Academic Technologies in CTE

Assistive technology is a broad field, ranging from the use of very simple technology - your mobile phone or use of email to the very complex - use of voice recognition software or technology that will read information from your computer screen.

• Further information about assistive technologiesLink opens in a new window
• Information on the assistive technology suite in the libraryLink opens in a new window
• Information about Warwick policies on disabilitiesLink opens in a new window.
• Display Screen Assessment informationLink opens in a new window

Blackboard Ally is a Moodle plugin that enables staff to provide more accessible resources for students. It only works with files that you upload into Moodle (e.g., PDF, Word and PowerPoint files) but it automatically makes alternative versions of these available to students for them to download. Currently, Ally checks files in these formats:

• PDF
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• OpenOffice/LibreOffice
• Uploaded HTML
• Image files (JPG, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, TIFF)
• WYSIWYG editor content (this includes text content created in labels for example)
• YouTube videos embedded in labels or pages

• Google documents

How staff upload the files does not change, but staff with the editing teacher role in Moodle will see a little gauge icon next to any uploaded files that indicates how accessible the files are. Scores range from low to perfect. The higher the score the fewer the issues:

• Low (0-33%): There are severe accessibility issues

• Medium (34-66%): The file is somewhat accessible and needs improvement.

• High (67-99%): The file is accessible but more improvements are possible.

• Perfect (100%): Ally hasn't identified any accessibility issues but further improvements may still be possible.

At no point is this a reflection of how good or bad the files are from a content perspective, the gauge just indicates how much of your file has accessible features based on Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, including:

• Using alt tags on images
• Using headings and styles rather than bold or italics to denote sections
• Having high contrast between background and text

Further information about Web Content Accessibility Guidelines is available here:

https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/Link opens in a new window

Editing teachers can see specific details about the accessibility of a particular file by clicking on the relevant gauge.

Students click on the download icon next the file and then choose the type of download they want from the dialogue box that appears.

Box of Broadcasts (BoB) is an off-air recording and media archive service. It enables you to record TV and radio programmes that are scheduled to be broadcast over the next seven days and retrieve programmes from the last seven days from a selected list of recorded channels. There is also an extensive archive that you can search for older recordings. Further University information about BoB is available from this linkLink opens in a new window.

Staff who want to use BoB will need to register using their Warwick email address. To add recordings to your Moodle space simply click the Share button under the player window and add the link marked Embed into your Moodle space as a URL. Students can access links to recordings from their Moodle spaces and from their Reading Lists if they have been set up to do this.

Please note: BoB is not available to anyone outside of the UK under the terms and conditions of the ERA licence. Apparently BoB uses geolocation software to block access from outside of the UK.

To record lectures we use the Echo360 system supplied by the University AV Services. If you are a member of staff who wants to record a lecture, you will need to use this link to raise a ticket with AV servicesLink opens in a new window to request this. This link gives a list of rooms where this service is currently available.Link opens in a new window Please note WA0.24 is not currently available for lecture capture.

When requesting a lecture capture please ask AV Services to add it to the General Lecture Capture CTE (21/22) Link opens in a new windowMoodle space.

You will also need to complete a Lecture Capture Consent Form Link opens in a new windowbefore AV Services will undertake any recording.

If you want to live stream (broadcast simultaneously) a recording - any room with a PC and a projector can broadcast the live stream. You simply need to login to Moodle and locate the Echo360 folder that AV Services have set up for us:

General Lecture Capture CTE (21/22)Link opens in a new window

Please allow extra time at either end of the session in case the timings vary slightly. Resultant recordings can be topped and tailed to tidy the recordings up if necessary before they are made available to students via Moodle.

General information about Lecture Capture is available hereLink opens in a new window. There is also a Warwick Lecture Capture policy in place which is available hereLink opens in a new window.

Tips for using lecture capture hardware with remote audiences

Please be aware that PowerPoint presentation view (that displays your notes) is not available on teaching room PCs. If you want to use notes, you will need to bring your laptop with you and make your notes available on this device instead.

You will not be able to run a Teams session through your laptop and use the room audio at the same time (currently this is only available in WLT anyway). You need to have Teams running through the Scarlett microphone and the Inogeni video to work correctly. To change these click on Settings>Devices on the control panel on the lectern.

Once you have chosen the correct video feed, there is a slight delay before things are displayed correctly.

Local audiences can use their devices in the room but they should keep their audio muted, otherwise the feedback is very disruptive.

Mahara/MyPortfolio

This is the web application that students use to create their Professional Development Portfolio (PDP). It can be used to create and store online content (e.g. files, journals, plans, CVs, media and links etc.). These artefacts as they are known can then be arranged into online pages for others to view via a secret URL. CTE specific support materials for Mahara are available here.

Moodle is the online Learning Management System used at the University of Warwick to supplement face to face teaching. It can be used for sharing programme resources including files, folders, pages, hyperlinks, images and multimedia (video, audio etc.). It can also be used to promote discussion and collaboration (via discussion forums), to collect assignments, quizzes and audits or to gain feedback from students. CTE specific support materials for Moodle are available .

The aim of your Moodle space is to provide you with all of the information you need to complete your programme. The space is divided into three sections: a left hand navigation menu (1), the main content down the centre of the page (2) and a column containing extra items such as the calendar and important links, that we call blocks (3).

To move around the space you will need to use a combination of the navigation menu (1), breadcrumbs (the links displayed in blue below the page title) and tiles/links within the main content section. Please do not use the browser back and forward buttons as you may lose work this way, particularly if you are composing messages to post to a discussion forum.

We have divided the content for each part of the programme into sections which can be found by clicking on the relevant tile (image). The layout of programmes will vary but this is an example of what your programme might look like:

The content such as links to handouts, discussion forums or assignment drop boxes will then be displayed under particular tiles. To access an item in a tile simply click on the appropriate title link. If the item is a resource such as a Word or PDF document your PC will launch the software and open the file. If the item is an activity such as a discussion forum or an assignment, Moodle will take you to that item and you should then just follow the instructions on the screen to use it. In most cases there will be some text explaining what your Teaching Fellow wants you to do and then a 'submit' or 'post' button depending on the activity type.

The rollover process (staff only)

Planet eStream

Offers a way to capture and store video content that can be added to your Moodle space, using Moodle's eStream plugin.

• Record via the Planet eStream app on a mobile device or computer
• Upload to your profile for integration into Moodle
• Edit the video capture directly in eStream

Further support material is available at:

• https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/cte/students-partners/academictechnology/academictechnologies/otherat/screencasting/estream
• https://warwick.ac.uk/services/its/servicessupport/academictechnology/extendedclassroom/videoLink opens in a new window

PowerPoint has inbuilt features that enable you to create narrated slides.

• Create teaching materials using one tool
• Combine your existing PowerPoint slides with audio narration
• Use the laser pointer, pen and highlighter to annotate and highlight important information

Further support material is available at:

• https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/cte/students-partners/academictechnology/academictechnologies/otherat/screencasting/powerpoint/
• https://warwick.ac.uk/services/its/servicessupport/academictechnology/support/guides/moodle-guides/mdl-96/Link opens in a new window

Tabula is a tool to support the administration of teaching and learning in academic departments. It helps staff to manage student information such as personal profiles, seminar allocation, personal tutor/supervisor allocations and meetings, attendance recording and enables the management of marks and grades.

General information about Tabula is available hereLink opens in a new window.

The Aspire Reading List system enables staff to create dynamic reading lists for their students, providing them with direct links to all reading materials. Further information is available hereLink opens in a new window.

You can also add chapters from books and journal articles using the online digitisation process to your Reading List (within the constraints of the CLA agreement).

Students can access their Reading Lists (if staff have made them available) from the Reading List block in their Moodle space or from lists embedded in particular sections of the Moodle space.

Please note:

1. Staff will need to install the Talis Aspire bookmarkLink opens in a new window into their relevant browser before they can create their lists.
2. Staff should save their lists in draft form until they are ready to publish them otherwise the library staff will receive lots of email notifications which could result in them ordering the wrong book (particularly if you change your mind whilst creating the lists).
3. When linking to articles ensure you link to the abstract page rather than the PDF/full version - this will then give students the option to download the most appropriate version for their needs.

This application allows you to record presentations, learning modules and tutorials on a PC or Mac, provided you are logged into Echo360 via an active internet connection. UCP can record whatever is on your computer screen, including PowerPoint presentations and web pages on a browser, as well as your voice and the video from your webcam.

• More information about UCPLink opens in a new window

To install UCP on a managed computer you need to email lecturecapture@warwick.ac.ukLink opens in a new window to request access to it and then install it from the Software Centre.

Please note if you have previously installed Personal Capture (rather than Universal Capture: Personal) you will need to uninstall the old version from the Software Centre and reinstall the new one to update it. Your login details will remain the same.

• How to install UCP on a managed computerLink opens in a new window
• How to record PowerPoint presentations
• How to make your recording available to students

The Echo360 team ran some introductory training sessions in August 2020. Here are copies for the session recordings for those who could not attend:

• Using Video-based Learning with Echo360 to Support Mixed Teaching ModalitiesLink opens in a new window
• Managing Instructional Content and Publishing in your Echo360 CourseLink opens in a new window
• Engaging your Students and Understanding their Performance in your CourseLink opens in a new window

Further support material is available here:

https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/cte/students-partners/academictechnology/academictechnologies/otherat/screencasting/echo360

Vevox is a personal response system which enables staff to create live polls, quizzes, and Q&A opportunities. Staff create their session through the Vevox dashboard while participants use the unique session ID to connect via their smartphone, tablet or laptop.

For staff

Further information is available here: https://warwick.ac.uk/services/academictechnology/support/guides/vevox-guides/vvx-11/Link opens in a new window

For participants

On a laptop/PC go to https://vevox.app/#/Link opens in a new window:

• Add the relevant nine digit session ID (the tutor should have shared this with you).

On a mobile device download the Vevox app (this is free from Google Play or the App store) and install it.

• Add the relevant nine digit session ID (the tutor should have shared this with you).

Please be aware that the instructions for completing the survey/quiz/Q&A session will vary slightly. If you are asked to complete your Profile you will need to do this before you can proceed to the rest of the questions. Simply add your details to the First Name and Last Name fields and then click on the Save button which will become active. This information will not be used by Vevox, the data will only be available to the tutor.

You will then be presented with the Vevox homepage which looks something like this:

The red circles next to the Dialogue icon and the Clipboard icon indicate that there is a new Q&A session and a new Survey session that you can access. Simply click on the appropriate icon depending on the instructions you have been given by the tutor.

Q&A Session

This will look something like this:

Type your question into the Ask a question text box and then click on the send icon.

Survey Session

This will look something like this:

Complete the fields and then scroll down the page and click on the Submit button.

To end the Vevox session click on Exit session in the left-hand menu.