The Baruch College Faculty Handbook

Instructional Technology

Last updated on 6/17/2010

The schedule for training sessions in the use of instructional/classroom technology (including Blackboard) is available online. For additional information, including other arrangements for such training (e.g. to departments or to other groups of instructors), please see below.

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Instructional Technology at Baruch College is managed by the Instructional Technology Unit (InTech) of the Baruch Computing and Technology Center (BCTC).

Definition
InTech is made up of the Course Management Unit (institution portal design and development, departmental computer based training (CBT) and computer based assessment (CBA) projects and other methods for implementing technology assisted course management, learning, or assessment.), Media Resources (Instructional Media and Special Event Media) and Web Development.

Mission
InTech works with faculty to advance, facilitate, and enhance teaching and learning through appropriate integration of technology with teaching. This partnership includes, but is not limited to, empowering faculty through training, development of new and existing teaching tools and management of the instructional technology infrastructure. InTech's direct and indirect services support the overall teaching and learning goals of the college.

Goal
To deliver successful learning solutions in partnership with faculty by understanding their needs and exceeding their expectations. Members of InTech will achieve this goal through professionalism, expertise, teamwork and continuous self-assessment.

This brief overview identifies the learning technologies available to faculty at Baruch College. Some faculty may require greater support in developing their own personal teaching style with technology. Those faculty members should contact Jim Russell, Director of Instructional Technology at (646) 312-4895 or Jim_Russell@baruch.cuny.edu.

Training Sessions on Instructional Technologies
Several options exist for training with Instructional Technologies at Baruch. Training sessions may also be hosted by a department or group of faculty members by contacting Jim Russell at 646-312-4895.


Instructional Technology in Teaching Spaces

Podiums in the VC and beyond
Baruch's new Newman Vertical Campus brings state-of-the-art instructional technology and media on a scale almost unprecedented in an urban academic center - 102 classrooms, 14 research labs, and 36 computer labs, each of which is fully wired and provided with an integrated computer and media lectern that links the instructional technology with ceiling projectors and allows instructors to deploy every teaching technology from the traditional "overhead" to the latest information management tools provided by PowerPoint presentations; live internet research; digital photography; video and audio playback; teleconferencing; and more.


Equipment in Newman Vertical Campus Classrooms
  • Windows 2000 Computer, equipped with:
    • DVD Player
    • Basic CD Player
    • MS Office Suite
    • Internet Connection
  • Digital Projector
  • Projection Screen
  • Task Light
  • Document Camera
  • Laptop Connections
  • Auxiliary video and audio in and out
  • Microphones (in larger classrooms)
  • Telephones (in-house only; BCTC and Security numbers are posted)

Media Resources Equipment
For rooms that are not in the Newman Vertical Campus that require special equipment not resident there, Media Resources can provide portable equipment delivery and set-up. We are generally unable to dedicate staff to operate the equipment during your class. With prior arrangement we can provide basic training on how to use any equipment we provide.

All equipment must be requested no later than two working days (48 hours) before class. Online orders are given priority to fax and mail orders. Equipment requests are done on first come - first serve basis. Requests are made via the web, email, fax or inter office mail.

Location : 151 East 25th Street, H-0619
Telephone: 646-312-1141; 646-312-1131 (fax)
Email: MediaResources@baruch.cuny.edu
Media resources request form

Problems with equipment in classrooms should be reported to Media Resources at: 646-312-1141 or to the BCTC help desk 646-312-1010.

NB: Sound systems cannot be provided for classrooms with 40 seats or fewer without authorization from the CIO or the Director of Instructional Technology.

Types of portable equipment available through Media Resources
3/4" Playback Projection Screen
Audio Tape Playback or recording LCD Projector with or without PC
Computer w/Projector Slide Projector (16mm or 35mm)
Microphones:
Floor, Lavalier, Podium or Table		 Video Playback or recording

Instructional Technology on the Internet

Blackboard
Blackboard is an on-line course management system which provides off-campus access to course materials, assignments, and class discussions. It allows instructors to create, deliver, and manage web-based educational technologies for courses. It can be used to add online elements to a traditional course, or to develop completely online courses with few or no face-to-face meetings. View BCTC's Blackboard webpage for up-to-date news and information.

Baruch College has been using Blackboard since September 1999. The current version is 8.0.

  • course announcements
  • personalized course calendars
  • threaded discussion, live chat, and online whiteboard
  • online quizzes and surveys, with automated grading and statistics
  • course assignment and documents areas
  • course-related external links
  • online file sharing
  • timed release of quizzes and other course materials
  • student rosters, e-mail, and online gradebook
  • group project areas

Blackboard course pages are easy to create. Instructors use built-in templates to create announcements quizzes, and external links. Other course materials can be created in a similar fashion, or can be written using any software you choose, and then uploaded into the Blackboard course site.

No knowledge of HTML is required to create a Blackboard course site. Your choice of formatting options will increase, however, if you know a few HTML tags.

To learn more or for help understanding and navigating Blackboard, please visit BCTC's Instructional Technology Resources and Information for Faculty webpage.

New to Blackboard 8.0? Please see Blackboard Documents for Faculty.

Making a Course Available to Students

  1. On your Blackboard site, go to "Control Panel" (on the left)
  2. In the lower left, click on "Settings"
  3. Click on "Course Availability"
  4. Click on "Yes"
  5. Click "Submit"

Students now will be able to gain access to the course's Blackboard site.

Individual Web Sites
Faculty may request web server space on Baruch's Faculty Server. This web server is a Microsoft IIS system intended to host simple web pages and moderate web development. Most faculty members will find Blackboard more convenient for instructional purposes. If you would like to create an account on this server, contact Patrick Ackerman, Campus Web Administrator, at 646-312-1065 for more information.