Technology Enhanced Learning

The Learning Hub is Harper Adams University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

We are keen to support tutors in creating interactive and engaging learning object and activities on their module pages based on good instructional design principles. Learning objects can range from a simple PDF documents, narrated PowerPoint presentations to full length videos. The Learning Hub includes a number of learning activities activities including quizzes, glossaries, forums and feedback tools to name but a few.

The Learning Hub is the main access point to Turnitin, our system for students to upload their assignments for plagiarism detection, and increasingly also for online marking via the GradeMark feature.

To see some 'how to' guides and resources please click on the links below:

• General Moodle resources including the handbook
• Resources on how to use Turnitin and Grademark
• Formative assessment using Moodle quizzes

Our Technology Enhanced Learning team provides a comprehensive learning content development service. We can help you build learning objects from simple Word Processed documents to on-location videos. No project is too big or too small.

The TE-Learning department can guide you through the process either by undertaking the creation of the objects ourselves based on your guidelines (storyboard) or giving you the training, tools and equipment to do it yourself.

Prior experience of content design or computer packages is not required. After discussing your requirements with our team all you need to provide for the work to begin is a completed Microsoft Word format requisition form. These can be downloaded from the Learning Hub.

We can provide a comprehensive videoing service that includes both on and off-campus filming as shown by the examples below:

• A tour through the farm
• Providing 'feed-forward' for students

We also create bespoke animations for you as exemplified below:

• Explaining a pathological process
• What is Personal Development

Finally we also produce screen recordings as shown below:

• How to upload assignments into PebblePad
• Providing Peer Feedback in Moodle

We are also hosting and supporting the Harper Adams University weather station.

Have you got a new idea or suggestion? Let us know and we can provide help and advice on how you can make it a reality. Recent examples of projects include the successful piloting of electronic marking and online assessment.

Whether it’s a vague suggestion or a fully formed plan we’d like to hear it. For an informal discussion with no commitment to undertake a project please contact a member of our team. We can advise you on the possible tools already widely available that can be tailored to your needs or where necessary research the possibility of creating something bespoke or brand new.

We can support you in the building of your project by identifying and trialling new technologies, creating any required content such as videos or other media or assisting you with training and equipment.

Our project management experience can help you plan the development of your project from basic concept to final prototype and advise how your pilot project can be integrated with the university’s existing systems and procedures.

If necessary we can also assist you with finding funding for your project and writing your proposals. Previous successes have included the University Modernisation Fund and the Aspire Fellowship projects.

• An example Aspire Project

The Technology Enhance Learning Department provides an expert consultancy service to staff seeking advice on how to make the most of technology in their day-to-day teaching, assessment strategy and course design.

Members of our team are available for discussions upon request as well as being regular contributors to the university’s Teaching and Learning Forums.

We can provide help and information on the background pedagogy behind technology enhanced learning and provide examples of best practice both at Harper Adams University and other institutions.

Our department can offer recommendations on which types of technology will help you achieve your goals and trial new software and equipment upon request. If you have a larger scale project in mind we can also advise you on finding funding and help you to fully develop and manage a pilot study.

A comprehensive programme of training is available throughout the academic year in all areas relating to TE-Learning.

The Technology Enhanced Learning team can help you to introduce electronic assessment within your teaching.

To this effect we otfer four main tools: Questionmark Perception for eAssessment (both computer-based and via 'bubble sheets), GradeMark for electronic marking, PebblePad (Harperfolio) for eFeedback and the Learning Hub quizzes for formative assessment and feedback.

Questionmark Perception

Questionmark is the university’s advanced online assessment tool. The service offers a wide variety of question types from simple yes/no to those including multimedia elements or complex Boolean scoring schemes. Questionmark has been used for formative quizzes that can aid with revision to fully online summative exams that automatically grade students’ answers reducing the amount of time spent marking. There is also a print-and-scan format combining traditional paper-based exam papers with automatic marking. This can remove more than 99% of the marking workload. The quality of the questions chosen can finally assessed using dedicated item analysis software. 

The Technology Enhanced Learning team can build assessments for you based on a simple Microsoft Word document or provide you with the software to build your own. Training is also available.

• A guide to using Questionmark for formative and summative assessment
• An example QMark quiz

Electronic marking

The university’s Turnitin plagiarism detection service also includes at ool to enable the use of online marking of student assignments. A simple drag-and-drop interface allows comment feedback to be added onto the assignment text thus eliminating the need for cumbersome paper copies. Audio-feedback is also possible in Grademark as is the marking on the iPad platform, even when off-line thus adding a level of extra flexibility. There is also a rubric which will automatically calculate students’ scores based on your criteria decisions. GradeMark is suitable for both summative and formative assessments.

• A Comprehensive introduction to GradeMark Part 1
• A Comprehensive introduction to GradeMark Part 2

ePortfolio

Our ePortfolio platform is called HarperFolio and is based on the software PebblePad. It combines tools such document uploading with social networking features to allow an online version of both summative, formative and peer portfolio assessment. Resources and 'assets' can be shared across the platform and iven published externally if required. The blogging tool provides a platform for reflective learning.

Learning Hub quizzes

The Learning Hub has its own inbuilt tool that makes creating simple quizzes and exploring online assessment straightforward. The quizzes are suitable formative assessment only.

• A guide to using Moodle quizzes

The Technology Enhanced Learning Department has a wide range of equipment and software available for staff to use during their teaching or take out on loan when creating learning resources.

These items include:

Hardware

• Quizdom in-class voting system
• HD video cameras
• Handheld digital cameras
• Audio recorders
• High quality Condenser Microphones
• Headsets and WebCams
• Tripods
• Go-Pro cameras

Software (available using a TEL laptop)

• Camtasia
• Audacity
• Articulate

We also offer training on how to use equipment, assistance with setting it up and planning how to make the best use of video through storyboarding. If required we will provide tech support during in-class sessions.