Welcome back!  The 2016-2017 academic year is bringing some exciting changes in academic and communications technology. Here’s a quick overview of what you can expect, with links to find out more:

Web & Video Conferencing
Zoom is HSU’s new video and web conferencing solution – it runs on any device, and it’s available to all students, faculty, and staff now. Blackboard Collaborate will be phased out during the academic year and discontinued completely on July 1, 2017. Check the Zoom ITS service page for more details and links to additional materials.

Clickers
Clicker technology has moved to the cloud with TurningPoint Cloud clicker software, enabling students to use smartphones and other mobile devices as well as dedicated clicker devices.

Check the summary of what’s new.

Moodle
Don’t risk delaying the start of your course – get your course requests in now.  Requests are processed on a first come, first served basis, and you have three options available:

• To request a course copy (to use a previous semester's content in Fall 2016), go to the Moodle Copy Request Page.  Log in at the top of the page and have your previous semester's CRN and your upcoming course CRN ready to enter.
• To request a new course shell (no course content copied from previous semester), go to the New Course Request Form. Log in at the top of the page and have your upcoming semester CRN ready to enter.
• To request a META course shell (a course shell that holds two or more classes), go to Create/Copy META course.  Login at the top of the page and have your upcoming semester CRNs ready to enter.
• Please add one class per request form.

The Moodle office has also created a handy top 10 Moodle start-of-semester tip sheet to get you back into the swing of things!

Canvas
As you know, HSU begins the transition from Moodle to Canvas as our Learning Management System this academic year. In September, the Canvas Project Team will hold a kick-off session, when you’ll learn how to request Canvas course shells and where to get training/support. While you won’t actually be teaching in Canvas in the Fall semester, you will be able to start transitioning your courses into Canvas.

Between now and the kick-off, the team will be working on integrating current systems into Canvas and preparing training and resource materials. Look for further announcements over the coming weeks - you can also track developments on the Canvas website at: humboldt.edu/canvas.

Please address any questions or concerns to the Moodle office at x3633