News

D2L Online Learning training sessions

D2L logo

D2L, the suppliers of Brightspace, have lots of resources on how to use Brightspace tools (check out the Brightspace Tutorials YouTube channel). This December, they are also offering five 30 min training sessions specifically around online learning, covering topics such as how to structure an online course, how to gamify courses and what personalised learning… Read more » about D2L Online Learning training sessions

Monitoring engagement and performance on your units

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Did you know there is lots of analytics data available on Brightspace at unit level? Learning analytics can be key in picking up students who may be falling behind or not engaging and require an intervention, and in facilitating a personal learning experience for students through regular touch points of communication so that students know… Read more » about Monitoring engagement and performance on your units

Zoom security improvements and useful tips

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From the 17 November our default recommendation for Zoom sessions will include enabling authentication and using Waiting Rooms, this means students will need to sign-in to join sessions. This change brings in a number of benefits: Improved security as Zoom sessions are restricted to only allow members of the University to join Students will join… Read more » about Zoom security improvements and useful tips

Updated security and etiquette guidance for Students when using Zoom

Student at laptop

As part of our support for students when participating in Zoom calls we have updated our student help guidance to ensure that live online sessions are safe and secure for everyone. The Acceptable Use Policy defines the way students, staff and authorised users are expected to use information and information technology which is provided by… Read more » about Updated security and etiquette guidance for Students when using Zoom

Daily LT drop-ins continue

Coffee cup and computer

Throughout November your Learning Technologists will continue to be online daily at 11am every week day. These sessions are run via Zoom and can be accessed via the Brightspace Staff Resources online drop in pages. Simply click on the link in the table on the day between 11-11.30am. You might need some help setting up an… Read more » about Daily LT drop-ins continue

MUSE is on the way

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What is MUSE? The Mid-Unit Student Evaluation (MUSE) is a survey designed to encourage students to reflect on their progress to date and feed back on their learning experience, including views on any summative or formative feedback received during their current unit. This information enables tutors to incorporate any necessary enhancements moving forward, therefore adding… Read more » about MUSE is on the way

Getting started with Mentimeter

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Have you started using interactive presentations with Mentimeter yet? Mentimeter offer regular free webinars to help you get to know everything you need to start running your own Mentimeter presentations. You’ll learn the basic functions of Mentimeter including: How and when to use Mentimeter How to create and edit your own presentations How and when… Read more » about Getting started with Mentimeter

The benefits of lecture capture

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There are several benefits to recording teaching delivery, for both staff and students, and this has become more important with the challenges students face when predominantly accessing their teaching sessions from off-campus. The Digital Pedagogies Framework supports the recording of teaching delivery including embedding recordings into Brightspace, renaming with clear titles and dates, contextualising with key… Read more » about The benefits of lecture capture

Adding subtitles to live presentations

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Would you like to add subtitles to your live presentations as they happen? Students who rely on captions or subtitles can sometimes struggle to follow live presentations; both Zoom and Panopto produce transcripts of recordings, but these happen after the event. Now, using a feature built-in to PowerPoint called Microsoft Translator, it is possible caption… Read more » about Adding subtitles to live presentations

Racing Around Poole Harbour in a Sunseeker – 25 Years On

Sometimes in our professional lives, something triggers us to reflect on past events. Some of my colleagues may already know that from my PhD research, I invented the first commercially available intelligent ship autopilot. Back in the early 1990’s, this was an early application of using artificial intelligence in a commercial product. This October, it… Read more » about Racing Around Poole Harbour in a Sunseeker – 25 Years On