Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)
Many of you will have seen the University announcement concerning The University of Hong Kong joining edX. The e-learning Pedagogical Support Unit has now liaise with key representatives from edX. Consultations have also taken place with a number of the professors who will be involved in the MOOC initiative. The EPSU will keep colleagues updated about the MOOC initiative through this newsletter and through regular presentations. It is anticipated that the first of these presentations will take place in August.
e-learning Pedagogical Support Unit Presentations
In June the EPSU presented a lunchtime seminar on student engagement. In connection with the question of student engagement EPSU staff attended a Google Summit on Google Applications for Education (GAFE). We are keen to share our experiences with colleagues – particularly in terms of what GAFE might mean for student learning – and we will be presenting a lunchtime seminar on GAFE in early August.
Technology Enhanced Feedback
We are pleased to announce that the EPSU in conjunction with ITS and Library has been awarded a TDG to implement GradeMark. GradeMark works in combination with Turnitin to provide a timesaving solution for marking and providing feedback to students. Details about GradeMark can be found at http://turnitin.com/en_us/features/grademark. GradeMark should be implemented for Semester One 2013 and the TDG team will be evaluating its use across the university.
Have Your Say With Moodle
The University e-learning Enhancement Task Force (EETF) has continued to manage the process around requests to enhance Moodle so that the system meets the specific needs of Faculties. If you want to see changes to Moodle you can make a request by self-enrolling in the EETF Moodle Site. To self-enroll follow the following procedure:
- Go to http://moodle.hku.hk
- Click on “Courses” in the navigation menu on the left hand side of the page.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and type “elearning” in the search box.
- The search results will include “EETF e-learning Enhancement Task Force [2012]“
- Click on the course title.
- You will be asked to log in to the HKU Portal.
- You can then self-enroll in the course.
The Moodle Users Group
The Moodle Users Group meets most Thursdays at lunchtime for workshops on teaching practice using the Moodle LMS, including blended learning activity development. Come by and bring your laptop to discuss issues you are facing and share solutions you have found to work in your teaching. Click here for the latest workshop schedule.
e-learning seminars by the Faculty of Education and CITE
The Faculty of Education in conjunction with CITE hosts seminars by speakers on a range of e-learning topics, with a focus on innovative use of technology to support teaching and learning. Click here for the latest seminar schedule.
Update on Panopto Lecture Capture System
All lecture theatres and about half of the classrooms in the Centennial Campus, and all classrooms inside the Oval on the first floor of the Knowles Building, are equipped with ceiling-mounted cameras and wireless microphones for use with Panopto.
Moodle 2.4.4+ is Being Tested
ITS plans to upgrade the production Moodle system from 2.3.1 to 2.4.4 in the summer. e-learning Enhancement Task Force (EETF) is testing the Moodle 2.4.4 new features and functionalities on a testing platform. The new version comes with a collection of system fixes and improvements (http://docs.moodle.org/dev/Moodle_2.4.4_release_notes).
Panopto and Moodle Hands-on Training Courses for Staff
The newly introduced Panopto and Moodle hands-on training courses conducted by IT Services in Jul are now open for registration. Registration and details can be found at http://moodle-support.hku.hk/cms/?q=training/cc-schedule/Jul2013
