Category Tools and how to (tips)

This is for tools and ‘how-to’ items

Creating Templates with Google Apps

Similar to Microsoft Word, Google apps support the creation of templates for documents with particular pre-formatted layout and style requirements. Templates are a simple–often overlooked–tool for saving time by eliminating the repetitive processes of formatting and layout. Templates help reduce cognitive overhead by allowing users to focus on creating content.

Navigating nonstop news

How do you follow news online? We have so much access to information we can’t possibly read it all. Do you remember the episode of "I Love Lucy" where Lucy works at a candy factory? She has to wrap all the chocolate coming down the belt but it keeps moving faster and faster. The pace of news today can feel like this.

Five Google app add-ons for teaching

By design, Google Applications offer bare-bones formatting and functionality, but sometimes you need additional features to support your purpose. This week's Teaching Tip introduces five add-on like the Google Doc Highlight Tool which allows you to designate a certain color of highlight with a theme. Once done, you can gather those selections, organize them by themes, and share the results with others. Explore more!

Use a learning glass to deliver engaging lectures

The "Learning Glass," sometimes called a Lightboard, is a large piece of glass ringed by LED lights. When fluorescent marker is applied to the surface of the glass, it catches the light from the LEDs and glows clearly and brightly. An instructor can take advantage of this and draw from behind the glass, allowing the audience to see them and their written work at the same time. UAF CTL recently installed a Learning Glass unit, joining institutions such as Northwestern, San Diego State University, and University of Florida. Several UAF instructors have already created videos that are being used this semester.

How to use Augmented Reality in class

Have you been playing Pokémon Go lately? You have probably heard about it if you haven’t actually tried it out for yourself. Apart from cute Pokémons, one of the reasons this game is sensational is because it involves Augmented Reality (AR), which is a digital layer that can be seen on top of the real world through your mobile device, which is super fun.

Creating a course banner

A course banner offers the instructor the opportunity to provide a unique welcome, a personal touch, basic information, style and flair to an individual course or possibly a group of courses. Give your students the assurance, at a glance, that they are in the right place. Create a course banner with your course section, number, and title.