18 July 2017
Change to course requests
In response to feedback from course coordinators there will be a change in the way Grade Centre is created for Semester 2 courses. Columns from the previous Semester will no longer be copied. This approach will solve the issue of undeletable orphan columns. While tests and questions will be copied forward to the new courses, coordinators will need to recreate all assessment links and update the settings. Refer to the Deploy a test guide for step-by-step instructions.
Staff can still request that Grade Centre columns are copied by adding this information to the Other Requirements field in the Course Request form.
Make your course available to students
Most students start looking for their courses in Learn.UQ (Blackboard) during O-Week (now). It is very reassuring for students to see their courses available inside Blackboard with at least a welcome message as early as possible. The remaining materials can be made available closer to the first teaching activity if required. Activation is the coordinator’s responsibility, using the instructions below.
Control Panel > Customisation > Properties > Set Availability and select the Yes radio button. Refer to the Course Availability guide or video for step-by-step instructions.
Not finished setting up your course? Just hide the menu links and create an announcement to welcome your students.
Course site design tips
Tip 1: Welcome message
Your first announcement should welcome and orientate students to your course. Refer to the Announcements and Kaltura guides for step-by-step instructions.
Tip 2: Menu design
In a number of surveys UQ students have requested a more consistent navigation scheme across courses. To achieve this please consider the following recommendations:
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Use the default content areas of Learning Resources and Assessment.
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Use the UQ colour scheme or ensure your colour scheme meets accessibility guidelines. For more information refer to the accessibility guidelines webpage.
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Keep the number of menu items to a minimum.
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Use a divider line and subheading to break the menu content into sections.
For more information refer to the Course menu webpage.
Tip 3: Weekly folders/ learning modules
Organise your content from the students' point of view i.e. By week (or by topic). For more information refer to the Content area webpage.
Tip 4: Assessment folders
Create a folder for each assessment with the same name as that used in the ECP. Include all resources needed for the assignment and an online submission link. Refer to the Turnitin and Blackboard assignments guides for step-by-step instructions.
Tip 5: Label all resources
Label all resources with a description of its contents and purpose. For more information refer to the Content area webpage.
Getting started with Learn.UQ
The Getting started with Learn.UQ guide gives new staff information about ordering a course, adding content to their course, UQ eLearning tools and help available. It is also recommended that new staff attend the Learn.UQ Basics workshop.
Tip 5: Label all resources
Label all resources with a description of its contents and purpose. For more information refer to the Content area webpage.
Lecture recordings
All centrally controlled teaching spaces with 20 seats or more are equipped with lecture recording (Echo360). Lectures in equipped venues are automatically recorded, processed and linked to the associated Learn.UQ course.
The lecture recording policy and procedure requires course coordinators to make full lecture recordings available to students within about 48 hours of the lecture, and to keep them available for the duration of the Semester and exam period. For more information refer to the lecture recording and theatre operation guides.
View the Questions about: Lecture recordings paper for an overview of research regarding the use of lecture recordings.
Semester 1 ePortfolio applications closing soon
Following the successful integration of the new UQ ePortfolio system into nine programs during Semester 1, and with ten more programs set to use the ePortfolio in Semester 2, the ePortfolio project team are looking to engage with any new programs considering using the tool in 2018.
The ePortfolio acts as a central repository of student work throughout a student's program of study, providing enhanced functionality for student progress-tracking, improved assessment practices for workplace-based learning, and opportunities for students to showcase work created during their University studies to a wider audience.
The closing date for new applications to use the ePortfolio in Semester 1, 2018 is 31 July 2017. If you would like to learn more about the UQ ePortfolio or the process for integrating the tool, please visit the ePortfolio webpage for access to ePortfolio resources or to organise a meeting with the project team.
Blackboard Storage
Throughout Semester 2 ITS system administrators will be addressing storage usage on Blackboard. One of the first tasks will be to move 2013 courses from the production service onto the archive. Semester 1 2013 courses will be transferred in the weeks immediately following the upgrade, and Semester 2 2013 courses will be transferred shortly afterwards. For more information about the archive service, please visit our course archive information page.
Alumni student access to Blackboard
Students retain ongoing access to some of UQs online services following graduation. In the case of Blackboard, students retain fully functional access to their course materials until 12 months after their last day of enrolment in a UQ Si-net course. Once this 12 month period has passed, student accounts automatically convert to ‘alumni accounts’, and certain limitations are imposed on the functionality they can expect when logging into Blackboard. Similar to a guest account, students will be able to see certain content, but will lose access to other materials. Should a student re-enrol in a UQ course, their accounts will immediately regain full functionality.
eLearning Solutions Service - ELSS
The eLearning Solutions Service offers one-on-one consultations on the integration of eLearning into courses. At the start of each semester, staff can nominate to use this service to help implement a centrally supported eLearning tool. Support will be provided for the duration of the semester. To make a nomination please follow the steps on the eLearning Solutions Service website.
As part of the eLearning Solutions Service, you can:
- receive one-on-one consultations tailoring eLearning solutions for your course;
- receive ideas on how to deliver your course more effectively with technology;
- save time, improve student engagement and give better feedback to your students;
Email help@learn.uq.edu.au with "ELSS - nomination" in the subject line. An eLearning advisor will make contact with you to arrange an initial consultation. All advisers have teaching qualifications.
ITaLI TeachAssist
TeachAssist is provided by ITaLI for the UQ community to offer support for their teaching and learning. If you are considering changing your curriculum, its delivery or assessment, evaluating your teaching or perhaps even educational research then get in contact through the ITaLI TeachAssist website. Assistance is available on a range of pedagogical, teaching professional development, evaluations, learning analytics and online learning development activities.
Custom workshops for teaching staff, tutors and professional staff
Custom workshops on centrally supported eLearning tools are available on request for faculties, schools and/or courses. Laptops are provided for the sessions and course coordinators only need to book a meeting room. Contact elearningtraining@uq.edu.au with details of the preferred date, time, room booking and approximate numbers.
Feature Videos
Video Case Study
UQ’s Kaltura system allows staff to record and upload instructional videos. In the video below, Mr Brett Simmonds explains how he uses a video welcome message in his fourth year Pharmacy course. Watch Video (3.31mins)
Useful Links
eLearning Custom Workshops
Custom workshops on centrally supported eLearning tools are available on request for faculties / schools / courses.
To organise a workshop for your teaching staff, tutors or professional staff email elearningtraining@uq.edu.au
eLearning Solutions Service
Personal support is available for implementing centrally supported eLearning tools.
To access the service email help@learn.uq.edu.au with "ELSS - Nomination" in the subject line.
A-Z Guides eLearning Tools
A list of all centrally supported eLearning tools with associated guides are available to view and download.
Access the list of A-Z guides by clicking on this link: eLearning A-Z Guides
Flipped Classroom
If you are considering implementing the flipped classroom model at UQ, visit the Flipped Classroom website.
Video for Teaching and Learning
Helpful video production resources and advice are available on the Video for Teaching and Learning website.