This is part of a series of articles exploring some of the terms and tools 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. Blackboard Collaborate is a ‘Webinar’ tool that allows live presentations to be made to…
As part of a working group investigating how the upcoming changes to Disabled Student Allowance will affect the university and our students, an overview document has been produced to outline the current methods of recording lectures (and other types of teaching session) available to staff at SHU. While the document was produced for the working group,…
Google has just added a new feature to Google Docs that should make it much easier to create ebooks for use on tablets, phones, Kindle-style devices, PCs and laptops. Google has added the option to export documents in the ePub format, which is the international standard for ebooks and so is supported by most software and…
In 2013, SHU undertook a research project to look into the ways that students use their past feedback when working on subsequent assessments. The full report of the findings from the project, ‘Making Connections’, was published a while ago, and today a paper drawing together these findings with examples of relevant technological interventions was published in Research in Learning Technology. The…
Each year the New Media Consortium (NMC) gathers opinions on Technology Enhanced Learning from stakeholders around the world and publishes the findings as the Horizon Report. The reports cover a 5 year period and aim to highlight some big technological trends that are likely to have an impact on education, as well as some of…
Problem-based Learning (PBL) involves students being challenged to solve genuine problems from their discipline. In addition to developing general skills such as critical thinking and abstract reasoning, PBL is an ideal way for students to apply their theoretical knowledge in an authentic way. PBL is often used as a way for students to develop experience…
Reflection is an approach that encourages deep thinking by an individual about their existing knowledge and capabilities, how it has been supported or challenged by new learning and experience, and the identification of strengths to promote and weaknesses/limitations to address. While most people have an instinctive reflective process that we use to learn from our actions, a…
Work-Based Learning (WBL) refers to students applying their existing knowledge and skills in a real workplace, while at the same time gaining new knowledge and skills. In many disciplines, particularly those with a clear vocational focus, WBL takes the form of placements, where students work in an organisation for a defined period of time while undertaking tasks related to…
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. Google Sheets is a spreadsheet tool that forms part of the Google Drive suite…
Self-directed Learning (SDL) is an approach where students select and investigate topics of their own choosing, often using methods, information sources and/or tools that they have also selected for themselves. The intention behind the approach is that students will be more engaged and motivated when they are able to focus on those topics where they have a personal…