Hacking Reality: The Hackerspace Project and Farming Innovation
Michael Holt, Librarian, Valdosta State University
Edward Braun, English Instructor, Valdosta State University

A new phenomenon of creative engineering spaces or hackerspaces provides a unique opportunity to engage students in the process of innovation. Hackerspaces can be an engaging platform for students because they provide a more informal learning environment that focuses on creative solutions to technological problems. They also foster a sense of community and engagement among students through collective problem solving. They can also flourish with very little funding, which is crucial to any university in a time of tight budgets. This presentation will cover what hackerspaces are, implementation in a university setting, and potential benefits for institutions that host them.

Presentation

2:45 - 3:30pm

Meeting Room 1A

Evaluating Written Work Online: An Exploration of Options
Dr. Ginger Macheski, Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice, Valdosta State University
Dr. Sharon Gravett, Assistant Vice-President of Academic Affairs, Department of English
Dr. Lorraine Schmertzing, Department of Curriculum, Leadership, and Technology
Helen Wishart, Departments of English and Women's and Gender Studies

What are the options for grading written work submitted online?  A panel of users will discuss how they streamline this often cumbersome process.  Use of Word review / comments, BlazeVIEW Grade forms and other programs will be discussed.

Panel

2:45 - 3:30pm

Meeting Room 1B

Online Discussion: Collectively Engaging and Applying Sociology
Dr. Isik Akyollu-Denizman, Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice, Valdosta State University

As a predominantly core classes instructor for almost ten years in Valdosta State University, class size versus learning material has been a challenging paradox. How can I engage my students in large (45-50 students) sections to learn and utilize sociological concepts and perspectives in an introductory level class?  Online discussions are one of the effective engagement techniques for core classes in sociology.  This presentation will be a round table discussion on how online discussion techniques give students opportunities to collectively apply the sociology under the sociological imagination.

Panel

2:45 - 3:30pm

Meeting Room 2

Reflections on Plagiarism Prevention Implementation
Amanda King-Spezzo, College of Education, Valdosta State University
Vincent King-Spezzo, Department of eLearning

This presentation will focus on best practices and lessons learned during plagiarism prevention implementation at an institutional level and within a collaborative setting.  We will begin with a discussion of the importance of academic honesty and plagiarism prevention uses.  Presenters will then discuss their roles during plagiarism prevention implementation efforts and will compare and contrast some of the similarities and differences which should be considered, based on the scope of the implementation (campus-level or collaborative environment).  The session will end with an overview of future steps concerning plagiarism prevention.

Presentation

2:45 - 3:30pm

Ballroom A

Using Camtasia Studio to Create Podcasts (Double session)
Jennifer Gill, Systems Instructor, Valdosta State University

Create podcasts, YouTube Videos, and HTML videos with Camtasia Studio.  Once the video has been recorded, its size can be adjusted for the web, mobile phones, and iPad.  Camtasia can also be used to create 508 compliant captions, turning what you say into captions.

Hands-On/Computer Lab

2:45 - 4:30pm

Odum Library Computer Lab 3270

Implementing a Student Orientation: Increasing Retention and Outcomes in Online Courses
Beatriz Potter, Department of Modern and Classical Languages, Valdosta State University
Elizabeth O. Omiteru, College of Education, Valdosta State University
Miguel E. Pena Castelblanco, Graduate Assistant, Department of eLearning, Valdosta State University
Andrew Ferguson, Graduate Assistant, Department of Modern and Classical Language, Valdosta State University

Students' unfamiliarity with online course delivery methods and course structure can have an adverse impact on online students' retention rate and learning outcomes. A student orientation for the online Spanish courses offered at Valdosta State University's Department of Modern and Classical Languages has been implemented in recent years. The goal of the orientation is to support students as they enroll in and start working on online classes. This session will describe and explore different ways to support learning outcomes and retain students. Participants will learn various challenges and strategies implemented to foster a more collaborative and interactive online environment.

Presentation

3:45 - 4:30pm

Meeting Room 1A

Online Engineering classes "What are we missing?"
Dr. Adeel Khalid, Systems Engineering, Southern Polytechnic State University

Until recently, outsourcing engineering education was not a possibility. With the recent advances in online teaching technology, it is now possible to teach a live online distance-learning course from anywhere around the world. In an online course, students and teacher do get the opportunity to interact with each other. However, the computer-based distance learning approach is still in its relative infancy. Since the instructor is not physically present in the same room with the students, they do not get to interact with each other face to face. The instructor can continue to derive a complex mathematical equation without realizing that a student has walked away from their computer. This paper explores the positives and negatives of online distance learning distributed education. Advantages and disadvantages of distance learning are discussed and a few solutions to the challenges, experienced by the instructor, are addressed.

Presentation

3:45 - 4:30pm

Meeting Room 1B

Working Smarter with Wikis
Dr. Larry P. Wiley, Department of Psychology & Counseling, Valdosta State University
Dr. Ellen W. Wiley, Curriculum, Leadership, and Technology, Valdosta State University

Explore how wikis have been used to provide organization for capstone experiences within a graduate program. The format and ease of use have encouraged students to work smarter by starting earlier with portfolio assignments. Formative feedback can be provided as students document and reflect upon experiences throughout their program of study. 

Roundtable

3:45 - 4:30pm

Meeting Room 2

Creating a PLN for Lifelong Learning
Jeff Giddens, Instructional Technologist, Georgia Virtual School

Digital resources for lifelong learning are available, but how well are you using them?  With the advent of cloud computing and mobile applications, professionals can benefit from a new world of teaching and learning tools.  This is a demonstration of how to find and use Web 2.0 tools to enhance personal learning.  This presentation will include instruction on creating a personal learning network (PLN) using web tools to source trends, best practices, and research in your professional field.  I will also demonstrate a variety of mechanisms including Google Reader, Hoot Suite, Blogger and MOOCs.

Presentation

3:45 - 4:30pm

Ballroom A

Developing Communities of Practice: The Adult Learning Consortium Way
Andrea Wilson, Information Technology Services, University System of Georgia
Dr. Gerald Merwin, Adult Academic Degree Completion & Professional Development Programs

The higher education and distance learning environment is fueled by knowledge, but organizing the knowledge systematically to make it more accessible and useful is a challenge. The key is developing communities of practice geared to the strengths of adult learners and organizing around common interests and expertise to foster knowledge sharing and learning. In this presentation we provide an overview of the development of a community of practice from gathering the requirements through execution, including challenges encountered along the way. Plans for transforming the USG Adult Learning Consortium into a Community of Practice will be shared and we will explain how you can get involved!

Presentation

10:00 - 10:45am

Meeting Room 1A

Academic Librarians at Universities Large and Small are embedding. Are you?
Ginger Williams, Reference / Outreach Services Librarian, Valdosta State University
Dr. Kimberly Tanner, Access Office, Valdosta State University

Participants will learn about the many varieties of embedded librarianship going on across the state. A descriptive study of embedded librarianship in Georgia universities revealed that librarians are approaching embedding in innovative and unique ways. This presentation will feature general and in-depth information about what others are doing in this area so you can decide which type of embedding you would like to try. The presenters will share experiences with embedding from various perspectives.

Presentation

10:00 - 10:45am

Meeting Room 1B

Orienting and Preparing Students to use Second Life
Dr. Cindy Tandy, Department of Social Work, Valdosta State University

When using the virtual world of Second Life for teaching, issues emerge concerning orienting and preparing students to participate in class projects, assignments, and meetings in Second Life. For instructors, there often is a gap between knowing how to present assignment or project tasks to students and knowing how to prepare students to ease into Second Life with as few "glitches" as possible. This presentation will address ways to orient students efficiently and effectively so they can navigate Second Life, how to use their avatars, and how to avoid problems.

Presentation

10:00 - 10:45am

Meeting Room 2

Case Study: Developing High-Impact, Information-Rich Media for Higher Education
Dr. Jon Preston, Computer Science and Software Engineering, Southern Polytechnic State University
Dr. Jeffrey Chastine, Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, Southern Polytechnic State University

Computer games and deeply-visual courses attract student interest.  But developing games can be technically challenging, and students can become daunted by what they thought should be fun and interesting.  To address this, we have developed a series of video tutorials that teach technical, hard-to-remember topics.  These screencasts help students recall what was done in lecture / lab, allow them to practice and review information-rich material at their own pace, and serve to support our outreach to high school students who seek mentoring from colleges.  We will show how to use this low-cost, high-impact approach to support student learning in any class.

Presentation

10:00 - 10:45am

Ballroom A

Google Docs:  An Easy Online Way for Students to Collaborate on Assignments and Show They Have
Dr. Lars Leader, Curriculum, Leadership & Technology, Valdosta State University
Dr. E-Long Hsiao, Curriculum, Leadership & Technology, Valdosta State University

Having students collaborate in teams for submissions is challenging for instructors.  How can we tell whether individuals have participated fully in the team effort?  Google Docs offers an easy way to identify participation in creating products for submission.  An added benefit is that it is free.  We will demonstrate how Word documents and PowerPoint presentations can be created collaboratively online, with the input of each collaborator tracked onscreen, and then downloaded as finished doc and PowerPoint files.  Participants in this workshop will create documents and presentations and do so in teams to experience the collaborative process in Google Docs. (Single session)

Hands-On

10:00 - 10:45am

Odum Library Computer Lab 3270

iPad Academy: The Best New Features of iOS 5 for iPad
Dr. Andy Brovey, iPad Academy

Apple's new mobile operating system called iOS 5 added over 200 new features for Apple's iOS devices. In this hands-on session, we'll check out the best of these new features for the iPad, including multitasking gestures, notifications, reminders, better browsing, messaging and iCloud. Join in as we explore how iOS 5 makes your iPad more functional and more fun.

Please bring your own iPad

Hands-On

11:00 - 11:45am

Meeting Room 1A

Engaging Students: Interactive Classroom Techniques that Work
Dr. Adeel Khalid, Systems Engineering, Southern Polytechnic State University

In this paper, the authors explore tools, techniques, and methodologies that instructors can use to keep students engaged, awake, attending, and interested in the broad fields of knowledge, including science, engineering, mathematics and arts. Simple techniques can be used to invigorate enthusiasm in students. It is observed that tools like using props, making connections with the past, and quiz bowl keep students interested and involved. In this paper, authors discuss how teachers use deductive or inductive methods in different disciplines. Comparison is drawn between different methods to see which are applicable to the polytechnic students. A number of ideas are presented including highlighting the muddiest point, think-pair-share, quiz bowl exercise, use of props, and candy questions. Additionally, various techniques like mind breaks, news share, and stretch are discussed. Active learning is known to be more effective than passive learning.

11:00 - 11:45am

Meeting Room 1B

The Ups and Downs of an Online Service Learning Project
Dr. Betty Oliver, Media Arts, Southern Polytechnic State University

The project to be discussed started with an invitation from the Founder of Code for America, Jennifer Pahlka asking my online graphics students to produce WPA-style posters for use in their "Code for Cities" projects (Boston, Seattle, Boulder, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia). Taking advantage of this great opportunity produced its share of challenges, defeats, and victories as graphics students struggled to learn graphics skills, research the design history of the WPA, and combine new skills and knowledge to produce professional-quality posters while communicating with the instructor and fellow students electronically.

Presentation

11:00 - 11:45am

Meeting Room 2

A Farewell to Anthologies: Digital Solutions for Eliminating Costly Compilations
Dr. Nat Hardy, Department of Liberal Arts, Savannah State University

Much like designing and assembling Course Packs, instructors can assemble digital texts they wish to teach online by providing students with hyperlinks to works without printing or violating copyright laws, because hyperlinks for teaching purposes are protected under “fair use” laws. Moreover, according to Blackboard’s, “Copyright, Fair Use, & Educational Multimedia” guide, providing hyperlinks is not like copying or distributing for use, but rather is simply providing students “links” to webpages. This presentation will provide instructional techniques and advice for assembling hybrid and online course components that can entirely eliminate the need for the outdated and costly textbook.

Presentation

11:00 - 11:45am

Ballroom A