This article is the first in a series of six articles about accessibility issues in e-learning. It’s become fairly common for some folks to make web links using the words ‘click here’ or ‘here’ to ensure that users know where to find a link. Unfortunately this is not accessible web design for making links and can cause confusion for students…
This article is the fourth in a series of five articles about scenarios for mobile learning. These are linked to an initiative to promote and capture innovation in e-learning. What is it? Smart phones can be used with on-campus wireless networks to act as Personal Response Systems (PRS) or ‘clickers’. The approach can increase interactivity…
This article is the third in a series of five articles about scenarios for mobile learning. These are linked to an initiative to promote and capture innovation in e-learning. What is it? Students can use mobile devices to capture experiences outside of the classroom, either for later review by themselves and the tutor (e.g. reflection…
This article is the second in a series of five articles about scenarios for mobile learning. These are linked to an initiative to promote and capture innovation in e-learning. What is it? Students can use their mobile devices to search for information during taught sessions. Their findings can impact on the direction of the session,…
This article is the first in a series of five articles about scenarios for mobile learning. TEL is coordinating an initiative to promote and capture innovation in e-learning. What is it? Mobile phones can be used to record audio feedback files, and these are shared with students for playback via the Blackboard Grade centre. Audio…
The following article is an updated version of an article that appeared in the D&S Learning, Teaching and Student Experience online newsletter in June 2011. During 2011 the University launched SHUgo, its first step into having an institutional approach to engaging with students through their mobile phones. SHUgo is a mobile application that connects students with campus…
If you tell students to access specific information on Blackboard, be sure to check that students can easily find and access it. For instance: If your site structure is complex, add an Announcement linking directly to the content If you have added new information, ensure it is available (or that it is set to be…
This is part of a regular series of articles exploring some of the terms used in e-learning. We’ll do our best to break down the jargon and explain what things are from a basic perspective. Lectures can be recorded and shared using a variety of technologies: A simple audio recording can be made with a MP3 recorder, whereas more…
This post is a follow up to an earlier posting about Google Apps, in which the poor accessibility of Google Apps was mentioned as an issue. Google recently announced a set of accessibility improvements for Google Apps (and also for Android phones and Chrome browsers), and it is worth checking out what they might mean…
This is part of a regular series of articles exploring some of the terms used in e-learning (view other articles in the series). We’ll do our best to break down the jargon and explain what things are from a basic perspective. Turnitin is an online text-matching service available via Blackboard at SHU. Users of the service can submit work in…