e-assessment, mobile devices and augmented reality posters (aurasma)

The Elevate Team are continuing to explore the use of augmented reality posters using the aurasma application. The latest in the series is a poster to support a 45 minute paper I am presenting at the RSC JISC Eastern e-assessment showcase event on the 30th March. The poster contains two videos, discussing different aspects of using mobile devices within the e-submission, and e-feedback process.

The poster is available from:

• https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1pYD8k9rD5W04Az_l9obh8lyjmQRUmyYXe02IkHQkbkc/edit

This development makes a number of good practice enhancements, for instance, the inclusion of three routes into the video content, and clearer support on downloading the application. It also allows us to further explore the distribution model, where we want to deploy interactive posters through the UCS Connect App (or equivalent). This went remarkably well, as those who already have installed the UCS Connect App simply need to open their existing app and scan one of the codes on the poster, and it works. So no need to install apps.

Another issue I'm interested in is exploring the idea of how easy is it to update the video linked to the trigger image. For instance, if I have created a video for a poster, however, a new video becomes available with updated information but I don't want to create a new set of trigger images and poster. For this poster I have only released half the story. I will be including the evaluation data / feedback from lecturers, course administrators and students next week. This scenario will let us test the best way to add content to existing trigger images and posters.

If you would like to explore how to create an augmented (interactive) poster, the Elevate Team are running a workshop for RSC JISC Eastern at UCS on the 9th May (see http://www.jiscrsc.ac.uk/eastern/events/2012/may/designing-location-aware-learning-activities-qr-codes-augmented-reality.aspx)

 

Wolsey access enabled: Monday 26th March

Access to Wolsey has been re-enabled. It was associated with the time changes and timeouts. This has been addressed in the short term, and we'll be working with the MyUCS team to ensure this doesn't happen again in the future.

Sorry for any inconvenience this has caused

Access to Wolsey Problems: Monday, 26th March

Hi, we are aware a few people are encountering problems accessing Wosley this morning. We are looking into the issue at the moment are are expecting to have it sorted relatively quickly. Sorry for any inconvenience this is causing.

If you need to access your modules asap, you can access the VLE directly at http://wolsey.ucs.ac.uk

I will update with news as soon as possible.

TurningPoint Technology User Conference (clickers): Call for papers

TurningPoint (Clicker) technology which we use at UCS Ipswich have released call for papers at their European User Conference in Denmark. A particularly strong pull should be the keynote presentation from Dr Eric Mazur, who authored the Mazur sequence which I constantly mention at all staff development events. These conferences tend to be very practitioner focussed. If you would like to discuss an idea for a paper, please contact us at elevate@ucs.ac.uk

For more information, see

http://www.turningtechnologies.com/studentresponsesystems/trainingevents/userconferences/denmark2012/denmarkconference/

 

e-Portfolio Implementation Toolkit: Lessons from across the sector

As many of you are aware we use Mahara as our e-Portfolio system. The University of Nottingham have released their e-Portfolio Implementation Toolkit (which was funded by JISC) which draws evidence from e-Portfolio implementations across the sector. This includes a number of short video case studies

• University of Edinburgh: Effective Practice with e-Portfolios - Stories of e-portfolio implementation (focus on procurement, embedding and graduate attributes)


• Southampton Solent University: Effective Practice with e-Portfolios - Stories of e-portfolio implementation (focus on careers and student employability)


• Thanet College: Effective Practice with e-Portfolios - Stories of e-portfolio implementation (focus on continuing professional development and personalisation)


• University of Wolverhampton: Effective Practice with e-Portfolios - Stories of e-portfolio implementation (focus on PDP and short course delivery)

These video case studies (and lots of other materials) are available from

• https://epip.pbworks.com/w/page/49330507/Video%20case%20studies

If you have any questions around using ePortfolios in your teaching, learning and assessment please email us, elevate@ucs.ac.uk

 

UPDATE - Wolsey VLE System Backup – 20 March 2012

We are pleased to be able to report that the backup process has completed and all systems are running as expected.

We have had no reports of performance issues, but will continue to monitor the system.

 

Wolsey VLE System Backup - 20 March 2012

Due to a technical problem with the backup of the Wolsey VLE system last night (19th March 2012) it is necessary to run the backup procedure this morning, the backup process is now underway, we hope there will not be any noticeable difference in performance for you, but if you do experience a slight slow down, we apologise for this.

The backup process should be complete by 12noon today.

Thank you and apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.

Elevate Team

workshop at UCS: designing location aware learning activities: QR Codes & Augmented Reality

I am glad to announce we (Elevate) will be running a one day, hands-on workshop in partnership with JISC RSC Eastern, on the 9th May at UCS Ipswich on designing location aware learning activities: QR Codes & Augmented Reality.

This workshop explores how we can effectively employ location aware based technologies, including QR Codes and Aurasma’s Image Recognition software, to develop interactive, location aware learning activities.

An aim of the workshop is to challenge attendees perceptions of what is a location aware learning activity, collaboratively develop a number of examples, and identify how they might use them effectively within teaching and learning.

It is designed for both the novice and expert, so all are welcome and content is appropriate.

For more information, including how to book visit: http://www.jiscrsc.ac.uk/eastern/events/2012/may/designing-location-aware-learning-activities-qr-codes-augmented-reality.aspx - alternatively, for more information (but not booking) email us at elevate@ucs.ac.uk.

You said, we did ... improving the way you book the clickers

Informed by user feedback we have changed the online booking form for the clickers (TurningPoint - Audience Response System) - http://creativewebscape.com/bookclickers/

The new form is based around a calendar, therefore you can see when they are booked or available, and you now will receive an email validation and confirmation of your booking (yippee).

The rest hasn't changed, you will still collect the clickers from the InfoZone, you can request training and on-day support from a member of the Elevate Team, and the software is installed on your work computer via an email to the Infozone

If you have any questions, in particular how you might use these in your teaching, please email the Elevate Team (elevate@ucs.ac.uk)

 

Using QR Codes in a your (student) poster assessment

Kimberley Birch, a Level 5 student studying BA Business Management added value to her poster assignment through the inclusion of QR Codes which linked to supporting information on a blog. She included a QR Code in each sub-section of the poster, and used a wordpress blog to host the additional information. This approach ensured the material displays very well on small screen devices, such as an iPod Touch. Therefore, the person reading the poster would simply need to install a QR Code Reader, and extent the learning experience through scanning to access additional information.



This approach is a low threshold application, relatively simple to do and highly effective. If you’d like more information about how you might do this, please email the Elevate Team, elevate@ucs.ac.uk

Explanation of Aurasma UCS Connect: What are we up to?

As mentioned - and previously posted - we have been working closely with Marketing to explore the innovative use of Aurasma visual browser, and have released the UCS Connect App.

The following is a recording of a recent BBC Radio Suffolk Interview (13th March, 2012, 11.40 AM), between Andy Ramsden, Nicole Taylor and Mark Murphy

• http://soundcloud.com/elevateucs/ucs-connect-radio-suffolk - 9 minutes long.

It will hopefully give you the context of what we've been doing. If you have any questions, please email elevate@ucs.ac.uk

Release of #UCSConnect in the App Store #aurasma

UCS Connect, the visual browsing application reskinned from the Aurasma Lite app has now been approved and is a avilable for download from the app store.

Shown below is the app in the app store via an iPhone, UCS Connect is also available via the Android Market Place for users with Android devices.

The app has been released to allow us to take advantage of the Aurasma Platform, allowing the new 2013 Undergraduate Publication to have video content embedded in the printed publication.  As well has the Undergrad Publication the Elevate Team are using the app/platform to assist in the dissemination of other projects/findings.

Recently we supported the production of a conference poster, allowing the academic member of staff to embed the audio files from student interviews in to the printed poster.  The poster and views of the author can be found here and here.

There is great interest for this application of bringing the physical and virtual worlds together, both from a marketing/promotional aspect and the teaching and learning.

The Elevate Team are going to be looking at how we can make this more of sustainable technology, currently it is quite niche, although getting lots of interest.  We will be working on a "Getting Started" guide to using and creating "auras", the name given to the digital interaction.  Currently we are running all of our developments through one developer account with Aurasma, we will speaking to their Partners Manager to see if there are options for allowing this development to grow sustainably.

The Elevate Team are also running a workshop on interactive posters and we will be sharing our developments with this technology.

The 2013 Undergraduate Publication is officially released on Monday and due to the nature of the technology used, the launch will supported by a press release, describing this as the first UK Institution to augment a prospectus with the Aurasma technlogy.