Use a Prezi for your Next Presentation

Tired of using the same PowerPoints in your course? Want to spice up your lectures?

Consider using a Prezi for your next presentation. Prezi is a web-based, zooming, presentation editor. But, what else is a Prezi? Check out this short YouTube Video to learn more:



So, ready to make your next presentation a Prezi? Check out the Prezi website www.prezi.com.

• The "Your Prezis" tab is where you initially sign up for the Prezi site. When you sign up, select "Student/Teacher licenses." This will allow you all of the benefits of the "Enjoy" package, for FREE!
• The "Learn" tab offers a plethora of tutorials on how to use Prezi (everything from Getting Started to Advanced features).
• The "Explore" tab allows you browse popular Prezi presentations.

Register Now for the EduComm Conference

EduComm is higher education's premier technology, leadership and strategy conference. The EduComm conference is June 13-15, at the Hilton - Walt Disney World. For more information, or to register, please visit http://educommconference.com/.

21st Century Classroom Tutorials

Teaching in a 21st Century Classroom this semester? Do you have questions, or are you confused about how to operate the equipment?

Check out the Tutorials page of the CITT website for a host of 21st Century Classroom Tutorials.

Available Tutorials:

• 21st Century Classroom Equipment
• 21st Century Classroom Help Guide
• Control Panel Video
• Document Camera Video
• Workshop Manual

Congratulations to Professor Matt Werhner for being Published in the Journal of Geoscience Education

Professor Werhner's article A Comparison of the Performance of Online versus Traditional On-Campus Earth Science Students on Identical Exams was published in the November 2010 Journal of Geoscience Education.

Abstract
In this paper I compare the performance of online versus traditional on-campus students on identical exams in an earth science class. The number of college level distance learning classes offered online continues to increase as they offer greater scheduling flexibility to students, they appeal to students who like to work independently, and allow colleges to increase enrollment without building new classrooms. Hillsborough Community College (HCC) is a two year urban community college in Tampa, Florida. An online earth science class was first offered in Fall 2005. Most students enrolled in Earth Science are non-science majors fulfilling a science requirement for graduation and both online and on-campus classes average about 30 students. As this is a traditional earth science course it covers topics in geology, oceanography, meteorology, and astronomy. This material is divided into four units with an exam at the end of each unit. The exams are short answer, predominantly multiple choice with diagram identification and contain about eighty to ninety questions. All classes used the same study guide and textbook and all of the classes in this study were given exactly the same exams. This process was repeated over four semesters from Fall term 2005 to Spring term 2007. Statistical analysis comparing exam grades indicates that there was no significant difference in student performance on exams between the online and on-campus students...Click here to read the entire article.

Professor Werhner is the Faculty and Program Manager in the Physical Science Department at the Dale Mabry Campus.

Great Website

The website 21 Things for the 21st Century Educator offers 21 technology tips that every educator should know. View the list of tips in the right hand column and click on them for further explanation.

Happy New Year, from CITT

Wishing everyone a productive and successful spring semester.

Remember to use the resources on the CITT website. Here, you can find a plethora of useful information such as tutorials, tech-tips, ideas on best practices, and news about the Blackboard implementation, among other things.

Also, don't forget to become a follower of this blog!

Happy 2011!

Have a Burning Question? Ask it on the Chronicle of Higher Education Forums

• How do you deal with a student who skips the first class?
• What do you do about an outstanding student who doesn't follow the directions on a final project?
• Have questions about your tenure track?
• Are you a dean or department chair with questions?

The Chronicle Forums (hosted on the Chronicle of Higher Education website) can be an excellent place to anonymously post these types of questions. Employees in higher education use these forums to ask and answer a myriad of questions, covering everything from dealing with issues in the classroom to travel for conferences and academic purposes.

Give it a try! Browse the forum, ask your question and then check out the other fantastic resources on the Chronicle's website.

Congratulations to Dr. Germroth - NISOD Award Winner

Peter Germroth, was the recipient of the greatest amount of votes from the HCC Community for his contribution to teaching excellence.

Peter will receive sponsorship to attend the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Conference, in Austin Texas, May 29 - June 1, 2011 by the Center for Innovative Teaching and Technology - Faculty Professional Development (CITT-FPD)

In keeping with our mission of teaching excellence that promotes student success, CITT congratulates the 2011 NISOD EXCELLENCE AWARDS RECIPIENTS and salutes their commitment to high performance and extraordinary service to their students, their college, and their communities.

Please join us in congratulating Hillsborough Community College’s 2011 NISOD Excellence Awardees:

• Peter Germroth
• Paul Flaherty
• Denys Harasymiak
• Robert J. King
• Michele Martinez

NISOD welcomes the participation of all awardees at the 2011 NISOD annual International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence.

Click here to learn more about all awardees and their commitment to excellence in education.