We've been working up (influenced by other institutions) some guidance for staff at UCS around the use of social media in their teaching, learning and assessment. This is part of a much wider initiative around the e-safety and a social media policy at UCS.
As part of the wider consultation, I would appreciate any feedback from Staff on the current version. The document is available from the following link. You can leave comments on the actual document. I'm interested in if the document would be useful for you, the length, and the emphasis.
Please see:
Thursday, 27 June 2013
Tuesday, 25 June 2013
Using an e-portfolio as a reflective learning tool
The Elevate Team have just published a working paper around why you would want to use an e-portfolio for reflective learning, this discussion paper aims to answer the following question, “How can you use an e-portfolio as your reflective learning tool?”.
This will be answered through focussing on the following key questions,
The primary audience for this discussion paper are staff and students at UCS, and can be viewed by following the link below.
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_WbibcPpDY-WVBZLW1HZ0psd1U/edit?usp=sharing
You can also see other reports, papers and publications by visiting the Reports and Publications section on this blog above.
This will be answered through focussing on the following key questions,
- What do we mean by the term reflective learning?
- How have people been using e-portfolios as reflective learning tools?
- What tools are available in Mahara to afford reflective learning?
- What are some considerations if someone was going to use Mahara as a reflective learning tool?
The primary audience for this discussion paper are staff and students at UCS, and can be viewed by following the link below.
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_WbibcPpDY-WVBZLW1HZ0psd1U/edit?usp=sharing
You can also see other reports, papers and publications by visiting the Reports and Publications section on this blog above.
Monday, 24 June 2013
LearnUCS Summer Upgrade - July 20th 2013
LearnUCS is scheduled to be upgraded on Saturday 20th July to the latest stable Blackboard release (SP12). This will involve the service being unavailable on the Friday 19th from 17.00, being upgraded on the Saturday, tested by the Elevate Team on Sunday 21st, and available by 8.00 on Monday 22nd (if not earlier).
We have already worked with Blackboard to complete a successful upgrade on our test environment which has passed our Phase 1 Test Plan. This is great news, and means we are very confident to be able to deliver the upgrade on the live LearnUCS platform within the timeline above.
The latest version will provide some enhanced functionality around common task, often requested by Staff and Students. These include:
A more detailed timeline is:
Communication
We have already worked with Blackboard to complete a successful upgrade on our test environment which has passed our Phase 1 Test Plan. This is great news, and means we are very confident to be able to deliver the upgrade on the live LearnUCS platform within the timeline above.
The latest version will provide some enhanced functionality around common task, often requested by Staff and Students. These include:
- inline marking: enhance the feedback process
- discussion board redesign: it actually works like a discussion board
- enhanced statistics
- improved notifications
- completely redesigned Text Editor
- new Calendars
- video Everywhere: direct upload from webcam
A more detailed timeline is:
May
Technical: Elevate
Upgrade Test Environment to SP12 [Bbd MH] (Complete)
Project Management
Project Documentation [AB] (Created)
Communication
Setup project blog area [AB] (Complete)
Meet with Course Admins - 23 May (Complete)
June
Technical: Elevate
Test Integrations on Test Environment [AB] (Complete)
Offer access to upgraded Test Environment to champions [AB] (Started Rollout Offer)
Identify common tasks and document how to do this in the new version [AB] (Complete)
Building Block Management (see risk log) - first exploration for turning off LO (wiki, blog, expo), safeAssign submissions, course merge functionality [AB] (Complete)
Agree new course template with Academic Services [AB]
User testing
identify the power groups (staff & system / course admins) and the tasks they need to complete. what did they do? how did they find it? did it meet their needs? do they like it? [AB]
Staff & Student Support
design work packages for FAQs and Videos - what scenarios do we need to cover? [AB]
July
Technical: Elevate
Upgrade Production Environment to SP12 [Bbd MH]
course design applied to Template [AB]
Roll out 13/14 modules
Once we have completed the remaining June tasks, we will update the blog. If you wish to try out the new LearnUCS (SP12) in the test environment please email elevate@ucs.ac.uk to request access.
Thursday, 6 June 2013
The JISC e-learning webinar recordings: Something to fill those summer evenings :-)
The JISC fund and manage a number of technology enhanced learning and teaching programmes across the UK. These cover the key themes, including the following which are close to our hearts:
An outcome from these programmes is to provide a number of national webinars to disseminate the findings and lessons learnt. There future webinars are:
Feed-forward approaches for enhancing assessment and feedback: Thursday 19 June 12-1pm
The webinar will be delivered by three institutions participating in the Jisc Assessment and Feedback programme (University of Dundee, Institute of Education, Westminster University). They will describe the rationale for adopting “feed-forward” approaches for enhancing assessment and feedback. Each institution will describe their experiences of designing and adopting feed-forward approaches. The webinar will then summarise the benefits, impact and challenges from using such approaches. The webinar will then invite the audience to discuss barriers and enablers for implementing such feed-forward approaches in their own institutions.
Analysis of feedback: Monday 24 June 12-1pm
The webinar will be delivered by five institutions participating in the Jisc Assessment and Feedback Programme (University of Dundee, Institute of Education, University of Southampton, Queen’s University Belfast and the Open University). They will describe the rationale for analysing feedback together with their approaches and the tools that they used. Each institution will summarise the resulting feedback profiles and audits and a summary of the benefits, impact and challenges from using the tools will be given.
They also offer all previous webinars via recordings. So, if you'd like to know about the outcomes from projects across the sector to inform you teaching, learning and assessment on the following topics, visit http://bit.ly/jiscelrecordings
If you'd like discuss how you might use these ideas at UCS please contact the Elevate Team (elevate@ucs.ac.uk).
- assessment and feedback
- developing digital literacies
- curriculum design
An outcome from these programmes is to provide a number of national webinars to disseminate the findings and lessons learnt. There future webinars are:
Feed-forward approaches for enhancing assessment and feedback: Thursday 19 June 12-1pm
The webinar will be delivered by three institutions participating in the Jisc Assessment and Feedback programme (University of Dundee, Institute of Education, Westminster University). They will describe the rationale for adopting “feed-forward” approaches for enhancing assessment and feedback. Each institution will describe their experiences of designing and adopting feed-forward approaches. The webinar will then summarise the benefits, impact and challenges from using such approaches. The webinar will then invite the audience to discuss barriers and enablers for implementing such feed-forward approaches in their own institutions.
- Further information and registration: http://jiscaffeedforward.eventbrite.co.uk/
Analysis of feedback: Monday 24 June 12-1pm
The webinar will be delivered by five institutions participating in the Jisc Assessment and Feedback Programme (University of Dundee, Institute of Education, University of Southampton, Queen’s University Belfast and the Open University). They will describe the rationale for analysing feedback together with their approaches and the tools that they used. Each institution will summarise the resulting feedback profiles and audits and a summary of the benefits, impact and challenges from using the tools will be given.
- Further information and registration: http://jiscaffeedback.eventbrite.co.uk/
They also offer all previous webinars via recordings. So, if you'd like to know about the outcomes from projects across the sector to inform you teaching, learning and assessment on the following topics, visit http://bit.ly/jiscelrecordings
- Approaches to strategic change in assessment and feedback
- Online workshop: evaluating and improving the effectiveness of assignment feedback
- Learning analytics to support assessment and feedback
- Changing student practices and digital literacies
- Exploring employability through assessment and feedback
- Implementing the UKPSF in the digital university
- Supporting the development of staff digital literacies
- A preliminary evaluation of the e-Feedback Evaluation project (eFEP)
If you'd like discuss how you might use these ideas at UCS please contact the Elevate Team (elevate@ucs.ac.uk).
Wednesday, 5 June 2013
Online Course Design: What can we transfer from Colchester Institute?
Yesterday, I chaired the JISC RSC Eastern Advisory Group Meeting. Part of this meeting included a number of update presentations around staff development programmes. One of which was by Kathy Chilvers, from Colchester Institute on an online staff development initiative they are rolling out. There were a number of drivers, including low attendance at face to face sessions, the need to expose staff to being a student within the VLE, and widen the range and topics covered. These are very similar needs for us at UCS.
The learning design was very simple. It covered eight weeks (a task a week), with a minimum requirement of one hour per week. Each week included an optional or further task, to push those who wish to take the ideas further. Each task was stand alone. The learning design was based on a d0 (create), why might you use it, further resources model. With each task requiring the product or reflections to be completed on the discussion board.
Their initial evaluation was positive, with high completion rates (70%) and staff suggesting they will use some of these ideas within their teaching.
I thought this model might be appropriate for our masterclass sessions. These are usually delivered in a 30 minute session and focus on the ICT digital literacies. A typical session is designed to answer the following questions; what is the learning technology, how is it being used in teaching, learning and assessment, and how can you get started.
I also like the idea of encouraging a gathering of those who participated to encourage some social connections. For instance, at the end of week 9, a tea and cake based Q&A around how people will use this in their teaching. So, potentially, there is much we can transfer from Colchester Institute :-)
The learning design was very simple. It covered eight weeks (a task a week), with a minimum requirement of one hour per week. Each week included an optional or further task, to push those who wish to take the ideas further. Each task was stand alone. The learning design was based on a d0 (create), why might you use it, further resources model. With each task requiring the product or reflections to be completed on the discussion board.
Their initial evaluation was positive, with high completion rates (70%) and staff suggesting they will use some of these ideas within their teaching.
I thought this model might be appropriate for our masterclass sessions. These are usually delivered in a 30 minute session and focus on the ICT digital literacies. A typical session is designed to answer the following questions; what is the learning technology, how is it being used in teaching, learning and assessment, and how can you get started.
I also like the idea of encouraging a gathering of those who participated to encourage some social connections. For instance, at the end of week 9, a tea and cake based Q&A around how people will use this in their teaching. So, potentially, there is much we can transfer from Colchester Institute :-)
Tuesday, 4 June 2013
LearnUCS - Intermittent Access Issue - UPDATE
We are still experiencing the same intermittent issue on campus. The investigation has shown that the issue is related to the Internet Service Providers connection to the location that our servers are located in at Blackboard, we believe a number of other institutions are also experiencing the same issue.
This does mean the issue is not a UCS systems problem, and therefore LearnUCS will be acting normally from off campus locations. The two internet service providers are now talking to resolve the situation, we will update here once we know more.
Thank you and apologies for any inconvenience caused.
----------------------
We are experiencing intermittent access issues with LearnUCS from the Ipswich Campus. This issue appears to be affecting Internet Explorer more than other browsers from computers on the network at UCS Ipswich.
We have tested with Firefox on the network and our installation works as it should, we have reports of others having issues with Firefox as well as Internet Explorer.
IT Services are investigating the problems at the moment and we will update once we know more.
Issue:
Intermittent Access to LearnUCS from the Ipswich Campus
Symptoms:
This does mean the issue is not a UCS systems problem, and therefore LearnUCS will be acting normally from off campus locations. The two internet service providers are now talking to resolve the situation, we will update here once we know more.
Thank you and apologies for any inconvenience caused.
----------------------
We are experiencing intermittent access issues with LearnUCS from the Ipswich Campus. This issue appears to be affecting Internet Explorer more than other browsers from computers on the network at UCS Ipswich.
We have tested with Firefox on the network and our installation works as it should, we have reports of others having issues with Firefox as well as Internet Explorer.
IT Services are investigating the problems at the moment and we will update once we know more.
Issue:
Intermittent Access to LearnUCS from the Ipswich Campus
Symptoms:
- Slow Page Loads
- Page Time Out Errors
Monday, 3 June 2013
LearnUCS Intermittent Access Issues - UCS Ipswich Campus
We are experiencing intermittent access issues with LearnUCS from the Ipswich Campus. This issue appears to be affecting Internet Explorer more than other browsers from computers on the network at UCS Ipswich.
We have tested with Firefox on the network and our installation works as it should, we have reports of others having issues with Firefox as well as Internet Explorer.
IT Services are investigating the problems at the moment and we will update once we know more.
Issue:
Intermittent Access to LearnUCS from the Ipswich Campus
Symptoms:
We have tested with Firefox on the network and our installation works as it should, we have reports of others having issues with Firefox as well as Internet Explorer.
IT Services are investigating the problems at the moment and we will update once we know more.
Issue:
Intermittent Access to LearnUCS from the Ipswich Campus
Symptoms:
- Slow Page Loads
- Page Time Out Errors
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)