary learning management system at California State University, Northridge.
"Web 2.0" Technologies
Web 2.0 is buzz word that refers to newer web technologies that emphasize user created content, sharing and collaborating, and socializing and networking. Examples of some web 2.0 technologies are: Blogs, Wikis, Social Bookmarking, Media Sharing and Social Networking.
Wiki
Wiki-wiki is the Hawaiian word for quick and refers to the quick manner in which a wiki can be created and edited. A wiki is a collaborative website whose content can be edited by anyone who has access to it. Some wiki sites allow for versioning so it is possible to track changes. One of the best-known examples of a wiki is Wikipedia. Examples of some common wiki services include: PBwiki, MediaWiki, Wikispaces and wetpaint.