The Center for Media and Educational Technologies (CMET) in the UO Libraries supports the physical and virtual learning environments at the University of Oregon. CMET provides classroom technology design and maintenance, educational video production, streaming media services, learning management system (Blackboard, Canvas) and instructional technology support for teaching/learning, research, public service, and outreach. Facilities include professional video and audio production studios, an educational videoconference/distance education studio classroom, and active learning classrooms.
Services include: Instructional Technology Support and Workshops for Faculty and GTFs (Canvas, iClickers, Instructional Design, Document scanning and related digitization services for integration into Canvas); Classroom Technology Support (equipment training and support, audio/video equipment checkout for instructional purposes by students and faculty); Design, maintenance and refresh for technology in UO’s general pool and joint control classrooms; Design and installation services for audio/visual/presentation systems campus wide; Video Production and Streaming Services (videoconferencing and streaming media support, live and on-demand event streaming and recording, professional video production services, media production for local, state and federal agencies and non-profit organizations on a fee-for-service basis, point-of-origin Vyvx connection, video access to satellite uplink, and ISDN codec for broadcast-quality radio interviews).
CMET received 4019 support requests in AY 2014-15; the vast majority of these were for a general category of educational technology support, followed by requests for classroom technology support. There were also 130 video production requests. The majority of educational technology support requests involved the learning management systems CMET supports (Blackboard and Canvas).
Active Learning
CMET partners with the Teaching Effectiveness Program and the Yamada Language Center (YLC) to run the Working Group on Active Teaching and Learning, an idea inspired by the UO Steelcase LearnLab Pilot Project, which has built several technology-rich, pod-style classrooms on campus (YLC controlled rooms of Pacific 115, 199, and 122, as well as CMET controlled Proctor 41 and 42).
Instructional Design
In March 2015, an Instructional Designer joined the CMET staff. This individual will work in conjunction with GTFs and other staff members to provide integrated instructional support services, connecting Canvas design with the broader educational technology experience, supporting the physical and virtual learning environments across campus.
Learning Management System
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Many of CMET’s support requests this year were for LMS support, given the scale of the Canvas migration.
CMET administers the enterprise Learning Management System at UO, currently managing the transition to Canvas. Canvas, the learning management system chosen to replace Blackboard, was launched in Spring 2015. Blackboard continues to run until September 30, 2015. Canvas usage accounted for approximately 25% of all learning management system usage during the Spring quarter. Over 12,000 students and nearly 500 faculty members and GTFs in 619 credit courses (CRNs) used Canvas in this term. CMET reports that anecdotal commentary has been generally very positive and in line with faculty and student feedback received during the Spring 2014 Canvas pilot.
Originally, the University of Oregon contracted to have 8,000 courses migrated from Blackboard to Canvas: one full year’s worth of courses plus the non‐credit course web sites currently hosted in Blackboard. In response to faculty demand, CMET has increased the number of “automatic” migrations from 8,000 courses to 21,000 courses. The majority of the credit courses will be completely migrated by July 2015. For detailed status, as of 6/05/15, please see the Canvas Migration Project Status Update.