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Computing

Instructional Outreach Program –ACS

Data Analysis and Visualization

Course Tools and Pedagogies

Digital Imaging

Scholarly manuscript production

Data Analysis and Visualization Series

GEOSPATIAL REASONING, MAP ANALYSIS, AND INTRODUCTORY

GIS Mapping software helps us to visualize spatial information. The distribution and density of a phenomenon, like zebra mussels locations or historic battlegrounds, can be displayed in a Geographic Information System (GIS) software for class discussion. Country, state, or zip code analyses of numeric data, for instance the numbers of hog farmers in a zip code or the volume of carbon dioxide emissions by country, can be mapped using a color-coding of ranges. The GIS software layers maps in geographic space and spatial associations between the layers can be done. This portion of the Data Analysis and Visualization Series will demonstrate some typical uses of GIS and introduce you to map analysis.

DOING MATH WITH YOUR COMPUTER: AN INTRODUCTION TO MATHEMATICA

Designed for a broad audience, this workshop aims to introduce interested faculty to the Mathematica software package, taking advantage of the college's unlimited license agreement. Starting from the very fundamentals, we will quickly learn how to do basic arithmetic and algebra; symbolic differentiation and integration -both exact and numerical; 2-dim and 3-dim plotting of functions and data; curve fitting and statistics; import and export of numerical data.

ADVANCED MATHEMATICA: SYSTEMS MODELING AND DATA ANALYSIS IN THE SCIENCES

During this workshop, we will use the Mathematica software package to model, analyze and visualize specific systems and processes in the natural sciences. Using both differential equations and discrete models, we will study Newtonian mechanics, radioactive decay, fluid diffusion, predator-prey models, random walks and Monte Carlo methods. We will also give an overview of complex systems by studying certain cellular automata and Turing Machines.

EXCEL FOR ADVANCED USERS: MACROS, TOOLS AND ADD-INS

Finally, what you have been waiting for: a comprehensive, organized and innovative presentation on all those features you always wanted to implement in Excel -but did not know how. Topics will include basic programming, conditional statements and formulas; template creation and editing; options for exporting/importing to/from various data formats; shortcuts and enlightening tricks that will impress your friends.

Course Tools & Pedagogies Series

FOSTERING DISCUSSION AND COLLABORATION

This workshop explores the varied tools with which to generate class-based discussion and collaboration. From the basic discussion board on Blackboard to web based journaling and collaboration with web blogs these tools will be explored along with ideas for best practice in achieving specific learning objectives. In addition how to use real time chat to extend the classroom will be discussed.

COLLECTING, SHARING, AND GRADING DIGITAL WORK

This workshop explores the resources available for the exchange, editing, and recording of student work. Discover the multiple ways to employ campus network resources in order to facilitate document filesharing. Learn how to use the advanced editing tools in Microsoft Word to make editorial change or comments to student work. The workshop will also cover examples of digital grade books and ideas for creative uses of on-line testing and evaluation to help improve student comprehension.

LOCATING, EVALUATING, AND IMPLEMENTING WEB RESOURCES FOR INSTRUCTION

This workshop explores the multitude of potential web based course resources across the curriculum. Learn about Merlot, a multimedia education resource for on-line teaching that provides materials for integration into courses and other learning object repositories and how you might use them to complement your teaching. Learn how to locate other discipline specific materials using search engines.

Digital Imaging Series

CAPTURING AND DIGITIZING IMAGES

Learn to deal with the various settings available when scanning printed images or slides, as well as downloading images from the web and taking screenshots. This workshop will address issues of image size and resolution, file formats, quality/compression settings, and other options available when saving a captured image.

MANIPULATING DIGITAL IMAGES

Learn to enhance scanned images or convert them to a format more suitable for a particular use. This workshop will cover functions such as changing resolution or file size, adjusting color and contrast settings, cropping, rotating, "touching up," and converting file formats.

PRESENTING DIGITAL IMAGES

Learn about various options for presenting digital images in a classroom. This workshop will explore various presentation programs and which are most suitable for different pedagogical goals and needs.

GRAPHICS, LOCATION MAPS AND FIGURES

This part of the series will present methods for producing images for professional manuscript presentation. Location maps or line drawings can be created or recreated from existing sources and are done easily through the use of scanning and digitizing in a graphics software program. Original maps can be made through the use of mapping technology. Tables and charts will also be discussed.

Scholarly Manuscript Series (for Manuscripts, Proposals and Articles.)

STYLES AND STYLESHEETS

Learning to effectively control styles in MS Word is creates a foundation more effectively controlling the look and feel of your document but also the structure of your document. This workshop will cover customization of your normal stylesheet, but will also discuss how to create different stylesheets for your different document needs.

FOOTNOTES, ENDNOTES, TABLES OF CONTENTS AND INDICES

This workshop will discuss how to effectively create and control the look and feel of your scholarly work. Learn how to control fonts and to generate TOC and indices to make better use of your time.

MASTER DOCUMENTS

This workshop will describe how to create a “master document” out of your chapter documents. When you are writing –especially large documents—having your documents in smaller, more manageable chunks is often easier for you for several reasons. This workshop will discuss how to link all of these documents together and give them a common pagination, look and feel, as well as Tables of Contents and an index.

GRAPHICS, LOCATION MAPS AND FIGURES

This part of the series will present methods for embedding images, tables, charts and figures for professional manuscript or article presentation. This workshop will describe how to format your text to behave with your imbedded objects. This workshop will also discuss how to create tables of contents for all of these objects and how to create captions for the objects.

This page was last updated on 8/16/05.