EdTech does not make any unauthorized changes in any Blackboard course.
- EdTech requires written permission from faculty to make changes to their Blackboard courses. The changes may include executing a course copy or adding an observer to the course. To request a change, please email EdTechSupport@hostos.cuny.edu your EMPLID, class name/number, and section number along with a brief description of the issue.
- EdTech cannot make changes in any Blackboard course requested by a student. The student should contact their instructor who should email the request to EdTech as described above.
CUNY-Licensed
EdTech provides support and training for the following CUNY-licenced educational software and platforms:
- Blackboard
- Zoom
- Dropbox
- Panopto
- Respondus
- Digitation
- Camtasia
- Snagit
The complete list of CUNY Site Licences, please see https://www.cuny.edu/about/administration/offices/cis/technology-services/cuny-site-licenses/
For Hostos email support, and the installation of MS Office 365, Adobe Creative Suite, Camtasia, and Snagit please contact:
Information Technology
Hostos Community College
itjobrequest@hostos.cuny.edu
Non-Licensed
The Office of Educational Technology is committed to aiding faculty in the implementation of new tools and services. Towards that end, our recommendation list is continuously updated. These suggestions have undergone scrutiny to determine stability, security, and usefulness. Bear in mind that with all new technologies, capabilities and effectiveness is largely untested. Our ability to support such tools is limited to setup and brainstorming suggested use.
Recommendation List
Communication Skills
Recommended app: Virtual Speech
Virtual Speech harnesses the immersion of virtual reality to provide students with opportunities to practice communication skills. Designed for use with the company’s paid eLearning courses, the app targets communication skill-building in a work environment, such as public speaking, delivering presentations, and interviewing. Offers analysis and feedback to the user. The app is free to download on iOS and Android.
Possible instructional applications: In public speaking courses, students can practice their presentation skills with this app along with a VR goggle on loan from the EdTech office.
Annotation Tool
Recommended app: A.nnotate
This online tool allows users to attach virtual “sticky notes” to files like PDFs as well as webpages. Documents can be uploaded to the website and editing is done via the browser. To use it on web pages, A.nnotate takes a snapshot of the page. A.nnotate can be installed into the browser. Documents and web pages can be made available to other people, who can reply and edit the annotations as well. The free version allows for 30 documents per month, with an unlimited number of collaborators for each document.
Possible instructional applications: Curating research from individual students or groups for standard pre-loading homework.
Customized Alerts
Recommended app: Google Alerts
This Google feature allows users to easily set up customized alerts so they can receive regular e-mails with links to the most recent online articles that match the keywords they selected. Faculty and students can use this to stay current on topics relevant to their area of study. The service is free as long as you have a Gmail account.
Possible instructional applications: Support tool to help ensure an assignment takes into account current information. Also useful for faculty publication.
Text Readability
Recommended app: Hemingway App
This website analyzes and offers suggestions to simplify the readability of text that has been copied and pasted. Hemingway is free, simple to use, and does not require the user to create or log into an account.
Possible instructional applications: Simplifying a complex article for better readability of material for students; editing an essay or report draft.
Interactive Quizzes
Recommended app: Quizlet
Quizlet is a web-based tool that allows users to create study tools such as interactive flashcards, tests, and study games. With Quizlet, students can choose their own “Study Mode.” This allows activity content to be migrated from flashcards to matching games to other types of study games easily and responsively.
Possible instructional applications: Teachers can create online exercises designed to improve retention and review.
Mock Surgeries
Recommended app: TouchSurgery
This highly specialized app allows students in the medical and health professions to evaluate their own knowledge as well as accuracy when performing mock surgeries. Surgeries are complete when the user is able to accurately demonstrate every step of a certain procedure (ie. knowing where to “cut” or where to attach a medical device to a patient.) Touchsurgery is free for both iOS and Android.
Possible instructional applications: In a classroom, it can be used as icebreaker activities to introduce techniques at the start of a unit.
Research Organization
Recommended app: Wakelet
Wakelet is an online platform for organizing material from articles, links, tweets, and images into specific collections. This is useful for preparing research from multiple sources for projects.
Possible instructional applications: User-friendly way to share lists of bookmarked content.
Grading/Feedback
Recommended app: ZipGrade
ZipGrade turns your phone or tablet into an optical grading machine similar to a Scantron. It reads answer sheets in multiple sizes that are free to download from the ZipGrade website. Provide instant feedback to students by grading exit tickets, quizzes, and formative assessments as soon as they finish.
Possible instructional applications: Useful as a backup if other testing modalities are not available or in repair.
EdTech provides support to faculty and students via phone, video conferencing tools, and in-person at the EdTech office.
For classroom support, please contact EdTechSupport@hostos.cuny.edu