Academic Tech Tools

Campfire Room - Terrell 106

Exploring

Technology Test Kitchen

The Technology Test Kitchen (TTK), created by Academic Outreach and Innovation (AOI) and newly relocated from Holland 150 to The Spark 102, is designed to help staff and faculty try out the latest educational technologies in a supportive environment. Since its inception in 2015 faculty have explored such tools as 3-D printers, Google Cardboard, cell-phone videos, lecture capture technologies, quick-response systems, virtual and augmented reality, and more.

A variety of Technology Trainings are held in the TTK. Please visit Trainings and Workshops to learn more.

In addition, members of the AOI Learning Innovations team staff the Technology Test Kitchen M-F, 8-5, and faculty and staff with questions about teaching and educational technologies are invited to stop by. Stop by Starbucks for a cup of coffee and come on up and see what’s happening.

The Technology Test Kitchen is mobile! Upon request, the mobile version of the Technology Test Kitchen brings customized training to colleges and departments. Topics and presentations are prepared upon request and brought to the college or department.

Some recent topics and technologies for Technology Test Kitchen are:

  • Virtual Reality via HTC Vive and Google Cardboard
  • Augmented Reality with Mobile Devices
  • Telepresence with DoubleRobotics
  • 3D printing technologies
  • Student Engage with Free and Easy apps
  • Digital Sandbox with Xbox Kinect
  • Whiteboard Capture and Digital Annotation with Kaptiva, EBeam, various annotive styli and monitors
  • Student Response Tools—TopHat and iClicker
  • Video Capture Tools Panopto

To arrange for a visit from the Technology Test Kitchen or to discuss a customized discussion, please contact Jon Manwaring.

Faculty Innovation Studio

The Spark Faculty Innovation Studio is a welcoming space for faculty and instructors to engage with other faculty and support staff in activities and discussions, take a break between classes, attend workshops, or engage with instructional designers. With different seating styles available—meeting table, café booth, or individual lounge chairs—the Faculty Innovation Studio is designed with the idea that faculty and instructors should have a space to consider the possibilities and means to experiment with different teaching styles, technologies, and modalities.

There are also two recording studios available to faculty inside the Faculty Innovation Studio. These studios enable instructors to create or edit content and media pieces for class components and lessons.

Recording Studios are equipped with the following:

  • Computer workstation
  • Panopto, OneNote, MSOffice, Adobe Creative Suite
  • Camera—for capture of lecture type recordings
  • Microphone—capture of lecture type recordings and narrations
  • Wacom Tablet—annotation
  • Connection points for other media types

Tech Tools

  • Video Conference: A synchronous distance learning technology that allows students throughout the State—and beyond—to take part in WSU’s educational experience. The videoconference system’s main objective is to enhance WSU’s academic programs. However, it is also used for meetings and events other than classes to support WSU’s administrative needs.
  • Learning Management System: A Learning Management System (LMS) is software that creates a virtual classroom where students and instructors share information. WSU uses Canvas.
  • Cougar Capture: Record and stream your lecture. Panopto is installed on all General University Classroom computers on the Pullman campus, and is available for all users with a Canvas account.