Campus Spaces and Digital Twins with Matterport
The Learning Technology and Innovation Division at Portland Community College (PCC) is utilizing a Matterport camera to create 360° images and architectural scans of campus spaces. These scans produce 'digital twins'—virtual replicas of physical environments—that users can navigate interactively. The project aims to enhance accessibility and engagement by allowing students, faculty, and the community to explore campus facilities remotely. Additionally, these digital twins can incorporate 'hot spots' linking to supplementary content such as images, audio, video, and web pages, enriching the virtual experience. Pilot spaces, including the Southeast Campus Faculty Production Lab, STEAM Maker Labs, and student learning spaces are being scanned to demonstrate the potential applications of this technology.
Math- Dual Instructor Foundational Videos
The Foundational Math and Statistics Instructional Video Project seeks to develop high-quality, stand-alone instructional videos on foundational skills for MTH and Statistics courses. Designed to address overlapping skills across multiple courses, the videos can be embedded in assignments, courses, or other instructional contexts. The project will initially create 3-5 proof-of-concept videos, with professional production support and input from faculty committees to refine content focus while maintaining flexibility. Funding will cover media production, faculty release time, and special projects pay for three participating faculty members. The project also includes access to required technology for video storage and distribution. Once produced, the videos will have long-term utility, although periodic updates may be needed to ensure content relevance. This initiative aims to support faculty and enhance student success by addressing foundational learning gaps in a scalable, reusable format.
Biology Labs - On-boarding Concepts Microvlogged
The Biology and Environmental Studies Media Library Project aims to create a library of short, informal videos (1-2 minutes each) to support lower-division students in developing field and laboratory skills. These videos will introduce students to Pacific Northwest ecosystems, field and laboratory locations, techniques, equipment, and scientific inquiry, helping to reduce barriers for underrepresented groups in STEM. The approachable format of these videos is designed to make fieldwork and lab experiences more familiar and accessible across a variety of courses in Biology and Environmental Studies. The project is supported by 60 hours of special projects pay for participating faculty, media creation tools such as Camtasia and Adobe Creative Suite, and professional equipment, including DJI OSMO Pocket 3 kits. Additional support includes instructional technology specialists, access to a sound booth, and storage via the Kaltura media server. This initiative, running from Fall 2024 through Spring 2025, emphasizes collaborative faculty involvement, with a focus on building sustainable processes for media production and student-centered learning resources. Faculty and student feedback will be collected to refine and guide future scalability of the project.
The Interactive Accessibility Lessons for WR 227 with H5P Smart Import project aims to transform static technical writing content into engaging, interactive lessons using H5P’s Smart Import tool. Focused initially on WR 227, the project has potential applications across PCC’s curriculum, supporting courses that involve writing and benefit from enhanced accessibility and interactivity. This initiative seeks to improve student engagement and knowledge retention through interactive modules embedded in course content. The project will provide release time for faculty to learn and implement H5P Smart Import, creating materials such as grammar activities, interactive videos, and interactive books. Faculty training will ensure sustainability, enabling replication of these lessons across sections.
360 Cameras for Faculty and Staff checkout through PCC libraries.
The Immersive Media: 360 Camera for Faculty Check Out project aims to expand the use of immersive media in PCC courses by equipping each campus library with two 360 camera kits for faculty check out. These kits, available for three-week loans, will include cameras, tripods, and accessories, along with access to editing software such as Camtasia and Adobe Creative Suite. The initiative will be supported by professional development opportunities and instructional resources to help faculty integrate immersive media into their teaching.The project emphasizes accessibility and ease of use, with QR codes and guides included in the kits for quick onboarding, as well as support from instructional technology specialists and the ITS team. Faculty will learn to annotate 360 content using tools like H5P and publish their creations on platforms such as Kaltura, with a focus on accessibility and copyright compliance. This project, slated for full implementation by end of Winter 2025, seeks to empower faculty to enhance student engagement and learning experiences through immersive media while establishing a scalable, sustainable system for future use.
Labster for virtual simulations
One of our earliest projects led to the win of understanding when technology may be ahead of itself. This project also highlighted changes in procurement for innovation that subsequently adjusts our future project process. Although we didn't ultimately license Labster for any of our courses beyond the pilot, we did get an opportunity to explore the technology with faculty and gain valuable feedback to guide our future immersive learning tool selection plans
OER Sustainability - Faculty Release time for Math Faculty, Alex Jordan
Allocating Techquity Grant funds for faculty release time to maintain and update Open Educational Resources (OER) is essential for ensuring the longevity and relevance of these materials. According to Alex Jordan's "OER Sustainability Concerns at PCC," courses utilizing OER should undergo review and revision approximately every four years to remain current and effective.
This process demands significant time and expertise from faculty members.
By providing release time, we enable faculty to focus on critical tasks such as:
Content Updates: Revising materials to reflect the latest developments in their fields.
Technological Enhancements: Integrating new technologies to improve accessibility and engagement.
Logistical Management: Coordinating versions, managing resources, and ensuring consistency across platforms.
This investment aligns with the goals of the Techquity Grants program, which aims to fund and support innovative uses of technology while reducing barriers for students. By supporting faculty in these endeavors, we promote equitable access to high-quality, up-to-date educational resources, directly benefiting our diverse student body.
Career Guidance + Math- AI Animated Explainer Video Generation with Vyond
The AI Video Generation project, led by Career Guidance and Mathematics instructor Jessica Bernards, created thirteen targeted, AI-generated instructional videos addressing math study skills and anxiety. Designed for use in PCC's new corequisite math courses, including MTH 105, the videos will also serve as resources for all students via the Student Learning Center and Math Department webpage. These videos will provide strategies for overcoming math and test anxiety, effective study and homework practices, time management, and fostering a growth mindset. By leveraging AI technology, the project seeks to support faculty driven productions to improve student success, and support diverse learners across multiple programs.
SIUnitX Expansion of MathJax functionality to include math description for screen readers
This project created a MathJax extension that renders quantity expressions like “9.8 ㎧²” in a visually appealing and accessible format for STEM disciplines. This extension enables proper formatting and accessible speech rendering of units, benefiting students and educators at PCC and beyond. The project involves collaboration with MathJax maintainers Davide Cervone and Volker Sorge for consultation and validation, with PCC team members Lee McPherson, Alex Jordan, and Stephanie Bryan handling development, testing, and implementation. The project’s deliverables included an "alpha" version of the extension by September 2023, a finalized release by February 2024, and full integration into PCC-hosted tools by April 2024. All new code for this project is open-source, enhancing accessibility for STEM content across various platforms, including WeBWorK and D2L Brightspace, with no additional security or IT requirements.
Kahoot! - Evaluation and system level adoption of polling software for in-person and remote courses.
Learning Technology and Innovation team evaluation of Kahoot! led to system level adoption! Investing in system-level access to Kahoot! supports our commitment to advancing equity and innovation in education through technology. The ISTE Seal Review Findings Report (May 2024) highlights Kahoot! as an accessible, user-friendly platform that enhances engagement through interactive quizzes and gamified learning. Its compatibility across devices ensures that all students, including those with limited access to technology, can fully participate. By adopting this platform, we not only improve student engagement and success, but also provide equitable opportunities for learners from all backgrounds to thrive in a technology-enhanced educational environment.
Video Assessment Tools - Annoto Video Annotation (Integrated with Kaltura)
Annoto is a video annotation tool integrated within D2L Brightspace designed to enhance online video content by allowing users to add interactive elements directly onto videos. With Annoto, instructors can incorporate features such as annotations, video comments, personal notes, quiz interactions, and user analytics into their course videos. This integration facilitates new ways of engaging with video content and provides insights into student interactions with the material. To begin using Annoto, instructors need to request activation by emailing dlhelp@pcc.edu with their D2L course URL(s). Once enabled, Annoto can be added to videos in My Media/Kaltura within D2L Brightspace. Comprehensive guides and support resources are available to assist faculty in effectively utilizing Annoto's features. Annoto aligns with the goals of the Techquity Grants program by addressing key aspects of technology equity in a community college setting. By enabling interactive, engaging, and accessible video content, Annoto helps bridge gaps for diverse learners, including those who benefit from multimodal learning approaches or need additional scaffolding to succeed in online environments.The tool fosters active learning by allowing students to engage with course videos through annotations, discussions, and personal notes, helping them better understand and retain course material. It also provides instructors with valuable insights into how students interact with video content, enabling targeted support for those who may struggle. For community colleges, where students often come from diverse educational and technological backgrounds, tools like Annoto ensure that all learners have equal opportunities to succeed by offering more inclusive and engaging learning experiences. Furthermore, Annoto's integration with Kaltura and D2L Brightspace streamlines adoption across PCC's systems, ensuring accessibility and ease of use for both faculty and students. This investment reflects a commitment to leveraging technology to create equitable, engaging, and effective learning environments for all students.