StudyMate Instructor Support and Training

From CTLpedia

Project Summary: The CTL has supported the use of the StudyMate software by faculty for several years. Faculty use the StudyMate software to efficient create a variety of interative, self-graded activities for use in review and study.

Contents 1 Project Goals 2 Relation to CTL Department Plan Initiatives 3 Project Staff 4 Project Timeline 4.1 Current Status 4.2 Future Directions 5 Project Resources 6 Project Outcomes

Project Goals

• Provide and promote the StudyMate software to faculty to use in creating interactive study and review activities.
• Provide training and support to faculty using StudyMate.
• Continually evaluate the quality, efficiency, and usefulness of the StudyMate software and it's usage by instructors.

Relation to CTL Department Plan Initiatives

• Innovative New Technologies
• Support for Online Learning at MCC

Project Staff

• Melanie Kroening, Peggy Johnson, and Donna Gaudet provide documentation, training, support, and communication to faculty interested in using the StudyMate software.
• Martin Lehner developed a secure software download site that allows the CTL to track the number of StudyMate users.
• Paul Hickey installs and maintains the StudyMate software on all CTL computers.
• Jeffrey Anderson is the primary support contact at MCC for StudyMate.

Project Timeline

• Project was initiated in 2005 by Alan Levine at the district. The district negotiated pricing of the software for all interested Blackboard and WebCT schools in MCCCD.
• The CTL evaluated the StudyMate software and found that it allowed instructors to easily and efficiently create interactive Flash activities (crossword puzzle, self-graded quizzes, fill in the blank, etc).
• The CTL purchased the StudyMate software the first year.
• The CTL evaluated the usage of the StudyMate software after a pilot year and requested that this campus-wide product be purchased annually by MCC due to it's low cost and high usage.

Current Status

• The StudyMate software is purchased annually by MCC and is supported by the CTL. Primary contact is Jeffrey Anderson, but several staff members can assist with questions. StudyMate (PC only) client software is available for MCC faculty at http://ctl.mc.maricopa.edu/softsense.

Future Directions

• CTL will continue to support and promote the use of the StudyMate software through workshops, one-on-one appointments, and online documentation.
• The CTL will annually evaluate the cost of StudyMate, the number of faculty using StudyMate, and will continuously compare it to new/competing products.

Project Resources

• Staff time has been required to develop and deliver the StudyMate workshop.
• The StudyMate software was purchased during the pilot year by the CTL but is now renewed annually by MCC.
• Staff time is required to support instructors using this software.
• Staff time has been required to develop a secure downloading site that also tracks downloads to provide feedback on the usage of StudyMate.

Project Outcomes

• The StudyMate software currently is the most effective method for instructors to develop online review activities.
• The StudyMate software is created by the same company as Respondus so it has a similar interface and is familiar to instructors using WebCT.