Training & Workshop Opportunities

• TEALfest 2023 - 'Empowering students and staff through small teaching'
  "TEALfest is an online festival for sharing technology enhanced active learning practice, research, ideas and experiences. It is taking place on Tuesday 20th and Wednesday 21st June 2023. You can find more details on the TEALfest homepageLink opens in a new window and register to attend via this formLink opens in a new window.
• Warwick Education Conference: Empowering students and staff through small teaching
  Join the Warwick Education Conference 2023Link opens in a new window on 22nd June (in-person), with asynchronous activities from 19th-21st June 2023.

• ALT Annual Conference
  Save the date! The ALT Annual ConferenceLink opens in a new window is at The University of Warwick this year from 5th - 7th September 2023

• Rollover
  The rollover tool is expected to be available by mid-June. Whether departments can make rollover decisions for SITS modules is dependent on the module availability records (MAVs) in SITS. See the rollover section of the Academic Technology Super User guideLink opens in a new window for more information.

• Echo360 video assignment submission
  Students can now submit Echo360 video assignments via the Echo360 media embed button to Moodle activities where the 'Online text' submission type has been enabled. Videos embedded using this tool are locked so they cannot be edited.
• Components for Learning plugin
  The Components for Learning plugin has now been added to Moodle editor. The icon in editor looks like a single Lego brick and opens up a choice of visual components to help enhance your on-screen text in Moodle. They provide a simple but effective way to help readers focus on certain information such as a key concept, a tip, attention highlight boxes, as well as quotes, estimated time and more. Read more about the Components for Learning pluginLink opens in a new window.
• Reminder: Course recompletion plugin
  The course recompletion setting is useful for courses which need to be completed peridocially. This can include compliance and training courses and can delete all grades and attempts at quizzes, assignments etc. More information can be found in the Course recompletion guideLink opens in a new window.
• Blackboard Ally - Accessibility
  This tool is integrated with Moodle and automatically scans files for accessibility. If an editor clicks on the Blackboard Ally icon (large A icon), they are presented with feedback on how to improve the accessibility score. You can start with "content with the easiest issues to fix"; often simple changes can make a big difference to users. Since the introduction of this tool at the start of the academic year, it has been used by almost 8,000 students to download alternative formats (tagged PDF, HTML, ePub, Audio, Braille etc.). More than 90 Moodle courses have used the Ally to improve accessibility. More information can be found in our Blackboard Ally for InstructorsLink opens in a new window guide.
• Moodle editor updates
  The "insert audio/video" button has now been removed and font colour palette amended to provide more accessible options. More details in the Superuser TeamsLink opens in a new window group.

• Student library now live
  We have turned on the student library in Echo360. In the coming academic year, this will allow students to submit Echo360 videos for assessment where required. Please contact Paul Trimmer if you would like to know more.
• Echo360 feature requests
  Anyone interested in proposing a feature request or keeping up-to-date with proposals, please see the Echo360 feature requestsLink opens in a new window page.

• PowerPoint add-in feature
  Vevox are offering a new PowerPoint add-in which serves both Microsoft and Mac users. This offers the ability to create polls within the PowerPoint add-in and a more user-friendly experience. We are currently investigating how this can be made available to users at Warwick so please look out for more news. Read more about the Vevox PowerPoint add-inLink opens in a new window.
• Vevox for peer assessment
  Chemistry have found a novel use for Vevox as a peer assessment tool. In groups, students are asked to pitch a scientific product or solution to the class with a 'Dragon's Den' style presentation. Students then use Vevox to assess the others' presentations. If you would like help achieving a similarly atypical use for Vevox, please contact the Academic Technology team for support.

• Reminder: ePortfolios should not be submitted in draft mode
  We've seen a rise in academics being unable to view ePortfolios submitted via Moodle due to students having content in 'draft' mode. Please remind students to check each content item is not in draft mode before submitting via Moodle. Items in draft mode will have a yellow background.
• Future of ePortfolios
  An 'Enhancing the VLE WIHEA Learning Circle' sub-group recently met to discuss current practice and the future needs related to ePortfolios. Please view and add to the ePortfolios PadletLink opens in a new window to capture requirements, issues and potential tools and use cases. A follow-up workshop is expected, to continue discussion and encourage sharing of practices. We are keen to have broad representation so if you or your colleagues use Mahara, and/or have experience or an interest in ePortfolios then please let Jim Judges j.judges@warwick.ac.uk know and he will add you to a list of interested parties.

• New! Padlet filtering options
  Padlet now features filtering options so you can sort posts automatically by date, reaction score, alphabetically, randomly, or manually as normal. Also worth remember that Padlets can be broken into sections for easier management. Applies to all formats except canvas.
• Padlet Gazette - The official Padlet blog
  Check out the Padlet GazetteLink opens in a new window for more details on the new features mentioned above, plus more

JISC Discovery Tool

The JISC Digital Capabilities Discovery Tool is an online activity for staff and students that is designed to help the individual reflect on their digital capabilities. It produces a personalised profile that identifies current strengths and areas for development and provides links to further support, training and resources based on your profile. Once logged in you should follow > Discovery Tool for staff/student > Question sets & reports > Start with Overall Digital Capabilities. See the bottom of this training page for information and an alternative link.