RPP #105: Blackboard Analytics for Learn

• Interview with Mark Max, Vice President of Blackboard Analytics (formerly iStrategy)
• Blackboard Analytics for Learn combines the data from Blackboard Learn with student and course attributes from the student information system to create reports and dashboards. We discuss how this product is used by students, faculty and leadership, for example:
• Students: How do I measure up to my peers?
• Faculty: How can I easily find students who are at-risk?
• Leadership: Who are the most innovative instructors?
  
• Podsafe Music Selection from the Music Alley
• "Stress" (song and flash animation) by highly caffeinated Jim Infantino of the band, Jim's Big Ego.

Duration: 23:25

RPP #104: Blackboard World 2012 Wrap-Up

• Blackboard Corporate Keynote Wrap-Up
• Blackboard CEO, Michael Chasen, opened the corporate keynote and announced...
• Project XP: xpLor - XP stands for "cross-platform" and Lor stands for "learning object repository". Finally a way for faculty content experts to share and consume modular learning objects.
• Ray Henderson, CTO and President of Academic Platforms, discussed recent advances and the future roadmap for Learn 
• ConnectTxt - new 2-Way SMS Platform 
• Bb Learn Service Pack 8 - improved global navigation, assessment insight, item analysis, and more 
• Bb Analytics for Learn - new dashboards for improved decision making
• Bb Collaborate v12 - improves Learn integration, including grade book, and mobile delivery
• Bb Social - social learning coming in the fall for FREE with Community module
• Katie Blot, President of Global Services Division, presented new professional services aimed at expanding program and course development, marketing, and student lifecycle support. 
• Kayvon Beykpour, General Manager of Blackboard Mobile showcased new capabilities in Blackboard Mobile Learn and Mobile Central
• Mobile Central maps now include augmented reality
• Mobile Learn now includes mobile assessments
• Usage and analytics are now available
• Push notifications for students
• Podsafe Music Selection from Magnatune
• Concerto No. 2 in G Minor (Summer) by the American Baroque Orchestra. The full CD "The Four Seasons by Vivaldi" is available at magnatune.com

RPP #103: Managing Your Social Media

• News from the Podosphere

• New Podcasts App from Apple liberates audio and video podcasts from iTunes with a dedicated app for iOS
• Integrating your Social Media
• IFTTT (ifttt.com) - "If This Then That", a free service that allows your social media portfolio to inter-operate and save you time. For example, earn how to automatically Tweet each time you post to your blog.
• Other sites mentioned
• bit.ly
• blogger.com
• facebook.com
• linkedin.com    
• pipes.yahoo.com
• ping.fm
• twitter.com

• Podsafe Music Selection from Magnatune
• "Run" from the new age piano album "Lines Build Walls" by Ehren Starks

Duration: 14:38

RPP #102: Seton Hill's iPad Experiment

• Interview: Dr. Mary Ann Gawelek, Provost, Seton Hill University on "An iPad2 for Everyone". This is a follow-up with Dr. Gawelek, who I interviewed back in September 2010 (RPP# 87) just as they were about to launch their trend setting iPad program. I asked:

• Why did you provide both iPads and Macbook Pros to students?
• Did you “flip” your classrooms?
• How is your faculty adjusting to this new paradigm?
• Did you save on printing costs?
• How about iBook Author or other e-textbook programs?
• What lessons did you learn?
• How do you gauge the success of the iPad program?
  
• Links to resources mentioned:
• Collect, organize, and share ideas on the iPad
• Corkulus 
• Popplet
• Inkling - interactive textbooks for iPad
• Blackboard Mobile Learn
• Touchfire -  iPad Screentop Keyboard
  
• Rod's Delicious iPad Bookmarks

• Podsafe music selection from Music Alley
• "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme" performed by Jane Aubourg, a solo electric violinist using digital effects

Duration: 28:45