About TDC

TheDigitalClassroom

About TDC

The Digital Classroom (est. 1995) is a Learning Management System (LMS) and Research Database for Educational Technology courses taught by Dr. Steven Smith at Northern Kentucky University (2005 - present), the University of Kansas (1999-2005), and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (1995-1999). The primary function of TDC is to support learning and to provide resources that students can use to augment their educational experience in their courses.

Course delivery was redesigned in 2006 to take full advantage of the PHP LMS program Moodle. Moodle was selected for its extensive features and because it is a free alternative to commercial software such as WebCT and Blackboard. Moodle is used by a growing number of universities, schools, as well as independent teachers for distance education or to supplement face-to-face teaching.

Features of TDC

The TDC uses a combination of free, open source and commercially developed technologies to provide a web presence and research database. The web interface was designed and developed using a variety of early webpage design programs such as GoLive Studio, Dreamweaver, BBEdit, and Symantec Visual Page. The site is currently maintained using Dreamweaver Studio MX 2004. TDC is designed around a conventional web interface and takes advantage of a FileMaker Pro® database infrastructure to provide a high level of secure interactivity between the user and TDC. With this system, students and instructors can use TDC to share, store, and retrieve course-related data. In 2006, TDCs primary database structure was converted from FMPro to Moodle®. Moodle provides an administrative interface that reduces the administrative load and ensures growth in the development of this LMS.

Student Interactions:

When a student registers with the TDC they provide demographic data, academic data, and activate their account for future access to courses and resources.

Students may securely access their grades and assignment feedback specific to their TDC course.

Students use TDC to submit all assignments. These submissions are stored in TDC database for later retrieval, archiving, grading, editing, and research. Some student work is exhibited in TDC Databases.

Online asynchronous student/instructor and student/student discussions and instant messaging are utilized to facilitate several levels of interaction among TDC participants.

Extensive help resources and online resources are available to students who are taking classes in TDC.

Keywords and text within courses is now linked directly to the Technology Glossary. In a style similar to Wikipedia, terms that are in the glossary can be hyperlinked within assignments, discussions, instant messaging, etc.

The following tools have been made available to students and instructors who wish to maximize their student exposure to new technologies:

Online Quiz options

Glossary word-a-day

Electronic Journals

SCORM

Surveys

Wiki's

Intelligent Branching Lessons

Workshops

Extensive logging system

Instructor Access:

Instructors can access TDC to enter grades, comment on assignments, add personal notes (specific or general for each student) and change or edit a student profile. They can also view and export student email addresses (for importing into email programs), can edit/add assignments, check and export student grades and view student pictures. For research, the instructors can access and compare student work and demographic information.

The additional features included in Moodle will offer instructors much more flexibility in the design and presentation of their courses.

Administrative Features:

The TDC administrator has full access to all components of TDC. Remote access to specific areas is also available to provide 24/7 access to TDC site. If TDC experiences a problem and is not accessible to students, the site administrator can determine the cause of the failure and in most cases correct the problem remotely, including a complete/partial shut down/restart of TDC servers.

Extensive logs are maintained to assist instructors and administrators.

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