Debate: An Approach to Teaching and Learning

Debate refers to a discussion in which two or more people advocate opposing positions on a topic or question in an attempt to make an audience (or the other advocates) accept their position. Most people are familiar with participating in informal debates, such as trying to persuade friends why a particular film, song, book, artist, etc. is better than another; however, as…

Simulation: An Approach to Teaching and Learning

Simulation refers to the imitation of real-world activities and processes in a safe environment. Simulations aim to provide an experience as close to the ‘real thing’ as possible; however, a simulated activity has the advantage of allowing learners to ‘reset’ the scenario and try alternative strategies and approaches. This allows learners to develop experience of specific situations by applying their wider learning…

Why Use Images?

Uses for Images Images can be used in many different ways, ranging from documenting a process through to providing an interesting ‘resting point’ within a dense page of text. The most effective way to use images will depend on the intended effect, for example advertisers and magazine/newspaper editors use striking images to grab our attention…

New ‘My Announcements’ channel in shuspace

A new ‘My Announcements’ channel has been launched in shuspace. This new announcements channel collates and lists the names of all announcements posted on all Blackboard sites that you are enrolled, and is structured site by site. Each announcement name links through to the announcements page for that Blackboard site where the full text of…

Resource Lists Online

Resource Lists Online (RLO) is a web based tool for enabling students to access the readings and resources recommended for their studies. It is also a tool staff can use to develop their own personal collection of resources, which can be copied into resource lists for different modules.  The software is developed by Talis Aspire…

Teaching Essentials

The Teaching Essentials site has been developed to provide information for academic and learning support staff on specific Learning, Teaching & Assessment topics. This site has been created based on recommendations made by the Elementa Review into Academic Working Practice to the University Executive Group.  The recommendation was to improve the collection, storage and dissemination…

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…

Introducing Resource Lists Online

There is a new reading list system that you can control and manage.  To reflect the wide range of resource types now recommended this is called Resource Lists Online (RLO).   In response to student feedback we want to ensure that recommended resources are as available and accessible as possible and this new system will enable us…

Minimum expectations for staff use of e-learning

This message has been posted on behalf of Graham Holden, University Head of Teaching, Learning and Assessment: Technology enhanced learning has increasingly become a part of all our provision at Sheffield Hallam University, with huge increases in the use of Blackboard since its introduction about ten years ago. Recent research into the staff experience of…

Use RSS feeds to engage students in your Blackboard sites

Including an RSS feed on your Blackboard site is a simple and effective way to make it more engaging to students. An RSS (‘Really Simple Syndication’) feed presents a bulletin of key information from an external site, just like having a subscription to your favourite website or online content. When additional content becomes available, it automatically appears…