Columbia University School of Social Work
 
Instructional Technology Resources

Dear CUSSW Faculty,

Welcome new and returning faculty. Please see an updated summary of current instructional technologies and related services.

Classroom Instructional Technology, Hours of Operation, and Training
All of our classrooms are equipped with instructional technology. We offer training on how to use the multimedia equipment, which lasts approximately 10-20 minutes depending on questions and the equipment you would like to use. To schedule a training session, please email us at [email protected] with available dates, times and the classroom in which you are scheduled to teach in this term.

All classrooms and seminar rooms have a campus phone with several phone numbers posted on the wall for assistance. If you need technical assistance we can be reached at x12345, option 2. See Technology Features List chart for details.

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays during the fall and spring terms, the equipment is unlocked by 8:45am before the start of classes. If you require access to the classroom and equipment earlier than 8:45am, please send an email request to [email protected] at least five (5) business days in advance. For Mondays and Fridays, during the fall and spring terms, multimedia equipment must be requested at least five (5) business days in advance and included in your room reservation to have access to free basic multimedia equipment. See below for our hours of operation for the fall and spring terms.

Classroom Technology Hours of Operation during the Fall and Spring Terms
Mondays 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesdays 9:00 am - 8:00pm/10:00 pm*
Wednesdays 9:00 am - 8:00pm/10:00 pm*
Thursdays 9:00 am - 8:00pm/10:00 pm*
Fridays 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

* For classroom use for non-course events, including extra class meetings, multimedia equipment must be requested and the room reservation confirmed at least five (5) business days in advance of the event. This includes events which require multimedia equipment between 8:00pm to 10:00pm, Tuesdays through Thursdays during the fall and spring terms. If multimedia equipment is not requested, the multimedia equipment equipment will be locked by 8:00pm. 

Role Play Rooms
Instructors may use the role play rooms to record student role play course assignments, and pipe live video of role plays to a classroom. If you would like to use the rooms, complete and submit the School of Social Work Role Play Room Request Form as soon as possible.  If students must complete the course assignment during non-classroom hours, we recommend a four (4) week advance notice to allow time for students to reserve a time slot for the role play room. Please click and read the Role Play Room Guide. 

Role play videos are posted to Mediathread, a secure web-based learning environment that enables students to view, analyze, and communicate ideas with video. We are available to give a 10 minute in-class presentation to your students once we receive the request and setup all the resources.  

Please let us know if you are planning to use the role play rooms by filling out the School of Social Work Role Play Room Request Form.

NOTE: If you are teaching a T7100 or T7102 course, there is no need to request the role play room. Arrangements have been made by the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Office.

Audio Recording of Guest Course Lectures
We have two (2) portable audio recording units with microphones that instructors may reserve to record course lectures. We will post the recordings on your CourseWorks site where students will be able to download them to mp3 players or listen to them on a computer.  To reserve an audio recorder for a course lecture, email [email protected] your request along with the date and time of lecture, the course and section number(s). Requests are handled on a first-come first-served basis. Priority is given to requests for recording a guest lecturer who is presenting in one section of a course where the recording would be used in other sections. All audio and video recordings, excluding student role play assignments, require signed consent forms.

• Presenter Media Release Form
• Class Roster Media Release Form

Video Recording of Guest Course Lectures
The Office of Computing and Instructional Technology can video record classes when there is a guest lecturer for a course with multiple sections, and the presenter is only available for one section. If this is the case please e-mail your video recording request to [email protected] with a specific plan for how you will use the recording, including the date and time of the lecture, the course and section number(s) at least three (3) weeks in advance. Recording is also contingent on availability of a classroom that is equipped with a video camera (C03, C05, C06, 311, 312, 301, 302, 304, 305, 401, 404, 405, and 406) and the AV department's availability to record. All audio and video recordings, excluding student role play assignments, require signed consent forms.

• Presenter Media Release Form
• Class Roster Media Release Form

Once a request is received, you will be contacted to review the details with one of our Instructional Technology Specialist.

Important Note
The School does not offer video recording of classes for students who are planning to miss class. The only exception is when the Office of Disability (ODS) approves a student accommodation to video record a lecture.

If you have any other course related video recording request, please email Associate Dean Craig Schwalbe ([email protected]) and [email protected] with a specific plan for how you will use the recording, including the date and time of the lecture, the course and section number(s) at least three (3) weeks in advance for review and consideration.

Web Conferencing
The flexible classrooms on the 3rd and 4th floors has a rear camera and microphone capabilities. Please email us at [email protected] for a wireless microphone. The C-level Case Study rooms have 3 built-in cameras, as well as student and podium microphones attached to the room PC. The Faculty Conference Rooms and Seminar Rooms have a front facing camera and ceiling microphones attached to the room PC ready to use for webconferencing.

Zoom (with CUIT)
The Teaching & Learning Applications team within CUIT offers Zoom video conferencing service. (https://cuit.columbia.edu/video-conferencing) It will be offered at no cost to instructors, and at a small cost for administration. https://columbiauniversity.zoom.us/signin

Features include:

• Full video conferencing functionality
• Up to 50 attendees per session, up to 100 by request on an ad-hoc basis
• Break-out rooms
• H.323 room connection capability
• Support for Android & iOS mobile platforms
• CAS authentication, allowing a single, unified login
• Canvas integration
• Downloadable recordings

To ensure the highest levels of security, Zoom Video accounts will be authenticated using CAS as with other CUIT applications. This will require the account owner's UNI and password.

Skype
Skype is installed on the classroom computer, so it can easily be used for remote guest presenters. All you need is a Skype account and request the microphone at least five (5) business days in advance of your class to [email protected]. For best results, please notify [email protected], three (3) weeks in advance so we can schedule testing with remote presenters and participants.

Skype now offers group video calls and screen sharing. Check out current features and quick training videos.

Audience Response System (ARS)
Audience response systems allows students to instantly provide feedback and answer questions posed by their instructors in real time. There are a couple of ARS options available, Poll Everywhere and Socrative. The links below provide additional information.

Poll Everywhere
Poll Everywhere is another ARS option which is web based. No cost. Class size is limited to 40. For additional information please visit links below.

2017 Info (pdf): Getting Started Guide for Educators 2017
Website: https://www.polleverywhere.com/
Video: https://vimeo.com/37674303
Edu Guide: https://www.polleverywhere.com/edu-guide

Socrative
Socrative is another ARS option which is web based. No Cost. Class size is limited to 50. For additional information please visit links below.

Website: http://www.socrative.com/
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzNrXd5Xpu4
User Guide: http://help.socrative.com/

Instructional Technology for Students with Disability Accommodations
As you utilize the various instructional technology tools at your disposal, please be mindful of the needs of students with disabilities who may be in your class. Each term, the School's Office of Student Services will email instructors a letter for students enrolled in their course who have been granted accommodations by the University's Office of Disability Services. The letter will detail the accommodations the student has been approved to receive. If you have questions about a student enrolled in your class who is granted accommodations by ODS, please contact Natalia Cwik ([email protected], 212-851-2367) in the School's Office of Student Services to discuss making arrangements for ensuring the students accommodations are met.

Sometimes, these accommodations include closed-captioning of videos, alternate-format materials, screen-magnification software, video magnifiers and screen-reading software. NOTE: It takes the University several weeks to have closed caption added to a video or to order materials in alternative-format. Thus, it's best to provide such requests and needs as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at [email protected].

Thank you,
Ann McCann Oakley, Assistant Dean
Josephine Tatel, AV Manager
Ed Cardona, Senior Instructional Technology Specialist
LA Creech, Instructional Technology Specialist

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Office of Computing and Instructional Technology
1255 Amsterdam Ave, Suite 419
New York, NY 10027
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January 2018