Comments for LearnTech http://blogs.northampton.ac.uk/learntech News and updates on technology for learning and teaching Fri, 28 Dec 2012 07:33:16 +0000 hourly 1 Comment on The path to NILE quality by Rob Howe http://blogs.northampton.ac.uk/learntech/2012/12/21/the-path-to-nile-quality/#comment-7921 Rob Howe Fri, 28 Dec 2012 07:33:16 +0000 http://blogs.northampton.ac.uk/learntech/?p=1340#comment-7921 Many thanks for your comments on the areas which are currently being checked by the quality officers. In many cases this year, staff would have copied over materials from old sites and the announcements should reflect those which are relevant to the current cohort - you may feel that some of your old announcements fit this description. The reason that office hours were included in the contact details was to manage student expectations. There will always be situations which arise where a tutor is unable to attend all of these - the advertised dates are the expected norm. Students should be aware of how best to contact the tutor to be able to see them. With regards to the SAT office - you should just be including the generic email address and contact details for this office rather than details of an actual SAT member. A part of the checking of NILE sites is to see the degree to which these now replicate the information in the module guide. It is hoped that we will be able to reduce some of the paper provided to students if the NILE site has all the required information in an easy to access form. The dynamic nature of a NILE site should mean that it provides more up-to date information than that provided in a module guide developed before the module started. Hopefully you have already considered merged sites for the different cohorts where the content and assessments are identical to reduce the need to manage multiple sites. Rob Many thanks for your comments on the areas which are currently being checked by the quality officers.

In many cases this year, staff would have copied over materials from old sites and the announcements should reflect those which are relevant to the current cohort – you may feel that some of your old announcements fit this description.

The reason that office hours were included in the contact details was to manage student expectations. There will always be situations which arise where a tutor is unable to attend all of these – the advertised dates are the expected norm. Students should be aware of how best to contact the tutor to be able to see them.

With regards to the SAT office – you should just be including the generic email address and contact details for this office rather than details of an actual SAT member.

A part of the checking of NILE sites is to see the degree to which these now replicate the information in the module guide. It is hoped that we will be able to reduce some of the paper provided to students if the NILE site has all the required information in an easy to access form. The dynamic nature of a NILE site should mean that it provides more up-to date information than that provided in a module guide developed before the module started. Hopefully you have already considered merged sites for the different cohorts where the content and assessments are identical to reduce the need to manage multiple sites.

Rob

]]> Comment on The path to NILE quality by Heinz http://blogs.northampton.ac.uk/learntech/2012/12/21/the-path-to-nile-quality/#comment-7813 Heinz Sat, 22 Dec 2012 05:11:56 +0000 http://blogs.northampton.ac.uk/learntech/?p=1340#comment-7813 I think there is merit in leaving some older announcements active on the site. We frequently find that some activities are not remembered by the time we get to student feedback. (I also had a complaint about grading just last week where I could just refer the student to a specific announcement.) It shouldn't be a problem if the newest is always added on top. I definitely do not think that any office hours should be advertised on Nile sites, unless they are updated on a daily basis. Many colleagues find that they have weeks we are they may be teaching up to 20 hours, some go abroad for a week at a time, provides last-minute cover for a colleague etc etc. If we have lower student satisfaction on ability to reach tutors than institutions where staff attendance is lower than ours, then it is because we are creating unrealistic expectations with students. There is a simple solution; keep a diary and make appointments. (The likelihood of a couple of hours’ drop-in session per day coinciding with every student’s free and convenient time on the days that they are on campus is also extremely low.) Even the SAT office is occasionally closed. I have lost count of the number of times that the designated SAT member for our field has changed in the last 12 months. It is not realistic to change every NILE site every time. I have run up to 6 different cohorts on the same 20 credit UG module and am really concerned about the number of items that needs to be duplicated out of the module guide. Version control becomes a real issue, especially critically important things like assignment briefs. (One particular partner institution asked me to change hand in dates three or four times :-( I think there is merit in leaving some older announcements active on the site. We frequently find that some activities are not remembered by the time we get to student feedback. (I also had a complaint about grading just last week where I could just refer the student to a specific announcement.) It shouldn’t be a problem if the newest is always added on top.

I definitely do not think that any office hours should be advertised on Nile sites, unless they are updated on a daily basis. Many colleagues find that they have weeks we are they may be teaching up to 20 hours, some go abroad for a week at a time, provides last-minute cover for a colleague etc etc. If we have lower student satisfaction on ability to reach tutors than institutions where staff attendance is lower than ours, then it is because we are creating unrealistic expectations with students. There is a simple solution; keep a diary and make appointments. (The likelihood of a couple of hours’ drop-in session per day coinciding with every student’s free and convenient time on the days that they are on campus is also extremely low.) Even the SAT office is occasionally closed. I have lost count of the number of times that the designated SAT member for our field has changed in the last 12 months. It is not realistic to change every NILE site every time.

I have run up to 6 different cohorts on the same 20 credit UG module and am really concerned about the number of items that needs to be duplicated out of the module guide. Version control becomes a real issue, especially critically important things like assignment briefs. (One particular partner institution asked me to change hand in dates three or four times :-(

]]> Comment on Apps for Teaching and Learning – annotating PDF files by Kenichi http://blogs.northampton.ac.uk/learntech/2012/02/29/apps-for-teaching-and-learning-annotating-pdf-files/#comment-4177 Kenichi Mon, 20 Aug 2012 04:29:01 +0000 http://blogs.northampton.ac.uk/learntech/?p=795#comment-4177 I've found a couple good apps for this. My fotirave is DocAS. It's a simple and efficient middleman, plus you can organize all kinds of files into folders, and export/import in a variety of ways, including DropBox. And you can read and annotate PDFs from within the app. Definitely a lifesaver in my classroom workflow. I’ve found a couple good apps for this. My fotirave is DocAS. It’s a simple and efficient middleman, plus you can organize all kinds of files into folders, and export/import in a variety of ways, including DropBox. And you can read and annotate PDFs from within the app. Definitely a lifesaver in my classroom workflow.

]]> Comment on Preparing your NILE sites for the new academic year by Rob Howe http://blogs.northampton.ac.uk/learntech/2012/06/22/preparing-your-nile-sites-for-the-new-academic-year/#comment-3536 Rob Howe Sun, 08 Jul 2012 05:44:28 +0000 http://blogs.northampton.ac.uk/learntech/?p=1232#comment-3536 Currently you only have the option to enroll on one module at a time. Currently you only have the option to enroll on one module at a time.

]]> Comment on Preparing your NILE sites for the new academic year by Bob Hopkins http://blogs.northampton.ac.uk/learntech/2012/06/22/preparing-your-nile-sites-for-the-new-academic-year/#comment-3521 Bob Hopkins Fri, 06 Jul 2012 17:10:58 +0000 http://blogs.northampton.ac.uk/learntech/?p=1232#comment-3521 Is it the case that you can only enroll on one module at a time, via the radio buttons. If you need to enroll on, say a dozen, modules is it possible to achieve this in one submission? Is it the case that you can only enroll on one module at a time, via the radio buttons. If you need to enroll on, say a dozen, modules is it possible to achieve this in one submission?

]]> Comment on Preparing your NILE sites for the new academic year by Rob Howe http://blogs.northampton.ac.uk/learntech/2012/06/22/preparing-your-nile-sites-for-the-new-academic-year/#comment-3411 Rob Howe Wed, 27 Jun 2012 05:49:25 +0000 http://blogs.northampton.ac.uk/learntech/?p=1232#comment-3411 I can see that you have now found the correct module "PSY1006-STD-1213". We will assist any staff who are having difficulty finding the modules. Just mail LTSupport@northampton.ac.uk I can see that you have now found the correct module “PSY1006-STD-1213″. We will assist any staff who are having difficulty finding the modules. Just mail LTSupport@northampton.ac.uk

]]> Comment on Closer links between NILE and the Student Record System by Rob Howe http://blogs.northampton.ac.uk/learntech/2012/05/23/closer-links-between-nile-and-the-student-record-system/#comment-3410 Rob Howe Wed, 27 Jun 2012 05:27:08 +0000 http://blogs.northampton.ac.uk/learntech/?p=1153#comment-3410 Multiple sites exist where there is a difference to student situation. In some cases this may be location and in others it could be different start dates. Currently material is made available to all students at the same time - this could be announcements, emails or Turnitin assignments. Comments which have been fed back from students indicate that this is confusing to them as they are receiving communications which are meant for other cohorts or are trying to submit work to the wrong areas. The new proposal will ensure that students only see the material which is needed for their group. For staff, whilst it may take a bit longer to look after multiple variations of the site there are benefits in terms of an ability to easily communicate with a single cohort and reduced administration in sorting students who have submitted to incorrect areas. The ability to copy material between modules is now straight forward for new material. Existing material can, if required, be held centrally so that an update to one item (e.g. A PowerPoint) is immediately reflected in all the linked areas. When we have implemented the next phase of linking to the Student Record System then we will be able to directly transfer grades from NILE without the need to print material off and re-enter it. This further development will save time for both academic and central staff As always, we are continuing to work with staff to investigate the best option for their situation and encourage comments to LTSupport@northampton.ac.uk Multiple sites exist where there is a difference to student situation. In some cases this may be location and in others it could be different start dates.
Currently material is made available to all students at the same time – this could be announcements, emails or Turnitin assignments. Comments which have been fed back from students indicate that this is confusing to them as they are receiving communications which are meant for other cohorts or are trying to submit work to the wrong areas. The new proposal will ensure that students only see the material which is needed for their group.
For staff, whilst it may take a bit longer to look after multiple variations of the site there are benefits in terms of an ability to easily communicate with a single cohort and reduced administration in sorting students who have submitted to incorrect areas. The ability to copy material between modules is now straight forward for new material. Existing material can, if required, be held centrally so that an update to one item (e.g. A PowerPoint) is immediately reflected in all the linked areas.
When we have implemented the next phase of linking to the Student Record System then we will be able to directly transfer grades from NILE without the need to print material off and re-enter it. This further development will save time for both academic and central staff

As always, we are continuing to work with staff to investigate the best option for their situation and encourage comments to LTSupport@northampton.ac.uk

]]> Comment on Closer links between NILE and the Student Record System by Margaret http://blogs.northampton.ac.uk/learntech/2012/05/23/closer-links-between-nile-and-the-student-record-system/#comment-3403 Margaret Tue, 26 Jun 2012 16:17:59 +0000 http://blogs.northampton.ac.uk/learntech/?p=1153#comment-3403 The guidance on copying is very useful but the multiple sites is ridiculous, we are having to set up as many as 6 NILE sites for each module - how is this helping the student experience? It seems odd to insist that academics have PhDs and then make them spend significant amounts of time carrying out repetetive tasks - how is this raising the bar? The guidance on copying is very useful but the multiple sites is ridiculous, we are having to set up as many as 6 NILE sites for each module – how is this helping the student experience? It seems odd to insist that academics have PhDs and then make them spend significant amounts of time carrying out repetetive tasks – how is this raising the bar?

]]> Comment on Preparing your NILE sites for the new academic year by Alasdair GF http://blogs.northampton.ac.uk/learntech/2012/06/22/preparing-your-nile-sites-for-the-new-academic-year/#comment-3387 Alasdair GF Mon, 25 Jun 2012 10:48:12 +0000 http://blogs.northampton.ac.uk/learntech/?p=1232#comment-3387 Your post says that: <blockquote>...new NILE sites have been created for the 12/13 academic year and are ready to be used</blockquote> I can't find the new versions of any of the modules with which I am involved - e.g. PSY1006 which only has an 1112 version, and PSY3014 which doesn't have a new format version at all. It's quite possible that I'm searching the catalogue poorly though! Can you let me know how to find these new versions? Thanks Your post says that:

…new NILE sites have been created for the 12/13 academic year and are ready to be used

I can’t find the new versions of any of the modules with which I am involved – e.g. PSY1006 which only has an 1112 version, and PSY3014 which doesn’t have a new format version at all. It’s quite possible that I’m searching the catalogue poorly though! Can you let me know how to find these new versions?

Thanks

]]> Comment on Closer links between NILE and the Student Record System by Rob Howe http://blogs.northampton.ac.uk/learntech/2012/05/23/closer-links-between-nile-and-the-student-record-system/#comment-3094 Rob Howe Wed, 23 May 2012 15:32:02 +0000 http://blogs.northampton.ac.uk/learntech/?p=1153#comment-3094 Many thanks for your feedback and questions: 1) We are currently working on the staff guidance to help them copy appropriate content to the new sites. When the guidance is available we will work with staff to help them on this. 2) There will be a separate session variation within each module. You can still share content between modules as needed. 3) 60% of the modules at Northampton only have one session variation. Some staff may see more sites listed on the right side of the page. 4) Most courses and modules will now be setup automatically by the student record system. If there are combinations that are needed then we will consider these on a case by case basis. BTW the additional tags you mentioned are Wordpress features which are currently not available. The webteam currently decide which functionality is enabled. Many thanks for your feedback and questions:
1) We are currently working on the staff guidance to help them copy appropriate content to the new sites. When the guidance is available we will work with staff to help them on this.
2) There will be a separate session variation within each module. You can still share content between modules as needed.
3) 60% of the modules at Northampton only have one session variation. Some staff may see more sites listed on the right side of the page.
4) Most courses and modules will now be setup automatically by the student record system. If there are combinations that are needed then we will consider these on a case by case basis.

BTW the additional tags you mentioned are WordPress features which are currently not available. The webteam currently decide which functionality is enabled.

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