Six principles for effective use of the VLE

1. Clear layout and structure will help students navigate your materials and important information.
2. Including important information will help students orientate. Understand the expectations and requirements and get help when needed.
3. Support and enhance face-to-face teaching with a variety of learning materials and activities.
4. A consistent approach to communications will ensure students engage with important information.
5. Varied assessments with clear requirements will enhance learning and reduce anxiety around assessments.
6. Accessible content and inclusive teaching creates an environment in which students feel valued and have equal access to learning.

1. Structure, Layout, and Presentation

Clear layout and structure will help students navigate your materials and important information.

• Use an appropriate course format optimised for accessibility
• The topic/section structure reflects the way the module will be taught
• The topic/section names clearly describe what a student will find in that section/topic
• A description is included to introduce the topic, learning materials and activities
• Headings, sub-titles and file names are used consistently throughout
• Headings and sub-headings are used to structure text
• Use no more than two readable fonts with strong colour contrast
• Fonts are large enough to read (min 10pts)
• Use colour, shapes and bold text to convey meaning
• Images, except those used for decoration, include ALT text

Go further

• Develop and use a department template
• Use restricted access and groups to scaffold your learning materials

2. Organisation

Including important information will help students orientate. Understand the expectations and requirements and get help when needed.

• Include the Module Outline
• Provide staff information, including contact details and office hours
• Link to department policies and procedures
• Include a module feedback questionnaire that includes the University recommended questions

Go further

• Department block containing links to important information.

3. Learning Materials and Activities

Support and enhance face-to-face teaching with a variety of learning materials and activities.

• Content and activity names clearly describe the content or activity
• A TALIS Aspire reading list is available
• All learning materials adhere to copyright
• All materials (PDFs, PowerPoints etc.) are accessible
• Make lecture recordings available, where appropriate, so students can review the material and take notes at their own pace
• Use a video hosting platform to host and stream video content
• Where video and audio are used, a transcript, subtitles or text alternative is provided
• All links (URLs) are descriptive
• All links (URLs) are set to open in the same window

Go further

• Create interactive content and activities (H5P)
• Enable students to participate in peer review activities (Workshop)
• Use weekly formative quizzes, for students to check their understanding (Quiz)

4. Communication

A consistent approach to communications will ensure students engage with important information.>

• Provide information on the best way to contact you
• Use announcements to alert students to key module information and urgent notifications
• Provide a discussion forum for students to communicate with you and one another

Go further

• Create a module FAQ with a forum where students can ask you questions
• Post a weekly discussion topic or question, using the Q and A forum, and discuss the responses at the next face-to-face teaching session.
• Give students a contribution grade to encourage participation

5. Assessment

Varied assessments with clear requirements will enhance learning and reduce anxiety around assessments.

• Provide an assessment schedule for all assignments
• Assessment criteria for all assignments is available
• Departmental submission guidance is available
• Link to guidance on academic writing skills
• Provide guidance on the method of submission (Moodle or Tabula)

Go further

• Create opportunities for formative assessments
• Create opportunities for peer review
• Enable students to use a draft Turnitin submission point to improve their academic practice
• Provide a variety of assessment opportunities

6. Accessibility and Inclusivity

Accessible content and inclusive teaching creates an environment in which students feel valued and have equal access to learning.

• Use an appropriate course format optimised for accessibility
• Topic/section titles clearly describe what a student will find in that section/topic
• Headings, sub-titles and file names are used consistently throughout
• Headings and sub-headings are used to structure text
• Use no more than two readable fonts with strong colour contrast
• Use fonts that are large enough to read (min 10pts)
• Use clear and concise language
• Ensure all materials (PDFs, PowerPoints etc.) are accessible
• Images, except those used for decoration, include ALT text
• Provide text alternatives for audio and video content
• Ensure links (URLs) are descriptive

Go further

• Use Moodle accessibility tools to identify common accessibility issues
• Explore and apply principles of Universal Design for Learning
• Review and redesign Moodle spaces to ensure accessibility
• Review and edit content to ensure accessibility

Last updated 19th November 2020

Contents

1. Structure, Layout and Presentation

2. Organisation

3. Learning Materials and Activities

4. Communication

5. Assessment

6. Accessibility and Inclusivity