Wolsey, Student Enrollments & SafeAssign Gradebook

I'd just like to add a little more detail around an earlier blog post.

As mentioned, a feed file failed last night which disabled student accounts in Wolsey. ITS have manually enabled these accounts, however, there are likely to be some consequences as some students maybe missed, will take time to work through the system. A likely consequence is information within the Gradebook on many courses which use SafeAssign Submissions will not display, due to accounts being disabled / re-enabled. Please note, this information will not have been lost.

We are working on the situation in the short term, however, on the assumption the feed file works this evening then the situation will automatically right itself by the morning.

I'll update this afternoon with more information.

I'm very sorry for any inconvenience this is causing. If you have any questions, please email the Elevate Team (elevate@ucs.ac.uk)

FYI - Users on Wolsey: Not syncing from SITS

This is a quick heads up, you may find you student enrollment on Blackboard (Wolsey) courses is out of sync by 24 hours. This is due to the sync between SITS, AD and Blackboard not occurring last night. This should be rectified this evening. We'll keep you posted.

FAQs for the ShowMe iPad App

I've just released a page of FAQs based on questions asked by me and others around the ShowMe app. These are available from: http://faq.ucs.ac.uk/index.php?action=artikel&cat=25&id=203&artlang=en

 

 

Using the ShowMe App for storyboarding learning materials

The Elevate Team are developing a number of talk over screencasts with the intention of developing individuals (staff and student) in the potential use of learning technologies. An issue with these is the design and development time for early iterations, ie., story boards, walk throughs, and opening these up for feedback from various parties before creating the final version.

Traditionally, a large amount of time is involved in creating and publishing early versions using computer based screencast software, such as Camtasia. Therefore, I'm now using the ShowMe app on my iPad as a means of removing the need for a computer (with mic, screencast software) to create and share prototypes etc., For me this provides a significant time saving as I can request make quick changes, and respond to feedback.

The approach is to capture various screens, record and make available as a private recording (only those with url can access it). Once people have accessed the video they can collaborate electronically, or we can review it face to face. An example is available at >> http://www.showme.com/sh/?i=22652 >> this is the basis of our student induction video for Wolsey at UCS. As you can tell, the audio is poor (beware the room you record it in), however, at this stage the focus is more around the overall narrative.

I'd suggest this approach is transferable to other situations where people are collaborating on the creation of screencast learning materials and generic feedback as standalone learning objects. For information, on how you might want to use this, please email us at elevate@ucs.ac.uk

 

Removing the need for a computer for screencasting with the ShowMe App from an iPad

I recently discussed the use of the ShowMe App with some Library Staff who have iPads and want to create some video based FAQs on databases. They rather liked the product, and the creation process, all except the process of getting the images onto the iPad. I smiled and said well I take a screenshot using Jing on my PC and then upload to Dropbox, to download to my iPad. The reason for using JING is so I can capture exactly want I need. However, they all looked blankly at me, and I thought, there must be a better way. The better way is as follows;

1. on your iPad, take a screen grab (to capture the screen image or take a screenshot in iPad, just press the Home button and Sleep/Wake (On/Off) key at the top of the mobile device simultaneously at the same time) of the image(s) you need, ie., the library database, or VLE page you are accessing in Safari. This stores the image in your saved images section.


2. to edit the photo (crop and rotate) use a photo application on your iPad - I use Chop Suey.


3. open ShowMe, access the image(s) and start the screencast, publish and share the link

 

Exploring feedback options on an iPad: the ShowMe App

We are continuing to look at the potential of small / tablet technologies for staff to efficiently and effectively generate feedback (generic of individual). I've just created a short screen recording from my iPad using the ShowMe App.

My latest creation explores the idea of creating the screencast around a number of images (in this case around 10). Therefore, it is not simply free drawing and audio, but a more structured presentation.

The final product is available from: http://www.showmeapp.com/sh/?i=19332 - and is a walk through of how to create a quiz in Blackboard.

The process was relatively straight forward;

1. create the screen grabs on the computer (I used Jing on my Mac)


2. move these images to Dropbox


3. open the iPad, open Dropbox and save the images to the iPad


4. open up ShowMe, open up the image


5. start recording


6. upload finished recording, and add link (announcement) to the course

The process of adding more than one image was to use the pause button for the recording, clear the whiteboard, open the new image, size it appropriately, and start the recording.

This was all in terms of the creation process. However, there are a few caveats. One is the strength of ShowMe is the simplicity of use, which includes no editing options. This is a potential weakness for the way I combined 10 images in to a linear narrative. You will need to have planned (semi scripted) the session because if you are 10 minutes into the recording and make a serious mistake you will need to start all over again !!

The strength of this solution for the person creating the feedback can do it from the comfort of their sofa - therefore, I didn't have issues with a microphone, computer, managing and converting file types, and saving into the VLE. For me, this overcomes as significant barrier to participation ... as the iPad and ShowMe app overcomes a lot of technology issues.

 

Annual Rollover Update

Just a quick update on the progress of the annual rollover, a day late, apologies for that.

Everything has gone very well, all 11/12 modules pulled through from SITS, staff rollover of enrolments has happened.  There appear to have been a small number of staff not having their enrolments copied across, but we have planned for that by giving lecturers a form to request new modules.

We are now creating any new custom course areas that get requested, so all is running smoothly.

Add to this the training of the Course Admin teams and we are well set for our handover of administrative processes, all in all, a well planned and implemented summer is well under way.