2009 Pre-Conference Workshops
Pre-Conference Workshops will be available from 8:30 -11:00 am. Don't forget to arrive early, seats will fill up fast.
- eLearning Leaders Workshop and Meeting
- Interactive Introduction to Softchalk 5.0
- Video Conferencing in Your Classroom
eLearning Leaders Workshop and Meeting
Facilitated by: Brian Ormand, NM State University & NM Learning Network
Location: Meeting Room 1
This pre-conference workshop and meeting is targeted at eLearning Leaders in New Mexico including Distance Learning Directors, Extended College Administrators, Online Program Managers, etc. The workshop session will include a research based presentation by experts about eLearning trends in higher education (presented by Eduventures). The workshop will also present a proposed research agenda to the NM eLearning Leaders and the workshop will be used to refine additional research to be performed. Following the workshop will be a meeting of the NM eLearning Leaders to determine next steps for the association (please contact bormand@nmsu.edu for more information - meeting will take place from 11:30am-12:30pm).
Interactive Introduction to Softchalk 5.0
Presented by: Sandy Johnson and Amy Jaramillo, IDEAL-NM & RETA and Jacqui Derby, IDEAL-NM
Location: Meeting Room 4A
This is a hands-on session and will require participants to download the free 30 day demo of Softchalk on their laptops and bring those laptops with them to the pre-conference session.
Softchalk 5.0 is software that allows you to create interactive lessons and package them to be used in a learning management system (LMS) such as Blackboard or Moodle or as stand alone files. New Mexico teachers, such as developers and instructors for IDEAL-NM and other K-12 educators participating in professional development for blended/online instruction have been using Softchalk to allow students to learn new information, review with an activity, and then, if the instructor wants, assess the learning all right from Lesson Builder with Softchalk. Using Softchalk in development of online courses—whether in a blended, synchronous or asynchronous environment—is the key to student interaction. Participants in this session will be introduced to features of Softchalk, packaging of lessons in an LMS, saving lessons to CDs, and how NM teachers can download Softchalk FREE for use in their own classrooms (http://www.softchalk.com/).
Video Conferencing in Your Classroom
Facilitated by: Miley Grandjean and Cynthia Medina, NM State University-RETA
Location: Meeting Room 5
This is a hands-on session and will require participants to bring their laptops with them to join in on the fun.
Whether you teach online or in a blended environment, online video conferencing tools can increase the connectedness that you and your students feel. In this workshop, you will learn how to effectively use a few of the most common (and free!) and easy-to-use video conferencing tools.
During this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn the basics of how to use web conferencing tools, how these tools can enhance teaching and learning, and how to embed the video conferencing links in your Moodle, Blackboard, and/or a classroom wiki.
Takeaways include:
- A clear understanding of some primary video conferencing tools
- Lesson ideas of how to effectively use web conferencing tools as part of your curriculum
- Step-by-step instructions on how to embed these web conferencing tools
Web conferencing tools that will be showcased are:
- Adobe Connect
- Skype
- TokBox
- ooVoo
If you have any questions please email the NMTIE Coordinator at