1:  What is Yik Yak?

Yik Yak is a mobile app that anyone can download and use to post anonymous observations. If you are familiar with Twitter or Facebook, Yik Yak is another social media platform -- without any boundaries or identity affiliation. Participants can upvote what they like, or downvote what they do not like; they can also reply to “yaks” anonymously. Yik Yak utilizes the built-in GPS tracking in mobile technology to filter “yaks” to the user’s location within a 5-mile radius wherever the app is opened. Participants can also “peek” into other Yik Yak communities across the nation.

2: How do students access the app?

Anyone can download Yik Yak from the App Store on iOS devices or the Google Play store on Android devices. It is not available at this time for traditional desktops or laptops. It is a free application with no  requirement for the user to provide personal information.

3: How is the app used?

Yik Yak is used for anonymous posting to share thoughts and opinions on any topic.  This app has become widely popular on college campuses where students are posting opinions about everything from campus events to political issues.

4: How is this app impacting academic integrity on college campuses?

Since this app has become widely popular at college campuses across the country, some students are beginning to post information about assessments and other activities that occur in their courses.

5: How can I prevent the misuse of Yik Yak in my course(s)?    

• Remind students of UMBC’s Honor Code

• Require students to put away their electronic devices during high stakes assessments

• Offer multiple versions of quizzes, exams, etc.
  

• Consider long-form question(s) instead of multiple choice to encourage the application of critical thinking

• Use Yik Yak as a teaching tool.

Example:  Ask an open-ended question in class, and have students post their responses anonymously via Yik Yak. Then have students vote for the response they think best answers the question. Display results on the LCD screen.  

Faculty should not feel obligated to install Yik Yak on their own devices to monitor the stream during exam sessions, but this is also an option. Another option suggested by Stony Brook University (2014) is to display the Yik Yak feed via projector; in doing so, you may discourage some students from using the app.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us as instructionaltechnology@umbc.edu. We look forward to seeing you at the sessions!

We want to give you as much notice as possible about our plan to cease classroom support of VHS players on June 1, 2017. This plan was created with the input from the UMBC Classroom Committee, the AOK Library, and DoIT using the information gathered from the campus-wide VHS Usage Survey distributed in March of 2014.

Since the summer of 2012 both new and renewed technology-rich learning spaces have not included a VHS player. Our current pool of devices is beginning to fail and we are finding it difficult to purchase replacement equipment. Increasingly we see challenges with the quality of existing VHS tapes as they age. Campus usage and library circulation data confirms the decline in the use of VHS media. In addition, many of our VHS tapes do not meet the requirements for accessibility of instructional materials. For instance, do the VHS resources that you use now include closed captioning?

DoIT will continue to have a limited number of VHS players available for delivery from AV Services throughout the transition. The AOK Library will continue to provide VHS viewing stations and a screening room after June, 2017.If you currently own VHS tapes that you use for instruction, you should begin to develop a strategy for migrating that material to a digital or online format. Staff in DoIT and the Library will be glad to assist if you have questions regarding the transition from VHS tapes to updated media formats.

To help, we recommend the following:

 Many VHS tapes used for instruction are now available online by subscription or purchased as DVD material. DoIT is working with the Library to investigate options for streaming media.

 Bookmark clips and desired content in your browser.

We hope that by giving you as much advance warning as possible we can begin working with groups to make an orderly transition before VHS tapes are impossible to support and this impacts your instruction.

Please visit our FAQ page at https://wiki.umbc.edu/display/faq/Classroom+VHS+Player+Retirement

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

The PROF-it (Professors-in-Training) program has partnerships with several incredibly unique learning institutions. Below, you will find information about volunteering or becoming part of the instructional faculty for the Goucher Prison Education Partnership (GPEP), serving the learning needs of students who are incarcerated. This SUNDAY, November 23, 2014, please consider attending the information session for prospective instructors and volunteers.

The Goucher Prison Education Partnership (GPEP) offers Goucher College courses and college preparatory courses to students at two Maryland prisons.

If you are interested in working with GPEP during the Spring 2015 semester, be sure to attend this information session: 

Sunday November 23, 2014 from 6:00 – 8: 00 PM

Hoffberger 137
Goucher College
1021 Dulaney Valley Rd.
Baltimore, MD 21204

All are welcome at these sessions! Details about volunteer positions and for prospective faculty can be found below.

**Students who will be abroad in the Spring but would like to volunteer in the Fall should attend this information session.

Questions can be sent to liat.melnick@goucher.edu. Thank you for your interest! We hope you can join us!

Liat Melnick
Program Administrator
443-934-9549
Goucher Prison Education Partnership
www.goucher.edu/GPEP

Volunteer positions include:

1. Tutors: Tutors commit to at least one evening of tutoring per week for the full semester and attend several tutor trainings on the main campus. Tutors should be able to assist with academic writing (across the disciplines), math (PreAlgebra, Algebra I & Algebra II, Statistics, Precalculus, and/or Calculus) and/or Intermediate to advances Spanish language (speaking, reading and writing). The ideal candidate is someone with demonstrated success in advanced academic work with some teaching or tutoring experience.  Next semester, tutoring will take place on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6-8:30 pm. *Faculty, staff, undergraduate upperclassmen, graduate students, and other adult professionals from the Baltimore community are invited to apply for this role.* (Goucher students: Current and former writing tutors and SIs are strongly encouraged to apply.)
2. Research assistants: Research assistants serve as a bridge to key academic resources, gathering materials needed by incarcerated students to complete research papers and other academic projects. These assistants work closely with a specific professor and carefully follow institutional and programmatic guidelines regarding materials brought to the prisons. The ideal candidate should be conscientious, a problem solver, and able to work independently.
3. Administrative Help: A small number of volunteers provide administrative support. This work includes creating student files, assisting with various types of communications, data entry, and other tasks. Candidates should be detail oriented and willing to pitch in where needed. Familiarity with Excel a plus. (Administrative help takes place on Goucher’s main campus, not at the prisons.)

Prospective Faculty: 

We also seek faculty interested in leading Goucher college and college preparatory courses at the prisons. We have a particular need for skilled math faculty at this time. Selected faculty typically lead a single course and are paid.

Faculty interested in learning more about leading courses at the prison should contact Amy Roza, GPEP Director at amy.roza@goucher.edu and attend an information session. Candidates not currently teaching with Goucher College should include a letter of interest and CV when they write.