New in CarmenCanvas for Autumn 2019
Whether you’re coming back for another semester or beginning your Ohio State journey this autumn, there are several tools, integrations and opportunities you should be aware of to support your teaching strategy. Learn what students have to say about CarmenCanvas, try out our new academic web conferencing tool, explore technology integrations and scope out affordability strategies. Learn what’s new in the eLearning landscape and set yourself up for successful courses this term.
Carmen Common Sense
Members of Undergraduate Student Government (USG) gathered feedback from Ohio State students and departments to compile a list of 10 actionable suggestions for instructors to reference when building Carmen courses. Students presented “Carmen Common Sense” at the Innovate conference in May in order to spread the word on how to improve the learning experience in Carmen.
Web Browser vs. App Use
Not sure whether to access CarmenCanvas on your computer or on your mobile device? We’ve documented tips that can help you decide when to use each type of device for specific tasks. This article also highlights general tips for navigating the Canvas Teacher and Canvas Student apps.
CarmenZoom
This summer, ODEE rolled out CarmenZoom to all Ohio State faculty, staff and students. This academic web conferencing tool allows you to video chat with your colleagues, collaborate virtually on a research project, host remote office hours with students, work together on class projects and more. CarmenZoom is fully integrated with CarmenCanvas, making it easy to capture and share recordings of online course meetings.
The Zoom app has also been pushed to all iPads distributed through the Digital Flagship initiative, so freshmen and sophomore students will all have easy access to this tool on their common mobile devices. If you teach first- and second-year students, consider using Zoom for office hours and advising.
Please be aware that CarmenConnect is in the retirement process. You should be using CarmenZoom for any new video meetings or webinars, and be sure to download Connect recordings you would like to keep before October 31.
LabArchives Assignments Integration
The electronic lab notebook software, LabArchives, helps you manage and share your professional research data as well as organize lab notebooks for students in your courses. The Classroom Edition of LabArchives also includes assignment functionality that has recently been integrated with CarmenCanvas! ODEE is looking for testers who would be willing to give the integration a try and provide feedback. This new integration allows students to submit assignments in LabArchives, and those submissions are passed to Canvas so that the instructor can grade using SpeedGrader and post scores directly to the Gradebook.
If you are interested in using these integrated assignments, contact labarchives@osu.edu to get involved.
Mediasite Quizzing
Did you know that Mediasite offers quizzing functionality? Mediasite quizzes allow you to gauge your student's understanding of the material being presented during or after a presentation. This feature is great for non-graded interactions, and you can see the results along with other metrics to get a quick snapshot of your students’ comprehension. Learn more about Mediasite quizzes in the ODEE Resource Center.
ExamSoft
ExamSoft’s suite of software provides a powerful solution for exam creation, exam delivery, grading and recording scores. It also provides item banking functionality to create a repository of test questions mapped with learning objectives, as well as robust, real- time reports to provide performance feedback. In addition, ExamSoft offers Examplify, an application that provides secure testing for all devices, including the iPad. Learn more about ExamSoft at Ohio State and fill out the Examsoft Interest Form if you would like to use this tool in your college or department.
Affordable Learning Exchange
The Affordable Learning Exchange (ALX) is requesting proposals to participate in its next cohort. ALX awards grants to instructors who want to transform their courses using open and affordable course materials. Any course at Ohio State is eligible for consideration—from small seminars to large, multi-section general education courses. Learn more and apply before September 12.
What if your current textbook is the perfect fit for your course, but you still want to help lessen the financial burden on your students? Consider taking advantage of CarmenBooks, an inclusive access program that offers digital copies of selected textbooks and other course materials for a fraction of the cost. Find out if your textbook or course materials are available by contacting carmenbooks@osu.edu.
Streaming Resources from University Libraries
Another great option to promote affordability is taking advantage of the wide range of streaming resources available through University Libraries. They have access to several streaming databases and the ability to purchase new titles for inclusion. If you feel like a video or movie would help you meet your course objectives, learn how you can locate streaming media and incorporate it into your Carmen courses.
