Showcased Projects
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Coping with the DVD Dilemma: Region Codes and Copy Protection Peter Ecke (German Studies) The educational use of DVDs, purchased abroad, has become increasingly difficult through restrictions imposed by the motion pictures industry on DVDs, DVD-playing equipment and software. In addition, the law, in particular through the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), has imposed restrictions that negatively affect the fair use of digital media, including DVDs, for educational purposes. This session attempts to explain these restrictions, and presents tools that are available to overcome them, in particular, those that make it possible to play and back-up non-US DVDs in DVD players and computers purchased in the US.  Listen to the interview with Peter |
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Use of D2L for an Online Student Success Course Rebecca Debenport, Keith Rocci (University College) A Poster-Style Exhibit showcasing the use of D2L for an online student success course. The course was also used as a tool for advisors for cohort management. The use of D2L (email, pager, classlist, etc) aided the advisor in building key relationships with students. There were 15 sections of the course with close to 900 students. In the exhibit we will show the tools and model we used for the hybrid course for 1st semester freshmen in the University College. Listen to the interview with Rebecca and Keith |
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ArizonaNativeNet.com: a Virtual University Outreach Center Erica DeFrain, Rob Williams, Ian Record, Claudia Nelson, Anne Worthen, Louellyn White (Law College) Currently under development, the goal of ArizonaNativeNet.com is to become a virtual university outreach and distance learning telecommunications center serving the higher educational needs of Native Nations. It is our hope that it becomes a vital resource for Native Nations seeking to strengthen their nation-building efforts through telecommunications-based higher education, leadership and management training, and distance learning programs. Listen to the interview with Erica and Anne |
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Creative Use of Blog and Communication Technology Garry Forger (Learning Technologies), Sue Penfield (English Department), Martha Schulte-Nafeh (Near Eastern Studies) Description and demonstration of the use of a Blog and the OLE Board to host the Arabic Poetry Recitation Competition, sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Arabic. This national competition was hosted by the Near Eastern Studies Department. |
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Digital Storytelling Wayne Brent, Jeff Imig, M. Theresa Tostes-Ribeiro McLaughlin, Jeremy Plichta (Learning Technologies) The Learning Technologies Center is introducing digital storytelling as an additional way to communicate ideas inside and outside the classroom. We are developing a new digital storytelling website and a new web based tool for the easy creation and publication of digital stories. The website will contain many resources and information about digital storytelling, tools to create stories and examples of higher education, K-12, business and community based projects. Hands-on demo will be available. |
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Online Tutoring for 9th Grade Writing Samantha Sansevere, Georgianna Miller, Anna Varley (English Department) The UA does not have an online writing lab. This year, we decided to pilot one through another of the Writing Program's initiatives: the 9th grade essay contest. We hoped that the HS students would first use the online tutoring service to improve their writing, to be introduced to the UA, and to interact with college writers. I enlisted in the services and personnel at the LTC to create this database. This online submission form would be accessed by the UA undergraduate writing tutors at the campus Writing Center. 2006 being only the second year of the contest, we did not know what to expect. However, our incredible database collected over 100 submissions for Tucson 9th graders. This online tutoring benefited both the students who submitted essays and the UA undergraduates who tutored them, and the graduate students who oversaw the operation. It was a huge success. Listen to the interview with Samantha |
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Podcasts and Well U Garry Forger (Learning Technologies), Nancy Rogers (UA Worksite Wellness Program) We will demonstrate the first in a series of podcasts being created to supplement walking tours of the UofA campus. This will highlight the use of technology with the Well University Partnership. Listen to the interview with Nancy |
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Mathematics for Decision Making Lotfi Hermi, Deb Hughes Hallett, William G. McCallum (Department of Mathematics) Our project is part of an NSF-funded "Mathematics for Decision Making" tool developed for students of Political/Social Sciences exploring the mathematics of voting theory in an interactive fashion with Excel. The mathematics are in the background, and technology is used to maximize citizens'/students' understanding of the mechanics of apportionment between states in a federal system, parties in a democracy, etc. Notes and background are at: http://math.arizona.edu/~voting-theory Listen to the interview with Lotfi |
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Decision Support Simulations (DSS) in a UA Tier Two NATS class Candice Marburger, Alison Williams, Kevin Lansey, Jim Washburne (Hydrology & Water Resources) Decision Support Simulations (DSS) are based on systems modeling and demonstrate the effects of seemingly isolated decisions on the entire system, which may show surprising or unanticipated results of management options. The model is based in Powersim, a dynamic simulation software package capable of producing web-accessible, intuitive, graphic, user-friendly interfaces. As an educational tool, DSS gives students a hands-on tool that teaches comprehensive and inter-related hydrology concepts, allows students to discover cause/effect relationships and develop effective water resources management strategies. Supplementary modules are included to explore demand sectors and supply sources, as well as climate scenarios. The model has been used in a University of Arizona Tier Two NATS class (HWR 203) for the past three semesters. Evaluation results demonstrate improved understanding of concepts and system interactions, fulfilling the project's objectives. Listen to the interview with Candice and Alison |
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Desire2Learn and English 102 Kathryn A. Ortiz (English/RCTE Program) The course management system D2L enhances the learning of the students in my English 102 course. Our D2L site is like a virtual 24/7 classroom because it serves as a repository for all course materials including assignment sheets, website links, on-line class discussions, on-line library tutorials, and individual student profiles. Both the students and I love the convenience that D2L offers because they can access and download all materials related to the course. One of the best features of D2L is that students can co-create their learning environment by making additions to the site. D2L is interactive and differs from a course website. |
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Undergraduate Programs Mobile Technology Initiative Veronica Diaz, Mike Sechrest (Eller College of Management) Our project will be an overview of the process and outcomes of the Eller College of Management Undergraduate Programs Mobile Technology Initiative, which spans three semesters: Fall 2005-Fall 2006 and includes four faculty members (four departments), the Associate Dean, and Learning Technologies Manager. The Mobile Technology Initiative disseminates Tablet PCs to students for an entire semester and incorporates Tablet technology into small and large classes. The faculty teaching these courses have redesigned and further integrated technology into their curriculum. Outcomes presented include mapping curriculum, breaking down courses into outcomes and integrating technology into course objectives. Students benefit from the course redesign and the application of mobile technology in several measurable ways: eliminating redundancy, redesigning cross-course projects, improving active student learning, increased communication and collaboration among the faculty, sharing of instructional problems and solutions, data-based problem solving, and ultimately working together toward a seamless, complementary undergraduate instructional program. |
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Research Computing Resources Faith Vance, Marvin Landis, Jimmy Ferng, Mark Borgstrom, Mohammad Torabi, Mike Bruck, Lucy Carruthers (Research Computing Support) CCIT's Research Computing Support Team has resources and services that are available to help faculty, staff and graduate students with their research. We will highlight a number of those at the showcase including the Arizona Lab for Immersive Visualization Environments (the Cave), the Access Grid, Statistics Consulting services, and High Performance Computing resources. Additional information is available at our web site http://computing.arizona.edu/research/ or you may contact any of our team. Listen to the interview with Faith |
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Interactive Spreadsheet to design a Simple Filter John Brews (Electrical & Computer Engineering) ECE 304 Course Homepage An interactive spreadsheet is used to design a simple filter. The resulting spreadsheet can be viewed at: Two-mesh Design.xls and the project description can be viewed at: VM Two-Mesh Design Problem.pdf. View a Powerpoint overview of the project and read a summary of the podcast. Listen to the interview with John |
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Ecological Psychology Approach to Instructional Design Deborah Vincent, Marylyn McEwen, Judith Effken, Joyce Verran, Rudy Valenzuella, Zu-Chun Lin, (College of Nursing) We used EPAID, the Ecological Psychology Approach to Instructional Design to design 3 nursing doctoral courses. EPAID attempts to immerse the students in the richness of the content domain (in this case, Nursing Workforce Issues and Border Health) and to help them extract from the wealth of information presented what is important and meaningful by educating their Attention and Intention. Courses have integrated a variety of media, including narrated videoclips, music, poetry, interviews with experts, generally within an interactive course map. Listen to the interview with Judy |
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LTC/SAZMUG Flash Users Group The Flash Users Group is part of the larger community of options at the U of A for learning new technology. Under the auspices of the Learning Technologies Center (LTC) and the Southern Arizona Macromedia Users Group (SAZMUG), the users group provides its participants with structure, feedback and camaraderie, which are sometimes missing from self-directed learning. The Flash Users Group meets Friday's at 12 noon, in the LTC, room 337, CCIT. For agenda and updates please sign on the Flash User Study Group by sending mail to listserv@listserv.arizona.edu with the following command in the BODY of the message:
sub FLASHUSER Firstname Lastname. Example: sub FLASHUSER James Smith. Or, visit the SAZMUG website http://sazmug.arizona.edu for updates and also join the SAZMUG listServ
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Interactive Scenarios to Improve Cultural Competence Judy Effken (College of Nursing) We created interactive scenarios to improve students’ cognitive cultural competencies. The basis for the scenarios is interviews done by Dr. Klein with providers at the U.S. Mexico Border. Based on the interviews, Dr. Klein extracted cognitive cultural competency types that were then presented to students through narrated illustrations. We photographed actual settings and then used an illustrator to transform these to a kind of "cartoon" and then hired drama students to do the narration. The clips are followed with quizzes interspersed with content. Listen to the interview with Judy |
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Using Deriver for Online Courses Martin Fricke (School of Information Resources & Library Science) Phil-Math202, a 2006 Symbolic Logic course, is being taught virtually, online, at a distance, using Java and Java Web Start in conjunction with authentication, obfuscation, and time-to-expire techniques. This ensemble manages delivery, updating, and Intellectual Property and licensing. It could also host a micro payment system. The core software—Deriver—embodies several Artificial Intelligence techniques including a natural language parser, a theorem-prover, and an intelligent proof editor. Listen to the interview with Martin |
 If you've enjoyed the audio interviews for the showcased projects you can subscribe to the Learning Technologies Center's Podcast for UA faculty, instructors, and staff members demonstrating innovative uses of technology in teaching, instruction and student services. More to come so stay tuned!  |
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