Features of the Week

Join Us in Congratulating the CTL Travel Grant Award Recipients for Summer 2012!

Virginia Anderson (Theatre & Dance)
Title: We're Engaged! Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays - Local and National Conversations
Where: Association for Theatre in Higher Education Conference in Washington, DC

David Braun (Electrical Engineering) with Cal Poly colleagues Harvey Greenwald (Mathematics), Kate Lancaster (Business), Daniel Levi (Psychology & Child Development), Neal MacDougall (Agribusiness), & Hunter Francis (CAFES Center for Sustainability).
Title: Developing and Assessing University Level Sustainability Learning Objectives
Where: California Higher Education Sustainability Conference in Davis, CA

Jean-Francois Coget (Business)
Focus: Learn t-group techniques to enhance interpersonal learning in teams
Where: “So You Want to Run a T-Group?” Workshop in Leesburg, VA

Megan Howard (Biology) with Cal Poly undergraduate students Mark Scandalis, Emily Sivok, Matt Randazzo, Spencer Myers, & Veronica Harvey
Title: Spatial Distribution of Microbial Community Structure in Los Osos Sweet Springs
Where: American Society for Microbiology General Meeting in San Francisco

Thomas Korman (Construction Management)
Title: Development of Use of a Virtual Construction Company Simulation System for Education
Where: International Conference on Frontiers in Education in Las Vegas

Stephen Luber (Theatre & Dance)
Title: Your Attention Please: Synchronicity and the Blue Man Group
Where: Association for Theatre in Higher Education Conference in Washington, DC

David Mitchell (Physics)
Title: Creating a Project-Based Course in Observational Astronomy
Where: Gordon Research Conference on Physics Research & Education in Waterville, ME

Kevin Taylor (Kinesiology) with Cal Poly colleague David Hey (Kinesiology)
Title: Achieving Inclusion through Collaboration
Where: "Disability Sport: A Vehicle for Social Change" International Conference in London

PolyLearn Updates

Facts and Frequently Asked Questions

For a full listing and PolyLearn training material & workshops, click here.

Q: Don't have time to learn PolyLearn by Spring quarter?
Be sure to download all your Blackboard content to a safe location prior to May 31, 2012 when Blackboard will be permanently turned off. Click here for more.

Q: Would you like to help your students know more about using PolyLearn?
Consider adding a link in your course to our new student video, "PolyLearn Compared to Blackboard." You can also a link to our Student PolyLearn Support Site.

Q: What if I have quizzes that I need to transfer from Blackboard to PolyLearn?
ITS staff will do it for you. Make your request here: http://polylearnsupport.calpoly.edu/Forms/PolyLearnQuestionTransferForm.html

Do you utilize Blackboard to organize course materials, manage your grade book, communicate with committees, and/or collaborate on projects?
You can do all of the same things with PolyLearn Moodle. Visit PolyLearn Faculty Support to access task-specific guides

Q: Is our new learning management system called, "PolyLearn" or "Moodle"?
A: Both are accurate. Initially, the system will use only Moodle software programs. It will eventually plug into other applications and services. PolyLearn is Cal Poly's name or brand for the whole system.

Q: Would you like to learn all about PolyLearn (also known as Moodle) from the comfort of your home or your favorite coffee shop?
A: Check out the complete series of "Moodle 2 Essential Training for Teachers" videos at: http://www.polylearnsupport.calpoly.edu/Faculty/FacultyLynda.html

Q: How will PolyLearn support staff help faculty transition from Blackboard to PolyLearn?
A: PolyLearn support staff will:
1. Provide online resources and hands-on workshops.
2. Move quiz and survey questions for faculty. Please complete your request at: http://polylearnsupport.calpoly.edu/Forms/PolyLearnQuestionTransferForm.html
3. Provide individual consultations, as schedules allow. Please note. "Early birds" will have the advantage.

Fact: Winter quarter 2012 is the final quarter that faculty can utilize Blackboard for their courses.

Q: Some faculty members and students have asked, "Why do we have to learn to use a new learning management system?"
A: Two primary reasons for the move to PolyLearn were:
(1) Moodle (learning management system for PolyLearn) was evaluated and found to be more intuitive to use. Activities such as managing files and assignments are much improved.
(2) Our current version of Blackboard is outdated and vendor support ends soon. The level of effort required for faculty and students to learn the next generation of Blackboard would have been comparable to changing to Moodle.