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PBS Learning News
Achieving the right blend!
The DCQE eLearning Centre
Issue 6 – Summer 2009
12
Workshop Programme & Useful Links
The Autumn DCQE Training Events Programme
1
The eTeam has landed - again!
As the new academic year approaches, the usual frenzy
of preparation and photocopying will no doubt take
place. The PBS eTeam has already been involved in
creating or assisting the creation of many Victory sites
that will support your taught units or courses.
If you need help with using Victory or different types of
media in your teaching, you now don’t have to wander
far from the Richmond print room to find eLearning
assistance - because the eTeam has just moved in next
door to it!
Rachel and Mandy are ready to answer your questions
in the new eTeam Drop In Centre, room RB1.07. They
have been joined by Anthony Harrison, who can help
you in creating video productions, either starring you, or
your students themselves!
Anthony will be spending
some time at his desk on Floor
1. The rest of the time he will
make use of an edit suite at
the University’s TV Studio,
located in ‘The Rotunda’.
Drop in on DCQE!
DCQE recently moved to
the same traffic island as
the city Land Registry. It
is housed in Unit 3, St.
Andrews Court.
X
DCQE eLearning staff
are providing drop in
sessions open to any
member of staff. The
availability of these are
defined on the DCQE
website – see the link on
page two of this leaflet.
Why not seek them out:
‘X’ marks the spot!
The eTeam Drop In Centre will
offer you facilities to learn how
to use Wimba Classroom
using a PC and headset, so
that you can experience a
virtual
classroom
session
alongside an eTeam coach.
Floor 1 is now a one stop shop
for both eLearning and IT help.
Email the eTeam!
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Portsmouth Business School
eLearning Team
Report of the PBS eLearning Coordinator
Applying eLearning in Practice (contd.)
11
2
What Can We Help You With Today?
David Starkey: PBS eLearning Coordinator
Since Issue 5, the eTeam has undergone a few changes, so it is
probably useful to define the sources of help and information
available to PBS colleagues from an online learning standpoint.
Rachel Short has been promoted to Educational Technologist,
and will functionally direct our new Online Course Developer
(Mandy McCartney) and Media Producer (Anthony Harrison).
The more accessible eTeam Drop-In Centre should make online
learning more accessible to colleagues and students alike.
Sourcing Advice, Help and News regarding ‘Online Learning’
1. The PBS eTeam Site on Staff Essentials:
The link to these pages of the university website is:
www.port.ac.uk/staffessentials/departments/faculties/businessschool/PBSE-learning/
2. The DCQE eLearning Centre Website:
www.port.ac.uk/departments/services/dcqe/elearningcentre/
3. The ‘eTeam News’ Twitter Site:
www.twitter.com/eteamnews
4. The eTeam ‘Pedagogic’ Discussion Twitter Site:
www.twitter.com/pedagogic
5. The PBS eTeam Email Address to request Training, Help or Information:
[email protected]
6. The Victory Demo Site (which is used to demo Wimba Classroom)
https://victory.port.ac.uk/webct/logon/126530317041
Learning Software supported by the PBS eTeam
Packages from the firms below, QuestionMark Perception, & Xerte, will be supported.
How To Apply Media in Teaching (2)
D) I want to ‘Enhance my Victory Site’
Contact [email protected] to discuss the options available. These might include:
1. Using the ‘Tab and Menu’ PowerPoint Template
A PowerPoint template is available which has tabs along the top and a menu down the
left side that permit lectures to be much more easily navigated than is the case with
inexorable A – Z slide progressions that can be the hallmark of dry and boring lectures.
2. Using Wimba Create
Wimba Create can take text and image pages created in Microsoft Word and produce
them out to web pages with colourful section headings and backgrounds, and with a
menu structure that can replace the fairly unattractive Victory hyperlink sub-menus.
Contact the eTeam about how to use Wimba Create yourself, or have them use it on
your behalf to populate your Victory site with created web pages.
3. Using Video and Audio
You can choose to shoot and edit video or audio files yourself, using faculty or your
own equipment. This can be compressed and uploaded to the streaming servers, and
then linked to from a hyperlink on a site page (preferred), or embedded in a site page
using embed code. Contact the eTeam for help writing or finding embed code.
Note: The use of PowerPoint to record audio directly into PowerPoint slides (in MP3, or
worse, WAV format), is not recommended. It creates large files that don’t download in a
reasonable timescale. Students won’t read ‘em – and you’ll weep!
E) I want to ‘Create Learning Objects’
The eTeam is introducing the ‘Xerte’ learning object authoring tool within PBS to make
very attractive Flash learning packages, some of which were described in Issue 5 of
PBS Learning News. To see a typical learning object created with Xerte Toolkits, follow
the link http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/toolkits/play_560.
You can also create a Flash-based media driven package of screen recordings using
Camtasia Studio and Camtasia Theatre. Contact [email protected] to arrange specific
training on screencasting using Camtasia and using the laptops on which it is installed.
Finally, you could use Adobe Captivate, Flash, and/or Presenter to produce objects
offering sophisticated multimedia quizzing and assessment, including watch-demo-try
functionality. Captivate 4 was recently released. The eTeam can help you here too.
Applying eLearning in Practice
Report of http://www.twitter.com/eteamnews
the PBS Educational Technologist
7
3
10
How To Apply Media in Learning (1)
New eTeam Services Available
A) I want help ‘Building a Victory Site’
Rachel Short: Educational Technologist
Contact [email protected] to book a training session with an eTeam developer.
Different levels of training are available, dependent on your needs and skill level.
Over the summer period, the team have delivered a further 20
staff training sessions in the use of our VLE. We continue to be
available for PBS eLearning training in the following
applications: Victory 1-4, Microsoft PowerPoint, Wimba Create,
Wimba Voice Tools, Wimba Classroom, Camtasia Studio,
Camtasia Relay, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Captivate, Adobe
Presenter and the ‘Use of Video in Teaching.’ To book onto one
of these 1-2-1 sessions, or for an informal discussion, please
contact: [email protected]. We’ll call you back.
B) I want to ‘Record a Podcast’
You can record a podcast in a variety of ways.
1. Using Wimba Voice Tools
You can use the Wimba Voice Tools package that can be embedded in your Victory
site to embed an audio message directly into your Victory site, or upload a podcast to
iTunes or other RSS feed reader .
2. Using a Faculty Laptop, Camtasia Studio Software, and a Headset
You can use one of the multimedia laptops available from the IT helpdesk to record a
video and/or audio file in TechSmith Camtasia Studio, and then upload it to the
streaming server in WMV format (or soon, in Flash format).
3. Using the Faculty Podcaster Microphone Kits
Contact the Richmond IT Helpdesk to book out the kits that include Rode Podcaster
USB connectable microphone, stand, headphones and Audacity software. You can se
the hardware with Audacity on your office PC – find Audacity in the Utilities menu.
4. Using a Portable Sound Recorder
Two MP3 recorders area available from the Richmond IT Helpdesk. They record direct
to MP3, and can be used standalone, or taking input from an external wireless
microphone transmitted and receiver. This combination is useful if you want to record a
seminar or tutorial, and make it available through Victory later. It can also be used to
record staff research seminars where recording the video too is not needed/advisable.
C) I want to ‘Record Student Presentations’
You can use a sound recorder or video camera for this purpose. To make sure you
know how to use the equipment, or to have a session recorded for you, contact the
[email protected] and the right person will contact you. If you want a video to be both
made and edited for you, Anthony Harrison will contact you to survey your needs using
an eTeam form designed to ensure everyone knows who is responsible for doing what
and when. He can also advise on what is do-able, and what is inadvisable!
Wimba Create and Xerte
One of our key drivers is the promotion of Wimba Create which is a tool for creating
and categorising content independent from Victory similar to the layout of a website
that can then be imported to your VLE course. The eTeam can build your course
content based on the unit materials or you can choose to attend one of our training
sessions and then use the software to create your own individual template. More
information and resources can be found at the following URL: www.wimba.com.
Another area that we are keen to explore is Xerte. This open-source piece of software
is approved by JISC and the HEA. It has been used predominantly at the University of
Nottingham and received a significant amount of funding to be established as an
innovative way to compile content similar to a website, but with no programming
knowledge required. Our resident expert for creating your course content using Xerte
is Anthony Harrison. In the first instance, please contact the eTeam:
[email protected]. For additional information: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/xerte/.
Induction Talks and Partner Contacts
This year we have been able to support three postgraduate courses with presentations
in the use of our VLE, in the run up to induction week. The eTeam will deliver a series
of workshops to new students on all programmes within PBS as these are requested.
If you feel this will be beneficial to your course, please send your request:
[email protected]. In an effort to retain greater links with our partners, the e-team will
also be extending its services to the students and staff at all of our partner institutions.
If you are aware of cohorts of students and specific members of staff that this could be
of particular benefit to, please let us know as soon as possible: [email protected].
Report of the PBS Educational Technologist (contd.)
Media Spotlight: Video in Teaching and Course Promotion
9
4
New eTeam Drop-In Centre: RB1.07
Relocation, relocation
Recent eTeam Video Productions
PBS eTeam Video Productions
4th
The eTeam moved back to Richmond Building on the
September 2009. The
purpose of this was to make the team more accessible to students and staff within the
Business School. We will be able to provide greater face-to-face support, and
demonstrations about topics such as: ‘How to use Wimba Live Classroom’, ‘Getting
the most from PowerPoint’ and ‘Developing a site with Wimba Create’. We will be
located in RB1.07. If you have any queries relating to our VLE, e-learning, blended
learning or the principles of pedagogy within HE, please feel free to drop in, or send
your query to: [email protected].
Please feel free to ask about making video productions with the PBS eTeam…
Careers in Law: Charlotte Harrison
Victory in 2009/2010
In preparation for the academic session 2009/2010, the eTeam have been progressing
the creation and development of a number of unit sites and course portals within
Victory. The deadline for the request of all new sites is the 4th September 2009. If you
are responsible for a unit, please ensure that you have an 09 version that has been
formatted prior to the start of the semester. For course portals, if you wish the site to
be clear of all the students from previous sessions, please request a migration of the
site to an 09 version by sending an email to: [email protected].
PBS Student Placements: Level 3 (Post Placement)
Turnitin and e-Portfolio
The IS maintenance window for the security patch and installation of Turnitin occurred
on the 14th August 2009. A new University policy in the use of the chosen antiplagiarism/ plagiarism detection software is currently being finalised. Staff can access
Turnitin at the following URL: www.submit.ac.uk. This will change for the academic
session 09/10 and there will be a ‘Power Link’ in Victory instead of the direct URL.
Consequently, some of the screens will appear differently to what staff are used to.
The e-portfolio is an online version of a physical portfolio. It enables staff and students
to collate information relating to CPD, conference notes/ funding bids, reflections and
thoughts, podcasts and associated notes. It is particularly useful for combining your
CV, appraisal documents and links to evidence websites. The e-portfolio is password
protected and the participant is able to send a link for their portfolio to colleagues,
prospective employers and partner institutions. To contribute in the trial of e-portfolio
with your students, please send your request to [email protected]. This will appear
as the third tab on your ‘MyVictory’ homepage. If you have any queries or concerns
relating to the use of Turnitin or the e-portfolio please email: [email protected].
Student on Placement: (Between Level 2 and Level 3)
Report of the PBS Media Producer
Report of the PBS Online Course Developer
5
8
Victory Matters
Get Help Using Media in Teaching
Anthony Harrison: PBS Media Producer
Mandy McCartney: Online Course Developer
When Mandy joined the eTeam her main task was to continue
the push to achieve a Victory presence for all units by
September 2010. The eTeam had achieved the first milestone
of having all Level 1 and Level M sites with a Victory presence
slightly ahead of target.
Anthony Harrison has joined the eTeam from DCQE as
Faculty Media Producer. Anthony, already known widely as
‘Ant’, has been responsible for some of the videos shot and
edited to show what is involved with doing a placement, and
what is involved in both law and accounting careers. Several
of these now feature on the university’s ‘Play’ media player on
the UoP website home page. Ant has a bachelor’s degree in
Entertainment Technology from the University of Portsmouth,
and has been based in the Rotunda in recent months.
If you want to be provide video feedback to students, or need a more complex
production involving both interviews and cutaway footage, then Ant can arrange it for
you. If you want to talk to him about what you have in mind, or need to book time in
the Rotunda TV Studio, please email [email protected] in the first instance, and
describe what you have in mind.
Ant can operate the faculty Sony PMW-EX1 broadcast quality camera, is becoming a
skilled video editor, can distribute footage to the streaming server, or produce DVDs
or Blu-ray disks of productions for you.
He can advise you about how to make a good production, what the editing phase will
involve, and what he will require of you to ensure the production can go ahead
without waiting for missing information to be provided – which is inefficient. Ant can
also record assessed presentations for you. Email [email protected] to request a
shoot, providing unit name and number, venue, time and date. We’ll book you a slot!
PBS will soon have quite a range of media creation hardware and software available
to colleagues, all bookable from the Richmond IT Helpdesk on Floor 1. This includes
laptops featuring video editing and screencasting/podcasting software, and an eSata
port for connection of fast external editing hard drives, (also available). Eight video
cameras that record to either internal hard drive or SDHC memory card are available.
If you want to ask your students to create assessed video documentaries, then Ant
can provide instruction to small groups in using our video cameras and laptops so
that a good quality production results. However, he will need reasonable advance
warning of this requirement, which will typically involve notification to
[email protected] of the need during the semester prior to the sessions being
delivered as a minimum.
We now expect to reach a 100% Victory VLE presence for
existing units by the end of 2009. As we are approaching the
presence target, site enrichment (and maintenance) will
become our main focus, alongside staff training.
Victory Training
Victory training has become a popular past time, with many staff arranging refresher
sessions. Mandy has enjoyed meeting new staff, who have been keen to get started
using Victory, and who are progressing well with their Victory sites. If you want a
refresher session, or help in enhancing your own site, contact us via
[email protected] to book an appointment. Alternatively, pop in and see us in our
new office next to the staff print room on Richmond Floor 1 (RB1.07).
Working with Departments
We are currently working with the School of Law, updating their Victory presence and
compiling course portals for them. Department staff audited their units, and provided
us with an updated list to work on. This enabled Mandy to ensure all units have an
Victory presence before the start of the new term, including sites for new units. At the
request of the Postgraduate Centre she created a new ‘Postgraduate Centre General
Administration for Students’ Victory site. The Postgraduate Centre is keen to engage
students with Victory from induction, with this site available from September. It will
provide general information about key dates, FAQ’s, ‘how to’ guides and other
generally requested information related to postgraduate enrolment.
Benefits of using Victory
A VLE can be used to provide access to lecture materials, pdfs, videos, podcasts,
discussion boards, email, announcements, assessments and individual student
portfolios. Victory can be used for more than this by creating a Wimba Classroom for a
unit, where on and off campus students can be taught at the same time. For more
details, please contact the eTeam at [email protected].
Report of the PBS Online Course Developer (contd.)
Technology Spotlight: Wimba Classroom
7
6
Wimba Collaboration Suite
The Wimba Classroom Interface
Wimba Collaboration Suite
Wimba Classroom
The Features of a Typical Wimba Classroom
The eTeam can now offer training in the Wimba
Collaboration Suite. If you are new to this, please
talk to the eTeam about how it can enhance your
teaching within Victory. It comprises three main
tools. Note: Wimba ‘Pronto’ is not in use at the UoP.
This is a live, virtual classroom
environment,
with
robust
features that include audio,
video,
application
sharing,
content display and playlist,
which can be configured and
launched from within Victory. Its
a very effective addition to your
teaching, especially if you have
distance learners. Its intuitive
interface
and
ease-of-use
ensure that educators and
students engage as if they were
meeting in one room.
Open a Web Page, use the Whiteboarding Tools, or Share an Application
The eTeam also has a demo
Victory site with a presentation
in Wimba. We aim to use this to
show colleagues on a one to
one basis what can be achieved
in Victory with Wimba, with a
new focus on the development
of work-based learning courses.
Start or Stop Archiving (to record or make available to students later)
Play list for slides turned into images in the Content Area
Whiteboarding Tools
The Content Area
Wimba Create
This is a tool that will help you to take text and pictures in Word and efficiently transform
them into course content. From one word document you can generate a set of web
pages including navigation and embedded hyperlinks. Wimba products are described
on the eTeam ‘Staff Essentials’ website, with links to recent DCQE ‘how to’ screen
recordings etc.
Wimba Voice Tools
This suite of audio tools supports vocal bulletin boards, voice-based emails, the simple
creation of podcasts using a headset, and the embedding of tutor messages for a class
in vocal form. Why not borrow a headset from Richmond’s IT Help Desk and try it out?
Chat Rooms for Instant Messaging
Classroom participants, their status and means of attendance
An image or logo that is appropriate for the course or unit