For Staff
...wanting to author e-learning materials
- Using the Course Materials Repository
- Using Online Coursework Submission
- Using the Plagiarism Detection Service
- Using Moodle
- Using WebCT
- Using Perception
- Using a Personal Response System
- SENDA
- Supporting Online Learning
- IPR and Copyright Guidance
- E-Learning Network (Mailing List)
- Training
- Learning and Teaching
In this section:
Online Learning and SENDA
Supporting learning online:
Online course materials enable students to revisit content in their own time, at their location of choice, and at their own pace. Feedback from students to Student Support Services suggests that online materials are an extremely important and valuable learning resource.
Incorporating asynchronous communication (e-mail, bulletin boards) within a course can enable students to find support from peers and tutors outside the traditional confines of a face-to-face course. Students can take time to read, consider and respond to questions. Used effectively, online communication can provide students with an opportunity to reflect upon their learning.
The Course Materials Repository:
The University has developed a Course Materials Repository, (CMR). The CMR is a central course materials portal, organised by department, which provides streamlined navigation to online course resources and improved hosting services for teaching materials. More than 800 courses have materials available online via the CMR.
Here is an image which shows a typical CMR listing:
From the student perspective, the CMR enables students to navigate quickly to specific course materials. The listing contains links to course materials (where available), the course outline, the reading list and past exam papers (where available), and provides contact information for the course. The CMR is available to students at all times of the day, and can be accessed from off-campus (although materials that have been restricted to access only via the campus network will require authentication with the university proxy service).
Moodle:
Moodle is a virtual learning environment, or VLE, which is web-based. It provides an integrated set of tools, enabling easy upload of materials and a customisable and consistent look and feel. Moodle can be used to support face-to-face teaching and learning, or to deliver an entire course online.
- Delivery of learning resources and materials
- Communication between tutors and students
- Shared work group areas
- Support for students
- Management and tracking of students
- Formative assessment
Here is a screen shot from a Moodle course at the University, Introductory Moodle Training Course:
QuestionMark Perception:
QMP is used at the University to support online formative assessment and for surveying student opinion on teaching and learning. The software can used with assistive programs, for example a screen reader.
QMP enables staff to author questions and assessments for online delivery. Once authored, questions can be re-used and shared. Assessments can be authored to contain feedback, which a student receives as soon as the test is completed. The following image shows a typical multiple choice question:
Further Learning Technology:
The University has a range of learning technologies and software to support the learning needs of disabled students. The Computing Service maintains a page on assistive technologies, Assistive Technologies Available for Campus Computer Users.
TechDis maintains a database on learning technologies, and describe their Web site as 'first port of call for anyone in education who has a question relating to disability and technology'. The TechDis Accessibility database contains information on more than 2,500 items of assistive technology, which could be used to support students with disability.
