Wednesday 22 December 2010

How do I track student responses?


  • Author: Andy Ramsden (a.ramsden@ucs.ac.uk)

  • Date: 22nd December, 2010

  • Technical Keyword: Clickers, Classroom Technologies,

  • Learning Keyword: Feedback


Introduction (Description)


The aim of this How to Guide is to describe how to set up a way of tracking the student and the response device for your classroom interactions. For instance, you might set a test where you want to give individual feedback and monitor progress. In this situation anonymous responses are adequate. The solution is to use Participant Registration Tool. Given the set up time in class, I’d suggest this would work very well for small numbers. For large numbers (say above 30) please contact the ELEVATE Team to discuss potential strategies.

Steps


Step 1: watch the screencast video by TurningPoint

Step 2: Implementation suggestions

From a practical perspective, design in time for the following;

  • Create your participation list beforehand and save to your desktop.

  • Get into the lecture room a few minutes beforehand for the set up

  • Contact the ELEVATE Team to walk through the process beforehand


Where Next



Creative Commons & Open Educational Resources


The Enhancing Learning Through Technology Team embrace open educational resources. Therefore, this resource is available under the following Creative Common License.



(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)

  • Permanent Link (URL)

  • Permanent Link (Word Doc)

  • Resource ID: HCTC003

Wednesday 15 December 2010

FAQs for Clickers

These questions and answers are from sessions we've run at UCS. They are all user generated, and in no particular order. You are recommended to see our How to Guides, and the online tutorials provided by TurningPoint >>>(http://www.turningtechnologies.com/responsesystemsupport/producttraining/onlinetutorials/)

--------------------------------------

Question >>> How do I book the clickers?

Answer >>> Complete the form at http://tinyurl.com/ucsclickers

--------------------------------------

Question >>> How do I add an interactive questions to a powerpoint?

Answer >>> See our How to Guides

--------------------------------------

Question >>> How do I change the chart type once I've written the question?

Answer >>> highlight the chart you want to change, click on Insert Object, Select Chart Type, select the chart type

--------------------------------------

Question >>> If I had 10 minutes and a coffee and wanted to getting an idea of the what it can offer, where should I start?

Answer >>> I'd suggest reviewing the online (video) guides provided by TurningPoint (http://trainingportal.turningtechnologies.com/turningPoint.cfm)

--------------------------------------

Question >>> how do I not display the answer chart for a particular question?

Answer >>> select settings, and it will list all the interactive questions within the presentation. Select the question, and set display to No

--------------------------------------

Question >>> can I use images in the question?

Answer >>> Yes (to a certain degree). The question slides are normal powerpoint slide so you can add any content (images, table of data etc.,). Therefore, you can add an annotated image.

--------------------------------------

Question >>> how do I add questions on the fly (during the lecture)?

Answer >>> To include a question and set of answers on the fly (during a lecture) to clarify a point etc., is straight forward. On the question display menu (top right hand side), select the <> icon. This will open a question template. Simply type the question and answer options.

--------------------------------------

Question >>> how do I clear a poll question during to get them to re-vote?

Answer >>> on the question display menu (top right hand side) when presenting, click on the circle icon (x from the left) This will clear the poll for the question on display, and allow you ask participants to re-vote

--------------------------------------

Question >>> how do I not display the results as a percentage, but as the actual number of votes?

Answer >>> one method is to click on the toggle percent icon on the question display menu (top right hand side) when you are presenting the results.

--------------------------------------

Question >>> can I combine both sets of clickers so I can have more than 40 people vote?

Answer >>> yes, we've set the channel to 41 on both our sets of clickers. Therefore, you can use any handset from any bag :-) However, if you are using both bags, please could you sort the handsets at the end of the session into bag A and bag B.

Monday 6 December 2010

How to set up the Turning Point clickers in our teaching rooms


  • Author: Andy Ramsden (a.ramsden@ucs.ac.uk)

  • Date: 6th December, 2010

  • Technical Keyword: Clickers, Classroom Technologies,

  • Learning Keyword: Feedback


Introduction (Description)


The aim of this How to Guide is to describe how to set up the audience response system in the teaching space and provide advice for you post the teaching event.

Steps


Step 1: At the start

* Start the computer

* Plug in USB receiver

* Open Up turning point software

* Open up PowerPoint (with questions)

* Click on Reset option on the task bar and select session

* Start Slideshow

* Minimize the smart board software (right Hand side of display screen) if you aren't using the symposium tools

Step 2: At the end of the teaching event

* When you have finished the lecture save the PowerPoint with a new name. Perhaps upload it to your course in Wolsey so students can revisit it later

* Close the turning point software ... You are recommended to save the session date (so you can run further reports if required). Save this to your desktop, and store the file later

* Collect the clickers and the USB receiver



The Timer will display on your powerpoint slide. Move this display, and to change the duration (seconds) double click on the timer and enter the time you’d like.

Where Next



Creative Commons & Open Educational Resources


The Enhancing Learning Through Technology Team embrace open educational resources. Therefore, this resource is available under the following Creative Common License.



(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)

Wednesday 1 December 2010

Feedback in Gradebook assigned to Incorrect Students

Issue: Submitted feedback appears to be assigned to wrong students in Gradebook using SafeAssign tool

Description: When adding feedback (attached document) to students via SafeAssign, all appears to be correct, lecturers are reporting they added the documents to the correct students, only to go back at a later date to find either one students feedback assigned to all students or feedback spread randomly amongst students.

Status: Open - Reported to Blackboard.  Both Blackboard Support and ELTT Team unable to replicate problem.

Fix: Currently there is no fix

Work-around: After discussing this with a lecturer it was suggested to them to add the feedback document to one student, then return to the Grade Centre screen, select the next student and add their feedback.  Move through the students one at a time and return to the Grade Centre screen in between each.

This worked for this lecturer/module, they were also adding feedback from home, one train of thought is there may be a problem with caching on the external Wolsey server.

Are you a lecturer about to add feedback?

If you are, we ask that you email wolsey@ucs.ac.uk and let us know, Blackboard have asked us to gather evidence of this problem by recording screen captures of the process that lecturers take when adding feedback.

Tuesday 30 November 2010

Gradebook not showing all students

Issue: Gradebook not showing all students when "Edit Rows Displayed" is amended

Description: When accessing the Grade Centre and changing the number of displayed rows, then sorting by name or username the top and bottom students on the list disappear.

Status: Open - Official bug in Blackboard - Bug number AS-135218

Fix: Blackboard 9.1 SP4  (UCS looking to upgrade to Blackboard 9.1 during the summer of 2011)

Work-around: Currently the only work-around we have is to leave the Grade Centre to show all students, the default mode.



Good feedback for QR Code Generator

We (David and Aaron) have been developing the UCS's QR Code Generator Pilot Service (http://wolseyweb.ucs.ac.uk/Elttcode/). The development approach follows an agile development model of regular user centered input and feedback. The first user feedback phase has just finished, and its been really useful ... thanks

When asked, To what extent do you agree with the following statement, I was able to achieve everything I needed to do ... the majority either strongly agreed (3 outof 7) or agreed (3 out of 7). Only 1 registered a negative score (unsure).

The qualitative feedback implied they seemed to be able to create a code and save it. Many where unsure why they might want to use it, and there was some need for improving / clarifying the instructions on the tracking of QR Codes (UCS urls). So, all very good :-)

Where next

The next steps will be to get some users to test the tracking process. We have also secured some internal project funding to engage the wider community at UCS around using QR Codes in Teaching and Learning, and develop a games engine (inspired by the work of Mike Ellis http://twitter.com/#!/m1ke_ellis).

Wednesday 24 November 2010

ELTT Barcode Generator - Package

Happy to announce that work on making sure the ELTT Barcode Generator Package is nearly finished!

This has entailed creating a separate settings.config file where an institution can change basic branding and usage settings without the need to delve into the core code, of course any development work the institution wishes to carry out can still be done, it just gives the institution the ability to roll out their own version of our generator with minimal fuss.

Just got to round of some extra bits such as the readme.txt and make sure all the functionality is working, also checking back making sure all the error trapping is in place.

The package will be distributed being standards compliant to XHTML 1.0 Transitional / CSS / Section 508.

All for now!

David

Staff Development Programme (Nov & Dec 2010)

During November and December 2010 the team will be running a number of face to face staff development events. For more information on how to book your place please contact us at wolsey@ucs.ac.uk. Also if you'd like us to run a staff development session for you and colleagues please contact us.

Workshops (open to all staff)


  • Getting started with using WOLSEY in your Teaching and Learning (7th Dec - 10.00 to 12.00 - East Building T302)


Masterclass (local request)


  • The potential application of QR Codes in a Library context (25th Nov - UCS Librarian's Meeting - WSC)

  • Enhancing face to face feedback and assessing knowledge using classroom technologies (15th Dec - Learning Resources Team)


Seminars (open to all staff)


  • Enhancing face to face feedback and assessing knowledge using classroom technologies (10th Dec - 12.30 to 1.30 W115)


Drop-in Series (open to all staff)


  • 23rd Nov - Waterfront - 10.00 to 11.30

  • 2nd Dec - Waterfront - 2.00 to 3.30

  • 8th Dec - Waterfront - 10.00 to 11.30

Tuesday 23 November 2010

ELTT Barcode Generator Operational

ELTT's Barcode generator is now operational for a select few people to give initial feedback on how they find using the service.

Future features include a configuration element for easier distribution to other institutions who wish to implement their own version and the possibility of using the service on a gaming platform.

Enjoy

http://wolseyweb.ucs.ac.uk/elttcode/

David

Monday 22 November 2010

How could I set up a clicker question in my powerpoint?


  • Author: Andy Ramsden (a.ramsden@ucs.ac.uk)

  • Date: 17th November, 2010

  • Technical Keyword: Clickers, Classroom Technologies,

  • Learning Keyword: Feedback


Introduction (Description)


The aim of this how to guide is to bring three common questions to together and walk through how you might  add an interactive (clicker) question to your powerpoint presentation, set a time limit for the students to answer the question, and once closed, display the correct answer.

A potential scenario would be, you’ve written a objective question (one which has a correct answer), and wish to see the proportion of the audience who get it right, and the proportion who get it wrong. You wish to set a time to introduce a little bit of pressure, and display the correct answer for clarity in the classroom and because you are intending to upload the powerpoint to your VLE course.

Steps


Step 1: Adding the question to your powerpoint presentation

* Open up Turning Point 2008
* Open up your powerpoint presentation (file)
*  Use slide sorter (left side) to navigate to where you want add the question slide
* Using the Turning Point tool bar, click on Insert Slide >>> Select Generic >>>Select question by the number of possible answers
* Edit slide, including adding the question, and all the possible responses

Alternatively, see the very good (and short) videos produced by the TurningPoint >> http://trainingportal.turningtechnologies.com/turningPoint.cfm

Step 2: Selecting “display correct answer” after the students have voted

This is a two step process. Firstly, you’ll need to set the graphic which displays the correct answer indicator across all slides within your presentation. This is from a list of icons. Secondly, you need to associate the correct response on the actual question.

Select the correct answer indicator

* Using the Turning Point tool bar, click >>> Insert option >>> Select the correct answer indicator >>> select the icon you wish to use

Secondly, set the correct answer for a particular question (slide)

* Navigate to question slide in your presentation
* Highlight the correct answer using your mouse
* Right click on your mouse to display a new menu panel >>> click on set as correct

Step 3 - Set timer for a particular question

This option will automatically close the polling after the time you set. It will also display a counter (timer) on your powerpoint slide.
* Using the Turning Point tool bar, click >>> Insert option >>> Select Countdown >>> Select Timer

The Timer will display on your powerpoint slide. Move this display, and to change the duration (seconds) double click on the timer and enter the time you’d like.

Where Next



Creative Commons & Open Educational Resources


The Enhancing Learning Through Technology Team embrace open educational resources. Therefore, this resource is available under the following Creative Common License.



(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)

Saturday 20 November 2010

Welcome ...

... to the new Enhancing Learning Through Technology Team's blog.