Learning Technology Development
“How I engaged my students”One tutor’s experience that produced outstanding results. David Callaghan September 2013
Learning Outcomes(Aims of this session) • Gain an understanding of some of the techniques to engage students • Focus on online courses • Focus on dissertation. • Consider using some of these techniques with your students. • Know where to go for further help / support
Why? My drivers: • To give a good student experience • To experience using these technologies myself
Why listen to me? I got results … … outstanding results: (but it was a strong cohort)
So, how did I do this? Student engagement… … generating a ‘community’: Three main tools: • Video - incl. conferencing • Tracking • Discussion
Embedded Video Uses: Introduction Content Feedback
Video – web conferencing and recording
Tracking: Retention Centre • ‘New’ in SP12 • (was the Early Warning System) • Help identify students ‘at risk’ • Missed deadlines • Grades • Activity • Access • Tutors create ‘rules’ • System can email en-mass • Use to send ‘well done’ and ‘what next’ messages http://ondemand.blackboard.com/r91/movies/bb91_evaluation_retention_center.htm
If they still didn’t engage: • I found their personal email address and emailed them …
If they STILL didn’t engage!? • I found their home phone numbers and called them … • I found their mobile numbers and them … • I kept calling until I got to talk to them … • There was no escape! (I’m not aware of any complaints) (… and I went to their graduation …)
One story … • ‘ … quaking in my boots …’
Discussion subscription Notify by email when others post • Increases engagement • Speeds up discussion • Reduces frustration
Discussion to: • Ask a question • Share ideas • Post thoughts about what they were working on • Post draughts of chapters • Look at peers work • Get feedback from the tutor (me) on their work • Look at other peers feedback from me
Discussion led to … … peer feedback … • That moved from simple mechanical comments • Well done!? • Spelling • Referencing • To insightful critical comments • … that significantly improved others work • … that significantly improved MANY others work!
Summarising the major tools: • Video • Tracking • Discussion
Other tools: • Announcements • Timed announcements • Performance Dashboard • drilling down to see student performance • Originality check • Turnitin • Test student account • what the student ‘sees’ • Formatting items • Grade centre • Mobile • Next slide
Announcements • Announcements – incl links to resources: This example shows: • YouTube for verbal feedback • Notes from a tutorial
Timed announcements Tidy up your act • Set a date restriction • Automatically remove out-of-date announcements • Stops students re-reading old messages
Performance Dashboard • Track student progress • Pick out students that: • Haven’t logged on • Drill down … • Discussion contributions
Turnitin Use for formative assessment Originality report
Test Student To get a ‘students eye’ view • Test student activity • Submissions • Assignments / Tests • Availability (content, results) • Retention rules To enable: • Go to the course • Control Panel -> • Course tools -> • Add Test Student Your test student name is your login name followed by _s, e.g., callagda_s Can be enrolled into any course.
Formatting ‘Items’ Use the HTML editor to improve the appearance of your text: • Font sizes • Colour • Highlights • Hyperlinks Be consistent throughout the course.
Grade Centre • By default - all columns are available • Columns are created for all assessed work • Default columns for Total and Weighted Total • Grades displayed to students through My Grades – via the original submission link. • Can create columns for non-online activities. • Smart Views MANAGE your Grade Centre Note: separate DDE session
Mobile There is a full guide available – here: http://www.eshare.edgehill.ac.uk/1372/ Mobile friendly advice for: • Content (PDF etc.) • Discussion • Announcements • Embedded media • YouTube • Audio files. • Emphasis on Two-way communication: • E.g.: Announcement about running late.
Take away messages • What will you be using with your students this year?
Sources of help: Tinyurl.com\LTDGuides Learning Technology Team: … and ondemand.blackboard.com
Evaluation Later today please take a couple of minutes to reflect on: • What you liked about this session • What you think could have been done to improve it ... and email me your thoughts: david.Callaghan@edgehill.ac.uk Many thanks, David
