This short course will provide participants with an overview of the services and agencies that are in place at Virginia Tech to support the use of technology with instructional and research activities. Virginia Tech's security group will also present and provide strategies, suggestions, and access to software that will assist participants as they take steps to ensure the safety of the information on their computers and the computer systems at Virginia Tech.

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Are you currently in the process of collecting digital images, recording audio, and/or editing video? Are you aware of systems like FlickR, YouTube, and iTunes U but are wondering what the pros and cons are of using those systems? This short course is designed to help you decide where to display your digital work. New systems are emerging every day and many have social components and other advantages. During this short course, participants will be guided through a number of systems, both at Virginia Tech and beyond, that are designed to be collaborative, user-centered media repositories. The advantages and disadvantages of each will be explored with the ultimate goal of increasing your awareness of such systems and assisting your selection of one given your current media project. In addition to this focus, wikis will be explored as a tool to assist with group storyboarding and script drafting. Hands-on activities will be a key component of this short course.

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1. Monday, February 11
   10am - 12pm
   1120 Torgersen Hall
   Windows/Macintosh
   
   
2. Tuesday, February 19
   3:30pm - 5:30pm
   3060 Torgersen Hall
   Windows/Macintosh
   
   

Are you looking for guidance and assistance as you begin to incorporate video into your instruction? This short course will provide participants with a start to finish overview of what is involved with video production for instructional purposes. Participants will be shown examples from a variety of instructional media and will be given strategies to ensure success from the planning stages forward. Topics will include field production, story boarding, media integration, editing programs, file formats, filming techniques, and support resources available to faculty on campus who wish to create video for instruction. This short course will also include general methods for organizing planning documents and creating a feasible timeline.

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Video Outsourcing: Effectively Utilizing On-campus Production Resources to Plan, Produce, Film, and Edit an Instructional Video

1. Tuesday, March 18
   3pm - 5pm
   3060 Torgersen Hall
   Windows/Macintosh
   
   
2. Monday, March 24
   10am - 12pm
   1120 Torgersen Hall
   Windows/Macintosh
   

Are you considering an instructional video project for which you suspect you will need some assistance? This short course will focus on the resources that are available on our campus to assist you. Video/Broadcast Services (VBS) helps faculty develop instructional video. Those that participate in this short course will “walk through” the initial consultation phase of VBS' process. A key component of this consultation is a discussion concerning what is required to move instruction from the classroom to the computer screen. The video shoot, both in studio and remote classroom recording, will be discussed. To help illustrate key points, good and bad filming examples will be provided. Editing and delivery options through VBS will also be covered. In addition, the New Media Center's support options will be detailed.

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Web Design: Building an Effective Web Site

1. Thursday, January 31
   10am - 12pm
   3080 Torgersen Hall
   Windows/Macintosh
   
   
2. Wednesday, March 19
   3pm - 5pm
   1120 Torgersen Hall
   Windows/Macintosh
   
   

Are you looking for ways to make your web site more attractive, load more quickly, or garner more "hits"? This short course will provide a survey overview of all of the key issues that are involved with web design. Server issues, aesthetics, visual identity, site organization, navigation, frames, site testing, web accessibility, and web development for instruction are among the topics to be discussed. Numerous "real-life" examples from the web will be shown to further explicate key issues, and Macromedia Dreamweaver will be used to show how these concepts can be practically applied. Hands-on activities will be an integral part of this session.

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Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0: Scanning and Adjusting Images for the Web (for PC Users)

1. Tuesday, January 29
   3pm - 5pm
   3060 Torgersen Hall
   Windows
   
   
2. Wednesday, March 12
   10am - 12pm
   3060 Torgersen Hall
   Windows
   
   
3. Online Course through Element K

Are you looking for an image editor that produces high-quality results like Adobe Photoshop CS3 but lacks the complexity of that tool? This short course will provide participants with the skills that are needed to prepare images for the web using Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0. Participants in this session will learn how to make image adjustments (color, luminosity, contrast, etc.), create basic layers, apply filters, and adjust image resolution for optimal quality on the web. A full exploration of Elements' tool bar will also be provided during this session. No prior experience with Photoshop or Photoshop Elements is required. Hands-on activities will be an integral part of this session. Please note that Elements 4.0 is the latest version on the Macintosh while PC users are currently at version 5.0.

NOTE: Element K online tutorials may be substituted for instructor led sessions. You can take these tutorials at any time (starting now). It is not necessary for you to complete all of the modules of the tutorials, but it is expected that you will spend at least two hours in the tutorial. It is also requested that you complete the tutorial by Friday, April 11.

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1. Wednesday, January 28
   10am - 12pm
   1120 Torgersen Hall
   Macintosh
   
   
2. Online Course through Element K
   

Are you looking for an image editor that produces high-quality results like Adobe Photoshop CS3 but lacks the complexity of that tool? This short course will provide participants with the skills that are needed to prepare images for the web using Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0. Participants in this session will learn how to make image adjustments (color, luminosity, contrast, etc.), create basic layers, apply filters, and adjust image resolution for optimal quality on the web. A full exploration of Elements' tool bar will also be provided during this session. No prior experience with Photoshop or Photoshop Elements is required. Hands-on activities will be an integral part of this session. Please note that Elements 4.0 is the latest version on the Macintosh while PC users are currently at version 5.0.

NOTE: Element K online tutorials may be substituted for instructor led sessions. You can take these tutorials at any time (starting now). It is not necessary for you to complete all of the modules of the tutorials, but it is expected that you will spend at least two hours in the tutorial. It is also requested that you complete the tutorial by Friday, April 11. The Elements 5.0 tutorials are not available yet, but completing two hours in the Elements 3.0 tutorials will be acceptable to meet our requirements.

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Adobe Photoshop CS2 (Part One): Photoshop Basics (Scanning, cropping, sharpening, resolution, tools)

1. Wednesday, February 20
   10am - 12pm
   3060 Torgersen Hall
   Windows
   
2. Tuesday, March 18
   10am - 12pm
   1120 Torgersen Hall
   Macintosh
   
   
3. Online Course through Element K
   
   

This short course provides participants with a general overview of the Adobe Photoshop CS3 application. This session will include an exploration and discussion of Photoshop's workspace, toolbox, palettes, and the file browsing function. Scanning, cropping, rotating, and other image manipulation procedures will be shown. In addition, digital image transformation techniques, such as manipulating brightness and contrast, will be covered. Participants will be provided with sample images, and hands-on opportunities to explore the functionality of the aforementioned tools will be an integral attribute of this session. No prior experience with Photoshop is required.

NOTE: Element K online tutorials may be substituted for instructor led sessions. You can take these tutorials at any time (starting now). It is not necessary for you to complete all of the modules of the tutorials, but it is expected that you will spend at least two hours in the tutorial. It is also requested that you complete the tutorial by Friday, April 11.

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Adobe Photoshop CS2 (Part Two): Selection Techniques and Layer Creation

1. Wednesday, February 27
   10am - 12pm
   3060 Torgersen Hall
   Windows
   
   
2. Tuesday, March 25
   10am - 12pm
   1120 Torgersen Hall
   Macintosh
   
   
3. Online Course through Element K
   

Continuing where Adobe Photoshop CS3 (Part One) left off, this short course will begin with an overview of the selection techniques that make it possible to manipulate a specific section of a digital image. Participants will learn how to move/transform a selection, add specific touches to an image, and apply filters to achieve special effects. Emphasis will also be placed upon selection techniques and managing/creating multiple layers. Participants will be provided with sample images, and hands-on opportunities to explore the functionality of the aforementioned tools will be an integral attribute of this session.

NOTE: Element K online tutorials may be substituted for instructor led sessions. You can take these tutorials at any time (starting now). It is not necessary for you to complete all of the modules of the tutorials, but it is expected that you will spend at least two hours in the tutorial. It is also requested that you complete the tutorial by Friday, April 11.

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Adobe Premiere Elements: Advanced Digital Video Production

1. Tuesday, March 11
   3:30pm - 5:30pm
   3060 Torgersen Hall
   Windows
   
   
2. Online Course through Element K
   
   

Do you have video that you would like to edit and present to your students? This short course will be almost entirely hands-on and will put all participants in front of a video editor (Adobe Premiere Elements). Participants will learn to use Adobe Premiere Elements to capture and edit video as well as the concepts and skills needed to successfully approach the video editing process. This session can be seen as a companion to FDI's "Video Production: Planning and Shooting Digital Video" short course.

NOTE: Element K online tutorials may be substituted for instructor led sessions. You can take these tutorials at any time (starting now). It is not necessary for you to complete all of the modules of the tutorials, but it is expected that you will spend at least two hours in the tutorial. It is also requested that you complete the tutorial by Friday, April 11.

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Dreamweaver 8 (Part One): Web Page Creation Made Easy

1. Monday, January 28
   10am - 12pm
   3080 Torgersen Hall
   Windows
   
   
2. Wednesday, February 20
   10am - 12pm
   1120 Torgersen Hall
   Macintosh
   
   
3. Tuesday, February 26
   10am - 12pm
   3080 Torgersen Hall
   Windows
   
   
4. Thursday, March 20
   3pm - 5pm
   3060 Torgersen Hall
   Windows
   


5. Online Course through Element K

Are you looking for an easy to use method of creating web (HTML) pages? Macromedia Dreamweaver 8 is quite intuitive, creates standard HTML code, and offers numerous tools to create and incorporate the latest technologies (Flash, DHTML, etc.) into HTML web pages. This short course will provide participants with an overview of the process of web site creation, including server information and options on campus. Introductory topics, such as inserting and modifying text, images, tables, and hyperlinks, will be taught. More advanced topics will also be covered, including interactive images, rollover effects, and Flash text. Hands-on activities will be an integral part of this session. Participants are encouraged to bring a zip, floppy disk, or jumpdrive so that they can take their creations with them once this workshop is over.

NOTE: Element K online tutorials may be substituted for instructor led sessions. You can take these tutorials at any time (starting now). It is not necessary for you to complete all of the modules of the tutorials, but it is expected that you will spend at least two hours in the tutorial. It is also requested that you complete the tutorial by Friday, April 11.

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Dreamweaver 8 (Part Two): Site Management and Interface Development

1. Monday, February 4
   10am - 12pm
   3060 Torgersen Hall
   Windows
   
   
2. Wednesday, February 27
   10am - 12pm
   1120 Torgersen Hall
   Macintosh
   
   
3. Thursday, March 27
   3pm - 5pm
   3060 Torgersen Hall
   Windows
   
   
4. Online Course through Element K
   

Are you already familiar with basic web page creation with Dreamweaver 8 and would like to learn how to extend the capabilities of your web site? This short course picks up where “Dreamweaver 8 (Part One)" left off by illustrating and providing hands-on experiences with several strategies for controlling the look and feel of larger web sites. Site management capabilities will be explored along with the following topics: frames, advanced tabling, image maps, color selection, jump menus, and more. Hands-on activities will be an integral part of this session. Participants are encouraged to bring a zip, floppy disk, or jumpdrive so that they can take their creations with them once this workshop is over.

NOTE: Element K online tutorials may be substituted for instructor led sessions. You can take these tutorials at any time (starting now). It is not necessary for you to complete all of the modules of the tutorials, but it is expected that you will spend at least two hours in the tutorial. It is also requested that you complete the tutorial by Friday, April 11.

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Dreamweaver 8 (Part Three): Cascading Style Sheets, Templates, and other Advanced Topics

1. Monday, February 11
   10am - 12pm
   3060 Torgersen Hall
   Macintosh
   
   
2. Wednesday, March 12
   10am - 12pm
   1120 Torgersen Hall
   Windows
   
   
3. Thursday, April 3
   3pm - 5pm
   3060 Torgersen Hall
   Windows
   
   
4. Online Course through Element K
   
   

Are you familiar with basic web page creation with Dreamweaver 8 and would like to learn how to further extend the capabilities of your web site? Topics central to Dreamweaver 8 (Part Three) are cascading style sheets (CSS) and creating and working with templates. By using CSS and templates, it becomes easy to give your web site a consistent overall design and layout. Further, these strategies make it easy for you to change repeated content across multiple web pages, even on exceptionally large web sites. The integration of multimedia elements will also be demonstrated, and hands-on activities will be an integral part throughout. Participants are encouraged to bring a zip, floppy disk, or jumpdrive so that they can take their creations with them once this workshop is over.

NOTE: Element K online tutorials may be substituted for instructor led sessions. You can take these tutorials at any time (starting now). It is not necessary for you to complete all of the modules of the tutorials, but it is expected that you will spend at least two hours in the tutorial. It is also requested that you complete the tutorial by Friday, April 11.

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Final Cut Pro: Advanced Digital Video for Instruction (for Mac-users)

1. Monday, March 17
   10am - 12pm
   1120 Torgersen Hall
   Macintosh

Do you have video that you would like to edit and present to your students? This short course will be a one-on-one session that is almost entirely hands-on and will put all participants in front of an advanced video editor (Final Cut Pro). Participants will learn to use Final Cut Pro to capture and edit video as well as the concepts and skills needed to successfully approach the video editing process. This session can be seen as a companion to FDI's "Video Production: Planning and Shooting Digital Video" short course.

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Podcasting:  Creating Podcasts for Higher Education using Audacity

1. Tuesday, March 25
   3pm - 5pm
   3060 Torgersen Hall
   Windows/Macintosh

Have you heard about Podcasting and wonder if it could hold value for you in the courses you teach?  This short course will provide participants with everything they need to know to begin their own podcast.  In addition to defining key concepts and related terminology, this short course will provide an overview of the ways in which podcasting is being used in higher education and beyond.  In addition to this conceptual overview, much of this short course will be spent teaching participants how to record, edit, and save audio in preparation for podcasting using free software called Audacity (NOTE: Audacity is available for the Mac and Windows). Participants will also leave this session with knowledge concerning the podcasting support resources on campus. iTunes U will also be part of this short course as will other podcasting services available to faculty at Virginia Tech. Hands-on activities will be an integral part of this session.

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Podcasting:  Creating Podcasts for Higher Education using GarageBand (for Mac Users Only)

1. Wednesday, February 13
   10am - 12pm
   1120 Torgersen Hall
   Macintosh
   

Have you heard about Podcasting and wonder if it could hold value for you in the courses you teach?  This short course will provide participants with everything they need to know to begin their own podcast.  In addition to defining key concepts and related terminology, this short course will provide an overview of the ways in which podcasting is being used in higher education and beyond.  In addition to this conceptual overview, much of this short course will be spent teaching participants how to record, edit, and save audio in preparation for podcasting using GarageBand (NOTE: GarageBand is only available for the Macintosh). Participants will also leave this session with knowledge concerning the podcasting support resources on campus. iTunes U will also be part of this short course as will other podcasting services available to faculty at Virginia Tech. Hands-on activities will be an integral part of this session.

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iMovie: Editing Digital Video for Instruction (for Mac-users)

1. Monday, Feburary 25
   10am - 12pm
   1120 Torgersen Hall
   Macintosh

Do you have video that you would like to edit and present to your students? This short course will be almost entirely hands-on and will put all participants in front of a video editor (iMovie). iMovie is the free, video editing software that comes standard on Macintosh computers. Participants will learn to use iMovie to capture, edit, and export video as well as the concepts and skills needed to successfully approach the video editing process. This session can be seen as a companion to FDI's "Video Production: Planning and Shooting Digital Video" short course.

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Web Standards: Making Accessible Web Sites

1. Monday, February 18
   3pm - 5pm
   3060 Torgersen Hall
   Windows/Macintosh
   
   
2. Thursday, February 28
   3pm - 5pm
   3080 Torgersen Hall
   Windows/Macintosh

Is the World Wide Web a public space? And if so, does the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) extend to this place? Most would answer yes to both of these questions, but how do you make a web site handicapped accessible? That is the central focus of this short course. We will begin with an introduction to web standards and section 508 compliance. From that framework, Dreamweaver's built-in accessibility features will be explored. Tools that check the accessibility of web sites will be considered and support options at Virginia Tech and beyond will be outlined. Hands-on activities will be an integral part of this session.

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