Congratulations Class of 2009!

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2009! You have worked hard to accomplish this milestone and we are very proud of you as you move from “student” to “alumni”. We hope you will stay connected with us and invest in future students of Centralia College as those in the past have invested in you. We welcome your remembrances, you final thoughts as you move into the next phase of your life.

Lots to do at CC!

We’ve got another busy week of events coming to Centralia College. Stop by Washington Hall for the Student Art Show which is featuring work from many of our art classes. This work will be on display until June 5.

The Pacific NW Chamber Orchestra concert is June 1 at 7:30 in Corbet Theatre. This concert is FREE and everyone is invited to attend!

June 3 at 1 pm will be our final lyceum for this quarter and it features Don Foran speaking on “Curriculum for the Bio-Region: Community Update.”

The Writing Center will have their BP Publication Party and Writing Contest winners reception at 3 pm, June 3.   June 4 at 3:30 join us for the Retirement Reception for Bob Erickson and Cheri Althauser!  Friday, June 5 will be the Pride Celebration sponsored by the ASSC.

As you can see, there is plenty to keep you busy at Centralia College even as the quarter is nearing its end.  Please see the campus calendar for more information on these and other happenings at CC.

Only two weeks until Commencement!!!

Space still available!

Space is still available for those of you who plan to stay at the STP midpoint at Centralia College on July 11. Tent camping is FREE on campus and no reservation is required. Just show up, put up your tent and enjoy the festivities! Showers & towels are available in the new Health & Wellness Center  (gym) for just $5. You can purchase tickets at the door.

Gym floor space is still available for just $30 and that includes use of showers and towels. Reservation forms are on our STP website for indoor space as well as RV rental space and semi-private rooms.

We do still have a few semi-private rooms available to rent in our new Science Center. These rooms can hold up to 12 people and are $350. That also includes showers & towels.

Campus will be buzzing with activity…food vendors, music, beer garden and lots more so be sure to come see us on July 11!!!

Angel Video – Myth? Classrooms can’t hold much content?

In response to some chat I’ve heard on campus, here’s the scoop on storage limits for Angel classrooms:

Centralia College prepares for Commencement

Centralia College is preparing for commencement on June 12th. With the completion of the new Science Center, the Lingreen building has been torn down to make way for a new amphitheatre on the north side of the Clock tower. This week they are leveling, installing an irrigation system and sod. Alumni are invited back to campus to experience commencement with this year’s graduates at 4 p.m.

Explore Open Educational Resources

Recently I was invited to talk to our probationary faculty about open educational resources.   I was happy to outline the context for why this is becoming an appealing option, not only to reduce costs for students and the college, but more importantly to improve teaching and learning.  You will hear more about this topic in the coming months.

Basically, open educational resources (OER) are digitally available resources that can be accessed, adopted, and adapted for use in diverse learning environments for little or no monetary cost.  These could be complete textbooks, learning modules, PowerPoint slides, movies, filmed lectures, etc. 

Whether you are faculty, a student, or just someone interested in learning about different topics, I encourage you to explore some of the material that is available, much of it high quality.   You can start by checking out these resources that Cable Green, the eLearning director at the state board, put together for a recent presentation on OER.

Got questions?  Leave a comment here.

Blackboard Buys ANGEL – Update

We are just as surprised as everyone else in our state that Blackboard has purchased Angel.  Here is a message we received recently from Cable Green, the eLearning director at the state board for community and technical colleges.

As you know, Blackboard (Bb) has announced it is acquiring ANGEL. Twenty-nine of our system colleges have either moved to ANGEL or have plans to do so in the coming months (see below).

I spoke with ANGEL’s CEO on Wednesday and will speak with ANGEL and Bb’s CEOs next week. If you have any questions you’d like me to ask Michael Chasen (Bb CEO), please send them to me. For example, I am going to suggest he make ANGEL the main software and supplement it with the best of Blackboard’s features… and adopt ANGEL’s customer service models.

What happens now? Nothing changes in the short-term.

WashingtonOnline will turn off its Blackboard software license on June 30, 2009 and will complete its transition to ANGEL. We will proceed with existing ANGEL deployment plans, full integration with SMS, and faculty professional development activities. The WAOL technology fee remains the same low $4 / user / quarter (unlimited use).

We will closely watch (at least) six things over the next 1-2 years:

Does ANGEL technical (hosting and premium admin) support remain solid?

• When Bb bought WebCT, WebCT support waned. We will be monitoring this very closely.

Are there continued investments in the ANGEL platform re: functionality?

• … as evidenced in multiple substantive “dot” releases

Does Bb give our system representation on their highest advisory and product development councils?

• I have already requested a seat on Bb’s Client Advisory Council.

Will Bb commit to keeping our contract pricing stable after our 3-year contract expires?

• I will be pushing to drive our prices lower due to our systems’ online growth and increased use.

What does Bb signal about their short, mid and long term plans for ANGEL LMS and ePortfolio products?

• re: maintaining the product lines, end-of-life, and/or transition planning to Bb NG.

If Bb does merge ANGEL and Bb products, what are the ANGEL-to-new tool migration tools and paths?Blackboard’s words will mean little – we shall watch their actions and hold them accountable to the service terms in our contracts.

If Blackboard behaves well and meets our expectations, we’ll have a system conversation about renewing our contract. If they do not, there is nothing to stop us from running an RFP at the end of our contract (expires June 30, 2011). No one wants to migrate again / ever, but that is the power we have to demand excellent service and continued low pricing from Blackboard… and I shall remind them of it.

Regardless of what Blackboard does or does not do, we will be successful in bringing innovative online, hybrid and web-enhanced learning spaces to our students and faculty.

Feel free to call me with any questions, suggestions or comments.

Warm regards,

Cable

Cable Green, PhD

eLearning Director

SBCTC

Angel Video – Making room to work

I keep learning great tips from YOU, so I thought I’d pass along some things I’ve just learned – how to collapse areas of the Angel screen to enlarge your work area:

A busy week at CC!!

If you haven’t checked out the college calendar for events for the week, do so now! There is no shortage of things to do  - the play, Biloxi Blues is back for another week – International Night is this saturday -give blood at the Puget Sound Blood Drive – Women’s NWAACC softball tournament saturday and sunday in Portland – Running Start orientation session –  ASCC student government elections – “what’s in your junkfood” presentation  and Mentalist Craig Karges will be in Corbet on May 14 to really test your mind!! His show is FREE with just 2 cans of food for the food bank.  Nothing boring about this place!!

Tenure Reception for Steve Norton

Please stop by the Hanson Boardrooms on Thursday, May 21 from 4-5 pm for the tenure reception for Steve Norton. All are welcome to attend. Desserts and coffee will be served!  Following the reception will be the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees.