I thought it might be helpful to collate some information concerning online teaching, learning and assessment.

I’m currently working from home, and will continue to do so until we return to business as usual. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions – I will be supporting you as I do normally (albeit not able to do drop ins). As you might imagine it was unusually busy for me last week, there is just myself supporting HLS in terms of our learning technologies (with my colleagues Maxine and Jonathan supporting existing distance learning courses in HLS). So please forgive if my responses to your questions are a bit delayed; although I’m anticipating that it won’t take too long for many of you to find your online teaching groove, and so will be encountering fewer issues.

CELT help guides

There is a new section on the CELT Hub called Remote Teaching. This collates information about some key technologies that are useful – particularly when used in combination – for online teaching, learning and assessment.

The information can be found at: https://celt.our.dmu.ac.uk/remote-teaching-2/

These support materials include some useful information about how these technologies can be used in a structured way within Blackboard, this info can be found at: https://celt.our.dmu.ac.uk/remote-teaching-blackboard-example/

ITMS help guides

ITMS have produced a helpful guide about how to access DMU IT services from home. This can be found at:

https://demontfortuniversity.sharepoint.com/sites/DMUHome/org/POD/OD/Pages/Remote_Working.aspx#bar-concertinapanel2?CT=1584623767625&OR=OWA-NT&CID=8fcdcd7b-4564-7c25-a6a8-d2fb8a5f209e

DMU Replay

As many of you may be using DMU Replay on your home computers, here is a direct link to information about how to record with DMU Replay on a home computer.

https://celt.our.dmu.ac.uk/using-dmu-replay-on-a-non-dmu-computer/

The section on how to check that your microphone is setup correctly is particularly important, as you don’t want to have made a recording only to realise that the microphone level was too low.

If you can support each other by sharing any tips or things that you might have discovered yourselves as you have been preparing to teach remotely, and as you start to teach remotely, that would be fab!

Take care of yourselves and each other.

Training and Development sessions for HLS staff

Rob Weale is running some faculty-based training and development sessions between February and July. As follows (click the session title to see info and book a place):

Introduction to learning technologies at DMU for new HLS staff

The Flipped Classroom

Box of Broadcasts (BoB)

Scenario-based learning with technology

Online tests in Blackboard

Open Educational Resources (OER)

Video recording classroom activities

Using DMU Replay to create rich media resources

Using marking grids in Turnitin

Working with Learning Modules in Blackboard

HLS Student Demo Sessions

A reminder that Rob can drop into teaching sessions to do brief demonstrations (10-15 mins maximum) for students on particular aspects of the technologies that they will be using as part of their learning in your module. For example, an introduction to Turnitin – showing students how to submit their work, what an originality report looks like, and how to access their grade and feedback in Turnitin.

These sessions will most likely be useful at the start of term for new cohorts. Please do not book Rob to run a demo for students who already know how to use a particular technology. I.e. if your students have already submitted work through Turnitin then it is not necessary for Rob to show them how to do this.

If you would like Rob to come along to a classroom session to deliver something from the list below – get in touch via email (rweale@dmu.ac.uk) or give him a call on ext. 7878.

Demos that are available:

Turnitin
Submitting work, viewing an originality report, viewing grades and feedback.

DMU Replay bookmarks and notes
Using the bookmarking and note making functions in DMU Replay.

Blackboard Blogs
How to add pages to a blog, how to comment on other blogs.
You should only request this session if you are using blogs in your Blackboard module.

Blackboard Wikis
How to use a group wiki.
You should only request this session if you are using wikis in your Blackboard module.

Blackboard Discussion Forums
How to participate in a discussion forum.
You should only request this session if you are using discussion forums in your Blackboard module.

Box of Broadcasts
Demonstration of how to use the Box of Broadcasts (TV on demand) service.

Blackboard

Blackboard are visiting us to showcase their latest versions of the Blackboard VLE (Virtual Learning Environment).
Time and place: Monday 16^th December, 12-2pm, Queens 0.11.

If any academic staff are interested in attending the showcase please email your interest to Rob (rweale@dmu.ac.uk).

It would be good to have some academic attendance at this event, as there may be new tools on show that would be useful for our teaching, learning and assessment going forward; and an academic voice may be helpful towards requesting the inclusion of these new tools in our current or future VLE.

DMUReplay

The DMU Replay system automatically sets (‘provisions’) your new modules to accept DMU Replay recordings.

However, in some cases this doesn’t always happen – so you may need to manually provision the module.

Instructions for provisioning a Blackboard shell can be found here:

https://celt.our-archive.dmu.ac.uk/panopto-provisioning-a-blackboard-shell-quickguide/

You will know if the shell has not been provisioned as there will not be a corresponding folder in DMU Replay for you to record to.

Blackboard upgrade info

Following the recent Blackboard upgrade:

1. It is no longer possible to change the overall style or colour scheme of a module shell. The default style is all there is.
2. Some of the functions in the upgraded Blackboard (for example – attaching files) do not work with the Internet Explorer web browser. Try using either Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge or Safari web browser instead.

Internet Explorer and Turnitin

Students may experience issues when trying to submit work to Turnitin using the Internet Explorer web browser. If this occurs they should try using either Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge or Safari.

Training and Development sessions for HLS staff: Sept-Dec 2019

Rob Weale is running some faculty-based training and development sessions between September and December. As follows (click the session title to see info and book a place):

Introduction to learning technologies at DMU for new HLS staff

The Flipped Classroom

Box of Broadcasts (BoB)

Scenario-based learning with technology

Online tests in Blackboard

Open Educational Resources (OER)

Video recording classroom activities

Using marking grids in Turnitin

Working with Learning Modules in Blackboard

Discussion forums in Blackboard

Training and development sessions in the use of technologies for teaching, learning and assessment

 The following sessions are being run by Rob Weale for HLS staff during April, May and June.

• Flipping the classroom
• Introduction to Box of Broadcasts
• Creating rich media resources with DMU Replay
• Scenario-based learning via technology
• Open Educational Resources

These sessions can be booked, along with a range of other sessions via the HLS Enhancing Learning through Technology (ELT) Staff Development website.

https://hlselt.our.dmu.ac.uk/hls-staff-training-and-development-in-the-use-of-teaching-and-learning-technologies/

Turnitin glitch

If you are using Internet Explorer web browser to mark work in Turnitin you may be presented with a Log in to Turnitin message when trying to access a student submission.

To get around this glitch, to open a student submission – click the Pencil icon under the Grade column (NOT the title of the submission)

Another alternative is to use the Google Chrome browser.

Web browsers and Blackboard

Since the Blackboard upgrade in December 2018, Blackboard will refuse to work with outdated web browsers. You may see a blank screen or a certificate error instead of Blackboard.

You should ensure that you have the most up-to-date version of the web browser that you are using to connect to Blackboard.

Student learning technology sessions

Rob Weale is running some sessions for HLS students.

Introduction to Turnitin similarity reports (text matching reports)
This brief session gives a detailed overview of similarity reports (text matching reports) in Turnitin. Helping students to better understand how the text matching report is used to identify referencing inconsistencies. Duration: 45min.

Adding bookmarks and notes to DMU Replay recordings
This brief session explores the effective use of the bookmarking, note making and note sharing facility in DMU Replay recordings. The use of these little known functions can be very useful for revision purposes. Duration: 30min.

Students can find out more information and book on the sessions at:

https://hlsstudentelearning.our.dmu.ac.uk/

Please disseminate this information to your students, if/where possible.

Blockbuster Quiz for active classroom activity

Rob Weale and Julian Stribling have collaborated on the development of a Blockbuster style quiz that can be used in a live classroom session. The quiz, which is built in PowerPoint can be an effective means of breaking up a long lecture by introducing an active learning activity which includes knowledge checking.

Comprehensive instructions about how to use the template to create a quiz and deploy it in the classroom can be found on the CELT Hub at:

http://celt.our-archive.dmu.ac.uk/blockbuster-quiz-template/

The quiz has been used several times with students, and has received very positive comments so far.

If you have used it in the classroom, please could you let Rob (rweale@dmu.ac.uk) know how well it was received by students and if you found it a useful resource. Negative reviews are as welcome as positive ones.

HLS Faculty Blackboard Community shell

A new section – eLearning Support – has been added to the HLS Blackboard Community shell for students. It contains links to key information about the use of learning technologies at DMU, as well as links to workshops for students about the use of learning technologies.

Staff training and development sessions

There are several training and development sessions for HLS staff in the use of learning technologies scheduled during November and December. Click the session link for more info and to book.

November

2^nd 2.30pm-3.30pm. Using Digital Media
https://hlselt.our.dmu.ac.uk/using-digital-media-in-blackboard/#digimedia

7^th 10am-11.30. The Flipped Classroom
https://hlselt.our.dmu.ac.uk/flipped-classroom/#flipped

14^th 10am-11.15am. Marking grids and Rubrics in Turnitin
https://hlselt.our.dmu.ac.uk/using-marking-grids-in-turnitin/#rubrics

21^st 10am-11.15. Box of Broadcasts
https://hlselt.our.dmu.ac.uk/box-of-broadcasts/#bob

December

5^th 11am-12.30pm. The Flipped Classroom
https://hlselt.our.dmu.ac.uk/flipped-classroom/#flipped

12^th 11am-12.30pm. Scenario-based approaches for Teaching and Learning
https://hlselt.our.dmu.ac.uk/scenario-based-learning-with-technology/#scenario

19^th 10am-11.15. Online Tests in Blackboard.
https://hlselt.our.dmu.ac.uk/tests-surveys-and-quizzes-in-blackboard/#tests

Assessment Feedback Toolkit for teachers
Rob Weale has developed an online assessment feedback resource, adapted from the University of Ulster Viewpoints Project – Assessment and Feedback Workshop Toolkit.

​This resource which comprises a series of paired cards, aims to help teachers re-design their assessment and feedback practice in innovative ways which allow learners to develop the ability to self-regulate their own learning and therefore improve the quality of their learning experience.

The resource is located at: https://hlselt.our.dmu.ac.uk/assessment-feedback-toolkit/

HLS Enhancing Learning through Technology Staff Development site
https://hlselt.our.dmu.ac.uk

This site contains: the DMU ELT Online induction for new staff; training and development sessions in the use of technologies for learning specifically for HLS staff; information about the role and remit of the HLS ELT Project officer; the ELT Signposts blog.

Below is a list of sessions concerning the use of technology to support and enhance learning, teaching and assessment that are available to HLS staff.

• Introduction to learning technologies at DMU for new HLS staff
• The Flipped classroom
• The Interactive classroom
• Box of Broadcasts (BoB) – integrating TV and Radio broadcasts into your teaching materials
• Universal Design for Learning with technology
• Scenario-based learning via technology
• Working with Learning Modules in Blackboard
• Online tests, surveys and quizzes
• Collaborative learning with technology
• ePortfolios, eJournals and Blogs in Blackboard
• The Virtual classroom (online webinar)
• Using digital media in Blackboard
• Open Educational Resources (OER)
• Video recording classroom/student activities (this is NOT DMU Replay)
• Extending DMU Replay – working with multiple media sources
• DMU Replay – editing
• Online assessment and feedback with Turnitin Feedback Studio
• Using marking grids (aka Rubrics) in Turnitin Feedback Studio

For more information about these sessions, and to book a place, visit:
https://hlselt.our.dmu.ac.uk/hls-staff-training-and-development-in-the-use-of-teaching-and-learning-technologies/

Any of these sessions can be delivered for programme/module teams to support curriculum development and/or CPD, or whatever! Just Ask Rob about it.

New academic staff
A reminder for all programme leaders. If you have new members of staff, please signpost them to the online ELT Induction: http://celt.our-archive.dmu.ac.uk/new-staff-learning-technology-induction/

You can also suggest that they make themselves known to me (Rob). I’m happy to have a face-to-face chat on an individual basis with any new member of staff about the use of learning technologies and associated support at DMU.

New Blackboard module codes
As part of the update to the DMU data systems the module code conventions for Blackboard have changed.
See: http://celt.our-archive.dmu.ac.uk/files/2018/08/new-blackboard-codes-2019.docx

ELT Checklist for the start of the new academic year
Started organising your new Blackboard modules yet? This guide may help.
http://celt.our-archive.dmu.ac.uk/blackboard-checklist-for-the-start-of-a-new-academic-year/