What is an eBook?

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. In essence, an eBook is a ‘book’ which, rather than being printed on paper,…

Resource-centred Discussion: An Approach to Teaching and Learning

Resource-centred Discussion (RCD) refers to a discussion in which the topic is an artefact or set of artefacts. The artefacts will vary between disciplines, but could include works of art, poems, case studies, business reports, manufactured goods, photographs, etc. The purpose of the approach is to use objects and artefacts to stimulate the students’ thinking and…

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…

Critiquing: An Approach to Teaching and Learning

Critiquing is an approach that encourages students to consider their own work by drawing comparisons with the work of their peers. Traditionally, students will submit their work to be critiqued by fellow students and perform their own critique on the work of one or more peers. Through this process the students get feedback on their work from their fellow students and,…

CPD Event: Bring Your Own Devices for Learning (BYOD4L)

On the week of 14 – 18 July, SHU is running this open online blended course about using smart phones and tablet PCs to enhance and transform teaching and learning. The course is running concurrently at other universities over the 5 day period and uses social media, video scenarios, and face-to-face peer-enhanced activities . BYOD4L focuses on: Connecting Communicating Curating Collaborating…

Online Training with Lynda.com

Lynda.com, recently made available to all staff and students at SHU, is a site containing high-quality video training on common and specialist software packages. There are videos on a wide range of software, from general tools, such as Microsoft Word and Google Drive, to specialist tools, such as Final Cut Pro and SPSS. In addition…

Use of Social Media in LTA at SHU Events – 1 May 2014

Following the success of the first Social Media in LTA event in January, we are putting on two further events. These identical events will run one after the other on the morning of 1St May in Hallam Hall at City campus, and will both showcase ten examples of how colleagues and students are using social…

‘Technology in Education’ – Student videos

At the end of last year, the White House ran a student film contest for videos on the theme of ‘Technology in Education’. The final selection has just been announced and they are available to watch on YouTube. The films mainly show how technology is already been used in some (school) classrooms, with some showing how…

What is Augmented Reality?

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. Augmented Reality (AR) refers to technology which overlays additional information onto a person’s experience…

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…