MERIT, in collaboration with WCER Technical Services, has launched a School of Education Knowledgebase (http://kb.wisc.edu/education) to provide 24x7 access to technology tips, tutorials and policies at one searchable site. It uses DoIT's knowledgebase application, which provides workflow for document management and the ability to share documents with other campus KB sites. The site also has a News section used for posting service updates and alerts. If you have suggestions for documents or topics you'd like to see online in the KB, please email Brenda Spychalla at blspycha@wisc.edu. 

We are excited to welcome Tom Christopherson, new PA working with MERIT staff.  Tom will help support the 2009-10 TEL grant, "Virtual Patient to Virtual Student:  an expansion of a case study approach."   Tom is no stranger to the School of Education with a masters degree in C&I with an emphasis in Education Technology, licensure course work in ELPA, and current work towards his PhD in C&I.  Tom will be working with individuual SoE faculty and MERIT staff to develop case studies using the Virtual Case tool developed by the School of Pharmacy.   

Resources for Departmental and Instructional Planning for Academic Continuity

The university has created a website (www.flu.wisc.edu) that posts information and resources to help departments and instructors with their pandemic planning.  By clicking on Campus Planning Documents located on the left navigation bar, you can access the specific resources below:

Academic planning

Academic Pandemic Planning Guidance — June 19, 2009

A memo from the Office of the Provost to academic departments regarding the development of a continuity of instruction, or social-distance teaching plan.

Continuity of Instruction for Departments: Coding Essential Courses in ISIS — Aug. 3, 2009

This memo from the Office of the Registrar Curricular Services provides guidance on identifying and coding essential and social distance ready courses in ISIS.

Guidance for Departmental Planning for Continuing Instruction — July 31, 2009

This document provides help to departments who are developing how they will continue instruction for their essential courses in the event of a flu pandemic.  You can think of it as the "cliff note" version of the instructions contained in the documents "Unit Pandemic Influenza Planning" and "Academic Pandemic Planning Guidance".

Preparing Your Course for Social Distance Teaching — July 31, 2009

This document provides help to instructors who are developing their social distance teaching plans.  It “walks through” a variety of decisions you will need to make, provides several examples, and provides links to example syllabi.
   
Unit planning

Unit Pandemic Influenza Planning — June 19, 2009

This memo, from Sarah Van Orman, chair of the Campus Health Issues Planning Committee and executive director of University Health Services, addresses questions and offers assistance to campus units in preparing their pandemic influenza plans.

Additionally, the Teaching & Learning Excellence website (TLE.wisc.edu) will host a special section (https://tle.wisc.edu/pandemic) that will be continually updated with activities and technologies for how to teach under conditions of social distancing. The site also contains areas where faculty and staff can discuss these issues.

What is Moodle?   Moodle is an open source course management system offered by several schools and colleges at UW-Madison.  The School of Education offers Moodle as an alternative web tool for courses and web-based projects.   Moodle is often considered when a flexible approach to course design is needed as it offers a choice of  formats and templates.  Moodle can be an appropriate choice for online course activites with a focus on collaborative group work. includes specialized support for math and science notation, and offers specialized support for teaching foreign languages, including voice recording.   

To support decision making around CMS software, the UW Madison Moodle council drafted a consultative guide to help faculty choose between Moodle or Learn@UW.  A copy of the guide Learn@UW or Moodle:  which to use? is posted in the SoE Knowledgebase.   Contact Catherine Stephens if you have questions about the guide.

MERIT staff can help recommend Moodle based on course objectives and design goals. MERIT staff work collaboratively to support design of Moodle coures sites, instructional support, support for posting and streaming video, instructional design, and graphic design and consulting.  To learn more about MERIT services in support of online courses, contact Catherine Stephens.

Thinking about upgrading to Adobe CS4 or Microsoft Office 2007? Wondering about WiscCal? Check out the free BrownBags offered this summer by DoIT's Professional Technical Education (PTE) group. Further training and support is available from MERIT through MERIT's online software tutorials or by contacting Jim Jonas to inquire about help and workshops for specific programs or groups.

Ready to upgrade? Both Adobe CS4 and Microsoft Office 2007 are available for installation on your School of Education computer. Contact our Help Desk, 5-4773, or your IT consultant for assistance.

We would like to remind SoE faculty and grads that you are eligible for access to software, software training and statistical consulting through the SSCC - Social Science Computing Cooperative.  Software access requires a SoE login account; software programs can be accessed remotely from off campus.  Please feel free to contact me (Zach Buehl, zjbuehl@education.wisc.edu) if you have not received access, or have questions about the SSCC, and check the SSCC training schedule for a list of summer workshops.  We will be having training courses aimed specifically at School of Education members in the fall; more information on that to come.