Digital Essentials Online Student Training Modules, Confirmed Learn.UQ Upgrade Dates 2019

19 Mar 2019
eLearning Update
Tuesday 19 March

Digital Essentials Online Student Training Modules

The Digital and Assignment Essentials modules are designed to be embedded into courses so students can find the information they need, when they need it. It would be beneficial to direct students to explore the Communicate and collaborate online module (online communication etiquette and tools) and Information essentials module (improved search strategies to best find information using different tools) this week. For more information, please refer to the Digital Essentials web page. Library staff are readily available to assist you.

Confirmed Learn.UQ Upgrade Dates 2019

The Learn.UQ (Blackboard) upgrade dates for 2019 have now been confirmed as 6, 7, 8 July (Sat/Sun/Mon) where Monday will hopefully not be required. Upgrades are contractual requirements for supportability and security. Upgrades also provide important new functionality. For further information, refer to the Blackboard (Learn.UQ) Upgrade project page.

Student Academic Integrity Tutorial

It is recommended that you encourage students to complete the Student Academic Integrity Tutorial before submitting their first assessment task. The tutorial explains to students the concept of academic integrity and how to maintain the highest standards in their own work.

RAPT Testing - Scenario-Based Learning tool

Volunteers are needed to provide feedback on the value of scenario-based learning technology. We are currently trialling Kaltura’s RAPT tool to build branching videos where different content plays according to the student’s choices. UQ currently has a six-month trial to test Kaltura RAPT until June 2019. At the end of this trial the capability will be evaluated based on feedback. For more information, please refer to the Kaltura RAPT Evaluation project page or watch an example of how Kaltura RAPT operates.

Teaching Toolkit Rummage - Call for Expressions of Interest

The Teaching Toolkit Rummage is back! Attend the showcase to learn about innovative assessment tasks, and teaching tools, processes and strategies being implemented by UQ teachers. If you have a great assessment tool or educational technology to share, please register your interest to present by COB Monday 1 April and register to attend.

eLearning Solutions Service

The eLearning Solutions Service offers free one-on-one consultations to course coordinators on the integration of eLearning tools into their courses. The service currently supports a range of eLearning tools, all of which can be found on the eLearning Solutions Service webpage. All eLearning Educational Advisors have either a BEd or GradDipEd. Staff can nominate for the eLearning Solutions Service by booking via the appointments webpage to organise an individual consultation at your office.

eLearning Tips

Online assignment submission and marking

Double assignment submission

It is recommended that course coordinators configure online assignment submission so that students only need to submit once; and not to both a Blackboard assignment and Turnitin assignment submission link. The eLearning Helpdesk receives numerous jobs each semester due to difficulties caused by the use of double assignment submission. 

Contact the eLearning Helpdesk for advice or nominate for the eLearning Solutions Service by booking via the appointments webpage to receive individual help to select and implement an online assignment solution for your course.

Turnitin Assignments

At UQ, Turnitin is the most popular choice for individual text-based assignments e.g. Word, PDF and PowerPoint. Turnitin has an online marking and feedback capability which includes a text matching function to help coordinators gauge originality. The text matching report compares submissions with web content, previously submitted assignments and journals. For step-by-step instructions, refer to the guide on Turnitin.

In this video case study, Dr Andrew Allsebrook describes how Turnitin is used to efficiently collect and mark reports in large Chemistry classes (YouTube, 1m 35s).

dr andrew allsebrook

More video case studies

Blackboard Group Assignments 

Using the Groups and Blackboard Assignment tool in combination allows you to set up group project submission links. Any student in the group can submit the assignment and all members automatically receive the assignment results and feedback. The Blackboard online marking function allows you to annotate assignments and provide feedback using a rubric. For step-by-step instructions, refer to the guides on Groups and Assignment tool

Note: Turnitin is still the recommended option for group assignments if you require a Similarity Report.

Dr Bryan Morgan shares his views in this video case study on the benefits of using the Blackboard assignment tool to mark group assignments (YouTube, 2m 28s).

dr bryan morgan

More video case studies

Video Assignments

Kaltura, UQ's eLearning video server, can be used by students to submit video assignments. You can also set up submission links using the Blackboard Assignment tool which allows you to use the online marking function to give comments and feedback using a rubric. Refer to the Video and Audio upload and the Assignment tool guides for step-by-step instructions. 

Dr Karen Cheney explains how a video assignment was used in a Zoology course to engage students in exploring the science behind a research article (YouTube 3m 46s).

dr karen cheney

More video case studies

Grades Security

Grade Security Tips

The use of a central system such as Blackboard Grade Centre improves the security of student grades, as there a number of in-built security features such as logging and activity monitoring. There are also a number of practical strategies you can employ to improve grades management and security as follows:

1. Follow general computer security guidelines such as using strong passwords.

2. Record reasons for changes to marks or grades.

3. Review the history of mark changes, to identify potential manipulations and errors before transferring grades to SI-net.

For additional information, refer to the Grades Security webpage.

Projects

Echo360 Transcripts

The licence for UQ’s lecture recording system, Echo360 now includes 4000 hours of machine-generated transcripts. In courses where this functionality is made available, students can select to display the transcript while playing the lecture recording and the text can be searched. The eLearning team are working with the Student Services, Diversity, Disability and Inclusion team to determine a process to allocate the transcription hours to courses. 

Workshops

ITaLI eLearning Workshops

The eLearning team are offering a range of professional development workshops to support staff in implementing Technology Enhanced Learning during 2019. For a description of each workshop, dates and to register, visit the Staff Development / Teaching and Learning Technologies site. 

Upcoming workshops include:

  • Turnitin, 10:00am - 12:00pm, 22 March, St Lucia

Custom Workshops

Custom workshops on centrally supported eLearning tools are available on request for faculties and schools. Email elearningtraining@uq.edu.au with the subject line Custom Workshop to schedule one of our teaching and learning workshops at a convenient time.

    ITaLI Teaching and Learning Workshops

    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.

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