Auto tech students attend auto show

LLCC students in Damon Tanke‘s and Brian Earley‘s automotive technology classes recently attended the 2024 Chicago Auto Show. The 2024 Chicago Auto Show was held Feb. 10-19 and welcomed nearly 260,000 guests to experience the latest cars, trucks and SUVs, automotive technology and electric vehicles.

Students gathered around red Camaro in exhibit hall

Students from LLCC are shown with the feature presentation Camaro (owned by Brenda Protz) for the Illinois Camaro organization.

Sunsetting SoftChalk

LLCC will not be renewing the college’s SoftChalk license after the current contract expires. The deadline to export and save any content currently stored in your SoftChalk Cloud accounts is Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. Content that is not exported by the end of the license expiration will be lost.

Keep in mind:

  • The deadline of Aug. 15 is for exporting and saving Softchalk Cloud content.
  • The export files created are html/index files and can be loaded directly into Canvas and will function the same as they do in Softchalk Cloud. The exception to this is SoftChalk lessons that are connected to the Canvas Gradebook. These connections will be lost when the html/index files are uploaded directly into Canvas.
  • AIeL has developed both written directions and video tutorials on how to download SoftChalk lessons from the cloud and upload them in Canvas.

H5P

LLCC has now licensed new content authoring software called H5P, which offers more design flexibility and a richer feature set than SoftChalk. H5P can be used to create a wider variety of interactive content types, including quizzes, games, and simulations. H5P content is designed to be accessible to all users, which is especially important for students with disabilities. H5P is also mobile-friendly, so students can access H5P on almost any type of device.  H5P is also open source and has a large and active community of users who contribute to its development and who share different kinds of content with one another.

Please note:

  • Transitioning content from SoftChalk to H5P is not required. As described above, exported SoftChalk Cloud files (html/index files) can be loaded into Canvas courses and will look and function the same as they do when stored in SoftChalk Cloud with the exception for those lessons tied directly to the gradebook.
  • AIeL began training and support for H5P during the fall 23 semester with the intent to provide a full academic year for those who wish to transition from SoftChalk to H5P.
  • Workshops on H5P are still being offered through the spring 24 semester and can be found on the AIeL Workshop Schedule. Questions about the use of H5P can also be answered at AIeL open labs or by appointment with a member of the AIeL Team.

If you have any additional questions, contact Becky Parton, dean of LLCC Academic Innovation and eLearning, at 217-786-2351.

Open office hours for Zogotech tomorrow

Want to create a report in ZogoTech but just don’t quite remember where to start? Need a refresher on stacking filters in Navigator to get the right group of students? Have questions on a PowerBI Dashboard?

LLCC Institutional Research and Effectiveness staff are available during dedicated drop-in hours on Tuesday, 8:30-9:30 a.m. Stop by MCTR 2215, and bring your questions or requests. We look forward to seeing you!

Those with a need to meet virtually should contact IRE for a Teams meeting link.

Posted in IRE |

This week’s Monday Morning Mentor from AIEL

Login instructions for this week’s Monday Morning Mentor presentation:
How Can I Use LMS Intelligent Agents to Increase Interaction in My Online Classes?
Presentation date: Feb. 26, 2024, and on-demand for one week

View the presentation and access the transcript, handouts and supplemental material: https://mondaymorningmentors.com.

NOTE: You will need to enter the following password in order to view this week’s program: interaction21.

Access to the programs in the Monday Morning Mentor series is restricted to members of the subscribing institution. Any unauthorized use or access, including sharing access with faculty and staff not affiliated with the subscribing institution, is prohibited.

LLCC will host Rube Goldberg Competition for fifth graders

“Outlandish machines” designed by area fifth graders will be on display as LLCC hosts the 17th annual Springfield Area Fifth Grade Rube Goldberg Competition on Saturday, March 2. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to approximately 3 p.m. in the Student Union. There is no admission fee, and the public is invited to attend.

This year’s competition involves building a Rube Goldberg that must insert and remove a piece of toast from a toaster through at least 10 different steps. A Rube Goldberg device, such as the board game “Mousetrap,” is an elaborate apparatus designed to complete a certain task through a number of complex steps.

Area fifth graders are currently developing their own unique Rube Goldberg devices for this year’s competition. They receive assistance from engineer volunteers who visit classes and provide instruction on machines and engineering in general, along with suggestions for their Rube Goldberg device. The purpose of this event is to introduce children to the idea of pursuing a career in engineering or a STEM-related field.

This year, there will be teams participating from the following schools: Black Hawk Elementary, Graham Elementary, Morrisonville Elementary, Our Savior Lutheran, Riverton Middle, Rochester Intermediate, Southern View Elementary, Springfield Christian, Trinity Lutheran, and Beckemeyer Elementary School in Hillsboro.

Last year’s task entailed building a Rube Goldberg that would “move a rocket to a launch pad.” Sarah Eyth’s fifth grade class from Our Savior Lutheran, with engineer volunteers Marty Maletich and Phil Raftis from HLR Engineering, took home the top prize locally and at the Engineering Open House at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

MIIIE looking for International Curriculum Presenters for March 22 Conference

Midwest Institute for International and Intercultural Education (MIIIE) is offering a spring virtual conference on global curriculum. Colleagues who have developed international curriculum, especially modules, are encouraged to present at MIIIE’s virtual conference on Friday, March 22, 2024. You can register for the conference and propose a presentation through the conference link above.

Dr. Florence Returns to Discuss Sleep Hygiene

Don’t miss the repeat session of Sleep Hygiene presented by Dr. Nicole Florence.

This one-hour session will explore the significant impact of sleep on our physical and mental health. We’ll discuss strategies for creating a conducive sleep environment, setting a consistent sleep schedule and managing stress, which can disrupt our sleep.  This session will equip staff with valuable insights to help them prioritize sleep and improve their overall performance and well-being.

Dr. Florence currently works as a bariatrician with Memorial Health and has been an active participant in community health.

  • Date: Feb. 29, 2024
  • Time: noon-1  p.m.
  • Location: Robert H. Stephens Room

Registration is not required however strongly encouraged. Add the event to your calendar in Sharepoint.

Dane Foster and Olivia Marchizza crowned 2024 Homecoming Royals

Dane Foster and Olivia Marchizza, the 2024 LLCC Homecoming Royals.Introducing the 2024 LLCC Homecoming Royals, Dane Foster and Olivia Marchizza.

Dane is a business major from Sedalia, Missouri who plays basketball for the Loggers. Olivia is from Auburn and is working on her associate degree in science. She plays basketball for the Loggers, is an officer in Phi Theta Kappa and a member of the Honors program.

Congratulations to them both!

BSU BAKE SALE TODAY

Stop by the Black Student Union’s bake sale today to support their scholarship fund! Members will be in A. Lincoln Commons from 10 a.m. to noon (or until sold out). Treats include strawberry cake, chocolate cake, brownies and peach cobbler.