Quick Hits

• For ideas about effective teaching methods, please listen to CTL's podcast, Teaching & Learning Matters. New ones come out twice a month.
• New workshops and events are announced every month through the Academic Affairs listserv and on our calendar.
• Faculty also have access to Sloan-C Workshops and materials through the Center for Teaching and Learning's membership with Sloan-C. There is no cost to you.
• If you are interested in electronic surveys to gather feedback from your students or to conduct research, try our campus supported tool, SurveyShare.

Moodle Pilot Continues, Decision Expected this Spring

As recommended by the Learning Management Systems (LMS) Evaluation Committee, the Moodle evaluation has now expanded to 40 faculty and over 3400 students this semester. Over the past year, the LMS Evaluation Committee has been collecting data from the pilot faculty and students, and the committee expects to make a recommendation by April. So far, faculty and student users alike report greater ease of use with Moodle as compared to Blackboard Vista. Feedback also highlights a reduced need for technical support for Moodle. To see the latest developments go to the LMS Evaluation website, or you can contact us with any questions about the pilot. We welcome your feedback.

Lorraine Stanton,
Coordinator of e-Learning Programs

Meet the Instructional Technology Consultants

The Center for Teaching and Learning has three Instructional Technology Consultants: Sam Eneman, Caryl Gordon, and Melanie Smith. Each one has different duties and interests.

Sam Eneman has been working at UNC Charlotte since the early days of WebCT, circa 2000. Besides being the campus Centra Administrator, one project Sam is very enthusiastic about is our Teaching & Learning Matters podcast. ?What I love most about my work is helping professors overcome any reluctance to use the e-learning tools we support and collaborating with people in other units on campus,? Sam explains. ?My personal goals for this year are to spend more time reading and take more walks with my spouse, the very lovely and talented Cordelia Williams. If you ever come to my office, you will see some of her art.?

Caryl Gordon has over 20 years experience in technical writing, training, and instructional design. This was good preparation for her current work creating training materials for the learning management systems we use. Caryl enjoys providing a high level of customer service, especially ?seeing others who are doubtful of their technological ability learn to use technology to help make their lives and courses more efficient.? Caryl is an avid reader and is currently working on her master?s thesis in Liberal Studies here at UNC Charlotte. Her topic is Nazi Germany symbolism and influences in the Harry Potter series.

Melanie Smith has been with the Center since 2007 and is also responsible for workshop and tutorial development and implementation, particularly focusing on instructional design. One recent project has been to develop training and support materials for the Interwrite Personal Response System or ?clickers.? What Melanie likes most about being at UNC Charlotte is that ?every day is unique, with new challenges and new problems to solve.? Melanie is currently working on her Ph.D. in Instructional Design for Online Learning with Capella University. When she is not working or studying, Melanie enjoys social networking, shopping, and spending time with family and friends.

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