Lights! Camera! Record! University of the Sciences is inviting its faculty to take part in a 60-second lecture contest and the chance to win an iPad2. The contest is showcasing the ease of the Panopto lecture capture software and promoting the opening of USciences’ new Technology Training Center.

“Whether the lectures are funny or educational, it’s a great way for the faculty to take advantage of the Panopto platform,” said Dr. Rod Murray, USciences Executive Director of Academic Technology.

The Technology Training Center, located in the McNeil Science and Technology Center, was established to meet the needs of faculty through hands-on learning and demonstrations. The room is equipped with 12 new iMac computers that can run the Mac OS or boot into a Windows environment as well as provide access to the tools and equipment found in the classrooms.

“We now have a dedicated lab for technology training,” said Rich Cosgriff, Jr., who was recently announced as USciences director of classroom technology and will oversee the Technology Training Center. “Routinely scheduled workshops will be offered to faculty on such things as student response systems, Panopto, or web 2.0 tools to enhance the classroom experience.”

Cosgriff comes to USciences with over 10 years of experience in higher education most recently as instructional technology specialist with SunGard Higher Education where he was based at Immaculata University. He is responsible for classroom technology, learning space design and renovation, and the development and delivery of classroom technology training and workshops as well as supervising the A/V technicians.

The 60-second lecture contest closes on Nov. 11 and will be judged by an independent panel that will rank the submissions and name the winner. A showcase of the 60-second lectures captured on Panopto and the winner will be announced at the grand opening of the Technology Training Center on Thursday, Nov. 17.