Create ebooks in Google Docs

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…

Man listening to a can on a string phone

Webinar on SHU’s Teaching Approaches menu – resources

Brian and I were recently invited by Blackboard to host a webinar on the Teaching Approaches menu that was created here at SHU. The session took place today and a recording is available online. During the session, we stated that we are happy to share the resources for other institutions to use and adapt to…

Online screencasting software available for SHU staff

Screencasting refers to the process of recording a video of what is happening on a PC, often with narration, and making it available for students to watch whenever they want. It is commonly used for recording demonstrations of software and walkthroughs of computer-based processes, however growing numbers of staff from many disciplines are also using…

What is Google Docs?

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 Docs is a word processor that forms part of the Google Drive suite of…

What is Google Sites?

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 Sites is a tool for creating and publishing websites. It is free, entirely…

What is a MOOC?

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. ‘MOOC‘ stands for ‘Massive Open Online Course‘ (Course here meaning the same thing as…

Why Use Audio?

What is it? In this sense, Audio refers to sound recordings that are shared with students in some way, typically through Blackboard. The recordings could be speech, music, ambient sounds, etc. or a mix of these. Uses for Audio There are many uses for audio in Learning, Teaching and Assessment, both by students and staff. These…

Why Use Video?

What is it? Video refers to a sequence of images, usually with accompanying audio, and this stimulation of two senses simultaneously makes video an engaging medium and a very useful learning tool. The videos themselves could take many forms, such as interviews, films, performances, computer screen recordings, ‘talking head’ monologues, demonstrations, debates, etc. The skill and technology requirements…

What is a Content Curation Site?

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. A ‘Content Curation Site’ is a website that allows users to gather resources from…

What is Social Bookmarking?

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. Bookmarks (or ‘Favorites’ in Internet Explorer) are references to web pages that you save in…