Instructional Technology Applications

The following applications are available to enhance the teaching/learning process. For more information on any of these applications, please contact helpdesk@qatar.tamu.edu.

Adobe Acrobat Professional
Adobe Acrobat Professional is an application that enables you to create Adobe PDF documents with one-button ease from other applications like Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. You can scan paper documents and forms to create electronic version for distribution. Adobe Acrobat is available on the faculty and staff computers.

Blackboard Vista
Blackboard Vista (formerly known as WebCT) is a university wide course management system which can be used to upload your syllabus, manage a grade book, or to teach a course completely online. This secure system includes a grade book, assignment tool, quizzing and survey tool, chat rooms, discussion boards, mail system, content organizer, and a media library tool. Blackboard Vista can be accessed by going to http://elearning.tamu.edu  and logging on with your NetID and password.

Camtasia
Camtasia is an application that creates videos by recording computer desktop activity. Examples include demonstration videos on using an application or navigating a Blackboard Vista course. Camtasia is available on the faculty and staff desktops, student laptops, classroom lectern machines, and computer labs.

Centra
Centra is real-time desktop conferencing and communications software that you can use to create voiceovers for onscreen presentations, share applications between computers, allow co-presenters to help manage information, and record entire class sessions. The Trans-Texas Videoconference Network (TTVN) recently issued a purchase order for a TAMU Systemwide implementation of Centra. The site license allows for up to 140,000 named users and will encompass every TAMUS component in addition to Cooperative Extension partners in four other states. The College of Science and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, as well as Texas Cooperative Extension, have been using Centra extensively for the past three years. Administrators initially plan to allow for 48 concurrent sessions with up to 20 of those sessions set up to be recorded. The new license and proposed hardware will accommodate approximately 1,000 concurrent users. All desktop computers and student tablets are equipped with the Centra plug-in.

DyKnow
DyKnow software fosters interaction through collaborative note taking, student response tools, content replay, and anywhere, anytime access.  Faculty can use DyKnow to instantly transmit content to student screens for annotation.  DyKnow works with desktops, laptops, Tablet PCs, and interactive whiteboards in fixed, mobile, and distance environments. DyKnow also offers a flexible way to keep a bird's-eye view of student computers.  Faculty can use DyKnow to view thumbnails of student screens, block Internet browsing and other distracting applications, and blank student screens. DyKnow is available on the faculty and staff desktops, student laptops, classroom lectern machines, and computer labs.

EndNote
EndNote is bibliographic referencing software that enables you to build, navigate, set preferences, and import text files to your EndNote Library. You can manually enter references, link to electronic files, and import and directly export references. EndNote is available to TAMUQ faculty as an extension of the site license on TAMU main campus. To obtain a copy, logon to http://software.tamu.edu using your NetID and password and follow the screen instructions.

Impatica
Impatica is an application that can convert PowerPoint files, including text, graphics, transitions, and narrations, into a compressed format that is optimized for streaming over the Internet. The Impatica file is typically 95 percent smaller than the regular PowerPoint file. This file can be easily uploaded to a web environment or to Blackboard Vista. Contact helpdesk@qatar.tamu.edu to get access to Impatica.

Respondus
Respondus is a powerful tool for creating and managing exams that can be printed to paper or published directly to Blackboard Vista. Exams are created offline in a familiar Windows environment and the software provides many time-saving tools, such as the ability to import existing exams from word processor files. Respondus provides up to 15 types of questions, including multiple choice, true-false, short answer, and essay. The built-in Equation Editor makes it easy to create mathematical and scientific texts. Images and graphs can be included in the questions. To obtain a copy of Respondus, contact helpdesk@qatar.tamu.edu.

Respondus LockDown Browser (RLB)
The Respondus LockDown Browser (RLB) is a specially designed Internet browser that significantly restricts testing environments within Blackboard Vista. Students must open the RLB first and then log in to Blackboard Vista to take an assessment. When students use the RLB, they are not allowed to print, copy-and-paste, browse unspecified websites, or access other applications. Virtually any action that would allow cheating is restricted. Once started, assessments are locked down until students submit the exam for grading. TAMU main campus has purchased the RLB Blackboard Vista integration PowerLink for use throughout campus. RLB is installed on TAMUQ faculty and staff desktops, computer labs, classroom lectern machines and student laptops. If you are concerned your students are searching the Internet for answers or instant messaging each other while taking an assessment in Blackboard Vista, the Respondus LockDown Browser (RLB) may be a practical teaching solution for you to use to prevent cheating. Select the RLB Browser Restriction checkbox in the Blackboard Vista assessment settings to indicate if the RLB is required for students to take an assessment.

SnagIt
SnagIt is an application that captures and edits still shots of computer screen. You can use it to create learning resources or to share information. You can visually enhance your presentations and documents using this application. SnagIt is available on the faculty and staff desktops, student laptops, classroom lectern machines, and computer labs.

StudyMate
StudyMate is an authoring tool to create Flash-based activities and games using simple templates. These activities can be uploaded to any web server or to Blackboard Vista. No Flash programming or HTML knowledge is needed. To obtain a copy of StudyMate, contact helpdesk@qatar.tamu.edu.

TurnItIn
TurnItIn.com is an online plagiarism prevention service. It helps students develop quality writing and research skills.  Instructors or students can upload papers to the system, which creates an originality report. The instructor can choose to allow students to see this report to learn from their mistakes or to use it as a way to determine if the students have plagiarized. TurnItIn is accessible through a PowerLink within Blackboard Vista.