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Turn It In

The Center for Instructional Technology (CIT) helps faculty at West Virginia State University (WVSU) use those educational technologies that support their teaching and increase the learning of their students.

CIT efforts fall into three categories:

1. Providing training and support to faculty for the campus course management system and other University licensed learning technologies
2. Reviewing and reporting on developments in educational technology
3. Consulting on the selection of academic computer hardware and software

First, under training and support, the CIT offers faculty training workshops on WVSU's course site program. Currently we are using Blackboard Learning System CE 4 (usually still referred to as WebCT 4.1). We administer the WebCT server. At the beginning of a semester a WebCT course site is created for each course offered at WVSU and registered students are loaded into those courses. CIT also provides WebCT Helpdesk support for both faculty and students. In addition, the CIT offers workshops on other campus-wide technologies such as the Turnitin plagarism prevention service. And faculty can take Sloan-C Online Workshops free of charge through the CIT's College Pass subscription, as well as gain access to the Premium areas related to online learning and blended courses on the Sloan-C main website.

Second, the CIT studies trends, advances, best practices, and lessons learned reported by the higher education community. The CIT then reports to faculty and administrators on those developments in educational technology most likely to be of use to faculty and students at WVSU.

Third, the CIT works with the faculty and administrators, the WVSU, and the Computer Services Department to develop the specifications used for yearly purchases of computers for faculty and, as requested, helps develop specifications for computer classrooms and labs. CIT also works with faculty to evaluate, select, and find the best prices for educational software.

CIT training resources include the CIT Faculty Training Lab in Wallace Hall 222 and the new Advanced Projects area in Wallace 227. The CIT Lab is a 24 computer training facility. Its primary use is for faculty training workshops. It cannot be scheduled as a classroom, but when its use as a faculty training facility allows, it can be scheduled to provide your students with orientations to WebCT or other learning technologies (such as Turnitin) that require computers and the Internet. The Advanced Projects area has several computers loaded with higher end multi-media development and editing programs that faculty members can use to either develop a special media project or hone media development skills under the guidance of CIT staff. For more information on what software is available on the Advanced Projects computers contact David Bennett, the CIT Operations Manager at davidb@wvstateu.edu.