Tools -- Master List Graphical representation of video conferencing at GMU GMU Video Conferencing resources: What is Web Conferencing? Adobe Connect - Afua Blackboard Blogs Cisco MCU(multipoint conference unit) Codian IP VCR VCR 2200 Series Codian Scheduler Crestron system MOVI server Podcast Polycom voice/video Tandberg 770/990 /MCU Tandberg Management Suite Tandberg Scheduler Software WebEx video conferencing software Torrent (Starbak Torrent VCG) TTY (TeleTYpewriter) Wikis Technical Terms Adobe Flash Camtasia Studio Adobe Captivate Articulate Presenter Lectora software The Global Scheduling System™(GSS®)

 

 

Tools -- Master List

 

Tools.doc

 

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Graphical representation of video conferencing at GMU

 

Here is my first stab at a graphical representation of the video/web conferencing cababilities available for T/TAC:

 

http://www.gliffy.com/publish/1321887/

 

Kim M.

 

---

 

Team:  Here is an interesting low down on some web 2.0 collaborative tools that two co-workers recently presented on ... this may also help with our comparison of the different tools related to audience needs:

 

wcet_Nov07-1.pdf 

 

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GMU Video Conferencing resources:

 

 

http://videoconference.gmu.edu/VCBasics.htm

 

http://videoconference.gmu.edu/VCPilot.htm

 

http://www.irc.gmu.edu/coursetools/streaming/index.html

 

http://videoconference.gmu.edu/VCGlossary.htm

 

http://videoconference.gmu.edu/VCFAQ.htm

 

http://www.vide.net/cookbook/cookbook.en/

 

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What is Web Conferencing?

 

Web conferencing employs the Internet to allow users to collaborate with one another using their PCs. Using web conferencing, meeting participants can share presentations and other contents of their PC desktop. Web conferencing can be particularly effective for applications such as salesforce training or presentations to large, dispersed groups. Web conferencing usually requires only a computer with an Internet browser and an Internet connection of 56kbps or above. Web conferencing may also offer several other options such as web-based chat, tools to annotate presentations, streaming audio and video, and other tools.

 

What is Video Conferencing?

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_conferencing

 

A videoconference (also known as a videoteleconference) is a set of interactive telecommunication technologies which allow two or more locations to interact via two-way video and audio transmissions simultaneously. It has also been called visual collaboration and is a type of groupware. It differs from videophone in that it is designed to serve a conference rather than individuals.

 

The core technology used in a videoteleconference (VTC) system is digital compression of audio and video streams in real time. The hardware or software that performs compression is called a codec (coder/decoder). Compression rates of up to 1:500 can be achieved. The resulting digital stream of 1's and 0's is subdivided into labelled packets, which are then transmitted through a digital network of some kind (usually ISDN or IP). The use of audio modems in the transmission line allow for the use of POTS, or the Plain Old Telephone System, in some low-speed applications, such as videotelephony, because they convert the digital pulses to/from analog waves in the audio spectrum range.

 

The other components required for a VTC system include:

• Video input : video camera or webcam
• Video output: computer monitor , television or projector
• Audio input: microphones
• Audio output: usually loudspeakers associated with the display device or telephone
• Data transfer: analog or digital telephone network, LAN or Internet
•  
• There are basically two kinds of VTC systems:

1. Dedicated systems have all required components packaged into a single piece of equipment, usually a console with a high quality remote controlled video camera. These cameras can be controlled at a distance to pan left and right, tilt up and down, and zoom. They became known as PTZ cameras. The console contains all electrical interfaces, the control computer, and the software or hardware-based codec. Omnidirectional microphones are connected to the console, as well as a TV monitor with loudspeakers and/or a video projector. There are several types of dedicated VTC devices:
   1. Large group VTC are non-portable, large, more expensive devices used for large rooms and auditoriums.
   2. Small group VTC are non-portable or portable, smaller, less expensive devices used for small meeting rooms.
   3. Individual VTC are usually portable devices, meant for single users, have fixed cameras, microphones and loudspeakers integrated into the console.
2. Desktop systems are add-ons (hardware boards, usually) to normal PC's, transforming them into VTC devices. A range of different cameras and microphones can be used with the board, which contains the necessary codec and transmission interfaces. Most of the desktops systems work with the H.323 standard. Video conferences carried out via dispersed PCs are also known as e-meetings.

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Adobe Connect - Afua

 

So far here are the observations made about Adobe Connect

 

 

Update of Adobe Connect.doc

 

 

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Blackboard

 

Kim M.  Allows for e-learning through course and content management (software and dedicated server)

 

From BlackBoard.com:

 

The Blackboard Learning System™ is a family of software applications designed to enhance teaching and learning. Intuitive and easy-to-use for instructors, the Blackboard Learning System is built on a scalable enterprise technology foundation that facilitates growth and performance.

 

 

• Create powerful learning content using a variety of Web-based tools
• Develop custom learning paths for individual students or groups
• Facilitate student participation, communication, and collaboration
• Evaluate students’ work using a rich set of assessment capabilities
• Bring top publisher content into e-Learning

 

Instruction

 

The Blackboard Learning System has powerful capabilities for managing courses and for tailoring instruction in order to meet student needs.

 

Course Management capabilities focus on effective creation and set-up of courses as well as tools for semester-to-semester migration and archiving.

 

Content Authoring features include a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editing tool that provides a rich text editing interface similar to a word processor.

 

Adaptive Release means instructors can create custom learning paths by determining when students can access content items, discussions, assessments, assignments or other learning activities.

 

Syllabus Builder enables instructors to upload an existing syllabus or use the built-in creation functionality to easily design and develop their own syllabus and lesson plans.

 

Learning Units allow instructors to create sequenced lessons and control student navigation through those lessons.

 

Course Cartridges® are created by all major publishers with pre-packaged content and course materials in the Blackboard format. Course Cartridges include materials such as additional readings, updated information, multimedia and question pools.

 

Teaching and Learning Tools enable instructors to create rich term definition lists (Glossary) as well as clearly communicate their Staff Information. They also provide students with additional

tools such as The Electric Blackboard®.

 

Personal Information Management capabilities give students and instructors tools to better manage their work including a Calendar, Tasks and Blackboard Messages (course-based email).

 

Communication

 

Communication capabilities allow students and faculty to discuss issues online, to schedule collaborative sessions and to form groups that enable teamwork across geographic boundaries.

 

Discussion Board enables threaded, asynchronous discussions. Instructors can use multiple forums around different topics and embed these into appropriate content areas.

 

Group Projects support peer collaboration. Instructors can use this tool to form multiple groups of students. Each group can be given its own file exchange area, Discussion Board, Virtual Classroom and a Group e-mail tool to send messages to all group members.

 

Virtual Classroom / Collaboration Tool supports live, synchronous interaction, through both a text-based Chat environment, as well as a full Virtual Classroom.

 

Assessment

 

Assessment capabilities give instructors industry- leading tools to evaluate student learning. These features increase instructor efficiency in evaluating student performance.

 

Assessments and Surveys allow instructors to deliver online, automatically-scored assessments and surveys. They can create assessments from scratch or draw upon personal, institutional, or commercially available “test banks” of questions. Varied question types (e.g., True / False, Multiple Choice, Calculated) can be used.

 

Assignments allow instructors to create assignment items through which students can submit their response directly into the Gradebook for easy management and tracking.

 

Gradebook stores student performance results, including support for custom grading scales, grade weighting, item analysis and multiple gradebook views.

 

Reporting and Performance Dashboard provides a view of student progress and indicates whether students have reviewed specific content items. It also enables usage data to be viewed for an entire course.

 

ADMINISTRATION

 

The Blackboard Learning System includes core capabilities that encompass enterprise scalability, multi-language support, and an open architecture that facilitates extending the system and integrating it with other applications.

 

Enterprise Scalability: The Blackboard platform has a proven ability to scale to hundreds of thousands of active users.

 

Multi-language Support: The Blackboard software learning environment supports most European languages and multi-byte character sets such as Japanese and Chinese.

 

Standards: Compliance and interoperability with industry standards (including IMS, SIF, SCORM, and NLN) is a fundamental capability of Blackboard’s software products.

 

Blackboard Building Blocks (Open APIs): Our open architecture initiative, the Blackboard Building Blocks® architecture, provides a public, free software development kit (SDK) that documents Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). Clients and independent software vendors use the Building Blocks technology to create new functionali ty on top of the Blackboard platform or to integrate external systems with Blackboard products.

 

System Integration: Blackboard’s data and system integration capabilities, enabled through the Blackboard Building Blocks architecture, allows institutions to integrate student information systems, authentication systems and other campus back-office systems with the Blackboard platform.

 

Other notes:

 

There are several different versions of Bb, so depending on the version that GMU and Kellar has licenses for will depend on the different capabilities that it offers.  The capabilities notes above are pretty universal for all Bb versions.  After exploring all the different capabilities that Bb can offer, here are some additional comments:

 

Back end: A dedicated server and software is needed and licenses are required to establish system

 

Front end, add-ons, plug-ins: Somtimes to view embedded content, such as video or audio, and depending on the browser being used, Active X may be required.  Virtual Classroom requires a JAVA

 

Internect Connection: Required -- Bb can be quirky depending on the browser being used (for example, at NOVA students had problems in the past viewing content in anything other than IE, or sometimes the testing centers could only administer exams in Bb using Netscape, Vista has created all sorts of interesting quirks.  In order to easily revise content in Bb, it is best to use IE since the WYSIWYG editor in Bb in other browsers does not work).

 

Maximum number of participants: Unknown -- I guess it would depend on the number of licenses, but as noted above, it can scale to hundreds of thousands of users

 

Human Technical Support: Required

 

Synchronous audio: No, unless GMU has acquired the Wimba application as an add-on to Bb tools

 

Asynchronous audio: Can embed audio anywhere that content can be added.  Again, if Wimba is used, easy asynchronous communication between students can occur.

 

Asynchronous video: Can embed video anywhere that content can be added.

 

Training Content Development:  Can develop training modules within Bb for delivery from a Bb course

 

Training Content Delivery: Yes (see above)

 

Synchronous text composition, collaboration, and versioning:  The Virtual Classroom provides a whiteboard for real time collaboration, but no audio is available, only text chat.  It allows users to browse the Bb course site content while in the whiteboard session as well as the internet.   As an aside - NOVA courses do not use the Virtual Classroom much, if at all.  The NOVA version of Adobe Connect (Centra) is used to provide the real-time collaborative capabilities that the Virtual Classroom offers.

 

Asynchronous text communication: Provided through discussion board area and email embedded within the Bb learning environment

 

Synchronous text communication: Yes, in the Virtual Classroom.  Also, a Live chat function is also available separate from the Virtual Classroom.

 

 

File sharing: Group areas can be designated for specific students in a course.  The Group area has its own discussion board for group participants, file exchange, virtual classroom, and group email 

 

 

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Blogs

 

 

Kim A.  USED BY VCU T/TAC  http://www.assistivetechnology.vcu.edu/

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog

 

 

"A blog (a portmanteau of web log) is a website where entries are written in chronological order and commonly displayed in reverse chronological order. "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.

 

Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs."

 

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Cisco MCU(multipoint conference unit)

 

Videoconferencing equipment (does not manage users)

 

http://itc.virginia.edu/videoconf/ciscoMCU.html

 

The Cisco MCU is a hardware-based. The Cisco MCU does not depend on a web browser for access. This is especially important for non-PC-based videoconference clients, such as the Polycom ViewStation.

Codian IP VCR VCR 2200 Series

 

 

Video recorder  

 

http://www.codian.com/products/ipvcr2200.htm

 

 

The IP VCR 2200 series of IP Video Conference Recorders allow you to record video and slides from standard video conferencing equipment. The content can be streamed live or played back on demand at multiple speeds to a PC or any video conferencing endpoint.

 

Product Features

Record conferences, point to point calls and presentations for archival or playback at a later date.

Stream live or recorded content to a Web interface - viewed using QuickTime™, RealPlayer™ or Windows Media Player™ - or to a normal H.323 video endpoint.

The video and data are recorded in their native formats with no loss of quality. Intelligent transcoding and transrating are performed on the data at the time of retrieval to ensure that the video quality is always optimal whether being played back, streamed or exported.

Export recordings for archiving on an external server or to burn to CDs or DVDs.

 

 

Record conferences, point to point calls and presentations for archival or playback at a later date.

Stream live or recorded content to a Web interface - viewed using QuickTime™, RealPlayer™ or Windows Media Player™ - or to a normal H.323 video endpoint.

 

 

The video and data are recorded in their native formats with no loss of quality. Intelligent transcoding and transrating are performed on the data at the time of retrieval to ensure that the video quality is always optimal whether being played back, streamed or exported.

Export recordings for archiving on an external server or to burn to CDs or DVDs.

 

---

 

 

Codian Scheduler

 

 

A video conferencing management system

 

 http://www.codian.com/products/scheduler.htm

 

"As part of the Codian Management Platform suite of applications, Codian Scheduler uses a calendar interface to present a unified view and provide advanced management of all video conferences in an organization. Codian Scheduler enables users to easily create multipoint conferences using a web-based calendar interface or alternatively their email client."

 

Comprehensive, Scalable, Video Conference Scheduling

 

The Codian Management Platform is a scalable, reliable suite of management applications that harnesses the power of Codian’s video conferencing infrastructure solutions. It delivers all major aspects of video conferencing management including provisioning, monitoring, schedule and control.

 

As part of the Codian Management Platform suite of applications, Codian Scheduler uses a calendar interface to present a unified view and provide advanced management of all video conferences in an organization. Codian Scheduler enables users to easily create multipoint conferences using a web-based calendar interface or alternatively their email client.

 

Codian Scheduler integrates with authentication servers, corporate directories such as Microsoft Active Directory and corporate email systems such as Microsoft Outlook, IBM Lotus Notes and Novell GroupWise.

 

Web-based or integration with email clients - Codian Scheduler can be run on your PC browser or if you prefer from your Outlook email client.

Schedule across multiple Codian MCUs and IP VCRs - One screen can display all schedules for all resources, including MCUs, IP VCRs, endpoints, other equipment and rooms.

 

Integration with corporate authentication servers and address books - If required Codian Scheduler can authenticate users against an organization’s authentication servers and access data from corporate address books.

 

Automatic handling of multiple time zones and multiple languages - Codian Scheduler automatically handles different time zones and for many languages will display the calendars in the language of the browser.

 

Automatic recording and streaming of conferences - With properly configured Codian MCUs and IP VCRs, conferences can be automatically streamed live or recorded for later playback and/or streaming.

 

Endpoint voting for most efficient use of network resources - Endpoints can be configured with a preferred MCU and given a vote with “Weighted Voting” to allow the most efficient use of network bandwidth and resources.

 

Optional “Just in Time” conference creation - Allows the scheduling of thousands of conferences and provides high availability video conferencing by automatically switching conferences to available MCUs.

 

Conflict resolution - Possible resource conflicts are displayed on screen at the time of conference creation so possible conflicts can be resolved before invitations are sent out.

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Crestron system

 

 

(with touch screen)?? see Innovations at GMU, Dan and Casey??? NOT PART OF T/TAC

 

http://www.crestron.com/products/show_products.asp?type=commercial

 

Their website lists 35 products that can be used for setting up a brick and mortar conference room.  The products range from audio and video processors to climate control switches.

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MOVI server

 

 

(Matthew)- Server for videoconferencing

 

http://www.tandberg.com/products/pc_videoconferencing.jsp

 

TANDBERG_Movi.pdf 

 

Movi makes it possible to easily extend the benefits of videoconferencing to everyone. With a Movi server integrated into your video infrastructure, all end-users with a webcam and a computer can join the enterprise video network.

 

Turn your PC into a videoconferencing system. Movi enables PC users with a webcam to join an enterprise-wide video-conferencing network and communicate visually with colleagues for enhanced productivity from anywhere they need to work - the airport, hotel, coffee shop or home office.

 

 

 

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Podcast

 

 

Kim M. A digital media file developed for viewing on portable media players

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasting

 

Podcasts: From Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms

 

 

 

    Good for distribution of digital audio

 

    What you need to create a podcast is:

    - Digital audio recorder that can create an MP3 file

    - Space on a server to host the file

    - Or blog to host the file

 

    Easy to create and easy to consume due to RSS which allows people to subscribe to your podcast

    -Free podcast aggregator software will check for updates and download new show

        - Can use iTunes as an aggregator or other free aggregators on the web

 

    iTunes hosts podcasting as well as podcastalley.com and odeo.com

 

 

 

    If you do not have iTunes, you can use Windows Media Player to move files

 

    Can record digital audio on computer or directly to MP3 player or iPod

 

    MP3 recordings on computer - you can use Audacity (audacity.sourceforge.net) which is free/open-source for recording and editing

 

    Can also use skype to record VOI conversations

 

    Can add music with GarageBand (MAC) or Wikimedia Commons

 

    After editing audio, can transfer MP3 to a server that is on the Internet or can use OurMedia.org which provides free storage and bandwith for videos, audio, photos, etc.

    Can post podcasts to blogs which should have an RSS feed.  Or if you do not have an RSS feed on your blog, you can create one with feedburner.com

 

 

#######

 

Can also create video podcasts ... podomatic.com allows you to create a free account, gives you a set amount of storage space and if you have a webcam or microphone you can record the podcast right from podomatic.com or you can upload pre-recorded material.  It creates the RSS file for you and provides you with your own page to post your podcasts.  I tried it out ... take a look:

 

My podomatic podcasts page: http://kmonti.podomatic.com/

 

 

RSS feed to my podcasts on podomatic: http://kmonti.podOmatic.com/rss2.xml

 

 

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Polycom voice/video

 

 

Kim A.

http://www.polycom.com/usa/en/products/products.html

 

Polycom voice (Kim A.)-A sophisticated speaker phone for use during a conference call. Shuangbao reported that T/TAC does not use Polycome voice.  NOT USED BY T/TAC

 

Polycom video (Kim A.)-Videoconferencing equipment (camera) that allows for participants of a meeting to see each other.  Five models to choose from: V500, V700, VSX 3000, VSX 5000, VSX 6000.  Only the VSX 6000 looks like you can see a desktop and the meeting participants at the same time because it has two screens.  Will have to find out which on that T/TAC has.

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Tandberg 770/990 /MCU

 

 

(Kim A.)-

 

http://www.tandberg.com/products/video_systems/tandberg_990_880_770_mxp.jsp

 

Tandberg 770 (Kim A.)-Videoconferencing equipment for small to medium conference rooms. View presentations and presenter simultaneously with DuoVideo and H.239 Dual Stream.  Join up to 4 video and 3 audio sites with optional embedded MultiSite functionality. User guide available on website.

 

Tandberg 990 (Kim A.)-Portable videoconferencing equipment for small to medium conference rooms. View presentations and presenter simultaneously with DuoVideo and H.239 Dual Stream.  Join up to 4 video and 3 audio sites with optional embedded MultiSite functionality. User guide available

on website.

 

Tandberg MCU - The Multipoint Control Unit (MCU) enables groups of video conference users to join the same meeting simultaneously. Up to 16 individual video conference systems can be connected to the same video conference session. The Tandberg MCU also allows telephone callers to join the same conference. Each telephone caller's audio communication is seamlessly integrated into the session. This high quality system offers these capabilities at speeds up to 2 Mbps and all this is accomplished in an MCU that is just one rack unit high.

 

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Tandberg Management Suite

• 800Mhz or higher Pentium compatible CPU
• 256MB RAM
• Management Suite software requires one of the following:

  1) Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional or Server running Service Pack 2 with Internet Information Server or;

  3) Microsoft Windows XP Professional with Internet Information Server

Tandberg Scheduler Software

• Automatic Call Routing - Determines and identifies the best type of optimal bandwidth and network as well as identifies the best configuration for multipoint and point-to-point video conference meetings.
• Personal Calendar - Checks your scheduled meetings including location, dates and times.
• Automatic Call Initiation - Automatically connects calls at scheduled or preset times.
• Automatic Time Zone Adjustment - Email predetermined meetings that will reflect the employees local time zones
• Integrated with Microsoft Outlook - An email confirmation can be sent the employee's inbox whenever an employee books a meeting. The confirmation can be saved in the Microsoft Outlook Calendar as a reminder to the employee.

WebEx video conferencing software

 

 

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Torrent (Starbak Torrent VCG)

 

http://www.starbak.com/products/vcg.php

 

Allows for recording and streaming of media over the internet in multiple formats (does not host conferencing)

 

"StarBak VCG is an easy-to-use appliance that can record a video conference and stream it live in Windows Media® or QuickTime® format to any desktop or display station connected to a LAN or IP network. It can also store the video, as well as slides and audio, for on-demand replay or webcasts. The VCG can be used with a single H.323 endpoint or may be used in a multipoint conference through an MCU."

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TTY (TeleTYpewriter)

 

http://www.abouttty.com/

 

TTY stands for Text Telephone. It is also sometimes called a TDD, or Telecommunication Device for the Deaf. TTY is the more widely accepted term, however, as TTYs are used by many people, not just people who are deaf.

 

A TTY is a special device that lets people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired use the telephone to communicate, by allowing them to type messages back and forth to one another instead of talking and listening. A TTY is required at both ends of the conversation in order to communicate.

 

To use a TTY, you set a telephone handset onto special acoustic cups built into the TTY (some TTY models can be plugged directly into a telephone line). Then, type the message you want to send on the TTY's keyboard. As you type, the message is sent over the phone line, just like your voice would be sent over the phone line if you talked. You can read the other person's response on the TTY's text display.

 

If you don't have a TTY, you can still call a person who is deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired by using the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS). With TRS, a special operator types whatever you say so that the person you are calling can read your words on his or her TTY display. He or she will type back a response, which the TRS operator will read aloud for you to hear over the phone. Toll free TRS services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

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Wikis

 

NOT USED BY T/TAC (Afua)

 

 

WIKIS

 

A wiki is a Web page that can be viewed and modified by anybody with a web browser and access to the internet.

 

The whole idea of wikis is the ease of use by anyone at all.

 

Wikis do not only enable its users to write their ideas but it also allows users to edit other people’s work.

 

 

 

The uses of wikis include:

Collaboration

Communication

Direct and instant access to on-going work

Allows for asynchronous communication

Shows the evolution of a though process

Can be accessed from any location provided there is an internet connection

 

Detailed information about Wikis can be found at Wikis.pdf

 

 

---

 

 

Technical Terms

 

Codec-Technical term for storage or encryption of videoconferences

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codec

 

 

"A codec is a device or program capable of performing encoding and decoding on a digital data stream or signal. The word codec may be a combination of any of the following: 'Compressor-Decompressor', 'Coder-Decoder', or 'Compression/Decompression algorithm'."

 

Programs to Develop Content

 

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Adobe Flash

Adobe® Flash® CS3 Professional software is the industry-standard tool for creating interactive content. Whether you are creating interactive websites, advertising, games, or mobile content, Flash CS3 Professional provides the tools you need to deliver an engaging user experience. 

Introduction video

Description of some features

Sophisticated video tools: Create, edit, and deploy streaming and progressive-download FLV content with comprehensive video support. Support, a high-quality video codec, embedded cue points, video import support, QuickTime import, closed captioning, and much more.

MP3 audio support: Integrate audio importing MP3 files.

Frame-based timeline : Quickly add motion to your creations with the easy-to-use, highly controllable, frame-based timeline inspired by traditional animation principles such as keyframing and tweening.

Extensible architecture: Leverage the Flash application programming interfaces (APIs) to easily develop extensions that add custom functionality.

Convert animation to ActionScript: Instantly convert timeline animations into ActionScript 3.0 code that can be easily edited, reused, and leveraged by developers. Copy animations from one object to another.

Adobe Device Central: Design, preview, and test mobile device content using Adobe Device Central CS3, now integrated throughout Adobe Creative Suite® 3. Create and test interactive applications and interfaces viewable with Flash Lite™ software.

Camtasia Studio

Adobe Captivate

 

The Blackboard Learning System™ is a family of software applications designed to enhance teaching and learning. Intuitive and easy-to-use for instructors, the Blackboard Learning System is built on a scalable enterprise technology foundation that facilitates growth and performance.

 

 

• Create powerful learning content using a variety of Web-based tools
• Develop custom learning paths for individual students or groups
• Facilitate student participation, communication, and collaboration
• Evaluate students’ work using a rich set of assessment capabilities
• Bring top publisher content into e-Learning

 

Instruction

 

The Blackboard Learning System has powerful capabilities for managing courses and for tailoring instruction in order to meet student needs.

 

Course Management capabilities focus on effective creation and set-up of courses as well as tools for semester-to-semester migration and archiving.

 

Content Authoring features include a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editing tool that provides a rich text editing interface similar to a word processor.

 

Adaptive Release means instructors can create custom learning paths by determining when students can access content items, discussions, assessments, assignments or other learning activities.

 

Syllabus Builder enables instructors to upload an existing syllabus or use the built-in creation functionality to easily design and develop their own syllabus and lesson plans.

 

Learning Units allow instructors to create sequenced lessons and control student navigation through those lessons.

 

Course Cartridges® are created by all major publishers with pre-packaged content and course materials in the Blackboard format. Course Cartridges include materials such as additional readings, updated information, multimedia and question pools.

 

Teaching and Learning Tools enable instructors to create rich term definition lists (Glossary) as well as clearly communicate their Staff Information. They also provide students with additional

tools such as The Electric Blackboard®.

 

Personal Information Management capabilities give students and instructors tools to better manage their work including a Calendar, Tasks and Blackboard Messages (course-based email).

 

Communication

 

Communication capabilities allow students and faculty to discuss issues online, to schedule collaborative sessions and to form groups that enable teamwork across geographic boundaries.

 

Discussion Board enables threaded, asynchronous discussions. Instructors can use multiple forums around different topics and embed these into appropriate content areas.

 

Group Projects support peer collaboration. Instructors can use this tool to form multiple groups of students. Each group can be given its own file exchange area, Discussion Board, Virtual Classroom and a Group e-mail tool to send messages to all group members.

 

Virtual Classroom / Collaboration Tool supports live, synchronous interaction, through both a text-based Chat environment, as well as a full Virtual Classroom.

 

Assessment

 

Assessment capabilities give instructors industry- leading tools to evaluate student learning. These features increase instructor efficiency in evaluating student performance.

 

Assessments and Surveys allow instructors to deliver online, automatically-scored assessments and surveys. They can create assessments from scratch or draw upon personal, institutional, or commercially available “test banks” of questions. Varied question types (e.g., True / False, Multiple Choice, Calculated) can be used.

 

Assignments allow instructors to create assignment items through which students can submit their response directly into the Gradebook for easy management and tracking.

 

Gradebook stores student performance results, including support for custom grading scales, grade weighting, item analysis and multiple gradebook views.

 

Reporting and Performance Dashboard provides a view of student progress and indicates whether students have reviewed specific content items. It also enables usage data to be viewed for an entire course.

 

ADMINISTRATION

 

The Blackboard Learning System includes core capabilities that encompass enterprise scalability, multi-language support, and an open architecture that facilitates extending the system and integrating it with other applications.

 

Enterprise Scalability: The Blackboard platform has a proven ability to scale to hundreds of thousands of active users.

 

Multi-language Support: The Blackboard software learning environment supports most European languages and multi-byte character sets such as Japanese and Chinese.

 

Standards: Compliance and interoperability with industry standards (including IMS, SIF, SCORM, and NLN) is a fundamental capability of Blackboard’s software products.

 

Blackboard Building Blocks (Open APIs): Our open architecture initiative, the Blackboard Building Blocks® architecture, provides a public, free software development kit (SDK) that documents Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). Clients and independent software vendors use the Building Blocks technology to create new functionali ty on top of the Blackboard platform or to integrate external systems with Blackboard products.

 

System Integration: Blackboard’s data and system integration capabilities, enabled through the Blackboard Building Blocks architecture, allows institutions to integrate student information systems, authentication systems and other campus back-office systems with the Blackboard platform.

 

Other notes:

 

There are several different versions of Bb, so depending on the version that GMU and Kellar has licenses for will depend on the different capabilities that it offers.  The capabilities notes above are pretty universal for all Bb versions.  After exploring all the different capabilities that Bb can offer, here are some additional comments:

 

Back end: A dedicated server and software is needed and licenses are required to establish system

 

Front end, add-ons, plug-ins: Somtimes to view embedded content, such as video or audio, and depending on the browser being used, Active X may be required.  Virtual Classroom requires a JAVA

 

Internect Connection: Required -- Bb can be quirky depending on the browser being used (for example, at NOVA students had problems in the past viewing content in anything other than IE, or sometimes the testing centers could only administer exams in Bb using Netscape, Vista has created all sorts of interesting quirks.  In order to easily revise content in Bb, it is best to use IE since the WYSIWYG editor in Bb in other browsers does not work).

 

Maximum number of participants: Unknown -- I guess it would depend on the number of licenses, but as noted above, it can scale to hundreds of thousands of users

 

Human Technical Support: Required

 

Synchronous audio: No, unless GMU has acquired the Wimba application as an add-on to Bb tools

 

Asynchronous audio: Can embed audio anywhere that content can be added.  Again, if Wimba is used, easy asynchronous communication between students can occur.

 

Asynchronous video: Can embed video anywhere that content can be added.

 

Training Content Development:  Can develop training modules within Bb for delivery from a Bb course

 

Training Content Delivery: Yes (see above)

 

Synchronous text composition, collaboration, and versioning:  The Virtual Classroom provides a whiteboard for real time collaboration, but no audio is available, only text chat.  It allows users to browse the Bb course site content while in the whiteboard session as well as the internet.   As an aside - NOVA courses do not use the Virtual Classroom much, if at all.  The NOVA version of Adobe Connect (Centra) is used to provide the real-time collaborative capabilities that the Virtual Classroom offers.

 

Asynchronous text communication: Provided through discussion board area and email embedded within the Bb learning environment

 

Synchronous text communication: Yes, in the Virtual Classroom.  Also, a Live chat function is also available separate from the Virtual Classroom.

 

 

File sharing: Group areas can be designated for specific students in a course.  The Group area has its own discussion board for group participants, file exchange, virtual classroom, and group email 

 

 

 

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Lectora software

• Automated Grading
• Weighted Questions
• Multiple or Single Page Testing
• Per-Question Feedback
• Timed Testing
• Show/Hide Results from Student
• Randomized Test Questions from Master Question Lists
• Bulk Question Importing
• Set Passing and Failing Scores

• Title Wizard
• Button Wizard
• HTML Error Check
• Spell Check
• Variable Manager
• Automated Menu Builder
• Table of Contents
• Reference Lists
•  

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The Global Scheduling System™(GSS®)

 

Forgent's Global Scheduling System(GSS) is a web-based video conferencing software solution designed to simplify, streamline and standardize your scheduling process. It enables departments within business, government or in education to schedule video conferencing rooms and resources without the conflicts typically experienced when trying to coordinate meetings. The imbedded time-zone calculation allows the end-user to schedule conferences locally, nationally or globally without schedule contradictions.

Flexible Software

 

Schedule Video Conferencing Rooms

 

Monitor Costs

 

http://www.tkoworks.com/video-conferencing/software/forgent/index.html

 

Another valuable feature of Forgent/GSS is the advanced reporting capabilities interfaced with Seagate Crystal^™ reports. This feature enables administrators to monitor costs associated with each video conference and the ability to manage department budgets or invoice clients when necessary.

 

Multiple video conferencing rooms may be scheduled simultaneously and recurring meetings may be set up to occur on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. The duration of a meeting may be specified, as well as additional time, if required, to set up and break down each meeting. Participants are automatically notified via email and are able to confirm their attendance by replying to the sender, or the individual who initiated the conference. GSS may be integrated with Microsoft Outlook^®, allowing attendees to receive video conference invitations and meeting confirmations. Documents and presentations may also be attached to an email to be previewed by attendees prior to a meeting.

 

The GSS video conferencing software solution is flexible and customizable to the needs of our customers. The software allows individuals to view conference room availability and the peripherals within each room. Video conferencing systems including equipment, VCR, document camera or scan converter may be detailed in each of the room descriptions, giving the end-user the ability to decide which rooms best meet their needs for a specific conference. In addition, resources such as catering or technical support may be scheduled in conjunction with the room itself.