Learning about the College virtual learning environment
Now that rollover is complete and we are fast approaching the beginning of the new academic year it seems timely to remind staff about the training opportunities that are available for the College’s central virtual learning environment (VLE), Blackboard.
We have just published our new training schedule for the 2009-10 academic year and we have a number of different types of face-to-face sessions available for staff at various levels to learn about the VLE. These are:
- Introduction to QM’s Virtual Learning Environment – aimed at academic staff and teaching assistants just starting out with or interested in using the central VLE
- The College’s VLE for Support Staff – aimed at front line support staff who have to deal with queries about the VLE as part of their job
- VLE Diagnostics Service – one to one sessions for staff who already have a course area on the VLE and would like advice on improving it or taking it further
- TurnitinUK and the VLE – Plagiarism detection in the VLE – aimed at staff who are interested in using an electronic plagiarism detection service through the VLE
For staff new to the VLE who cannot attend a face-to-face session we also have some online resources to get you started.
Introduction to QM’s Virtual Learning Environment
This session is aimed at staff who are just starting out with the VLE or who are perhaps thinking about using it. We examine the purpose of a VLE, the most commonly used tools across QM and look at some educational activities that can be carried out.
The first of these sessions is scheduled for the 23rd of September with further sessions running in October, December, January and April.
It should be noted that these sessions have a largely educational focus and are not intended to be IT training sessions.
The College’s VLE for Support Staff
This session is aimed at staff in academic support who may be expected to make use of the VLE in their jobs. For instance, you may have to answer student queries about the VLE, or set up online assignment submissions or indeed set up whole course areas for academic staff. This session aims to show you how to accomplish these types of task.
The session is intended to be responsive to your particular needs so participants are encouraged to come along with an idea of the types of task they will be expected to carry out with the VLE so those specific needs can be addressed.
The first of these sessions is scheduled for 27th November with a second instance running in April.
VLE Diagnostics Service
The Diagnostics Service is aimed at academic staff who already have course areas on the VLE and who wish to get advice about either making improvements to their course area or in taking their use of the VLE a stage further. These are hour long one-to-one sessions with a member of the Distance and E-Learning Unit. We will look at your course area in advance of the meeting and then will be able to help you with issues such as:
- Improving the look and feel of your course area
- Using new tools
- Strengthening the link between your face to face teaching and your online course area
- Ideas for new activities
We have attempted to provide a wide variety of different time slots for these sessions including late afternoon sessions to provide maximum flexibility for staff. Please check the online course booking system for dates and times available and for further details about how the service works.
TurnitinUK and the VLE – Plagiarism detection in the VLE
TurnitinUK is an electronic plagiarism detection service which the College subscribes to. It is possible to make use of the system through assignment submission through the VLE. This session is for staff who may be interested in using such a service or who are just starting out with the system.
The first of these sessions is scheduled for 9th December with a second instance running in March.
Please note that it is possible to use the TurnitinUK service through a website rather than through the VLE. This session does not cover usage in this way.
Online resources
As well as the face-to face sessions, we do have a number of online resources. In particular, we can give staff access to an online “Getting Started” course on the VLE which takes you through some of the more common tasks. We can also set up a “Test Area” where you can play with the features of the VLE without being in a “live” course area. If you would like either or both of these, please contact us on vle-support@qmul.ac.uk stating whether you want a Getting Started course or a Test Area or both and we will arrange it for you.
Further Information
All of these sessions are bookable through our online course booking system.
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