Instructional Technology Services
We offer the following instructional technology services:
Our instructional technology team is available for scheduled consultations with faculty and academic staff on Butler’s academic systems such as Canvas, Panopto, WordPress, Zoom, Google Apps, and Poll Everywhere. Consultation support is also available for, but not limited to, projects involving online instructional videos, the creation of accessible course materials, and technology-driven assessments.
Scheduling Consultations
Consultations are free of charge and can be scheduled by:
- Submitting a Consultation Request.
- Calling 317-940-8575, or
- Sending an email to APhelp@butler.edu.
You can work with our academic technology team between 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. We highly recommend scheduling an appointment. Our team works daily with ongoing projects which makes scheduling consultations necessary to ensure you receive uninterrupted attention during your appointment.
For IT emergencies, contact the IT Help Desk at ask.butler.edu or 317-940-4357. Note: The Help Desk aims to provide excellent service to each and every user. This can cause hold times on the phone to be lengthy. Utilizing self-service at ask.butler.edu for non-urgent requests and issues will prevent users from having to wait on the phone.
Our instructional technology staff are eager to work with faculty and academic staff on projects that impact student learning through incorporation of technology. One such example is the Lightboard project. Our team was awarded an Innovation Fund grant and a donation from alumni, Marjorie Rork ’53, to outfit the Marjorie Rork Lightboard Studio that faculty and academic staff can use to create engaging online video instructional experiences. Learn more about lightboard technology and how it can impact learners.
We is also happy to facilitate collaborations between faculty and students. Take, for example, the reflectance transformation imaging (RTI) work student employee Tatum Turner did for Professor Lynne Kvapil in the summer of 2019. RTI, explained simply, is an imaging technique used to preserve surface details of objects in ways standard photographs can’t. The technique is widely used by archaeologists like Kvapil who need to capture hyper-realistic surrogates of artifacts encountered in the field for further and enhanced study at home. However, the process is tricky and takes time to perfect, time not often enjoyed by busy professors planning a research trip to Greece. Enter Tatum, whose enthusiasm for archaeology and technology made her the obvious choice to help Kvapil. And help she did, devoting a good part of her summer to testing RTI workflows and translating her efforts into documentation that Kvapil later referred to in the field. In the words of Kvapil: “Tatum is the RTI expert here! She is the one who has really figured out how it works and is teaching me!” APhelp@butler.edu
Faculty and academic staff interested in partnering with our instructional technology team to explore innovative uses of technology should call 317-940-8575 or send an email to APhelp@butler.edu.
For class projects involving instructional technology, Digital Transformation (DX) Ambassadors, under the guidance of instructional technology staff, are available to lead introductory or on-going workshops directed to students. Common instruction topics include:
- Podcasting
- Infographics
- ePortfolios
- Digital Storytelling
- Online Presentations (Panopto)
For example, for the past several years, associate professor Mike Dahlie has asked students in his FYS class, Regarding the Pain of Others, to write and produce podcasts. Mike assigns podcasts, in part, because he finds them a useful avenue for teaching writing concepts. Effective narrative podcasts include clear introductions, logical and evidence-based conclusions, and creative transitions. Students identify these elements quickly when they hear them out loud, and they successfully employ them when recording podcasts of their own. By asking students to reflect on and apply narrative structures associated with podcasting, Mike hopes to help them organize their thoughts more skillfully, in ways favorable to their overall writing abilities.
To schedule a live instruction session for your students, complete the Workshop Request form.
The Digital Transformation Ambassador (DXA) Program is a student employee partnership between two teams—the Partnership Pathways team and the Digital Learning team. DXA students not only gain invaluable experience and make a tangible impact on Butler’s growing educational opportunities, but also receive comprehensive training in various digital tools and strategies. This broad training equips students with a diverse skill set that will benefit them in countless ways as they embark on their future careers.
Our DX Ambassadors answer faculty technology questions, lead classroom instruction sessions, remediate inaccessible course materials, assist with video production, and more.
If you are a Butler student and wish to join the DXA program, look for open positions on Handshake or email Evan Kinch (ekinch@butler.edu) for more information.
Changes to Services
Lending Library
The Lending Library has moved from the third floor of Irwin Library to the first floor, and it is now managed by the Library. To check out equipment, please go to the Information Commons desk.
Equipment is now available to all Butler faculty, staff, and students!
Instructional Design Services
Interested in learning more about designing and facilitating online and blended courses? Want help with your traditional course design, writing those student learning outcomes, or aligning the outcomes with multimodal assessment activities? We’ll have self-help resources coming soon.