Contents:

• What Is Breeze Presenter - and How Can I Use It?
• Profile:  ISU Distance Learners
• Distance News @indstate.edu
• Thought for November

 
WHAT IS BREEZE PRESENTER -- AND HOW CAN I USE IT?
- by CLEO MAGNUSON, ISU Instructional Designer

These are both extremely interesting questions! So, let's begin at the beginning.

What is Breeze?

Breeze Presenter is part of the Macromedia software housed on one of the University's servers to help instructors teach online asynchronously. Microsoft PowerPoint presentations can be published to the Breeze server and can be dynamic in nature, including such elements as voice annotations (audio synchronized by slide), images, video clips, course notes, and external links.

Indiana State University has a Breeze server located at http://breeze.indstate.edu   Each faculty member has been assigned a Breeze account.

To get started:

1. Go to www.indstate.edu/oit/irts/breeze
2. Click on Faculty Account Request Form.
3. Type in your first and last name. You will instantly receive your login and password.
4. After you log in to Breeze, click on Getting Started. Follow the link and install Macromedia Breeze Presenter plug-in for Microsoft PowerPoint.

Once installed, Breeze automatically appears as a menu item in your Microsoft PowerPoint program. Open your PowerPoint and add such elements as audio, video or images. Then seamlessly publish this to your account on the Breeze server. During the publishing process, you identify the URL for the presentation, make the presentation public and then send the URL to your students so they can view your presentation.

How Can I Use Breeze Presenter?

First of all, determine your purpose for using Breeze. The following questions will assist you in determining how you want to use Breeze Presenter.

Are you creating a stand-alone product?

By this I mean, will this Breeze presentation be one that you create and then upload to the ISU Breeze server to serve as the primary way (other than the textbook, readings, and assignments) you disseminate content to your students? If so, then the students will probably not see you face-to-face when you present this content. You will likely want to provide as much information as you would in the traditional classroom. Some of the components to consider when producing a stand-alone Breeze Presenter product would be: introduction; objectives; the content itself; and additional components that add to the content (such as audio files, voice annotations, video, Flash files and/or images, graphs or illustrations). Because the Breeze plug-in within PowerPoint allows you to add quiz questions with feedback, you can check students’ comprehension as they are viewing the asynchronous presentation. This provides the instructor with some measure of assessment based on the content presented.

Will you be using Breeze Presenter as a supplement or review for your face-to-face course?

During your class session, you may identify that some students had difficulty with a particular concept. You may decide to elaborate on the PowerPoint you used by adding images, graphs, voice annotations, or illustrations–and then publishing it to the Breeze server. Again, you can check comprehension by using the quiz questions and provide feedback to the learner.

Will you be using Breeze Presenter as part of a module within your Blackboard course?

Once your presentation is published to Breeze Presenter, point your students to the URL. You can add this URL as an external link to your Blackboard lesson as another way to present content.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Breeze Presenter can provide the instructor with alternative ways to present information. Similarly, the varied learning styles of the learner can be addressed as information is presented auditorily, visually, and, in some cases, graphically, depending upon the content.

Cleo Magnuson is an Instructional Designer in the University's Center for Teaching and Learning. If you have questions on this article or another instructional design topic, contact Cleo at (812) 237-7941 or extcleo@isugw.indstate.edu

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PROFILE: ISU DISTANCE LEARNERS

Fall 2005 enrollments in ISU distance learning courses set a record high. Headcount (unduplicated) in ISU distance courses reached 2,093 students, generating a total of 3,562 enrollments (or credit hours).

To understand this increase, it is important to note who enrolls in ISU distance courses. The profile (below) is based on the University's Fall 2005 Enrollment Summary.

Profile

Of the 2,093 students enrolled in distance learning, the majority are:

• Undergraduates (57.5%)
• Over the age of 25 (68%)
• Women (60%)
• Distance-only students (62%)

The majority (66%) live outside of Vigo and its six surrounding counties (Clay, Greene, Owen, Putnam, Sullivan and Vermillion).

I.  Enrollment by Level:

• Undergraduate: 57.5%
• Graduate: 42.5%

II.  Status:

• Full-time undergrad: 33%
• Part-time undergrad: 24%
• Full-time grad: 8%
• Part-time grad: 35%

III.  Average Age:

• Undergraduates:  29 years
• Graduates:  37 years

IV.  State:

• Indiana (71%)
• Out-of-State: (29%)

If you have questions or wish a copy of the Fall 2005 Enrollment Summary, please contact the Office of Distance Support Services.

Contact:

Melissa Hughes
Director, Distance Support Services
mhughes@indstate.edu

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DISTANCE NEWS @INDSTATE.EDU

Over 2,600 individuals are currently subscribed to Distance News @indstate.edu - an e-newsletter for ISU distance learners.

The goal is to provide just-in-time news and information on University procedures and resources. Subscribers include graduate and undergraduate students.

Please browse the archive and encourage your distance students to opt-in by completing the form at www.indstate.edu/distance/news.

Faculty and staff are invited to submit news items and articles for inclusion.

Contact

Julie Tipton
j-tipton@indstate.edu

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THOUGHT FOR NOVEMBER:

Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile.

~ William Cullen Bryant

Interaction is published by the Office of Distance Support Services - Indiana State University.

• Questions or suggestions should be sent to studentservices@indstate.edu

• To discontinue receiving our mailings or to change your email address, visit www.indstate.edu/distance/faculty/interaction

Issue 58: November 1, 2005 | « previous issue | next issue »

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