Covering reserves, course management, classrooms, and library.
Text e-reserves from Fall 2000 to Fall 2010 classes taught in FirstClass are already in Sakai. You can find them in the Resources tool of your Sakai MyWorkspace tab, and they can easily be copied to your new course sites: instructions. Our Electronic Course Materials page also has instructions on reusing readings from previous Sakai course sites and adding new readings to your sites. If any of your readings from Fall 2000–Fall 2010 are missing, contact Emily Strong, x3923, as soon as possible.
Text e-reserves used in FirstClass in Spring 2011 and course materials not in an e-reserves FirstClass conference were not migrated to Sakai. Information on migrating course content — LTS staff can help you set up your course site at Sakai/Google Course Prep Drop-In Sessions: view schedule.
If you would prefer to use Google for your Spring 2012 courses, LTS staff can help you set up your e-reserves Google documents collection at Sakai/Google Course Prep Drop-In Sessions: view schedule.
We have a new video e-reserves system this semester:
- If you have not requested films for your course yet, use the Video E-Reserves Request Form. Films used in past semesters need to be requested again. If you are teaching in Google, indicate it on the request form. Over the next week, films requested on or before 1/6 will be added; we will then add films requested more recently.
- In Sakai, look for the Media Gallery tool. The Media Gallery tool in Sakai can also be used for streaming and sharing your own multimedia content: more info.
- Setting up video e-reserves in Google sites is slightly different, but will not create any delays. If you’ve already submitted your film requests, contact Emily Strong, x3923: more info.
Google Groups have been created for all Spring 2012 courses, with the instructor as manager, and all registered students as members (updated daily based on Banner registration information). Faculty can use these groups:
- to email all the students in a class, simply by using the group name in the To field of a message (e.g., ENGL-466-01-SP12)
- for discussions, which work particularly well if integrated into a Google course Site, which provides the best interface with threading, posting attachments, etc.
- as a convenient means of providing access to Google Docs or Sites, by sharing with the group name, rather than individual students
- to supplement Sakai course sites
- alone, if your needs are particularly simple
- with a Google Site in lieu of a Sakai site
Some faculty are experimenting with Google Sites for their courses this spring. We’ve created a course site template for many course functions, such as announcements, discussions, sharing of files, access to video reserves, and more. If you would like to try a Google Site for a course, you can request one in the Faculty tab of MyWellesley. Look for the Google LMS Opt-in portlet, and check the course(s) for which you would like a Site created.
To learn more about using Google Sites, Sakai, or other tools for courses, please attend a drop-in session, see our Sakai documentation and Google documentation, or contact the Help Desk at x3333 or helpdesk@wellesley.edu for assistance or to schedule a one-on-one appointment with an LTS staff member.
In other news:
- Teaching in a new classroom? Email classrooms@wellesley.edu to arrange a classroom technology training. If you have a specific room(s) in mind, please include this information in your message.
- Clapp Library is now lending ebook reading devices to support reading of the 300,000 ebooks in the Library’s Collections. Use this form to reserve an ebook reader for your use. Faculty can contact Deborah Lenares or Steve Smith to reserve multiple ebook readers for classes or reading groups. More info
- Use the new Report a Problem link from records in the Library catalog to report any problem with access to or information about a book or journal record.
- Students who have graduated from Wellesley will now continue to appear in Sakai. Please let us know if you are having problems seeing any students’ work.
- Stay tuned for information about our Spring Symposium on liberal arts learning in the digital age.
To: Faculty, staff
From, more info: Veronica Brandstrader, LTS, x2171
