Home

Useful URLs for e-Education at Penn State

Resources assembled by Ann Taylor Luck
This page was last modified on 29 December, 2006

Table of Contents

TIP: To search this page by keyword, use your browser's "Find..." and "Find Again" commands ( usually found under the browser's "Edit" menu ).

1. General Resources
2. Reference Materials
3. Copyright and Intellectual Property
4. Technology Resources
   1. Learning Object Resources
   2. Quiz and Game Tools
   3. Tools for Figuring Out Course Dates
   4. Web Site Design
   5. Course Tool Directions
   6. Student Directions for How to Use Course Tools
5. Usability and ADA Resources
6. Training Resources
7. Graphics Resources
   1. Free Collections
   2. Fee-based Collections
   3. About Graphics on the Web
8. Models and Examples
9. Instructional Design
   1. Models
   2. Teaching Strategies
   3. Learning Styles
   4. Assessment
      1. Peer Reviews
      2. Rubrics
   5. Evaluation
   6. Writing Across the Curriculum
10. Resources for Graduate Students
11. Teaching Portfolios
12. Content Resources
    1. Subject Matter
    2. Multimedia
13. Library Resources
14. Related Readings
    1. General Interest
    2. Teaching at a Distance
    3. Teaching Strategies
    4. Web Site Design
    5. Assessment and Evaluation

General Resources

John A. Dutton e-Education Institute ( Penn State )
( http://www.e-education.psu.edu )

ANGEL ( Penn State's Course Management System )
( http://cms.psu.edu/ )

Center for Adult Learner Services ( Penn State )
( http://www.sa.psu.edu/cals/ )

World Campus Home Page
( http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/ )

World Campus "Course Finder" ( enter your PSU Access user ID and password )
( https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/cgi-bin/finder/wccourses.cgi )

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Reference Materials

Penn State's Editorial Style Manual
A useful resource to consult when trying to figure out the "official" way to spell or present something!
http://www.psu.edu/ur/PUBS/style/

Penn State's Academic Calendar
( http://www.registrar.psu.edu/academic_calendar/calendar_index.html )

Penn State Blue Book ( Undergraduate Degree Programs Bulletin )
( http://www.psu.edu/bulletins/bluebook/ )

Penn State White Book ( Graduate Degree Programs Bulletin )
( http://www.psu.edu/bulletins/whitebook/ )

List of Textbook Publishers
( http://acqweb.library.vanderbilt.edu/acqweb/pubr.html )

Time and Date ( A guide to time zones, calendars, and more )
( http://www.timeanddate.com/ )

Calendar Generator ( create and print year-at-glance and monthly calendars )
( http://www.calendarhome.com/tyc/ )

Urban Legends and Folklore Web site
A place to check out possible e-mail hoaxes
( http://urbanlegends.about.com/science/urbanlegends/ )

Office of Regulatory Compliance's Info on "Human Subjects"
( http://www.research.psu.edu/orp/irb%20review.htm )

World Campus Instructor FAQ
( https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/public/ID/instructorfaq.shtml )

Glossary of Distance Education Terms
A wonderful collection of basic distance education terms ( and definitions! ) compiled by Michael G. Moore and Kay Shattuck.
( https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/public/faculty/DEGlossary.shtml )

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Copyright and Intellectual Property

TEACH Act Information
A Penn State collection of information about the TEACH Act.
( http://tlt.its.psu.edu/dmd/teachact/ )

Cyberplagiarism: Detection and Prevention
A great resource for faculty on the subject of plagiairism ( with a "student view" that is nice to link to from a course )
( http://tlt.its.psu.edu/suggestions/cyberplag/ )

Intellectual Property at Penn State
( http://www.ecsel.psu.edu/ip/links.html )

Intellectual Property Rights of Penn State Students
The official University policy stating the rights and responsibilities regarding intellectual property created as a student at The Pennsylvania State University.
( http://guru.psu.edu/policies/RAG13.html )

Penn State's Courseware Policy
( http://guru.psu.edu/policies/RA17.html )

Distance Education/The World Campus: Copyrights and Royalties Issues
Useful information regarding the copyrights and royalties policies followed by the Penn State department of Distance Education/The World Campus.
( http://www.outreach.psu.edu/users/afc1/DE.copyrights.html )

Penn State's Policy on Confidentiality of Student Records
Important information every faculty and staff member at Penn State should know...
( http://www.psu.edu/dept/oue/aappm/N-1.html )

Copyright - When Works Pass Into the Public Domain
Laura Gasaway is one of the current copyright gurus, and her work is frequently referenced among those "in the know" about copyright and fair use issues. This chart ( with info from Laura G. ) outlines some of the issues related to fair use and public domain.
( http://www.unc.edu/~unclng/public-d.htm )

Chilling Effects Clearinghouse
A joint project of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Harvard, Stanford, Berkeley, and University of San Francisco law school clinics. The site helps users understand the protections intellectual property laws and the First Amendment give to online activities.
( http://www.chillingeffects.org/ )

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Technology Resources

Google Tips ( movie )
A four minute long movie full of valuable tips for how to search the Web using Google.

Podcasting
A great collection of resources from David Passmore and Rose Baker. Originally presented at ANGEL Day 2005.
( http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/d/l/dlp/podcast/ )

Wi-Fi Hotspots in State College, PA
A great resource collated by Jerry Maddox for his ART 201 course.
( http://www.courses.psu.edu/art/art201_jxm22/hotspots.html )

Software Tools for Web Learning
( http://www.knowledgeability.biz/weblearning/softwaretools.htm )

Edu-Tools
A useful site for comparing course management systems.
( http://www.edutools.info/course/productinfo/index.jsp )

World Campus "Diagnose Your Computer" page
User diagnosis pages for all World Campus programs, including a "general" one.
( https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/public/diagnostics/ )

CACPAC ( online version - Internet software from Penn State )
( http://ftp.cac.psu.edu/access/cd/ )

Download Time Calculator
( http://www.martindalecenter.com/AATimeCalc.html )

KB to MB Conversion
( http://www.usbyte.com/_unit_converter/kb_to_mb.htm )

Penn State Public Computer Ports
Have a laptop? Penn State's Office of Telecommunications maintains a Web page with information about the availability of public ethernet ports on each of the campuses. You can visit their Web site to find out availability by building and campus. To use these, all you need is an Access Account.
( http://www.otc.psu.edu/services/staff/data/lan/mobileport.html )

Videoconferencing Orientation Guide
Site description: "This guide is intended to orient first time users to videoconferencing at Penn State while focusing on specific issues related to videoconferencing at Telecommunication and Networking Services' ( TNS ) facilities located in room 120 University Support Building 2, at the University Park campus."
( http://www.tns.its.psu.edu/services/staff/vidconf/guide.html )

Learning Object Resources

• The Instructional Use of Learning Objects
  A free, online version of the book - defines learning objects and explains how to design learning objects to support inquiry-based online learning.
  ( http://www.reusability.org/read )
• Qarbon
  Qarbon's ViewletBuilder software - great for creating online tutorials.
  ( http://www.qarbon.com/ )

Quiz and Game Tools

• Quiz Master ( at Cybertrain.info )
  "The DYI Quiz Game Generator." Enables you to create a large variety of interactive, online quizzes and games without needing to know how to program them!
  ( http://www.cybertrain.info/ )
• Hot Potatoes
  Site description: "The Hot Potatoes suite includes six applications, enabling you to create interactive multiple-choice, short-answer, jumbled-sentence, crossword, matching/ordering and gap-fill exercises for the World Wide Web. Hot Potatoes is not freeware, but it is free of charge for those working for publicly-funded non-profit-making educational institutions, who make their pages available on the web."
  ( http://web.uvic.ca/hrd/halfbaked/ )
  

Tools for figuring out course dates:

• "Count Number of Weeks" tool ( by Allan Gyorke )
  ( https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/public/Allan/weeks.html )
• "Generate Course Dates" tool ( by Allan Gyorke )
  ( https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/public/Allan/week_calc.html )
• "Countdown to Course Launch" tool ( by Allan Gyorke )
  ( https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/public/Allan/week_countdown.html )

Web site design...

• W3C's Link Checker
  Enter a URL and the site will let you know if there are any broken links on that page.
  ( http://validator.w3.org/checklink )
• W3C's Markup Validation Service
  Enter your page URL and the site will tell you if it is XHTML compliant ( and if not, where the problems are ).
  ( http://validator.w3.org/ )
• HTML Tag List
  A comprehensive list of HTML tags and the attributes you can set inside those tags.
  ( http://www.wai-wetherill.com/mirror/html-tags/ )
• ZDNet's Tag Library
  You can look tags up alphabetically. A nice feature is an explanation of "tips and browser peculiarities" for each tag.
  ( http://www.zdnet.com/devhead/resources/tag_library/ )

Student directions for how to use course tools...

• Using AOL's Instant Messenger ( AIM )
  ( https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/welcome/ssi/WebCTdi rections/aimdirections.html )
• A Guide to Electronic Reserves
  ( https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/welcome/ssi/WebCTdirections/ereserves.html )
• Pass Explorer Instructions
  ( https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/welcome/sharedfiles/pass_explorer/pass_explorer.html )

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Usability and ADA Resources

Access PSU
Site description: "The intended purpose of this site is to offer the Penn State University web community access to accessibility resources through collaborative research and instruction based upon a tutorial workshop during the Web 2003 Conference."
( http://www.equity.psu.edu/access_psu/index.html )

Basic Considerations for Sound Web Site Design
A great overview from Penn State...what to do and what not to do if you want your site to be accessible.
( http://tlt.its.psu.edu/suggestions/accessibility/basics.html )

Web Accessibility Checklist
Penn State's guidelines for accessible sites. Includes examples/non-examples, too! ( http://tlt.its.psu.edu/suggestions/accessibility/check.html ).

Research-Based Web Design and Usability Guidelines
This site is compiled by the National Cancer Institute. It provides "over 50 of the top Web design and usability guidelines based on emerging research and supporting information in the field." The site is nicely designed...easy to find information!
( http://www.usability.gov/guidelines/index.html )

Usability News
A newsletter of the Software Usability Research Laboratory ( SURL ). Lots of helpful research articles pertaining to site design!
( http://psychology.wichita.edu/surl/usability_news.html )

National Center for Accessible Media ( Accessibility Info )
NCAM has software and information on captioning QuickTime and other video, CD-ROM accessibility information, and Web design standards for accessibility.
( http://ncam.wgbh.org/ )

An Introduction to Screen Readers
This article describes what screen readers do, including screen shots and descriptions of some of the most popular ones.
( http://mason.gmu.edu/~swidmaye/portfolio/edit797assistivetech.htm )

Color Vision
A nice overview of color vision issues and a very handy tool that enables one to simulate the appearance of a site's colors for people with different color visions.
( http://www.iamcal.com/toys/colors/ )

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Training Resources

World Campus 101
A student orientation "course" designed to help new and prospective students become acquainted with the World Campus and with the skills they'll need to be successful distance learners
( https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/public/wc101/ )

Fac Dev 101
"Faculty Development 101" is designed to provide World Campus faculty with the information and skills they need to author and instruct World Campus courses
( http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/facdev101/ )

ITS's Training Home Page
On-line and face-to-face training opportunities available through Penn State's Information Techology Services division. Includes over 750 "Web-based Training" tutorials on a wide range of topics, from "Intro to Word" and basic HTML to NT server administration.
( http://cac.psu.edu/training/ )

How-to Documents...for lots of stuff!
This site, from the University of Washington, contains simple how-to documents for using lots of software, including MS Office products, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, video editing software, etc.
( http://catalyst.washington.edu/how-to/ )

Human Subjects On-line Training
The Office of Regulatory Compliance at Penn State now requires that anyone conducting research must go through ORC's on-line training program.
( http://www.research.psu.edu/orp/train/contents.htm )

ETS's Web Accessibility Site
Want to be sure your Web site is accessible to all users? Penn State's Center for Education Technology Services put together this nice on-line tutorial.
( http://tlt.its.psu.edu/suggestions/accessibility/ )

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Graphics Resources

Free collections

• Earth Science World Image Bank
  A service of the American Geological Institute.
• Yotophoto
  From the site: "Internet search engine for finding free-to-use photographs and images. Now indexing well over a quarter million Creative Commons, Public Domain, GNU FDL, and various other 'copyleft' images."
  ( http://yotophoto.com/ )
• NYPL Digital Gallery
  The New York Public Library provides free and open online access to hundreds of thousands of digital images. Images in the collection are either in the public domain or are owned by the library and can be downloaded and used for noncommercial purposes.
  ( http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/index.cfm )
• PDPphoto.org ( Free Public Domain Photos )
  A collection of thousands of great, royalty free photos.
  ( http://pdphoto.org/ )
• AMICO
  The AMICO Library is an annually-updated database of more than 65,000 digital images of art from more than 30 North American museums. Images may be used for class lectures, presentations, student papers, and restricted-access course Web sites. ( If prompted for a user ID and password, use your Penn State Access Account information. )
  ( http://www.lias.psu.edu/scripts/linklias.exe?where=Go+Thereandwhat=AMICO )
• AP Photo Archive
  The Associated Press' collection of local, state, national, and international photos. ( If prompted for a user ID and password, use your Penn State Access Account information. )
  ( http://www.lias.psu.edu/scripts/linklias.exe?where=Go+Thereandwhat=PHOTOARCHIVE )
• Pics 101
  A collection of usable photos from the World Campus' Karl Leitzel!
  ( https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu:443/public/kel5/pic101/library.html )

Fee-based Collections

• Foto Search Image Library
  An image search engine that allows one to "search over 700,000 images from over 50 stock photography, illustration, and video footage publishers." The collections are royalty free, but not free of charge.
  ( http://www.fotosearch.com/ )
• National Geographic's Image Library
  A fee-based collection of TONS of images from the National Geographic.
  ( http://www.ngsimages.com/ )

About Graphics on the Web

• The Big Picture with Rob Galbraith ( digital photography )
  Site description: "In his The Big Picture columns, Rob explores topics for photographers of all skill levels, ranging from buying your first digital camera to establishing a workflow in Adobe Photoshop."
  ( http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/digitalphotography/thebigpicture/default.asp )
• Graphics, Etc.: Examples, Possibilities, and Style Standards
  Karl Leitzel's collection of World Campus still graphics, simple animations, course banners, printed guide covers, CD labels, etc.
  ( http://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/public/kel5/pic101/index .html )
• Optimization Basics
  A wonderful "lesson" on optomizing graphics for the Web, from the World Campus' Karl Leitzel.
  ( https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu:443/public/kel5/standards/optimiz.html )

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Models and Examples

The Development Process for a Cohort World Campus Course
( https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/public/ID/developmentprocess.html )

What's the Role of a Guest Speaker? Sample Guidelines...
( https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/public/faculty/guestspe aker.html )

Example of Instructional Tasks List
( https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/welcome/adted507/instructionaltasks.shtml )

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Instructional Design Resources

Principles of Backward Design
A general overview of the backward ID process as described by Wiggins & McTighe in their book "Understanding by Design." See also Backward Design Process ( http://digitalliteracy.mwg.org/curriculum/process.html ).
( http://www.ltag.education.tas.gov.au/Planning/models/princbackdesign.htm )

Research about Teaching and Learning
A great resource from Penn State's Teaching and Learning with Technology group. Provides quick overviews of what the research says about various aspects of teaching a learning.
( http://tlt.its.psu.edu/suggestions/research )

7 Things You Need to Know About...
"The EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative's ( ELI's ) 7 Things You Should Know About... series provides concise information on emerging learning technologies and related practices."
( http://www.educause.edu/7ThingsYouShouldKnowAboutSeries/7495 )

Media Matrix
An overview of the application of various instructional media in distance education. Includes how-to and costing information.
( http://cedir.uow.edu.au/programs/flexdel/cedir/matrix.html )

Instructional Design Toolbox
( http://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/public/atb3/idtoolbox.html )

Critical Thinking
A collection of critical thinking resources from Texas AandM.
( http://firstyear.tamucc.edu/wiki/Resources/CriticalThinking )

Concept Mapping
Site description: "The CmapTools program empowers users to construct, navigate, share and criticize knowledge models represented as concept maps. It allows users to, among many other features, construct their Cmaps in their personal computer, share them on servers ( CmapServers ) anywhere on the Internet, link their Cmaps to other Cmaps on servers, automatically create web pages of their concept maps on servers, edit their maps synchronously ( at the same time ) with other users on the Internet, and search the web for information relevant to a concept map."
( http://cmap.ihmc.us/Index.html )

Diversity
The Multicultural Enhanced Learning for Diversity ( MELD ) project's Web site contains materials, examples and resources on diversity that are organized by subject and diversity issue so that access is quick and easy for faculty looking for group activities and student assignments that can be used to integrate cultural perspectives into courses.
( http://meld.tlt.psu.edu/ )

Theories and Models

• Funderstanding: Theories
  A nice overview of learning theories.
  ( http://www.funderstanding.com/theories.cfm )
• Instructional Design Models ( Univ. of Colorado-Denver )
  http://carbon.cudenver.edu/~mryder/itc_data/idmodels.html
• The Theories [Theory Into Practice ( TIP ) database]
  http://tip.psychology.org/theories.html
• Introduction to Instructional Systems Design
  http://paws.wcu.edu/kirk/HRcourses/HR612/CourseDocuments/HRD612StudyGuides/Lesson1.htm

Teaching Strategies

• "Improving Learning and Reducing Costs: Lessons Learned from Round III of the Pew Grant Program in Course Redesign"
  An overview of the Center for Academic Transformation at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Program in Course Redesign. Most notably, this article includes valuable advice on how to improve the teaching and learning environment.
  ( http://www.center.rpi.edu/PewGrant/Rd3Less.html )
• The Cooperative Learning Center
  Johnson and Johnson's Web site at the University of Minnesota. A wealth of resources about cooperative learning!
  ( http://www.co-operation.org/ )
• Problem-based Learning
  A collection of resource compiled by Kenneth Moran at Sullivan University
  ( http://library.sullivan.edu/QEC/Problem_Based%20Learning/PBL.htm )
• Examples of Learning Activities
  ( https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/public/faculty/studentactivities.html )
• Advice for Designing On-line Interaction ( Bulletin Boards )
  ( https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/public/erl2/febfacdev/Summary.htm )
• Facilitating Online Learning: Tips and Suggestions
  ( http://scienceonline.terc.edu/facilitating_online_learning.html )
• The Concept Mapping Homepage
  ( http://users.edte.utwente.nl/lanzing/cm_home.htm )
• E3 Electronic Field Trips
  A neat site from Ball State University and the Best Buy Children's Foundation. From the Web site: "E3 Electronic Field Trips are a dynamic combination of live, interactive broadcasts and online curriculum meeting national teaching standards developed by teachers and content experts. They inspire children to explore new learning concepts and consider expanded career possibilities....( They ) feature partnerships with many national institutions that provide students in K-12 classrooms extraordinary learning opportunities they would not otherwise be able to experience."
  ( http://www.bsu.edu/eft/ )
• Materials on the Case Method
  ( http://www.ecch.cranfield.ac.uk/europe/pages/obtain/casemats.html )
• National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science
  A nice collection of resources, from articles to actual cases!
  ( http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/projects/cases/case.html )

Learning Styles

• Learning Styles and Multiple Intelligences
  An extensive list of online resources
• MBTI and Student Learning
  Site Description: "This file discusses briefly ( 1 ) the four dimensions underlying the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator ( MBTI ), and ( 2 ) several teaching approaches that will appeal to different MBTI profiles."
  ( http://www.gsu.edu/~dschjb/wwwmbti.html )
• Retention Rates and Learning Styles
  A chart illustrating retention rates for various learning styles; also includes links to examples
  ( http://www.cofc.edu/bellsandwhistles/research/retentionmode l.html )
• ( GRSLSS ) The Grasha-Riechmann Student Learning Style Scales
  http://www.ltseries.com/LTS/sitepgs/grslss.htm

Assessment

• Assessment Strategies to Stimulate Student Learning
  We were fortunate to have Tom Angelo as a guest speaker at Penn State's TLC Colloquy 2002. This page provides a brief overview of his keynote address and links to video streams of the event. Worth watching!
  ( http://www.psu.edu/dept/tlc/events/colloquy2002/keynote.html )
• Writing Effective Questions to Promote Learning
  Provides easy-to-follow, quick-to-read guidance for creating questions of varied types: 1-minute essay, short essay, short-answer, check-all-that-apply, matching, along with the traditional multiple-choice and true-false.
  ( http://tlt.its.psu.edu/suggestions/questionwriting/ )
• Penn State's e-Portfolio Project
  Everything you need to know about how to create electronic portfolios!
  ( http://www.e-portfolio.psu.edu )
• Digital Portfolios
  This site provides an overview of digital porfolios, lots of examples, and links to other readings about the subject.
  ( http://home.att.net/~digitalportfolio/ )
• "Improving Multiple-Choice Tests"
  An IDEA Paper from Kansas State University.
  ( http://www.idea.ksu.edu/papers/Idea_Paper_16.pdf )
• "Improving Essay Tests"
  An IDEA Paper from Kansas State University.
  ( http://www.idea.ksu.edu/papers/Idea_Paper_17.pdf )

Peer Reviews

• Calibrated Peer Review ( CPR )
  CPR is "an Internet based instructional tool that was developed at UCLA with support from the National Science Foundation. It helps students learn by writing, and it enables instructors to give frequent writing assignments without increasing the grading load. Originally developed to facilitate writing assignments in large chemistry classes at UCLA, Calibrated Peer Review is currently being used by over 200 institutions in areas ranging from English to Engineering."
  ( http://cpr.molsci.ucla.edu )
• Sample Peer Evaluation Form
  ( https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/public/faculty/PeerEvalForm.html )

Rubrics

• The Advantage of Rubrics
  Nice article that explains what rubrics are.
  ( http://www.teachervision.com/lesson-plans/lesson-4522.html )
• RubriStar
  Geared toward K-12, but still valuable. Nice pull-down menu type interface, based on the kind of Rubric you are wanting to make. Supported by the US Department of Education.
  ( http://rubistar.4teachers.org/ )
• Kathy Schrock's Assessment and Rubric Information
  A huge collection of links to examples of rubrics and related information.
  ( http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/assess.html )
• Landmark Project Rubric Builder
  The actual rubric builder isn't as nice as RubriStar...just gives you the basic layout. You supply all the text. But they have a pretty big collection of rubrics that others have created that you can "clone." Could give one ideas for wording, objectives, etc.
  ( http://www.landmark-project.com/classweb/tools/rubric_builder.php3 )
• MCAS' Rubrics for Performance Assessment
  Nice collection of information ABOUT rubrics, plus links to examples.
  ( http://www.mcasmentor.com/rubrics.htm )
• Specific Examples of Rubrics:
  • Rubric Template
    ( http://edweb.sdsu.edu/triton/july/rubrics/Rubric_Template.html )
  • Course Paper Assignment ( GEOG 488 )
    ( https://www.e-education.psu.edu/courses/geog488/assignments.html#coursepaper )
  • e-Portfolio Rubric ( from METEO 241 )
    https://www.e-education.psu.edu/courses/meteo241/eport_rubric.html
  • Rubric for Penn State's "Teaching with Technology" Portfolio
    ( http://tlt.its.psu.edu/support/twt/AssessmentRubric.html )
  • Rubric for term papers
    ( http://trc.ucdavis.edu/trc/ta/tatips/rubrics.pdf )
  • Rubric for an essay
    ( http://www.ic.arizona.edu/~anth383/HW2rubric.html )
  • Rubric for a scientific paper
    ( http://www.sjsu.edu/~cbhope/biology/infocomp/assignments/Bio2PlanarianRubric.htm )
  • Rubric for papers + presentations
    ( http://www3.baylor.edu/~Andrew_Milson/courses/spring2002/edc5348rubric.htm )
  • Rubric for online discussions ( 1 )
    ( http://distance.uaf.edu/dls/resources/present/cc-aug-04/doc/discussion-rubric.cfm )
  • Rubric for online discussions ( 2 )
    ( http://www.uas.alaska.edu/sitka/IDC/resources/onlineDiscussionRubric.pdf )
  • Rubric for Online Instruction
    This tool was developed by Cal State Chico. A nice checklist for evaluating your online course!
    ( http://www.csuchico.edu/tlp/webct/rubric/index.html )
  • Rubric for a Research Project Proposal
    The actual scoring rubric used for the National Geographic Society Education Foundation
    ( http://www.nationalgeographic.com/education/teacher_community/grosvenorgrants/pdf/rubric.pdf )
  • Rubric for a Research Project Proposal
    ( http://www.bridgewater.edu/~ldesport/Soc350Methods/Project%20Proposal%20Rubric.htm )
  • Rubric for a Research Project
    ( http://mciu.org/~spjvweb/resrub.html )

Evaluation

• SRTE Question Bank
  The complete list of question options for Penn State's end-of-course evaluation instrument, the SRTE ( Student Rating of Teaching Effectiveness ).
  ( http://ws25.uts.psu.edu/srte/ListQuestions.asp )
• SEEQ - Students' Evaluation of Educational Quality
  Penn State's Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence offers a standardized mid-semester feedback instrument called the Students’ Evaluation of Educational Quality ( SEEQ ). This survey can be completed in class ( using specialized scan forms you can get from their office ) or online. The Schreyer Institute then provides a statistical report of the feedback for you. ( Penn State only )
  ( http://www.schreyerinstitute.psu.edu/Resources/seeq.asp )
• SALG - Student Assessment of Learning Gains
  The Student Assessment of Learning Gains, sponsored by the Wisconsin Center for Education Research, allows you to modify previously designed feedback instruments to suit your needs. The survey is delivered to students online and the sponsors provide a statistical report of the results.
  ( http://www.wcer.wisc.edu/salgains/instructor/ )
• Sample Mid-course Evaluation
  ( https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/public/faculty/SampleMidTermEval.html )
• Grading On-line Discussions
  ( http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/dp_iet-edtech/TechforTeaching/grading.htm )
• Kirkpatrick Model for Summative Evaluation
  http://www.e-learningguru.com/articles/art2_8.htm
• IDEA Information and Guides
  From Kansas State University, the IDEA Web site provides information about the course evaluation instrument in use at that institution, including examples of their survey instruments.
  ( http://www.ksu.edu/catl/idea.htm )
• "Student Ratings of Teaching: The Research Revisited"
  An IDEA Paper from Kansas State University.
  ( http://www.idea.ksu.edu/papers/Idea_Paper_32.pdf )
• "Appraising Teaching Effectiveness: Beyond Student Ratings"
  An IDEA Paper from Kansas State University.
  ( http://www.idea.ksu.edu/papers/Idea_Paper_36.pdf )
• General Guidelines for Conducting Interviews
  ( http://www.managementhelp.org/evaluatn/intrview.htm )
• Basics of Conducting Focus Groups
  ( http://www.managementhelp.org/evaluatn/focusgrp.htm )

Writing Across the Curriculum

• "How About a Quick One?"
  Two techniques for integrating more writing into the curriculum, quickly! From the journal Chemical Engineering Education.
  ( http://www.ncsu.edu/felder-public/Columns/Quickone.html )
• Designing Writing Assignments
  ( http://www.psu.edu/dept/cew/faculty/designing.htm )
• "Improving Student Writing"
  An IDEA Paper from Kansas State University.
  ( http://www.idea.ksu.edu/papers/Idea_Paper_25.pdf )

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Resources for Graduate Students

The Graduate Student Survival Kit
( http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lakes/6007/Survival.htm )

Grants.gov
Find and apply for competitive grant opportunities from all Federal grant-making agencies.
( http://grants.gov/ )

Organizing and Supporting Effective Mentoring
( http://www.preparing-faculty.org/PFFWeb.Resources.htm#mentor )

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Teaching Portfolios

Teaching Portfolios at the University of Saskatchewan
An excellent overview of what teaching portfolios are all about, including a nice collection of example statements of teaching philosophy.
( http://www.usask.ca/tlc/teaching_portfolios/ )

Preparing a Teaching Portfolio: A Guidebook
From the University of Texas at Austin. I like the section that summarizes "What kinds of materials can be put into a portfolio?"
( http://www.utexas.edu/academic/cte/teachfolio.html )

Examples of Electronic Teaching Portfolios
( http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/class/edlf/589_004/sample.html )

More links to teaching portfolio resources
Compiled by the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.
( http://cte.umdnj.edu/career_development/career_portfolios.cfm )

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Content Resources

Subject matter resources...

• MERLOT
  A free and open resource designed primarily for faculty and students of higher education. A "referatory" to online learning materials, along with annotations such as peer reviews and assignments.
  ( http://www.merlot.org/ )
• PedagoNet - Learning Resources Search Engine
  According to the site, PedagoNet "facilitates the exchange of learning materials and resources." Kind of like a pedogical swap meet! The main feature of the site is a searchable learning resource database where one can locate resources for both K-12 and higher education. Resources include Web sites, CD-ROMs, print materials, slides, videos, etc. ( http://www.pedagonet.com/ )
• The Global Campus
  A collaborative multimedia database containing a variety of outstanding educational materials such as images, sounds, text, and video to be used for nonprofit, educational purposes.
  ( http://www.csulb.edu/~gcampus/ )
• The Scout Report
  Site description - "The Scout Report is a weekly publication offering a selection of new and newly discovered Internet resources of interest to researchers and educators." Their Web site enables users to search through more than 11,000 Scout Report summaries from their archives.
  ( http://scout.wisc.edu/report/sr/current/index.html )
• FREE - Federal Resources for Educational Excellence
  As the name suggests, this site contains a listing of free educational resources provided by the U.S. Federal government.
  ( http://www.ed.gov/free/index.html )
• FedStats
  This site contains statistics from over 100 U.S. Federal agencies. Useful for any course where faculty or students need to consult statistics!
  ( http://www.fedstats.gov/ )

Multimedia resources...

• Internet Archive: Movie Collection
  Site description - "Most of the movies on this site belong to the group of genres known as "ephemeral films"--films produced for specific purposes at specific times, not intended for long-term preservation....Ephemeral films are educational, industrial, advertising, and amateur films and home movies...Most of the films in this collection were produced to promote products, corporations, or ideas; to educate ( sometimes miseducate ), convince, or propagandize....This is not a collection of Hollywood films, TV shows, news programs or recent documentaries."
  ( http://webdev.archive.org/movies/movies.php )

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Library Resources

Information Literacy and You
A tutorial developed by Penn State's University Libraries, designed to help one learn the concepts and skills for using the Libraries' databases, collections and resources.
( http://www.libraries.psu.edu/instruction/infolit/andyou/infoyou.htm )

Direct URLs for "FastTrack" Databases
In order to access University Libraries resources at a distance from outside the Penn State computer network, one needs to go through a special "proxy" server. This page contains special URLs for all the Libraries' "FastTrack" databases that route one through the proxy server.
( http://www.dlt.its.psu.edu/resfast.html )

Full-text Journals On-line ( organized by journal title )
A listing of every journal Penn State's University Libraries has that is available on-line in full text ( over 10,000!! ).
( http://128.118.89.201/cfd/fasttrack/search.cfm )

Electronic Reserves
The Electronic Reserves system is a service provided by the Penn State University Libraries that allows for course readings to be available on-line.
( http://reserve.libraries.psu.edu/ )

Electronic Document Delivery
Through Interlibrary Loan's "Library Distance Learning Delivery" site, Penn State users can request to have copies of articles sent to them electronically ( or by surface mail, if preferred ). This is a handy service for distance education students needing articles for course assignments! To request an article, the patron uses an on-line form ( accessible from the "Electronic Document Delivery" link above ). On that form the patron indicates whether s/he wants the article electronically or in hard copy. If electronic delivery is requested, the patron is e-mailed a PIN and a URL for where the article can be retrieved ( it is posted to a Web site ). The article remains available to the patron for 3 weeks or 5 "uses," whichever comes first.

PLEASE NOTE: This service is NOT to be used as a substitute for Electronic Reserves!
( http://www.libraries.psu.edu/tas/ill/edd.htm )

FindArticles.com
FindArticles.com is hosted by the Gale Group and LookSmart. It is a database of journal articles published from 1998 to date. There are over 300 journals covered, including many "popular" ( non-scholarly ) titles that one might not find in Penn State's University Libraries' on-line collection.
( http://www.findarticles.com/PI/index.jhtml )

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Related Readings

General interest...

• Selected Library Resources on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
  From Indiana University-Bloomington Libraries: A nice list of journals on college teaching, categorized by academic discipline.
  ( http://www.indiana.edu/~libsalc/SOTL/ )
• Journals in the Field of Instructional Technology
  ( http://designer.50g.com/journals.htm )
• The Chronicle of Higher Education
  As a member of the Penn State community, you can access the Chronicle on-line through this special URL! If you are on the Penn State network when going to this site, your access will be automatic. If you are connected to the Internet through another service provide such as AOL or ATandT's @Home, you'll be prompted for your PSU Access Account user ID and password.
  ( http://www.lias.psu.edu/scripts/linklias.exe?where=Go+There=CHRONICLE )
• National Teaching and Learning Forum
  The National Teaching and Learning Forum is a news and research magazine for college teachers. Through an arrangement with Penn State's Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, the Penn State community has access to this subscription-based magazine through a special Web site.
  ( http://www.psu.edu/celt/ntlf.shtml )
• elearnspace
  A collection of e-learning resoruces including articles on subjects related to e-learning.
  ( http://www.elearnspace.org/index.htm )

About teaching at a distance...

• JOLT - Journal of Online Learning and Teaching
  Part of the Merlot site.
  ( http://jolt.merlot.org/ )
• Teaching and Learning Online: Communication, Community, and Assessment
  A faculty handbook from the University of Massachusetts.
  ( http://www.umass.edu/oapa/oapa/publications/online_handbooks/Teaching_and_Learning_Online_Handbook.pdf )
• "Quality on the Line: Benchmarks for Success in Internet-based Distance Education."
  Prepared by The Institute for Higher Education Policy - suggests 24 benchmarks.
  ( http://www.ihep.com/Pubs/PDF/Quality.pdf )
• Teaching College Courses Online vs Face-to-Face
  A study of 21 U.S. instructors who had taught both face-to-face and at a distance.
  ( http://www.thejournal.com/magazine/vault/A3407.cfm )
• Engineers Learn to Quiet a Noisy Lawnmower via Distance Education
  An article featuring World Campus professor Courtney Burroughs that appeared in The Chronicle of Higher Education, January 22, 2001.
  ( http://chronicle.com/free/2001/01/2001012201u.htm )
• "Developing Courses for Online Delivery: One Strategy"
  An article from The Technology Source that describes the World Campus course development process.
  ( http://www.e-education.psu.edu/community/luck/Article_OneStrategy.pdf )
• World Campus 101: Orienting Students to Penn State's New "Campus"
  An article from The Technology Source that describes the World Campus' student orientation Web site.
  ( http://www.e-education.psu.edu/community/luck/Article_WC101.pdf )
• "Turning Traditional Courses Into Distance Education"
  An article about the World Campus that appeared in The Chronicle of Higher Education, August 4, 2000
  ( http://www.chronicle.com/free/v46/i48/48a03701.htm )
• "Mind over Matter: Transforming Course Management Systems into Effective Learning Environments"
  From EDUCAUSE Review Articles
  ( http://www.educause.edu/asp/doclib/abstract.asp?ID=ERM0261 )

About teaching strategies and instructional design...

• Annotated Bibliography of Teaching Alternatives to Lecture
  Looking for lecture alternatives? This is an excellent annotated bibliography of articles and books on the subject, written by Carol McQuiggan, Penn State instructional designer.
• In Defense of PowerPoint
  An interesting article that discusses the proper use of PowerPoint in presentations.
  ( http://www.jnd.org/dn.mss/in_defense_of_powerp.html )
• In Defense of Cheating
  ( Description from the article ) "Preamble: No, I am not in favor of deception, trickery, fraud, or swindle. What I wish to change are the curriculum and examination practices of our school systems that insist on unaided work, arbitrary learning of irrelevant and uninteresting facts. I'd like to move them toward an emphasis on understanding, on knowing how to get to an answer rather than knowing the answer, and on cooperation rather than isolation. Cheating that involves deceit is, of course wrong, but we should examine the school practices that lead to cheating: change the practices, and the deceit will naturally diminish."
  ( http://www.jnd.org/dn.mss/in_defense_of_cheati.html )
• Instructional Design in Elearning
  Article providing an overview of ID and its importance in e-learning.
  ( http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/InstructionalDesign.htm )
• Weblogs and Discourse
  Site description: This paper discusses different questions of weblogs in context of higher education. It is focussing on three loosely coupled questions:
  1. How can the weblog format improve discourse?
  2. How it can weblogs support teaching at universities?
  3. What are the insitutional benefits of weblogs in universities?
  ( http://weblogs.design.fh-aachen.de/owrede/publikationen/weblogs_and_discourse )
• Navigating the Bumpy Road to Student-Centered Instruction
  A wonderful article by two higher ed professors about SCI and collaborative learning. The article states common faculty concerns about SCI and offers "counterpoints" for each. By Richard M. Felder, North Carolina State and Rebecca Brent, East Carolina University.
  ( http://www2.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/Papers/Resist.html )
• 10 Characteristics of Adult Learners
  Almost without exception, World Campus students are "adult learners." Written by Gary Kuhne, Associate Professor of Adult Education at Penn State, "10 Characteristics" reminds us of what we all need to know about the students we teach.
  ( https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/public/faculty/adults.html )
• Seven Principles of Effective Teaching: A Practical Lens for Evaluating Online Courses
  This Technology Source article provides a nice summary of general advice to on-line professors.
  ( http://horizon.unc.edu/TS/default.asp?show=articleandid=839 )
• Integrating Laboratories into Online Distance Education Courses
  A nice case study!
  ( http://ts.mivu.org/default.asp?show=article=666 )
• Because Wisdom Can't Be Told: Using Case Studies to Teach Science
  Good overview of the benefits of using case studies in science education.
  ( http://www.aacu.org/peerreview/pr-wi05/pr-wi05realitycheck.cfm )

About Web site design....

• "Defining Your ( Web site ) Objectives"
  Publisher's Description -"Planning is key to an effective and usable Web site. The best Web sites are those that have a clearly defined purpose and scope, and that rest on a solid structure that is mapped out before a single page is coded. Before you begin developing a course Web site, take the time to look at other sites, assess your audience, and nail down your goals and expectations for using the Web to teach."
  ( http://www.dartmouth.edu/~webteach/articles/objectives.html )
• "Looking Good"
  Article about creating Web pages so that they'll look good no matter what computer platform or Web browser the user has.
  ( http://www.press.umich.edu/jep/05-02/lieb0502.html )
• "The Myth of 800 x 600"
  Publisher's Description - "What resolution are you designing to? Razorfish Information Architect James Kalbach provides insight into the myths--and solutions--involved with creating the smartest sites for today's resolutions."
  ( http://webreview.com/2001/03_16/webauthors/index01.shtml )
• "Web Accessibility: 500 Million and Growing"
  Publisher's Description - "There are more than 500 million disabled people in the world. Here are statistics and rationale to convince you that writing accessible pages is the right thing to do."
  ( http://www.webreview.com/2001/03_16/webauthors/index04.shtml )

About assessment and evaluation...

• "An Analysis of the Penn State Student Rating of Teaching Effectiveness" ( SRTE ), A Report Presented to the University Faculty Senate of The Pennsylvania State University, September 9, 1997, Michael J. DoorisOffice of Planning and Institutional Assessment.
  ( http://www.psu.edu/president/pia/cqi/srte/analysis.html#Background%20on%20the%20Penn%20State )
• "Writing Instructional Objectives as Intended Learning Outcomes," pp. 3-14, How to Write and Use Instructional Objectives by Norman Gronlund. Upper Saddle Rive, NJ: Merrill ( Prentice Hall ), 1999.
• "Differentiating Assessment from Evaluation as Continuous Improvement Tools," by Parker et. al. From the 31st ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference. October 2001, Reno, NV.
  ( http://fie.engrng.pitt.edu/fie2001/papers/1462.pdf )
• "Understanding Hallmarks of Learner-centered Teaching and Assessment," pp. 32-64, Learner-Centered Assessment on College Campuses by Mary E. Huba and Jann E. Freed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2000.

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This site was developed and is maintained by Ann Luck,
Senior Instructional Designer, Dutton e-Education Institute, The Pennsylvania State University.

Questions? Comments? Contact Ann Luck at atb3@psu.edu