Friday, April 20, 2012

Congratulations Tracy Fairless – New Assistant Director of Instructional Design

Tracy_BlogIt is a privilege to announce the appointment of Tracy Fairless as the CPDE Assistant Director of Instructional Design.  Her servant-leadership style,  interpersonal skills, and teaching experience are very desirable as we move forward and continue to provide outstanding service to UCO.

Tracy Fairless has been with CPDE since the fall of 2007 as an Instructional Designer. Her friendly, helpful attitude and high level of competency has earned her a great deal of respect among CPDE staff as well as the faculty they serve. Prior to her time at CPDE, Tracy was an instructor in the Mass Communications department in addition to being the department’s Adjunct Coordinator.

Congratulations, Tracy! And good luck in your future career!

Technologists, Students Research Kinect for Distance Education

Recent advances in video game technology are providing a pathway to better interactivity in online education courses.

The Microsfot Kinect is a motion sensing input device by Microsoft for the Xbox 360 video game console and Windows PCs. Based around a webcam-style add-on peripheral for the Xbox 360 console, it enables users to control and interact with the Xbox 360 without the need to touch a game controller through a natural user interface using gestures and spoken commands. Students and technologists in the Instructional Technologies department of the Center for Professional and Distance Education are exploring new uses for this impressive new peripheral.

Some suggested uses involve applications in the following departments: kinesiology, molecular biology, physics, business communication, geometry, fashion marketing, criminal justice, and disability and special needs services.

May 25thThe first demonstration of this research will be presented at the UCO eLearning Developers’ Community of Practice meeting on May 25th. Mark your calendar!!