Instructional Support Center
The Instructional Support Center (ISC) is a faculty-support center that provides consulting services, training, and access to state-of-the-art computer equipment for use by Temple faculty who are interested in incorporating technology into the teaching/learning process. The ISC has knowledgeable staff who can demonstrate the latest instructional technologies, assist you with using these technologies, and provide advice on how to best meet your instructional goals.
ISC News
ISC presents Featured Faculty
The Instructional Support Center (ISC) is looking for Temple University instructors to become "Featured Faculty." Featured Faculty use instructional technology to improve class, help students reach learning objectives, or simply make teaching easier and more effective. As a Featured Faculty, you will be highlighted on the ISC website and will present a 30 to 60 minute presentation during the Instructional Technologies User Group (ITUG) Lecture Series.
Please consider proposing a talk for the ITUG Lecture series - see the Featured Faculty page for more details.
Blackboard 8 is now available
Blackboard was upgraded from version 7.3 to version 8 on Monday, May 26.
The main difference in version 8 is the Gradebook, which is now called the Grade Center. There are several new enhancements including the ability to:
- Add grades directly into the Grade Center page
- Send e-mail from the Grade Center page
- Add calculated columns within the Grade Center page
- View Grade Center data that matches defined criteria such as group membership or performance
In addition, release 8 provides enhancements to:
- Self and Peer Assessments, which enable students to review and grade their own work by following key criteria set by their teacher
- SafeAssign, a tool to help students learn crucial citation and rules while helping faculty members ensure originality of work
- Blackboard Scholar, which enables faculty to find and share education-related resources with peers
If you are interested in learning more about these new features, online tutorials are available on Blackboard’s Release 8 web site at http://www.blackboard.com/release8, and an online recording of the "Preview of Blackboard 8" ITUG event is available at: http://isc.temple.edu/ITUG. In addition, please contact or visit one of the Instructional Support Centers if you would like to arrange a one-on-one consultation or demonstration. The locations are listed on the left side of this page.
Turning Point Upgrade
Over the winter break, TurningPoint (clicker) software was upgraded from version 2006 to 2008 in Temple University smart classrooms. This upgrade was necessary to ensure compatibility with Office 2007 as version 2008 works with both PowerPoint 2003 and 2007.
TurningPoint 2008 also offers other enhancements such as plug and play hardware setup, expanded reporting options, and multiple language support. Presentations created in TurningPoint 2006 will work in TurningPoint 2008.
If you would like to download TurningPoint 2008, it is available as a free download from the Help Desk website at https://download.temple.edu. Electronic user manuals are included with the downloaded software, and getting started documentation, which includes download instructions, can be found in the How-To section of this website.
Respondus is now available
Computer Services recently purchased a site license of Respondus Campus 3.5. Respondus is a software application that allows users to create and manage assessments and surveys offline that can be printed or published to Blackboard. To download a copy of the software, visit the Help Desk Download site, here.
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact the Instructional Support Center (215-204-8529).
ISC Policies
- The Instructional Support Center (ISC) is for use by Temple
University faculty working on Temple University course-related
instructional materials.
- Students developing instructional materials for Temple faculty
are permitted to use the ISC with prior permission from the
ISC manager and a written letter from the sponsoring faculty.
- You must present your Temple University ID and check in at
the reception desk before entering the ISC.
- You must provide storage media such as disks, zip cartridges,
or CDs to save your work.
- You must bring your own paper. You will be permitted to make
one copy of your output.
- The ISC is not responsible for disks, documents, or other
materials including electronic documents left in the ISC.
- Scheduled appointments take precedence over walk-in clients.
- No drinking or eating is permitted in the ISC.
- Off-campus phone calls are not permitted from the ISC phone.