Welcome Announcement - Brad Denison

Submitted by:  Chandra Iwasaki
 

The Instructional Technology department would like to announce our newest full time Media Support person, Brad Denison.

Brad is a recent Communications graduate from the University of Houston - Clear Lake.  He also has an A.A.S. in Radio Communications from Alvin Community College. 

His accomplishments and interests include:  on-air radio personality (89.7 KACC- FM), voice actor and voice overs for Japanese anime productions, 2009 Houston Press Music Award for best Radio Show, and roller derby announcing.

Brad will begin developing faculty workshops for the use of the newly acquired instructional technology equipment. This will include the document cameras with video capability, and the student engaging clicker system. 

For more information about Instructional Technology, please visit our site: http://www.com.edu/faculty-staff/instructional-technology.php

That Pesky Grade Center ‘In progress’ icon

Submitted by:  Chandra Iwasaki

The ‘In progress’ icon that can appear in a student’s

grade column cell indicates the assignment or test attempt is still in session. The icon will disappear when the student clicks the Submit button for either type of submission. However, if the icon remains visible beyond a reasonable amount of time, say past the allotted time for the test or when the icon is there for days – you should probably take action.

If the icon is present for an assignment, it is most likely because the student attached a document, but did not click the Submit button. You can inform the student to complete this crucial step.

If the icon is present for an exam past the allotted time, it is most likely locked and cannot be reaccessed by the student to submit (see:  Students Getting Bumped from Exams – Forced Completion). 

In this case it is recommended that you view the dated Attempt, and complete the submission by clicking on Submit Attempt in the Test Information link area. 

    

Complete the grading process now as you normally would and be sure to save all data changes by clicking Submit or Save and Next or Save and Exit.

Sitting on the Fence

Submitted by: Mz.Martha

I betcha the file cabinet in your office holds manila files nestled with important papers. Along the way perhaps you have learned that a component of the computer is that it can be used as storage unit for electronic files. Let’s go one step further.

Suppose your office location had been changed, again. Sigh. You have 40 or more files organized in your desk drawer – and it would be so lovely to have those files pulled up and out in one fell swoop zipped into a single bag about the size of a pound of coffee for easy to maneuvering & storage.  Electronically – you can do that – it called Zipping Files.  Zipping a file effectively compresses and packages all the elements of the files for easy to maneuvering & storage. See the symmetry. : )

Let’s go one more step…

SoftChalk is a program used to create and zip textual documents for Blackboard Learn 9.1.  Just like typing information and saving it into a Word Processor – except SoftChalk is specifically created to communicate with Blackboard Learn 9.1.

Learn more: http://softchalk.com/