The TLC is happy to announce our Teaching and Learning Video Tutorials Library which is made up of some of the workshops and colloquium presentations that have been offered through the Teaching and Learning Collaboratory. The library will continue to be updated as more workshops become available. Please click on the link below to access the library. Enjoy!

Rensselaer Teaching and Learning Video Tutorials Library 

Workshops are designed for the faculty, staff, and graduate students of Rensselaer. 

Note: A video tutorial for many of the workshops offered by the Rensselaer Instructional Technology Specialist may be found in the Rensselaer Teaching and Learning Video Tutorials Library.  

Registration Information for the Teaching and Learning Workshops and Webinars

The Beta Classroom is located on the First Floor of the Folsom Library. The Beta Classroom is a high technology testing space for interactive learning, which can accommodate about 20 participants. The goal of this space is for faculty to pilot new or interactive technologies and pedagogical approaches that may be appropriate for rolling out in a broad range of classrooms. 

Click the Technology Preview Session sub-topic link below for information on in person workshops available. Workshops are offered every term. If you are unable to attend the workshop, please view the following tutorial on the Beta Classroom Technology. 

Fall 2021 iClicker Reboot

In Fall 2021 the campus will transition to using the iClicker Cloud and Mobile solutions.  Clickers are the common term for Student Response Systems (SRS), a technology used to promote active learning within courses. iClicker is an effective tool for teaching in all modalities, seamlessly allowing instructors to poll their students. With iClicker you can:

• Poll in-classroom and remote students synchronously -- students can participate in live sessions from anywhere in the world.
• The “Assignments” feature allows for instructors to create assignments (polls) for students to complete asynchronously before a due date.

As we transition to iClicker Cloud we will no longer be using the radio frequency bases in the classrooms or using the remote clickers. Bases will be removed from all classrooms by the end of August 2021.

The iClicker Reboot consists of implementing the cloud and mobile solution for our campus. In addition, iClicker Cloud integrates with our LMS (Blackboard) so that polling points can be synced over to Blackboard Gradebook. Instructors use a free iClicker account to create their courses and sync with Blackboard. Students no longer purchase a physical remote clicker to respond, but will need to purchase a student subscription. Students can purchase the subscription with an access code card from our Campus Bookstore or through the App. Once a subscription is purchased by the student, the students can respond to polls using a mobile device or a web browser from their laptop.

Instructor Information

Below are links to further details and information on using iClicker Cloud, setting up the Instructor account, and polling.  The documentation is general so in the bullets below you will find more specific details that pertain to our Institute:

• We will not be using the iClicker remotes.  The only way students can respond is by purchasing a subscription and then using a mobile device or their laptop. Students can purchase a subscription from the campus bookstore or they can purchase directly through the iClicker app.
•  As an instructor, you will not need to import your students. iClicker integrates with Blackboard.  Once you integrate your iClicker course with your Blackboard course, you will be able to automatically sync your roster. 

Access iClicker Cloud through:

1. The desktop software for running synchronous polling, quizzing, and attendance activities.
2. The instructor website for everything else outside of live class time: class history, assignments, people management, gradebook, attendance, and settings.
3. (Optional) The iClicker Cloud Mobile Instructor App. Download it from the App Store or Google Play to control polling and advance slides from your phone or tablet. (Desktop software is still required for running synchronous class activities).

The iClicker Cloud Instructor Checklist covers all the steps you should take to get ready to use iClicker Cloud in your course for the term. It includes links to how-to articles and videos for those steps, as well as troubleshooting information. 

Other Helpful Links:

Instructor Getting Started Resources

• iClicker Cloud Instructor Training Deck
• Manage iClicker Cloud Course Settings
• Run Practice Sessions with iClicker Cloud + the Student App (use your instructor credentials to participate in your sessions as a student!)
• Resources for Switching from Classic to Cloud
• Share your Course with a Co-Instructor or TA
• Help Students Stay on Task with iClicker Focus
• Stay in the Loop by Signing up for our Monthly Newsletter

iClicker In-Class Activities (synchronous)

• Run Polls in iClicker Cloud
• Run Quizzes in iClicker Cloud
• Take Attendance in iClicker Cloud
• iClicker Cloud Polling Question Types
• Run and Exit Poll in iClicker Cloud
• iClicker Cloud Mobile App User Guide

iClicker Assignments (asynchronous)

• Create and Manage Assignments
• Copy Assignments
• Sample Assignment Prompts

Attendance Settings & Data Management

• Manage Attendance Settings
• View Attendance Data After Class
• Attendance Geolocation Tips for Students(how students can enable location sharing on their devices)

Gradebook and Blackboard Integration

• Roster and Grade Sync Setup
• Overview of iClicker Cloud Instructor Website

Student Resources

• Customizable First Day of Class Registration Slides
• iClicker Student Checklist
• How Students Redeem an iClicker Access Code
• Troubleshooting: Where are my Points?
• Troubleshooting: Connection in Class
• Student FAQs

iClicker Support & Training

• iClicker Support (Knowledge Base or Submit a Ticket)
• iClicker Instructor Training Webinars

The Office of Undergraduate Education is pleased to announce this call for proposals supporting pedagogical innovation from the Rensselaer Teaching and Learning Collaboratory (TLC). 

The TLC invites proposals from full time tenure track faculty members or lecturers/Professors of Practice for piloting and assessing pedagogical innovations, especially those integrating interactive technologies into the classroom.  We wish to fund seed projects that will serve as the foundation for external grant applications.   Project proposals should entail the implementation of new interactive approaches, gaming, remote laboratories, or other innovative methods. The Beta Classroom is a space that may also be used for testing if appropriate for the project. 

For further information on the call and details for applying, click TLC 2023 Proposal Information.

Take a look at previous winners:

• 2016 Winners
• 2017 Winners
• 2018 Winners
• 2019 Winners
• 2020 Winners
• 2022 Winners