Teaching Support

Online Tools

• Learning Technologies - The Learning Technologies site helps faculty explore new online tools, discover resources to assist with the design and development of online courses, and a host of support services.
  
  
• ELMS (Enterprise Learning Management System - powered by Blackboard)
  ELMS, the university's "Enterprise Learning Management System," is used by instructors to organize course materials (request a course) and by research groups to collaborate and share files with colleagues around the world (request an organization). ELMS allows for electronic submission of student assignments and provides special tools for group discussions, blogs, and wikis. The ability to e-mail students is built into ELMS and prevents the need to create a Coursemail list. Instructors may also upload grades from the Blackboard Gradebook to UMEG.
  
  
• UMEG
  The University of Maryland Electronic Grades (UMEG) system is used to submit student grades, view and download class list information, and to create course e-mail lists, see Coursemail.
  
  
• Coursemail
  Coursemail lists can be created through UMEG. Lists include all students enrolled in the course and are automatically updated as students drop or add the course.
  
  
• Course Reserves
  To reserve materials for your students through the university's libraries, you must have or request a course space on ELMS. The Course Reserves tip sheet and training handout can guide you through the process.
  
  
• Audio Recording/Podcasting
  Interested in audio recording mini or full-class lectures? Want to post audio for students to access via the Web? Audio recording capability will soon be installed in all Technology Classrooms. For a list of currently equipped rooms, click here. For "how-to" recording instructions, click here. You can also find out more about the university's iTunesU initiative.
  
  
• Course Evaluations
  Results from students' course evaluations are available online at ares.umd.edu. (Under “Faculty Services/ CourseEvalUM Reports”) Survey questions can be viewed here. Documentation provided by IRPA (the university's Office of Institutional Research, Planning, and Assessment, which manages the Course Evaluation system) can be viewed here.
  
  

Instructional Facilities

• Technology Classrooms
  Technology Classrooms are equipped with a PC, DVD/VHS player, ceiling projector, etc. To request the installation of software on a classroom PC, click here. For instructions on operating A/V equipment, you may access the Operations Manual or the Quick-Start Guide. If you wish to teach in a Technology Classroom, please work with your department's scheduler.
  
  
• OIT Computer Labs
  A select few of the university's nearly 30 open computer labs, are available for university-approved instruction and programs on a short-term basis.
  
  
• Clickers
  All Technology Classrooms on campus are equipped with Audience Response System (Clicker) hardware and software. Clicker questions can be used to generate discussion or to give immediate feedback to both faculty and students. Clickers are available for use on a trial basis through the Center for Teaching Excellence. For "how-to" instructions on using clickers, click here.