Category Archives: TechNews

New Course Evaluation System Rolls Out

TechNews,

In an effort to centralize and simplify course evaluations, Simmons Technology has partnered with the Provost’s office and the five schools to select and implement a new system.

The new system is rolling out across campus in stages, and brings with it a platform that integrates with Moodle and provides an easy-to-use interface for both students and faculty. Students will have access to course evaluations via Moodle on their computers, tablets, and smartphones. Faculty can work with online reports and analytics to better understand and interpret the feedback they receive from students in their courses.

The School of Social Work and the School of Library and Information Science have adopted the new platform during the Fall 2014 semester. Each school manages its own evaluations, making this initiative a true partnership between Technology and representatives from the schools.

Technology will be working with the School of Management and the School of Nursing and Health Sciences to implement the new course evaluation system beginning in the spring.

Using Google Sites for ePortolios

TechNews, , , ,

google-sites-logoThere’s a lot that you can do with Google Apps for Education. We all use it for email and our calendars, and many people use it for writing papers, creating spreadsheets and presentations, and making websites for projects and student organizations.

A less obvious feature that might be very helpful is using Google Sites to create an ePortfolio. Whether you’re a business major or a fine artist, creating a portfolio that reflects your skills and achievements is important for grad school applications and job hunting. Not only do ePortfolios showcase all that you’ve done during your time at Simmons, but they also encourage you to improve your writing and web design skills.

Google Sites makes it easy to collect and present your personal, professional, and academic experiences with customizable templates and an easy-to-use interface. You can upload images, embed documents, presentations, and YouTube videos, and link to other sites.

To get started, visit Google Sites at Simmons and click createto begin building your ePortfolio. There are many online guides to using Google Sites, but this PDF and this presentationprovide great introductions to the elements you’ll use to create an ePortfolio.

Of course, you’ll also need to collect everything you want to include in your portfolio. For more information about constructing a portfolio that reflects your goals, contact theCareer Education Center.

Colleges of the Fenway Network Improvements

TechNews, , , ,

In addition to the recent Colleges of the Fenway network upgrade, the consortium has also become a member of theBoston Internet Exchange. By joining the Boston Internet Exchange, Simmons is able to increase bandwidth, improve performance and connectivity, and reduce costs.

Joining the Boston Internet Exchange also aligns with overall College strategy and goals. As President Drinan commented, “Our focus continues to be cost containment, improving efficiencies, and most important, enhancing student opportunities.”

Simmons Technology is working hard to prioritize network improvements, which are integral to meeting our current needs and preparing for the future.