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How Green is Our Learning?By Jane Himmel, Associate Director, CLEARUNT’s technology resources play a vital role in providing options for green learning. Blackboard Vista, our centrally-supported learning management system, enables faculty and students to conduct course work and activities in a secure, web-based environment. UNT continues to have the largest number of semester credit hours (SCHs) online of any public senior institution in Texas. Student enrollment in distributed learning courses at UNT has grown from 2251 in the fall semester 2000 to 13,333 in the fall semester 2008. In 2007, UNT added Wimba Classroom to its suite of distance learning technology options. The addition of this synchronous, collaborative learning environment has enhanced courses already offered online while attracting more departments to consider online and blended learning. A lesser known tool available through Blackboard Vista is Wimba’s Instant Messaging. The unique and especially green thing about Pronto is that it is powered by wind energy! Both Wimba Classroom and Pronto can be used not only for live classes, but for holding office hours one-on-one with students. Additionally, Wimba Classroom plays a role in non-academic areas as a virtual conference space for meetings with employees in multiple locations or for meetings with colleagues from other institutions. In support of the President’s Climate Commitment, the 2009 Learning Enhancement Grants Program included as one of its priorities a focus on green learning and gave special consideration to proposals that either contributed to reducing the university’s carbon footprint or incorporated sustainability into the curriculum. Most of the projects awarded include objectives related to one or both of these criteria. One other green technology option for faculty members online or in the traditional face-to-face classroom is Turnitin’s Grademark. Grademark makes it possible for faculty members to accept and grade writing assignments online, eliminating the need for printing and manual grading. UNT has a free trial of Grademark through summer 2009. While we have seen tremendous growth in online and blended learning offered at UNT over the last decade, only 6% of students take online courses only. 20% more take online courses, but drive to campus for traditional classes. Another 75% are taking only campus-based classes. With the technology tools available it is possible to do more to reduce the number of trips students and faculty make to campus while maintaining a thriving and interactive learning environment. It is also possible to use some of these tools to reduce printing and make assignment management and grading easier. For more information about learning technology platforms or about developing an online or blended learning course, contact your CLEAR Instructional Consultant or Jane Himmel, Associate Director at jane.himmel@unt.edu.
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