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Softchalk for MnSCU

training session 10:30AM July 7

firefox is preferable to chrome and IE

in chrome, audio plays automatically. if students are using Chromes, need to have the audio file on the top, so students can stop it. NAPI is not supported by Google. So Softchalk must start local launch.

this is SO complex and SO many side steps that it will be a miracle to get the middle 50-60% of faculty into buying the SoftChalk idea.

local launch is client based and allows creating content without Internet connection

edit in Create Online allows creation on mobile devices such as tablet

have to have rights on the computer to install the local launch. Ha…

I am behind David, since my java is not up to date. i have to update now that. I wonder how many faculty will endure the initial process

Microsoft Edge is different the IE, but will act the same

SoftChalk is the same elitist ideas as LMS. It will require an extensive training of faculty, which they have no time and energy to invest in. The idea of Learning Objects will require years of compiling materials, sufficiently enough to be recycled by other faculty. In most disciplines, these learning objects will age by the time they reach the critical mass.

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training session 1PM July 6, 2016

David Evans  from SoftChalk is doing the training session.

If we want to share with students, do they have to have a user account in softchalk?
Аnswer: No. The instructor can share the content by embedding the URL to the Softchalk content, but not allow students to participate in the creation
the answer defies the constructivist principles of learning

MnSCU site Educational Innovations -> MnSCU SoftChalk Pilot
http://www.asa.mnscu.edu/educationalinnovations/projects/SoftChalk_Cloud/educational-innovations-page.html

  1. Part 1: Trainer David Evans – SoftChalk’s cloud management (creating lessons, folders, sharing, uploading files and more) – 1 hour 5 min

https://mnscu.webex.com/mnscu/ldr.php?RCID=b15902c4eb57cfcbfc6559b4f2e4bcf7

  1. Part 2: – 21 min https://mnscu.webex.com/mnscu/ldr.php?RCID=2e0612ead1c04836ab614ebafe4607ed
    1. Lesley Blicker – MnSCU’s pilot project and web resources (7 min)
    2. Jon Werth – integrating SoftChalk with the D2L Brightspace gradebook, plus browsers to use or avoid

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MnSCU pilot. How to do the LT integration for the gradebook, including browsers constrains.

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SoftChalk Session for CSAs and CTs

Java applet is essential, until HMTL5 is functional. IT and the System Office have things locked down and not much can be done. Java Application cannot be blocked.

http://asa.mnscu.edu/educationalinnovations/projects/SoftChalk_Cloud/educational-innovations-page.html

Integrating Softchalk Cloud w D2L. SCORM – don’t use it. Tool Provider.

SoftChalk (SC) can be used as an external link within D2L, internal integration only when used with the gradebook. The LTI link is ONLY needed if the instructor plans to use the gradebook. Otherwise, it’s a simple embed in content.

if recently installed Java 8.91, will not install the jar file and one have to go and manually delete it.

Browsers.

Firefox and IE will allow to launch the Java applet. Chrome and Safari will block it. it will require a local launch. The install will create an icon in the lower right corner.

I cannot believe such structure, in the times of drag and drop. Whoever came up w it, is DEFINITELY not a faculty and does not care about faculty time and effort.

the process is lengthy and cumbersome, not to mentioned repetitive. If this work is shifted toward faculty, i seriously doubt that the adoption rate will be in the double digits.

verdict: much ado about nothing: the work that faculty have to put toward such content versus the return on the Bloom’s taxonomy scale is so low that in my opinion is just squandering of efforts. If there is a LOR, where faculty can draw preset clusters of similar activities, I would be more willing to accept.

a license for SoftChalk Cloud is needed. Who is in charge of this? John and TLTR? Tom as faculty president?

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more on Softchalk in this IMS blog

https://blog.stcloudstate.edu/ims?s=softchalk

eBook Builder from Softchalk

Coming this summer, SoftChalk will debut these amazing, educator-friendly features in both SoftChalk Create 9 (desktop version) and in SoftChalk Cloud…

SoftChalk eBook Builderbeta gives YOU the power to create and distribute your own interactive eBooks for use on both iPads and Chromebooks.
Major accessibility enhancements including frame-free lessons and fully HTML5-compliant content.
Add Google Analytics to your SoftChalk lessons, allowing you to measure and report student use of your learning content.
Access to thousands of new resources through SoftChalk’s integration with new media libraries including the Khan Academy, Getty Images and more!
SoftChalk’s new fluid layout will automatically adjust your lesson display on any screen size for any device.
Chrome browser support will be available for student viewing of all SoftChalk content.

 

Register for one of our Sneak Peek webinars today and be the first to see SoftChalk Create 9 in action!

Tuesday, June 24, 2014 2:00 PM EDT
Thursday, June 26, 2014 12:00 PM EDT

Softchalk sessions in April

Please consider two instruction sessions on Softchalk in April:

Registration at:

https://secure.mnsu.edu/mnscupd/login/default.asp?campusid=0073

SoftChalk: E-Learning Authoring Tool Content Authoring Software

SoftChalk is provider of content authoring software for educators in K-12, colleges, universities and medical programs. With SoftChalk, educators can create professional, engaging, learning content quickly and easily, which enhances their teaching and improves the learning experience for their students.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 2:00 PM until 2:45 PM 

Location: MC-205 
Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 3:00 PM until 3:45 PM 
Location: MC-205 

 

Follow us on Twitter: @SCSUtechInstruc | #techworkshop

IMS Blog: https://blog.stcloudstate.edu/ims

Ideas? Suggestions? Pls email pmiltenoff@stcloudstate.edu

 

Steps to Install SoftChalk Create and Enter Your License Key

  1. Download the SoftChalk installer by clicking on the appropriate link below. Save the installer file locally on your computer.
    1. Windows:   http://www.softchalk.com/Lb8Distribution/SoftChalk8_setup.exe
    2. Macintosh:   http://www.softchalk.com/Lb8Distribution/SoftChalk8-Mac.zip
    3. Click the installer and follow the prompts to complete the installation.
    4. After installing SoftChalk Create, look for the Create8 icon on your desktop. Double-click the icon to start the SoftChalk “Create” application.
    5. You may be prompted to create a FREE SoftChalk CLOUD account. This step is optional, but provides you with additional SoftChalk features.
    6. Within the SoftChalk Create application, go to the Help menu and choose Enter License. (If you are a Macintosh user, go to the top left of your screen and choose File/Enter License.)
    7. Copy and paste the license info below into the License Name and License Key fields.

SoftChalk instruction available…

SoftChalk, similarly to LodeStar, allows instructors to “create, customize and personalize content by mashing up your own materials with rich media, interactive exercises, quizzes and text.”

Here is an example of content created with SoftChalk:

https://softchalk.com/showcase/sample-lessons

To download SoftChalk, please go to

https://www.softchalkcloud.com/softchalk/download/web

Let us know, if you need support and training sessions:

pmiltenoff@stcloudstate.edu

Licensing keys: pls request from Mark Kotcho (software@stcloudstate.edu).

STAR Symposium 2018

https://softchalkcloud.com/lesson/serve/tAyfSOjZTkVW05/html

Keynote: Dr. Todd Zakrajsek, University of North Carolina School of Medicine

“Teaching for Brain-based Learning”

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Effective Online Engagement
Camille Brandt, Bemidji State University

student is a boxed term. but there are flavors; undergrad vs grad, what takeaways they are looking for, categories of students

ask for expectations, outcomes, and keep touching bases during class.

Vocaroo.com

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Grading Participation in an Online Course

Kerry Marrer, St. Cloud State University

Kate Mooney, St. Cloud State University

Kris Portz, St. Cloud State University

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What’s a FIG? Inquiring Minds Want to Know!

Miki Huntington, Minneapolis Community and Technical College

COP Community of Practice. Stipends – may be or not. May be only a book.

topics: online learning, academic technologies etc

offering support: to one another in a collaborative environment. Commenting to each other notes.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ijco6s9bNBuD5_fYmrRTgKzubCXFM6GX

Voice over presentation: solutions

Voice over presentation

Faculty request to lay voice over a presentation with pictures. Solutions:

  • PowerPoint:

Windows / PC

ppt voice over

ppt voice over

Apple/Mac

voice over PPT on Apple

voice over PPT on Apple

advantages:

– unfortunately, faculty are way too familiar with PPT. Familiar to the point that they don’t want to try something better.
– FERPA complient

disadvantages:

– too old. PPT is pre-Internet. It does not matter how much Microsoft is trying to adapt it, the concept is old. There is a myriad of cloud-based solutions, which do better job: https://blog.stcloudstate.edu/ims/2013/09/30/the-5-best-free-slideshow-presentation-and-creation-tools-for-teachers/
– too many files, too many variations
– PPT posted in D2L displays in the D2L Viewer. The visuals are there, but the voice is not. In order to hear the voice, students must download the presentation. Faculty must reflect this in the syllabus.
– faculty need to know how to upload on their web space and figure out URL, if PPT is not place in LMS (D2L)- if faculty places PPT in LMS (D2L), then it is behind password; nearly impossible to share (can share only with SCSU and/or MnSCU members.
– faculty must remember to indicate in the syllabus and/or D2L / Content that “in order to hear the voice over, user must download presentation.”

  • SlideShare

slideshare

slideshare

advantages:

– it is a “social” app, like LinkedIn and Twitter. Tagged correctly, the presentation is a platform for “same-minded” people to discuss mutual interests.
– excellent for sharing: conferences, MOOCs etc.
– it has discussion group in LinkedIn.

disadvantages:

– voice over presentation: way to cumbersome compared to PPT. Watch their presentation
– by FERPA regulations, if the presentation contains personal data about students, it cannot be shared on SlideShare

Creating Narrated Presentations with SlideShare (narrated) from Carolyn Kraut
mybrainshaark

mybrainshaark

advantages:

– it is a “social” app, like LinkedIn and Twitter. Tagged correctly, the presentation is a platform for “same-minded” people to discuss mutual interests.
– excellent for sharing: conferences, MOOCs etc.
– like PPT, very easy upload of pix and voice over. Better the PPT, since it is online and easy to distribute.
– easy to upload PPT and easy to voice over each slide

disadvantages:

– does not embed in D2L (it is D2L issue, not the app), but works perfectly as a link
– faculty must remember to indicate in the syllabus and/or D2L / Content that when clicking on the URL to the PPT, user must simultaneously press “Ctrl” key to open PPT in a separate browser window or tab
– by FERPA regulations, if the presentation contains personal data about students, it cannot be shared on SlideShare

voicethread

voicethread

advantages:

– consistently voted through last 5 years by K12 educators as great interactive tool.
– video, images, audio and text.
– “constructivist” premiss: teacher and students can exchange asynchronously ideas by using images, video, text and audio.

disadvantages:

– free option has limited features.
– by FERPA regulations, if the presentation contains personal data about students, it cannot be shared on on this site.

mediasite

mediasite


advantages
:

– crude screen capture: faculty can run the PPT manually and narrate over it.
– dirty but fast
– easily shared online (URL ready)
– FERPA compliant

disadvantages:

– students cannot comment (compared to VoiceThread)

  • LodeStar

lodestar
lodestar

advantages:

– free: http://lodestarlearning.com/downloads/lodeStar7.2/en/LodeStar-7.0.exe
– easy to use
– FERPA compliant; endorsed by MnSCU

disadvantages:

– voice over too complex (very much the same as with SlideShare)

  • SoftChalk

advantages:
– FERPA compliant; endorsed by MnSCU

disadvantages:

  • others

I have not included TechSmit’s Jing https://www.techsmith.com/jing.html, because their video output (Flash file) is obsolete and impossible to convert for free. While it still can be played, shall faculty want to upload the video file on Youtube or similar social media, it will be impossible.

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Related IMS blog entries:

https://blog.stcloudstate.edu/ims/2014/06/01/social-media-and-presentations-free-image-sources/

https://blog.stcloudstate.edu/ims/2013/09/30/the-5-best-free-slideshow-presentation-and-creation-tools-for-teachers/