by David Pollard | Aug 20, 2018 | Learning Space Upgrade
Updating your module areas – Audit #2
The new Learning Space will go live on 3rd September, and on that date students will have access to the 18/19 module areas. With this in mind, this week we carried out a second audit of content in module areas. We found there has been a lot of work over the past month, with some subject areas well on course to be ready for 3rd September. In other areas work has not yet started – staff who require advice or training should contact etsupport@falmouth.ac.uk.
Module leads and Heads of School have been contacted with the results of the audit. If you are a module lead who has not been contacted, or you were contacted about modules for which you are no longer the lead, please contact both etupport@falmouth.ac.uk (so we can send you the correct results) and also qae@falmouth.ac.uk (so the record in SITS can be updated).
Support guides
What staff need to do by September is documented here:
You can find comprehensive (but brief!) documentation on other aspects of Learning Space here:
Support sessions
Through the last week of August and the first week of September we will be available at drop-in days. Do come along, either for a brief one-to-one session or to sit and work on Learning Space while someone is on hand with help if or when you need it. The dates are:
August
- Tue 28th, 9:00 – 17:00 – Penryn – TH Seminar W
- Wed 29th, 9:00 – 17:00 – Penryn – TH Seminar W
- Thurs 30th, 9:00 – 17:00 – Falmouth – Seminar F (Treetops)
September
- Tue 4th, 9:00 – 17:00 – Penryn – Exchange Blue
- Wed 5th, 9:00 – 17:00 – Falmouth – Seminar F (Treetops)
- Thurs 6th, 9:00 – 17:00 – Penryn – Exchange Blue
If you cannot make any of these days we are happy to arrange sessions for groups or one-to-one. Again, please contact etsupport@falmouth.ac.uk.
Positive feedback on the makeover!
We have received a lot of positive comments since a new theme was deployed on Learning Space. Our user experience designer is still making minor amendments and we welcome further feedback!
by David Pollard | Jun 11, 2018 | Learning Space Upgrade
Deadline: 3rd September
3rd September is the go live date for the new environment meaning the “old” Learning Space will be archived and users will no longer have access to the 17/18 content. You’ll need to ensure that any module content you wish to use in the new environment is retrieved before the 3rd September.
Training
Over the last few weeks we’ve been holding course focused and drop-in training sessions, many staff have attended these sessions and are now working on designing their modules for 18/19 in the new Learning Space. If you have yet to receive training, please contact etsupport@falmouth.ac.uk to arrange a session. There are also 3 remaining drop-in sessions where you can come and work while one of the Ed Tech team is on hand to help:
- 09:00-17:00 – Mon 18 June – Penryn – Exchange Blue
- 09:00-17:00 – Tue 19 June – Penryn – Exchange Blue
- 09:00-17:00 – Thu 21 June – Falmouth – Seminar F (Treetops)
Talis List Integration
We’ve now implemented the Talis tool within the new environment to enable teaching staff to a link to a relevant reading list in the Overview section of their modules. The academic liaison librarians have produced a PDF “how to” guide and a “how to” video on adding lists using this tool.
Scheduler: New feature
With the upgrade comes updates to current tools. A new feature that many staff members have expressed an interest in is now available. It is now possible to require students to submit either files or text at the point at which they book a slot. For example this might be used to upload an essay for discussion within a tutorial. Here are instructions on creating a Scheduler activity.
We use the
by David Pollard | Apr 20, 2018 | Falmouth in focus
Thanks to the 680 students who recently provided valuable feedback and suggestions on their digital experience while at university: we have listened!
This was the second year the survey has been run and findings include:
- students make good use of digital tools and have a positive attitude to the use of technology in learning and teaching;
- the use of tablets has reduced while the use of laptops and printers has increased;
- 90% rated the University’s overall digital provision positively;
- access to WIFI is better but there is still room for improvement;
- where it is used, students appreciate online collaborative learning tasks such as peer review of each other’s work.
Student suggestions focused on:
- facilities (access to equipment, WIFI coverage, the cost of printing, access to course-specific software and digital resources such as e-books);
- support (inductions, help with study skills and equipment; improved awareness of resources such as those on inclusivity or study skills);
- the need for information to be all in one place instead of having separate systems such as study hub, Learning Space, my Falmouth;
- the usability of Learning Space and its integration with other systems;
- the need for consistent, timely and comprehensive use of Learning Space by teaching staff;
- the availability of digital skills workshops (e.g. in Adobe software).
Senior staff and the Falmouth FXU president reviewed the results and identified actions with aims that include:
- improving navigation and consistency of information within Learning Space;
- ensuring the availability of up-to-date industry-standard software;
- reviewing the cost of printing;
- improving access to campus IT suites;
- improving WIFI in residences and away from buildings;
- improving communication with students on IT matters such as data privacy;
- promoting study skills tools;
- fostering curriculum recognition that the employability of all graduates requires extensive digital skills.
Going forward, we will keep listening and align actions to the university strategy.
by David Pollard | Apr 16, 2018 | Learning Space Upgrade
Configuration work and system testing is coming to a close and user acceptance testing is about to start. As you can see by the timeline below, from mid May the system will be ready for staff to start building their module, course and resource areas.
Staff action required May-August
As mentioned in recent presentations (watch the video), staff need to recreate content in the new instance of Learning Space for 18/19 and we will be providing support in two ways: course-centred workshops (recommended), and drop-in sessions.
Course-centred workshops
We recommend this way of receiving support, and a number of subject and technical groups have made bookings for after the undergraduate marking deadline in May. The sessions last approximately 2 hours and participants will gain hands-on experience by starting to work on their own 18/19 areas.
If your own group of colleagues has not arranged a workshop, do contact your school admin or head of subject to discuss possible dates, then we can be contacted at etsupport@falmouth.ac.uk or on ext. 259187.
Drop-in sessions
If you’d like to work on your 18/19 area while someone is on hand to help, you can bring your laptop to a drop-in session. These run from 9am to 5pm as follows:
Falmouth
- Thu 07 June – Seminar F
- Tue 12 June – Seminar F
- Thu 21 June – Seminar F
Penryn
- Tue 05 June – Exchange Green
- Wed 06 June – Exchange Green
- Mon 11 June – Exchange Blue
- Mon 18 June – Exchange Blue
- Tue 19 June – Exchange Blue
by David Pollard | Jan 24, 2018 | Falmouth in focus
From mid-December to mid-January we surveyed Falmouth students on the quality of their digital experience while at University. 680 students took part and the prize draw winner was Ben Watkins, who is in the final year of his BA (Hons) in Marine and Natural History Photography. Congratulations Ben!
We will publish our analysis of the results in a future post.
Ben Watkins (pictured right) receives the prize.
