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How to Use iPad/iPhone as a Whiteboard in Zoom December 4, 2020 Posted in: ipad, iphone, whiteboard, Zoom

Zoom has a built-in digital whiteboard for an instructor to draw on and share with students in real-time. However, some teachers may find it difficult to draw on the whiteboard using a mouse. For those who desire for more intricate drawing/handwriting while being able to simultaneously speak and see the students in a Zoom session, there are two methods for you to turn your iPad/iPhone as a second monitor and use it as a whiteboard in Zoom.

The following items are needed:

  • Your computer (PC or Mac) AND an iPad/iPhone.

Method 1: Connect your iPad/iPhone via a Cable

  1. Connect your iPad/iPhone to your computer with a Cable. The cable would be the iPad/iPhone charging cable.
  2. Start your Zoom meeting.
  3. Click ‘Share screen’ and select ‘iPad/iPhone via Cable’. You will then see the screen of your iPad/iPhone in your Zoom meeting.
  4. Use the built-in app ‘Notes’ to draw/write.

Method 2: Access Zoom on both of your computer and iPad (not applicable to iPhone, applicable to an Android phone or tablet)

  1. Have Zoom installed on your computer and iPad.
  2. Login to Zoom on your computer and your iPad with the SSO option and login with your HKU portal ID.
  3. Start your online meeting in Zoom on your computer.
  4. Access Zoom on your iPad and key in your meeting details.
  5. Start the same meeting on your iPad.
  6. Switch off the audio on your iPad.
  7. Click the ‘Screen Share’ button and select ‘Whiteboard’ on your iPad. You can start drawing/writing on your whiteboard.
  8. (Optional) Click the ‘More’ button, then click ‘Save to Photos’ to save your whiteboard drawings. Note: Give permission to Zoom to access photos on your iPad.

We have prepared a video demonstrating how an iPad/iPhone can be used as a whiteboard in Zoom for drawing/writing.


Quick Tip:

  • If you have an Apple Pencil, you can connect it to your iPad via Bluetooth, or you can just use your finger to draw on the touch screen. If you find it hard to draw with your finger, a stylus pen is also a possible option.

Written by Ms. Sharon Keung; Reviewed by Dr. Leon Lei.

Student Guide to Online/Hybrid (Dual-Mode) Learning December 1, 2020 Posted in: Dual-mode Learning, hybrid learning, online learning

Introduction

Referring to the latest message on the S2 teaching arrangements for UG and TPG courses (for HKU UG and TPG students) released on 5 Nov 2020, course coordinators will provide one of three options of delivering lectures: online, hybrid (dual-mode), face-to-face in the Second Semester. (Only in very special circumstances will the f2f option be available.)

This Student Guide is intended to provide a guideline for students to prepare for learning in online/hybrid-mode. The information covered in this guide does not address all aspects of issues students may encounter in different learning modes but aims to help you to make the most of your learning journey.

Preparing for Online Learning

To succeed in online learning, you should be proactive, present and actively participate in discussions and other learning activities with your classmates. Here is a list of learning tips:

  1. Be Familiar with the Digital Tools You Will Need to Use
    Take some time to become familiar with the tools you will need to use in your courses (e.g. navigation). Explore the tools provided to ensure that the technology works on the computer/mobile device you will be using.

    1. Your Learning Management System (e.g. HKU Moodle, HKU Online Learning, etc.)
    2. Teleconferencing tools (e.g. Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc.)
    3. Collaborative tools (e.g. Google Slides, Google Jamboard, Miro, etc.)
    4. Other digital tools for your learning  (e.g. Google Drive, Microsoft Office 365, Mentimeter, etc.)
  2. Prepare for Your Class
    Here are a few checklists for you to better prepare for your class:
    Before class

      Check whether you have Moodle access to each of your subjects.
      Read the course outline and the required pre-class reading materials.
      Use an e-calendar to help mark assignment due dates and plan self-study hours.
      Laptop, earphones, and camera are ready for online sessions.
      Log in Zoom/Microsoft Teams with your HKU student account.
      Test Zoom/Microsoft Teams settings (e.g. camera on/off, audio on/off, share screen, etc.).
      Have a distraction-free space with a reliable Internet connection for online learning (e.g. study room, home, library, etc.).
      Connect to VPN (if necessary).

    At the beginning of the online class

      Join the online meeting around 5-10 minutes before.
      Mute your mobile phone and log off social networks and media.
      Mute yourself upon entering the Zoom/Microsoft Teams meeting.
      Change your display name in English in Zoom/Microsoft Teams for identification.
      Switch on your webcam during lectures and tutorials (if possible). Add a profile picture in Zoom/Microsoft Teams if you are not able to switch on your webcam.
      Set up a virtual background (if necessary).

    During class

      Stay focused and take notes of the lecture.
      Actively participate in the in-class discussions and other learning activities as instructed by the instructor (e.g. join a breakout room, respond to a Poll, share your work via screen sharing, etc.).
      Listen attentively and follow the instructions given by your course teacher (e.g. unmute yourself and speak up when it is your turn to speak, mute yourself when others are speaking).

    After class

      Check rubrics/requirements for assignments.
      Check assignment due dates and submit your work on time.
      Book a consultation session with your course teacher/tutor if you have any questions on the course content.
      Contact your classmates and work together on group assignments/projects.

    For students who choose to come back to campus and attend a face-to-face lecture, here are some extra tips for you besides the ones listed above:

    Before class

      Confirm your class timetable and classroom locations.
      Bring your earphones.

    During class

      Attend the face-to-face lecture, pay attention and take notes. 
      Join the online Zoom meeting and online breakout rooms (if instructed by your course teacher). 
      Mute yourself in Zoom/Microsoft Teams and use your earphones to avoid the echo effect in the online environment.
      Share your ideas and discuss with your peers who are attending online (if instructed by your course teacher).
  3. Netiquette for Online Communication
    Your communication with your peers and course instructor may take in various forms, such as via online meetings (Zoom/Microsoft Teams), Moodle discussions, or emails. Here is a list of tips for you to better interact and communicate with them online:

    1. Respect your course instructor and peers, and communicate in a respectful tone.
    2. Identify yourself when you are communicating online, like showing your name in Zoom/Microsoft Teams. Professors may not be able to identify you as there are many students. 
    3. Switch on camera during lectures and tutorials if possible. 
    4. Introduce yourself in the email conversation/Zoom chat, and communicate with your course instructor clearly (e.g. in an email – ‘Dear Dr XXX, this is Natalie from your course MITE6023…’; in the Zoom chat – ‘Hi, I have a question on XXX – from Natalie’).
    5. Use clear and concise language and review what you write before sending out the message. Please use appropriate language to express your ideas.
    6. Protect personal privacy. Do not share your personal information or other people’s personal information in any public online forums/chat rooms.

Watch this 2-minute video to know more about Teleconferencing skills!

Resources for Online Learning

Download PDF version

Technical Support

If you encounter any difficulties, please contact the eLearning Support Team (Email: eLearningteam@hku.hk, Tel: (852) 3917 0123)

Free Polling Tools to Support Online/Dual-Mode Teaching November 12, 2020 Posted in: Google, Google Slides, Mentimeter, Zoom

Teaching and learning online has brought many challenges to teachers and students. When teachers try to involve students in classroom discussion and learning activities, students are restricted by the screen, which requires teachers to seek useful technological tools to engage students in online classrooms. This article introduces six free polling tools by comparing the common features that can be applied in online or dual-mode teaching. Teachers are expected to select anyone from below to meet specific teaching needs.
Six free polling tools include:

  • Polling and Q&A in Zoom
  • Poll Everywhere
  • Mentimeter
  • Q&A in Google slides
  • Slido
  • Pigeonhole
Zoom Poll Everywhere Mentimeter Q&A in Google Slides Slido Pigeonhole
Audience Size 300 max. 40 max. Unlimited Unlimited 100 max. 500 max.
Participation in Zoom For teachers: https://www.polleverywhere.com/

For students: https://pollev.com/

For teachers: https://www.mentimeter.com/

For students: https://www.menti.com/

in Google Slides https://www.sli.do/ For teachers: https://pigeonholelive.com/

For students: https://pigeonhole.at/

Question types/ format Polling, Q&A Multiple choice, Word cloud, Q&A, Survey, Open-ended Multiple choice, Word cloud, Open-ended, Scale, Ranking, Quiz, Q&A, etc. Q&A Live poll, Quiz, Q&A Polling, Q&A
Upvote in Q&A
Export data N/A
Distinguished features ✓ Features like Icebreaker, Leaderboard, Emotion scale, spotlight, Bulletin board, 2X2 matrix, Assign teams ✓ Unlimited audience size, questions, content slides and quizzes
✓ All templates available (details)
✓ Data analytics
Data analytics ✓ Event agenda
✓ Embed videos (for free until Dec 2020)

All six tools are user-friendly and supportive in a fully online setting. In dual-mode teaching, on-site students are supposed to attend lessons and discussions without Zoom environment. Therefore, Mentimeter could be the best choice to engage both online and on-site students because they can quickly join the discussion and share ideas via menti.com without registration and even can upvote questions to prioritise them.

Now a campus license for academic staff and students to use Mentimeter for facilitating work and study is available. The Mentimeter should be a useful tool for engaging students as it provides various question types and presentation formats that support online communication and multiple teaching and learning activities. You can login to Mentimeter through single sign on with the company name “The University of Hong Kong” and “HKU”.

Written by Cindy Liang; Reviewed by Leon Lei

So You Want To Be A Surgeon? November 3, 2020 Posted in: global, HKU, MOOC, Multidisciplinary Surgery

The Department of Surgery of HKU Medicine presents Asia’s 1st Multidisciplinary Surgery MOOC – So You Want To Be A Surgeon? This MOOC is a first of its kind global online course in surgery co-created by 30+ world class surgical experts featuring 15 subspecialties of HKU Medicine. The 6-week Surgery MOOC will commence on 1 Dec 2020 and is currently open for registration on edX platform.

Registration and Learn more

Designing High-stakes Online Assessments with or without Proctoring October 12, 2020 Posted in: online assessment

Date: 21st Oct 2020 (Wed)
Time: 11:30am – 12:30pm
Venue: Virtual Venue – via zoom
(For HKU staff only)

Registration

Speakers:
Dr. Leon Lei, Technology-Enriched Learning Initiative
Ms. Sharon Keung, Technology-Enriched Learning Initiative

Abstract:
With the current social distancing measures being put in place, teachers may be looking for ways to conduct high-stakes assessments online. However, teachers may worry that conducting an assessment online would require high digital literacy skills while some are concerned about the risk of academic misconduct in the online environment. This webinar will look at strategies in conducting a high-stakes online assessment with proctoring and conducting one without proctoring. We will also introduce some good practices and design considerations in developing high-stakes online assessments.

This webinar will cover the followings:

  • Conducting high-stakes assessments with live proctoring and self-proctoring
  • Conducting high-stakes assessments without proctoring: designing good open-book questions

Colleagues are very welcome to sign up for this webinar. We look forward to seeing you there!