Instructional support for UW Colleges faculty and staff includes, but is not limited to the following software, resources, and tools. Questions about any instructional technology can be directed to Pat Fellows.

Desire2Learn (D2L) is the course managements system (CMS) used by the UW Colleges. Course sites are created for all courses offered every semester. The use of D2L by instructors covers a broad continuum of use from only posting news items to the use of most D2L tools in both face-to-face and hybrid courses. The UW Colleges Online also uses D2L to offer fully online courses in D2L. Training and online support materials are available to all D2L users. Grades can also be sent from the Gradebook in D2L to PRISM with a few clicks of the mouse. To request a D2L course site use the D2L Course Request Form.

Library Course Pages are integrated with D2L to provide instructors and students with unique Library Course Pages for each course. Online reserves, databases, Internet resources, course syllabi, and other resources can be added to these pages to provide students with library resources at the point of need.

CourseCasting (podcasting) grew out of a pilot project developed at UW-Washington County. Instructors are able to record their lectures or supplemental materials, and then post them to a course web site. For instructors utilizing D2L, their CourseCasts are integrated into the Library Course Page for that course.

Adobe Connect, (formerly Breeze), known as Extend LMS in the UW System is an online synchronous tool available for use by faculty with their courses. It provides an online whiteboard, file sharing, chat, and more. Sessions can be recorded as well, for those who cannot attend in person.

Other Instructional Resources

We also offer services to support learning in various disciplines. Our membership with ARTstor provides all instructors and students access to an online repository of thousands of works of art. Membership with the Sloan-C Consortium provides opportunities for online workshops for instructors and staff in many areas related to the use of technology and teaching.

Over the next few months we hope to introduce instructors to Wikis, Blogs, and Classroom Response Systems (Clickers).

Training

During each semester training is offered via WisLine Web to the campuses. Topics include the use of many of the tools in Desire2Learn, technology best practices and introduction to new technologies.

Training is also provided for staff in the use of Microsoft Office tools and PRISM. Past WLW trainings are archived online.

The Computing Tip of the Week is written and distributed via email to all UW Colleges and UW Extension employees. The tips are also archived at the CTOW archive site.

Useful Links

ARTstor
Desire2Learn (D2L)
PRISM
Sloan-C Consortium
UW Colleges CourseCasting
UW Colleges Library Course Pages
UW Colleges Online