Tuesday 20 November
Learn.UQ Christmas Outage
Learn.UQ (Blackboard) maintenance will occur on 27, 28 and 29 December during the mid-semester break for Summer Semester 2018 and will not be available on these dates. The maintenance is required to refresh the system’s infrastructure in order to maintain the reliability of the service.
Order your Summer Semester and Semester 1 courses now
You can request your Learn.UQ course for Summer Semester 2018 and Semester 1 2019 now!
- Use the online Site Request form located in the Staff tab in Learn.UQ. This form also allows you to request a copy of course content from a previous semester.
OR
- Publish your Electronic Course Profile (ECP) for a blank course template to be created automatically within 48 hours. For content to be copied, request a 'copy' through the Staff tab mentioned above.
For step-by-step instructions, refer to the Course Requests guide.
ePortfolio Outage
The University’s ePortfolio system (Chalk & Wire) will be unavailable this Friday night, 23 November between 9:00pm and 11:00pm for essential maintenance. While the application is offline, users will be redirected to a maintenance notice. Chalk & Wire apologies for the inconvenience. If you have any questions, please contact help@learn.uq.edu.au.
New feature - ePortfolio Student 'Results Seen' Timestamp
Course Coordinators can now check if students have reviewed their results and feedback in the ePortfolio system. The Results Seen option is available in the Student Results screen by clicking on the Results Search filter and selecting the checkbox next to Display Results Seen Status.
If you would like a personal tutorial in the ePortfolio system, please visit the eLearning Solutions Service appointments page to book a session with an eLearning Advisor. For more information on the eLearning Solutions Service, visit the eLearning Solutions Service webpage.
Digital Essentials
Develop your students’ foundational digital skills with Digital Essentials. This suite of online modules includes finding and using copyright free images, collaborating online, working with data and files, and choosing the right software for a presentation. You can embed digital skills in your course at the point of need for students and track student progress via a certificate of completion. Contact your librarian for assistance.
Lecture recordings made prior to December 2017
If you think you might need to link to lecture recordings made prior to December 2017 in future courses, you will need to transfer them before 16 December 2018. For step-by-step instructions, refer to the guide Downloading Old Recordings to your current Lecture Recordings. If you require a copy of a dual screen recording, you will need to log a job with help@learn.uq.edu.au before 3 December 2018.
Now that we are on a new lecture recording system, the legacy lecture recording system (Echo360 on-premise) will be decommissioned on 16 December 2018. For additional information, please refer to the Decommission of Old Lecture Recording System project page.
Do you use old Adobe Connect recordings?
The Adobe Connect virtual classroom system will be decommissioned on 16 December 2018. If you are still using old Adobe Connect recordings you will need to transfer them to Kaltura before this date. For step-by-step instructions on how to download Adobe Connect videos, refer to the Download Adobe Connect Recordings guide. For additional information, refer to the Adobe Connect Decommission project page.
Top 5 Finalising grades tips
Tip 1: Check column settings - Points possible
In Grade Centre check the Points Possible setting for each assessment column is set to the item total (i.e. not zero). For step-by-step instructions, refer to the guide Create Grade column.
Tip 2: Total and Weighted total columns
Calculated columns in Grade Centre can be used to calculate finalised results without the need of a spreadsheet. Ensure that you select No for the Calculate as Running Total setting, so cells without marks (i.e. no submission) are included in the calculation with the value of zero. For step-by-step instructions, refer to the guides Total Column and Weighted Column.
Tip 3: Check the history of mark changes
Grade Centre logs a record of all changes made to marks during the semester. At the end of the semester, you can use the View Grades History tool to produce a report that shows all changes and comments, to confirm the validity and check for errors. For step-by-step instructions, refer to the guide Grade History Report.
Tip 4: Grade Schema
In Grade Centre, a Grade Schema can be set up to automatically allocated 1-7 grades based on percentage boundaries. For step-by-step instructions, refer to the guide Create a Grade Schema (1-7 grades).
Tip 5: SI-net merge tool
Use the SI-net merge tool, which allows you to download Grade Centre marks to a spreadsheet in the correct format for upload to SI-net. For step-by-step instructions, refer to the guide Upload Grades to SI-net.
PadletUQ
Dr Noriko Iwashita discusses how Padlet was used to engage students through group discussions and collaboration on activities, as well as helping with staff recordkeeping. Watch the video case study to see how Padlet can be an engaging tool to assist student learning (YouTube, 1m 15s).
Student Video Assignments with Virtual Backgrounds
The video on Zoom discusses how students can record video assignments with virtual backgrounds (YouTube, 3m 17s). For step-by-step instructions, refer students to the Video Assignments with Virtual Backgrounds guide.
Control the release of results
During marking or moderation, you may not be ready for students to see their results. To control the release of results from Turnitin, Blackboard Assignments and Tests you need to carefully set both the individual tool settings and the Grade Centre column settings (Hide from Students on/off). For step-by-step instructions refer to the guides on Turnitin, Blackboard assignments and Tests.
Kaltura RAPT - Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are needed to evaluate Kaltura’s new RAPT capability, which can be used to deliver scenario-based learning. Using RAPT you can build choice-based branching videos where different content plays according to the student’s choices, driving deeper engagement, greater learning, and accelerated behavior change. For more information, please refer to the Kaltura RAPT Evaluation project page.
Multiple File Upload tool
ITS are currently developing a Multiple File Upload tool for Grade Centre. Currently, while staff can download Blackboard assignments from Grade Centre all at once (bulk download) for marking on specialised applications, the marked files can only be uploaded one by one. The bulk upload capability should therefore make it viable for staff to mark a larger range of assignment types online. For more information, please refer to the Grades Management project page.
eAssessment Project
Common questions raised during the consultation process for the eAssessment Project are addressed below:
- The eAssessment Project is about more than just exams; it seeks to take a holistic approach to assessment across the University.
- The identified eAssessment solution will not replace any products in the current learning ecosystem; rather it seeks to fit within the current ecosystem and integrate with the learning management system.
- ITS’ Multiple Choice Question Marking Service will continue business as usual until the end of 2019.
For more information, please refer to the eAssessment project page.
Grade Centre ELSS Support
Course Coordinators, would you like:
- Support with transferring marks to SI-net?
- Assistance uploading MCQ spreadsheets to Grade Centre?
- Help with any other Learn.UQ grade processing activity?
The eLearning Solutions Service offers one-on-one consultations on integrating eLearning technologies into your courses. Staff can nominate to use this service to help implement centrally supported eLearning tools and will be provided support for the duration of the semester. To make an appointment, please follow the steps on the eLearning Solutions Service webpage and ensure you supply the information requested to assist with the process.
All advisors have either a BEd or GradDipEd.
Desktop Recording - Kaltura Capture Workshop
On 4 December, a new workshop will introduce participants to the desktop recording features of the eLearning authoring software Kaltura Capture. Kaltura allows staff to produce online lectures that include narration, webcam video, media and formative quizzes. Participants will develop their understanding of desktop recordings and the ways it can assist your teaching and learning. Practical skills covered will include producing a multimedia presentation and publishing it to your Learn.UQ course.
This workshop will enable participants to:
- Understand how desktop recordings can be used to support teaching and learning.
- Create and publish a multimedia presentation.
- Include narration, webcam video and quizzes in your presentation.
To register for the workshop, please visit the Desktop Recording Workshop site.
eLearning Workshops
The eLearning team are offering a range of professional development workshops to support staff implement Technology Enhanced Learning during 2018. For a description of each workshop, dates and to register, visit the Staff Development / Teaching and Learning Technologies site. Upcoming workshops include:
- Learn.UQ Basics, 9:30am - noon, 22 November, St Lucia
- Turnitin, 10:00am - noon, 27 November, St Lucia
- Learn.UQ Basics, 9:30am - noon, 3 December, St Lucia
- Learn.UQ Quizzes, Tests and Exams, 1:30pm - 4:00pm, 3 December, St Lucia
- Turnitin, 10:00am - noon, 4 December, St Lucia
- Desktop Recording, 2:00pm - 4:00pm, 4 December, St Lucia
ITaLI Workshops
- Writing and Presenting Educational Video, 10:00am - 12:30pm, 6 December, St Lucia
Request Support
To receive a quick response on your eLearning technical problem, log a job with the UQ Staff eLearning Helpdesk using help@learn.uq.edu.au. Alternatively, you may use the Request Support button available inside Learn.UQ.
To enable a timely response please be sure to include as much information as possible with your request.