Contributed by Jenn Ray, Learning Technology Administrator I
As most of our readers already know, OIT's Instructional Design and Technology (IDT) team consists of four Instructional Designers (IDs) and two Learning Technology Administrators (LTAs). What you may not know, however, is what precisely an LTA does. At UHCL, the Learning Technology Administrators are much more than just "the Blackboard people." Although Blackboard is one of the technologies we support, it is far from the only thing we do. We also support any other instructional technology (or technologies used for instructional purposes). For example, we support Zoom and Echo360 at UHCL.
Beginning with Blackboard, we handle most technical issues, whereas the Instructional Designers handle instructional and content-based inquiries. We also respond to student Blackboard inquires and issues. Other system administrative tasks include (1) monitoring the cloud-based instance of Blackboard hosted on Blackboard's servers, (2) maintaining and update publisher integrations with publisher or other third-party systems that work with Blackboard, (3) setting up course merges, and (4) adding Teaching Assistants to courses at the start of each term.
The LTAs are also administrators for UHCL's instance of Zoom. We provide training and resources for Zoom's many features and troubleshoot any technical issues. We also assign users to our HIPAA compliant Zoom sub-account when the need arises or assign one of the University's shared Webinar licenses to users who need them. Regarding Webinars, as with Zoom meetings, we provide training and resources and assist in coordinating with the theater (or with the person who will handle A/V for the event).
Although not truly the last thing we do, the last item being covered today is Echo360. Echo360 is the video storage and capture system we use at UHCL. In addition to administrating UHCL's instance of Echo360, we also (as with Zoom) provide resources and training on how to use Echo360's many features. These include personal Universal Capture, some limited video editing capabilities (within Echo360), how to navigate the Echo360 Course and Library system, and how to share videos from your library most effectively.
Much like these are not the only things we do for these three systems, these are also not the only items we support. If you ever have a question about any of these or an instructional technology that is not Echo360, Blackboard, or Zoom, don't hesitate to contact the Support Center (SupportCenter@uhcl.edu) with the pertinent information, and we'll gladly assist.
