Rising Junior Kellcee Batchelor (Music) and Rising Senior Emma Boniche (Education) shared emcee responsibilities at the event. Batchelor and Boniche got the crowd warmed up with a technology trivia challenge powered by Questions included information about viewing course materials in Moodle, using OnTrack to register for courses, and finding technology help by either calling the Technology Service Desk at (336) 278-5200, or visiting an elite student in Belk Library. 

They then turned it over to Instructional Technologist Michael Vaughn, who led that provided valuable tips for digitally communicating with faculty and staff, cautioned the consequences of over-sharing on social networks, and stressed the importance of finding a healthy balance between your digital and real-world lives. 

Vaughn encouraged students to view email as a letter rather than a text, reinforcing his point by reciting an excerpt from a letter written during the Civil War and comparing it to an email from a first-year student. He advised them to be brief and respectful when writing emails to faculty and staff, and to start each email by identifying who they are and how the recipient may know them. 

Students were also cautioned to be careful about what they share online and with whom. In a timely lesson on privacy, Vaughn highlighted how “free” services ranging from department store WiFi connections to social networks like Facebook and Instagram aren’t actually free. They require an exchange of user data, which the companies then use to market more effectively. 

With respect to online reputation and social media use, Vaughn highlighted how employers will very likely look at a student’s social media presence if they’re being considered for a job offer. He encouraged them to show restraint with the content they choose to share, especially pictures. 

Vaughn ended the session by challenging the incoming students to find a healthy balance between their digital and real-world lives. This involved finding times to disconnect from their devices, get to know romantic interests without researching their social media profiles first, and showing genuine love and appreciation to their friends and loved ones. 

Students walked away with an understanding of the ways they can stay Connected@Elon, the role technology plays in their lives, and the responsibilities that come along with using it. To learn more about ways you can stay Connected@Elon, visit our “” section of the Technology Website. Watch the video recording of Connected@Elon on . 

Vaughn and TeVault brought maker culture to App State in their presentation on Elon’s Maker Hub. The two provided guidance as conference attendees worked their way through ‘maker stations’ set up around the room. The presentation was a great leadership opportunity for Tevault, a rising senior, who showcased a functional 3D printer he’d built from scratch. Both presenters also gave an overview of what a makerspace is, why Elon is opening one, and what Elon students, faculty and staff will be able to do in the space.

In their presentation, Vaughn argued that a culture of standardized testing in the K-12 world has created a generation of students who enter college lacking three things: An understanding of how learning works, a willingness to struggle with complex ideas and theories, and the resiliency to fight through failure. According to Vaughn, makerspaces combat these obstructive mentalities by promoting a culture of making, which is fueled by a maker mindset.

The community in the Maker Hub will promote a maker mindset, which includes taking ownershipof your learning, developing your intrinsic motivation, and embracing failure as an essential component of your learning process. These are skills that can be developed, and will help students become successful people. TeVault said he believes that “students with a maker mindset don’t view a lack of success as failure.”

The Maker Hub is the result of cross-campus support and collaboration between Instructional & Campus Technologies, Student Life, and several schools and departments (including Engineering, Philosophy, Computer Science, Entrepreneurship, iMedia, Belk Library, Performing Arts, the Writing Center, and many others).

Christopher Waters, Assistant Vice President for Technology and Chief Information Officer, has been a key supporter of the Maker Hub’s establishment. “We believe our ability to support students who are learning to confront and solve big problems will be essential to furthering Elon’s promise of being the leader in engaged learning,” he said. “The Maker Hub is one big way technology can assist these students and that goal.”

The five areas of focus in the Maker Hub are 3D printing and design, basic electronics and soldering, micro-computing, e-textiles, and mobile app development. Projects could include printing digital designs on a 3D printer, building the next great iOS app, sewing programmable blinking lights into a shirt, building and programing a robot arm, constructing circuits, or simply meeting up with friends to tinker with LEGOs.

The Maker Hub is located on the first floor of Harper Hall, and is free to all students, faculty and staff. Instructors interested in incorporating the Maker Hub into a lesson, as well as groups and organizations that are interested in hosting a meeting in the space should email makers@elon.edu to schedule a consult with a Maker Hub representative. For more information about the Maker Hub, including available equipment, project ideas, and contact information, please visit www.elon.edu/makers. More details about the Maker Hub will be announced in late summer and early fall.

This campus-wide workshop is one of three sessions covering presentation design this month. This session will cover the two most important questions for any presentation, basic principles of storytelling, and how to design information before imagery. These sessions are a collaboration between Teaching and Learning Technologies and the Office of Leadership and Professional Development. 

Date: Wednesday, February 5

Time: 12-1:15 (lunch will be provided)

Location: Belk Library 206

Click here to register

• Logging into and navigating Moodle
• Where to find help and support
• Accessing and managing your course roster
• Posting files (like your syllabus)
• Previewing your course as a student
• Emailing your students through your course

Meeting times and location: 

Monday, Aug. 12
1-2 p.m.
Belk Library Room 113

Monday, Aug. 12
3-4 p.m.
Belk Library Room 113

• Logging into and navigating Moodle
• Where to find help and support
• Accessing and managing your course roster
• Posting files (like your syllabus)
• Previewing your course as a student
• Emailing your students through your course

Meeting time and location: 

Wednesday, Aug. 14
8:30-9:30 a.m.
Belk Library Room 113

Meeting time and location: 

Wednesday, Aug. 14
2:30-3:30 p.m.
Belk Library Room 113

An introduction to using the Attendance tool in Moodle.

Meeting time and location: 

Friday, Aug. 16
8:30-9:15 a.m.
Belk Library Room 113