Teaching & Learning Connection

Garry Edmonds

TLC is currently preparing for the submission of learning materials for first semester, 2010. We will be ready to receive submissions from Monday, 27 September.

TLC provides a set of templates that can be used to create learning materials. These contain standard UNE information. A major review of these is currently being done to ensure that this information is current. This will be ready later in September, and then the templates will be uploaded to the Production of Learning Resources website.

Your school may have specific information that also needs to be included in your school’s material so check with your admin staff to ensure that you include all required information. A new simpler Learning Materials Submission form is also being developed.

Final submission dates are still to be set. We are attempting to set progressive dates that are relevant to the type of material. These will be based on feedback that we have received from schools.

If you have any questions about the preparation of learning material, contact the Learning Material Officers on #2999.

Watch 1 minute promo for Staff eLearning Commons

Hands-on tutorials, demonstrations and information sessions for groups

Thursday 3^rd September, 2.00- 3.30

You’re probably already familiar with the standard Blackboard quiz question types, but these can be made more flexible, challenging and efficient through some simple techniques. In this workshop you’ll learn ways to extend and enrich your Blackboard quizzes using some simple ‘regular expressions’ to enhance ‘Short Answer’ type questions, and a more powerful use of ‘Fill in the Blank’ type questions. If you have found the standard question types a trifle limited, this hands-on session will give you the chance to explore the quiz tool a little further for effective teaching. Ideally, participants should be able to log into a Blackboard unit, access their question database, and build some new quiz questions during this workshop, but that is not essential.

Thursday 10th, 10am

If you use a Mac but, like many people, only know the basics, this session will help you streamline your workflow and work better, smarter and faster using the additional features of OSX 10.5 (Leopard). Streamline file management, give more effective presentations in lectures and reduce the time spent on routine tasks and inefficient habits. You’ll also learn a few tips and tricks to help keep your computer in tiptop

shape and out of the repair shop!

Friday 11th, 11am

The ultimate in creating digital content - create video podcasts from lecture footage, screenflow capture, PowerPoint and more! Learn how to capture and edit video footage, create screenflow capture tutorials, integrate multimedia and how to make your vodcast more engaging, using Windows Movie Maker.

Thursday 17th, 10am

Explore the latest software (both free and paid) that allows you to record your screen to video. Create software tutorials, demonstrate online skills and answer student questions quickly and easily. Learn how to deal with a variety of video formats and load these to Blackboard for easy student access.

Friday 18th, 10am

If you’re the kind of person who is mystified as to how ‘Facebook’ became a verb and is clueless as to what a ‘tweet’ is, this session is for you. Not only are social networking tools easy to learn and a nice way to keep in touch with friends, they can be powerful teaching tools. Learn to navigate sites like Facebook, Ning and Twitter, and find out how they can be used effectively in your teaching. The session also points you to websites that give great examples and teaching ideas, and gives tips for teaching and modeling digital citizenship.

Friday 18th, 12pm

If you’ve ever wanted to use material from a DVD in your online teaching, this session will guide you step-by-step through the process. Learn to use Handbrake, a free, cross-platform program that allows you to convert DVD to digital video, and how to upload the video to Blackboard.

NB: We recommend attending this session in conjunction with a session or consultation on copyright laws.

Thursday 24th, 10am

Many lecturers are now using video in their online teaching, but are having difficulties with student access, or want to begin using video but don’t know where to start. This session explores different upload options, linking and compression settings, which allow you to maximise the use of video in your online units, whilst still allowing students on any type of internet connection equal access.

Friday 25th, 11am

Creating engaging digital media for online teaching isn’t just about podcasting or video - expand your ability to deliver creative and engaging content to students using Comic Life. Learn how to combine images and text to create effective scenario-based learning experiences that really grab students’ attention, while having some fun at the same time.

One-on-one

Arrange a time to work with specialist assistance on an aspect of teaching with technology, or book a space in the Commons to pursue your own interest in developing online teaching features.

All sessions are held in the Staff eLearning Commons on the top floor of the T&LC Building (C30) and, unless specified otherwise, are 1 hour long.

To enrol: Contact Kerryn Reeves, kreeves3@une.edu.au, ext. 2339

For further information: Catherine Clarke cclarke@une.edu.au, ext. 3395

Mitch Parkes—Educational Developer

At the start of the year, a two year joint project began to explore the experience of students from equity backgrounds of UNE’s online learning and teaching environments.

To date, things have been going well with the recent completion of the project’s scoping phase. Included in this phase was a sector scan of all Australian universities investigating their provision of equitable and accessible teaching and learning resources. Like UNE, other universities have had to rise to the challenge of meeting the needs of an increasingly diverse range of students.

Next, the project will be moving into the data gathering phase. Key activities in this phase include a review of UNE policies and the implementation of a student survey. During the recent Open2Learning initiative by the TLC, a workshop on Accessible Technologies was run and was well attended. It is envisaged that further workshops will be held in the future.

Remember, accessibility – it’s everyone’s responsibility.