Personal Blog

Classroom/mobile Technology

didoffice2007 — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:35:01 +0000

As the new MMUBs building is to be based on a collaborative teaching and learning process. It is important that a software solution be determined which can be used to control student Pcs in a classroom and which will allow mobile technology e.g mobile phone to be used answer questions during a lecture.

Eduserv Symposium 2010: The Mobile University 13/05/10

Meeting with Michael Gorman (MIRIAD) 16/02

didoffice2007 — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:45:31 +0000

Michael wishes LRT to provide an overview of the resources they are able to support and develop. This will form part of the L&T day at MIRIAD. i mentioned a number of applicatins which we currently suport and are highlighting:

Podcasting
VLE
Social networking
Live@Edu

MG will inform me when the exact date for this session will be and details of time, location etc.

Art & Design have never bought into the VLE and are concerned how any future choice will affect their department. Currently an intranet is used to deliver a service to staff and students. A&D would be loooking to develop distributed model so that development can be carried out pre-implementation. A&D are iinvolved in Creative Manchester (Paul Basson) and wish to maintain their working links with CM as the implementation of the VLE becomes a reality.

MG asked if it would be possible for graduates to have an email based on fad.com rather than @alumni.mmu.ac.uk or student.mmu.ac.uk. This would provide a comparitive example to Glasgow School of Art – gas.com and other Art schools. MG thought this would provide a professional aspect to their identity wrt email address. KL to liaise with MG about this issue as it involves communication between a number of interested parties.

MG was to contact JG wrt Social networking and review nursingbuddies to determine if its use and application could be applied to undergraduates at A&D.

Meeting with David Fletcher SLC Didsbury 15/12

didoffice2007 — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:43:44 +0000

Thank you for meeting up. Hopefully we can work on a number of issues you mentioned. Please find below a list of the things we covered:

1. SkyDrive – the use of a SkyDrive to share media and files both with staff, students and external bodies

2. You would be interested in becoming an early pioneer in the use of the new VLE in July 2010

3. Video conferencing – currently SLC use Adobe Breeze for conferencing purposes. SLC require a cost-effective solution, not Flash-based as is the case with Breeze. Cisco WebEx may be a solution which you will be trialing out Maxwell on the 16/12. Please let me know your thought s on this. I will contact David Dickinson to update me on other peoples thoughts on this project. Cost is an issue of course!!!

4.. SLC are involved in the ASK project (Ask a Science Teacher). The project involves Science teachers in HE schools developing and sharing resources with other staff. A combination of media including PPoint, Video and other to be distributed to a select audience. Available online with all resources related in one folder or area. Another meeting to be arranged to discuss the possiblity of developing appropriate solutions in 2010

Meeting 18/02/10

David will be trialling Flashback to determine its usability and adaptability within the SLC session.

Meeting 03/02/10

DF is currently developing the use of BB Flashback to create podcasts which can be used during staff induction.

DF created an account in Office Live. He logged into the system and was interested in developing the system as an Office application for sharing documents with colleagues. He will showcase the product and arrange a demonstration with LRT if required.

Tektura Wallcoverings meeting 01/12

didoffice2007 — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:10:36 +0000

Present: Alex Lee, Andy Cooper, Neil Anderson, Steve Nisbet & Karen Souter (Tektura)

The product would provide a solution from the traditional boards located across the university. The wallcoverings can be used for projection and writing on.

SN comments:

Rather impressed myself, I think mainly because its a simple solution with a lot of potential beyond the mere idea of sticking it on a wall and letting folks draw on it.

It could replace nobo boards – hell of a lot of wasted paper
having a dual use wall covering – drawing and the ability to host projections – sensible reuse of space
Could even get flexible rolls of the stuff laminated onto some substrate and use it (with suitable stands) for temporary displays etc.

AC & NA to contact Karen to determine costings and practicalities of using this solution in the new Business school.

01/03/10

After a meeting with NA and other ICTS staff viewpoints it has been agreed not to develop the use of Tektura for use in the MMUBS building or across other rooms.

Meeting with Mary Heaney 26/11

didoffice2007 — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:04:44 +0000

Collaborative software – MH is currently using Live Mesh as a document repository. I mentioned to her that there are a number of solutions which can be used not only to collaborate but share desktops, blog and conference meetings.

I have recommended that LRT showcase some of the solutions available in Jan.

Possible solutions

Office 10 – Save to Sky Drive, Publish as a Blog post, Change the file type, Create a PDF file, Save and open documents from Office Live, Restrict editing and formatting, use Shared View

Live@Edu – Mail (Outlook.com), Calendar feature, Groups, Spaces, SkyDrive, Office Live, Downloads

WiziW – Virtual classrooms

e-pen showcase the pen for use

01/12 – MH replied informing me that a demonstration in Jan. would be welcome. MH and two directors Heather Wilson and Phil Range to be invited to discuss how the different tools for meetings can be used.

Classroom Technology Meeting 20/11/09

didoffice2007 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:22:52 +0000

Present Brian Williams, Neil Anderson, Andrew Cooper

Outlined that Tegrity lecture capture may be a solution rather than using OneLan. Emailed link to colleagues.

TekTura coverings are to showcase their products. Invite team members and campus team.

Visiting Information Commons @ Sheffield Univ on 03/12. To distribute pictures of building to colleagues.

IC at Sheffield is an impressive building as a Learning Space – see document SUIC.doc

Input from Campus Tech about Tektura coverings from other institutes has been that problematic as the surface becomes marked after a period of time and cleaning requirements can be a problem. This may no longer form part of the implementation.

Meeting with James Garvey 09/11

didoffice2007 — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:53:25 +0000

JG reviewed VisibleBody and review its usefulness

Acquired an e-Pen which is currently being used by Paul Tubbs as a review of its usefulness.

JG to present a review of the social networking impact relating to student retention in particular. Awaiting feedback.

JG trying to arrange a session with colleagues to showcase the applications developed within his course and as a review of furthering its use. Mentioned the system of ‘buddies’ who could champion the use of learnign technologies within the academic environment.

It is possible to incorporate a KwikSurvey into a Ning blog by incorporating source code form KS into a Ning network.

Meeting 01/12

e-Pens has been used by Paul Tubbs and is in the process of buying the pens.

The Shock Absobers conference, April 2010 comprising of Kate Kirk, Jane Woods, Maureen Dawson and others have setup a Ning network. This will be used to collaborate on the setting up of the conference.

WiziQ a number of classes have been setup with Nursing Buddies 14/12 and 21/12, 14/01 All with a start time at 7pm.

Virtual Body – James wishes to use the product with his Anatomy & Physio classes

Ning (Nursing Buddies) the future of this social network is ongoing and ultimately develop an alumni document. Currently two cohorts are using the site 03/09 and 09/09.It is aimed that this will carry on till 03/11. At this point o3/09 will have graduated and they will be able to feedback into the network as peers and provide guidance.

Meeting 18/02/10

JG is interested in developing audio feedback for students. Downloaded Flashback onto his machine. JG will trial its use and provide feedback.

JG wanted to know how to install YouTube video into Prezi. As it is not possible to download videos directly into a presentation due to copyright issues. To showcase a YouTube video copy the URL for the video and paste into the Prezi presentation. When you click on the link the video plays within Prezi.

Showcased Live@Edu and Office Live. These tools provide collaboration options for staff/student interaction. JG was unsure whether students were aware of these features. It seems they are not. Can provide a mini-presentation for his students if required??? Not possible to create a Live@Edu account for JG as KL no longer has access to the server. Pooh!!! Glad to inform Blog that KL was able to create a Live@edu account for JG.

03/03/10

JG has logged into the Live@Edu account and I was able to showcase a number of the apps incorporated. Was able to outline a number of scenarios where these applications could be used for collaborative learning. A session has been organised titled Live@Edu – A collaborative tool to be presented by LRT to undergraduates to showcase how Live@edu may be fully utilised. This wil be carried out on the 30th March. A number of academic colleagues were interested in Live@edu when he mentioned the product and may be oresent at the session.

Nursingbuddies has been evaluated by JG. Currently awaiting the results from JG. Asked him to ensure that the 09 nursingbuddies complete an online survey thereby reducing the need for paper, inputting and analysis. Could have used kwiksurvey. JG will be presenting a prezi demonstration of nursingbuddies to the NMC in March. Awaiting feedback on this presentation

Open Source Software & Applications

didoffice2007 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:39:45 +0000

iSpring - http://www.ispringsolutions.com/

PPoint to Flash Convertor, integrates toolbar into PPoint. Can insert YouTube videos directly into PPoint

Find the link for the video in YouTube
In PPoint click on the YouTube icon in the iSpring toolbar
Paste the link and click OK

SWF Opener – http://www.browsertools.net/SWF-Opener/

install and view any swf file. To install swf file into PPoint follow the steps below:

Click on the Office button in PPoint
Select Options, tick Show Developer tab
Click on the More Controls option in the Developer tab
Select Shockwave Flash object
Righ-click on the object, select Properties
In Movie, paste the link to the Shockwave file

Visible Body – www.visiblebody.com

Complete fully interactive 3D human autonomy model

Concept Linkage in Knowledge Repositeries – http://conceptlinkage.org/

C-Link tool finds related and possibly unkown concepts that lie on a path between two concepts

Hoddleboards & CopyCams

http://www.shef.ac.uk/cilass/learning-spaces/huddleboards.html

Huddleboards are lightweight whiteboards that can be used by groups to record discussions, plan activities and map out knowledge. Huddleboards can then be placed underneath the CopyCam which will take a digital picture of the information. The digital picture can then be accessed via the web, saved and imported into a PowerPoint presentation for example.

Magic Paper – http://www.magicpaper.co.uk/home.php

Visual presentations anytime, anyplace anywhere

Walltalkers - http://www.tektura.com/pages/press14.asp

Write on/write off surfacing on a roll. Install floor to ceiling, or across a room horizontally. Sample requested 03/11

Software Informer – http://software.informer.com/

Software Informer is a programme, whose primary aim is to give you the up-to-date information about the software you actually use. Whenever a more recent version of any programme becomes available, Software Informer notifies you and offers a link for downloading the update. It also allows you to keep track of comments and questions on corresponding software

Power League

didoffice2007 — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:00:29 +0000

PowerLeague is a free, versatile resource for actively engaging people with topics and positioning potentially challenging issues in a fun, easy way. PL can be used by anyone by simply creating an account.

Students can cast votes, individually, choosing between two competing people, ideas or things. By repeatedly casting votes, the students create a league, ranked in order of the most powerful, important or influential. The results are often unexpected – students are surprised to see how their peers voted – and a good starting point for discussion.

Power League – http://www.powerleague.org.uk

User Guide – Power_League_Teacher_Guide

Social Networking – Chrissy Ogilvie 21/10

didoffice2007 — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:46:28 +0000

I met with Chrissy, Senior Lecturer in Managment at MMUBS to discuss the use of Ning with her Work Based Learning students. Chrissy wanted a resource which would allow her to:

1. Be able to post up sets of materials each week and keep them together in a discrete place.
2. Monitor student participation easily (ie like attendance in class)
3. Have a dialogue facility whereby students can answer questions and have their tutor respond without other students seeing.
4. Be able to make announcements that will reach all students.
5. Have an area where students can discuss with each other.
6. Have somewhere where students can ask questions which may be of general interest and get a tutor response

I informed her that it would be possbile outlining a response:

Point 4 – you can make an announcement that will reach all students on the Ning network
Point 5 – you can create an area where students can discuss with each other
Point 6 – There is a Forum option available on Ning
Point 2 – I’m trying to find a solution
Point 1 – Yes but not using Ning I believe. We can discuss this point.
Point 3 – Discussion board is available on Ning