3D Scanning with a Phone or Tablet

A 3D scanner is a piece of equipment that uses visual data of a physical object or location to gather information on its shape and appearance. This visual data can then be converted and utilized to digitally build three-dimensional models. In recent years, 3D printing has become more commonplace, which has only increased the need for practical and easy-to-use scanning capabilities.

Although there are a number of low cost handheld and turntable options already available to purchase (with prices ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars), anyone who wants to try out 3D scanning can now do so by downloading a free app called 123D Catch (available for iOS, Android, and Windows mobile devices) from AutoDesk, which uses the camera on your own smart phone or tablet to construct a 3D object from photos you shoot. After installing the app, an informative visual guide shows you how to set up your environment to take the photos under acceptable conditions. Keep in mind that it can be difficult to get capture all the needed angles that the app will allow and processing the images can take awhile, so it may take some time and patience to accurately scan an object. With a number of well-lit and correctly positioned photos, you should be able to produce a fairly accurate 3D model using only your mobile device.

Image from Pixabay.

464 Free Art Books (and Other Free Books)

Looking for free materials for the classes you teach? You'll be pleased to know that you can download hundreds of books on Art from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It seems logical that the museum would host such a collection. What may surprise you is the diversity of this collection of "Art" books.

The content available is varied, covering art from many parts of the world, and in mediums as diverse as painting and furniture design. Want to know about the forms in Fencing? There's a book here for you. Interested in the design of early 20th century American sportswear? There's a book here for you. Need a resource on the design of antique musical instruments? There's a book here for you. Need a resource on "Ancient Egyptian Calligraphy", "Andean Four-Cornered Hats", or "European Horse Armor"? You can find it in this collection, and either read it online or download it, all for free! The collection's diversity makes it almost as interesting to browse the titles as to read the books.

You can visit and browse the collection of free books, by following this link:

Met Publications: Books With Full Text Online.

#ClickbaitSyllabus

"These 10 Million People Explain Why Belgian Colonization Was Literally The Worst."
"What Pythagoreas says about triangles will blow your mind"
"You'll never guess what percentage of your grade comes from test scores!"

What’s going on here? No, WVU hasn’t outsourced curriculum development to Buzzfeed. These are all tweets from #ClickbaitSyllabus, a twitter hashtag that was trending earlier this week.

It began when Colby College professor Laura Seay tweeted:

Thinking of changing the weekly headings on my syllabi to clickbait. "You won't believe this one thing France & Britain did to Africa!"

— Laura Seay (@texasinafrica) September 5, 2016

Though Seay was quick to point out in this Washington Post article that her clickbait syllabus was “just goofing around,” she might be on to something. We should remember that the primary function of a syllabus is not to be an engagement tool, but to clearly communicate course requirements. But why can’t it do both? Remember that any time you communicate with your students, you have an opportunity to do so in a unique and memorable way. There's never a bad time to engage your students!

Stranger Printings - 3D Printing’s Rapid Expansion

According to a recent report from the International Data Corporation (IDC), the 3D printing market will continue to expand in the coming years. Although expected, the rapid rate of expansion in the industry has been turning some heads. It is now projected that the 3D printing market will surpass $35.4 billion sometime in the year 2020, which would equal a 24.1 percent compound annual growth rate over the duration of the period forecast. This means the industry may nearly double in the next five years. In addition, the software needed to create the printer files and related services and materials are predicted to grow significantly with the market. This research was conducted in eight global markets from twenty different industries.

Many of us have likely thought about what kinds of objects we could produce with our own 3D printers and how those may be used to enhance learning. With prices decreasing while the market continues increasing, it may not be long before each of us is printing our own practical or strange things.

For additional information, please see my 3D Printer Buying Guide post.

Image generated at Make It Stranger.

Is your online course like a pig?

Remember in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s book, The Little House in the Big Woods, when they butchered the pig? Every part of that pig—even the parts that weren’t food—was used for some practical purpose? Nothing was wasted. Even the one part that had no practical use, the pig’s bladder, was inflated like a balloon to make a ball for the children to play with. Still useful.

Apologies to our vegetarian readership for the analogy, but the same holds true for the content of an online course. Every piece and part of the content of an online course must have practical purpose. That is, every word, every activity, every reading, every assessment connects directly back to the course outcomes laid out in the syllabus and each sub-objective of the learning modules. 

So take a look at your current online courses. Can you relate your learning activities, etc. directly back to one course outcome or another? If you can’t, it’s time to reevaluate them and look for replacements that focus student efforts toward what you told them they would be able to do once they finished the course. 

Anyone else in the mood for bacon? 

Is Sharing Your Passwords Now Illegal?

It has always been a bad idea to give someone else your password, and it is against West Virginia University policy, yet we all know people who do it. Recent headlines have claimed that this is now a criminal act. In a decision last week, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decided that a person who had been given another person's password could be held liable for hacking under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. The court says that this decision only applies to this particular case and set of circumstances, but since our legal system is so often based on precedent, a number of panicked articles have appeared:

• "Password Sharing is a Federal Crime, Appeals Court Rules"
• "Federal Court Rules That Password Sharing Is Illegal Under Insane Ancient Law"
• "Federal court rules that sharing your Netflix password is a federal crime"

For a more even and informed analysis of this decision, you should read this article by Orin Kerr, a professor at George Washington University Law School, in The Washington Post.

• "Shared Passwords and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act"

This case provides a great opportunity to become more aware of the issues surrounding the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, but it also provides a great opportunity to review your own computer security practices. Do you give an assistant or colleague your password? Have you thought about whether this could make you liable for actions they make while using your account? Have you thought about whether this could make them a "hacker" in the eyes of the law? Have you considered how easily someone from outside your organization could "social engineer" or talk someone into giving away a credential?
 
For more about good security practices at West Virginia University, please visit the ITS informational website:

• WVU ITS: Defend Your Data

  

Adobe's New LMS

Adobe has a relatively new program out called Captivate Prime.  Captivate Prime is a Learning Management System geared for corporate training.

Captivate Prime claims to be easy to set up and manage (typically in three steps) and conducive to a varied content integration (PPTX, Video, PDF, DOCX, AICC and SCORM packages).

The player works on desktop as well as in mobile/tablet (using the Prime app) environments using what Adobe terms as the Fluidic Player.  Learners will have their own dashboard where they can view their progress, skills attained, and even badges earned.  Further, the player will let users to bookmark their lessons as well as take and maintain notes.

Another interesting feature is how Captivate Prime apparently lets administrators tag and link learning modules together to create courses; which can be linked together into programs.  It sounds like object oriented  course design     

I look forward to seeing the program in action.  It could do well for corporate training due to it's ease of set up and use for even non-technical administrators.

To see more details visit Adobe's website on Captivate Prime at: http://blogs.adobe.com/captivate/2015/08/introducing-a-brand-new-lms-from-adobe-adobe-captivate-prime.html

3D Printer Buying Guide

Although they have been around in some form since the 1980s, 3D printers - devices that create three-dimensional physical objects from digital design files - have been gaining popularity in recent years. There are now a multitude of 3D printers available to purchase ranging from affordable to expensive. Instructors in higher education are still finding new ways to use the printers to produce prototypes and models. An article on 3ders.org attempts to categorize some of the many printers on the market in its 3D Printer Buyer’s Guide. 

The guide currently covers 23 popular 3D printers and their capabilities in four categories:

1. Category 1: Budget/Entry-Level 3D Printers ($300-$800)
2. Category 2: Enthusiast/Mid-Range 3D Printers ($800-$2,000)
3. Category 3: Enthusiast-to-Prosumer Premium 3D Printers ($2,000+)
4. Category 4: SLA / DLP Resin 3D printers

It also includes considerations when choosing a 3D printer such as:

• Technology used
• Build volume
• Printing materials needed
• Speed
• Resolution
• and more

Take a look through the 3D Printer Buyer's Guide and see which one fits your needs in terms of functionality, materials needed, and cost effectiveness.

Sit or Stand?

The debate continues on ways to increase productivity in the work place, as well as enhance learning in the classroom.  The Learn Fit and Teach Well Ergetron products (featured at the 2016 WVU CELEBRATE event) are indicative of ideas being used to promote the notion that moderately active employees and students are more engaged in their respective environments.

Work

Classroom

"Why Do We Keep Using the Same Typefaces?"

Interesting article about the use of the same fonts throughout the web.

"Spend a little time looking at the typography of the web, and you'll find that the same fonts get used over and over and over again. With literally thousands of web fonts available, why do designers keep reaching for the same ones for site after site? The article talks about positive feedback loops, the Matthew Effect, and more."

http://alistapart.com/article/the-rich-typefaces-get-richer

Yellowstone from a Bear's Perspective

National Geographic and Yellowstone National Park have put together an amazing set of videos on the collar of selected Bears (Black and Grizzly) to get a better idea and see what its like to stroll for miles around the park and come into contact with other predators as well as bulking up for the winter. 

The website is put together real nicely with a flawless flow through all of the materials. I also love the illustrations for the bears. Great site design and videos.

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2016/05/yellowstone-national-parks-bears-video

Type Terminology

This is a neat interactive site that allows you to brush up on type terminology whether it be for a class or are just intrigued by type.

"Type Terms is an animated typographic cheat sheet. It's a great reference whether you're totally new to type or just want to refresh your memory. Click on each part of the letters shown and it brings you to a more in-depth explanation of what the part is, from the foot of a letterform to the ascender." https://www.supremo.tv/typeterms/

New VR Software on the Market (almost)!

You may have seen, Google has developed a new Operating System, Android N (you can vote for the name here.) It's in beta phase right now, with a full release expected in late summer/early fall (no exact date, as of yet). Along with Android N, Google is rolling out a new Virtual Reality platform, Daydream.

Think of Daydream as Cardboard, advanced edition. Available in the fall, Daydream will require a "newer" smartphone that meets the special to work with the Daydream software and app upgrades. One of the highlights is the VR integration within apps, like YouTube and Street View.

Be sure to check out the video below, a message from Google's Vice President of Virtual Reality, Clay Bavor. If you're interested, you can also find Google's entire I/O Keynote 2016 here.

Venn or Euler Diagrams?

Have you ever wondered what the difference was between venn diagrams and euler diagrams? This brief article should clear that up for you.

http://blog.stevemould.com/venn-vs-euler-diagrams/

Fontea | Google Fonts in Photoshop (or Sketch)

Tired of going to different font websites for the perfect font while working in Photoshop? Google fonts have over 700 awesome fonts available for free and you can get to all of them just by downloading a free plug-in.

"Wish you had easier access to your favorite web fonts right in Photoshop? Fontea is a free plugin for Photoshop (and soon to be added for Sketch) that gives you access to all 700 Google fonts right in your design program of choice. The best part is that since it's a plugin, it doesn't break the native experience."

https://fontea.madebysource.com

Online Learning Objectives Generators - Part III

This entry is a companion piece to two related posts on free online learning objectives generators:

1. Part I - Radio Daze (and its update Radio James Returns!)
2. Part II - More Online Learning Objectives Generators

In my previous two posts, I presented some free, interactive web-based resources aimed at helping educators craft measurable learning objectives. Since that time, there are several more that have been brought to my attention that I would like to share:

University of Central Florida Objective Builder

• UCF’s builder creates objectives in the Condition, Audience, Behavior, and Degree (CABD) format using a variety of proven frameworks. It starts with an example, then asks the user to fill in information for each of its four categories. Throughout the process there are links to theoretical learning domain research and definitions of related terminology.

Easy Generator Learning Objectives Maker

• Divided into Who?, What?, and How?, this simple generator fills in as you type and offers a list of almost 160 action verbs. It also allows you to add your own. After entering the learning task and condition, an objective is generated. It can even be emailed to your inbox.

Generate a Five-Part Objective

• This no-frills generator presents the user with five blank form fields with specific questions centered on level of learning, conditions that will be in place, and performance level. Filling in each part and submitting your responses results in an objective assembled from your answers. 

University of Nevada, Reno Learning Outcome Generator

• Another five-part generator in which the user enters information about the audience, behavior, condition, degree, and method. This generator also allows you to choose from approximately 84 action verbs in a drop-down list.

TLC Sandbox Open House - March 17th

Come visit our group on the ground floor of the Evansdale Library on March 17th for our Sandbox Open House!

 

 

Encourage to Empower

My 13-year old son said something to his father last night that really make me think.

“Dad, after this loss Coach is going to be upset. He takes things pretty hard. Can you text him and tell him you’re with him. Nothing long, just something to let him know that you support him.”

Even though his 7th grade middle school basketball team had played an excellent game, they still lost by three points. My son had his best game to date. 

I was surprised that he chose not to focus on what he did in the game or on the loss. His focus was on the goals ahead; the next game, the tournaments that will follow, possible championships. 

Maybe he's wise beyond his years or maybe he's just a sensitive soul. Whatever the motive, I took a mental note to share it with others because it’s something so simple that we often forget about how much it’s needed. I'm talking about encouraging others.

Our main focus as the Teaching and Learning Commons is to empower all who teach. We can’t empower without encouragement. Often people are not naturally confident at trying new things or testing new technologies. Whether we’re working with faculty, graduate students, or each other remember that a little encouragement can go a long, long way. 

Enlighten. Encourage. Empower.

Say it three times fast. It’s not as hard as you think.

Virtual and Augmented Reality Devices with Educational Potential

Image from Thinkstock.

There were a number of new products with educational potential shown at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2016 held in early January. Popular among them were virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) devices nearing consumer and business-level versions intended for mass adoption. VR typically simulates an entire environment whereas AR supplements a real-world view with computer generated elements. Augmented reality can work particularly well for topics in which it is not possible to expose learners to real-world environments that they will be expected to operate within.

You may already be familiar with the emerging virtual reality headsets from Oculus Rift, Playstation VR, and HTC Vive VR. And you may know of augmented reality devices such as Google Glass and Microsoft’s upcoming Hololens project. An intriguing device that has been in the works, initially intended for industrial workers, called the DAQRI Smart Helmet, straps to one’s head and uses an interface that combines augmented and mixed reality. Data can be overlaid onto a visual heads-up display which presents the user with a real-time modified view of reality. Thermal vision can provide real-world temperature data onscreen. Work instructions can appear directly overtop an item that needs to be manipulated.

Potential educational applications of this kind of augmented reality technology could be realized in fields such as:

• Medical - Overlay 3D models to aid during surgery
• Arts - Visually alter paintings and sculptures
• History - Map locations of famous landmarks and events while on a walking tour
• Industrial Arts - Overlay design templates onto material to be fabricated
• Marketing - Scan advertisements that reveal additional information
• Outdoor Sciences - Overlay information pertaining to parts of trees, flowers, and plants
• Almost Anything - A set of instructions can be presented through the visor to assist the wearer with almost any task imaginable

These are just a few of the many educational possibilities on the horizon for AR technologies. In the coming years, it will be exciting to see what rises to the forefront and what sort of gear we will all be strapping onto our heads.

eBooks and Audiobooks Through WVU Libraries

In addition to the many great resources that WVU Libraries offers to students, faculty, and staff at West Virginia University, they also offer access to the online ebook and audiobook service, Overdrive. Overdrive is used by libraries across the country to allow patrons to “check out” digital books. If all of the WVU licenses for a particular book are already checked out, you can digitally “reserve” the book, and get an e-mail as soon as it becomes available.

Apps, Apps, Apps!

 

The Overdrive service offers apps for most types of tablets, computers, and other devices! These allow you to read your ebook wherever you are. Available apps include Android, Windows 8, Windows Phone, iOS, OSX, Chrome OS, Nook, and Amazon Kindle Fire!

On the right is a view of the Overdrive app on an Android phone.

How Do I Do This?

Just follow these steps:

• You can read ebooks and listen to audiobooks directly inside your web browser, just by visiting the WVU Libraries Overdrive Link: http://wvu.lib.overdrive.com/ 
•  Alternatively, to use an app on your device of choice, first download the app at https://app.overdrive.com/ 
•  After you have the app installed, choose the “Sign Up” option. 
•  When you create your account, choose the “option to use e-mail, and create an Overdrive account using your WVU e-mail address. 
•  After your account has been created, you should get an e-mail message asking you to click a link to verify the account. 
•  Inside the app, once you are logged into your new account, look for the “Manage Libraries” setting. 
•  You want to add a new library. When searching, be sure to type in “West Virginia University”. WVU did not work for me.

That’s it! You are now connected to ebooks and audiobooks, courtesy of WVU Libraries! Note that you will spend most of your time in the app switching between the "West Virginia University" library view, where you search for books, and the"Bookshelf" view, where you read your currently checked out and downloaded books.

Also, note that while you use the Overdrive account you created to log into the app, you will still need to enter your WVU ID username and password while you are browsing for books in the "West Virginia University" library section of the app.