Centre for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching Communications on the iNET Douglas Anderson Aberdeen Business School iNET Team

Centre for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching What is iNET A Learning Support Environment - enhanced flexibility of learning and delivery to campus-based students and staff A Collection of Tools and Utilities –to support management and administration of the teaching, learning and research functions –to support all aspects of University life - educational, recreational, social –Communication tool - messaging, announcements etc. Web based - 24/7 Anytime/anywhere N.B. an Environment and Forum

Centre for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching Aberdeen Business School - Mission Statement - Objectives to provide an environment that facilitates the pursuit of high quality research and learning to provide an environment that values all associated stakeholders to provide a forum where the needs of organisations can be met and issues of contemporary importance discussed to incorporate ethics and wider societal issues within the curriculum to support a change-oriented culture designed to motivate and challenge to be responsive to customer needs to ensure that teaching is research-based...

Centre for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching Communication facilities To provide a supportive environment and direction for the student through facilitating :- –One-to-many communications - student handbooks, regulations, announcements, calendar events etc. –Two-way interactions - communicating with tutors, with fellow students/staff etc. –Many-to-many interactions - to facilitate direct exchanges of information between members whilst making the information available to all others within the group - discussion groups

Centre for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching Communications Tools providing information in a way that is:- –immediate, easy to use –rich in format (if it can be digitised then it can be made available through iNET) –versatile/adaptable e.g. User Details –supportive of the pedagogic requirements of academic staff and students - N.B. significance of Discussion Threads

Centre for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching Communications Messaging –Community –Discussion Groups –Student Records –Address Book –Exchange Webmail –etc. Calendar Announcements

Centre for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching Messaging considered a messaging system rather than significance of User Details link message to individual; to class; to year - with attachment provision if required also via Community area - individual(s) and/or Group links also via My Address Book defaults to RGU MS Outlook facility but Webmail also available (Edit Staff Account for edit if required (student edit also)

Centre for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching User Details My Address Book Student DataClass ListsPersonal Tutor data Community Group members profile News, Events, Information posted by Faculty/University Community - staff search Faculty/University Community - student search User Details access points

Centre for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching User Details (formerly Profile) All messaging roads lead to the User Details area All registered Users (staff and students) have User Details Provides a self-publishing facility Links to Users research and publications available if required Other than name and User ID, User can edit User Details information Can display or hide personal information as determined by User Edit Staff Account to enable edit by User e.g. webmail address - (also student edit facility)

Centre for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching Staff profile

Centre for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching Community Groups Focused Communities –Related to a Module or Concept - educational, social or recreational –Open or Moderated –Moderated means staff time and a potential daily administrative commitment but...!! Discussion Forums –Attempt to facilitate dialogue and interaction within Groups –Threaded Discussions

Centre for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching Discussion Forum small group, (almost) real-time debates open for all students to observe and/or participate peer learning facility potential for cooperative, problem-solving interactions create sense of community (belonging, participating) reference source e.g. FAQs relating to taught area encourage activities - analyse; compare; construct etc. - N.B. iNET also provides a potential activity area for pedagogical support within the Project Editor area in My Staffroom

Centre for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching Calendar from On Faculty - add news etc. from Unit Editor - add a general calendar event from Staff Utilities - calendar events from Community Groups - event calendar

Centre for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching What can go in a Unit? Files - Anything a desktop can interpret Web Links Digitised Readings HTML Folders Simple Testing Procedures Messages - Announcements/Events

Centre for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching Unit Announcement Tied to the Unit and Target Audience - specific group - not for general announcements (Calendar Events used for these) Seen by student in his/her My Learning Space area - (as do staff) Advertise changes and information. –e.g. teaching rooms, requirements/standards and other changes specific to group

Centre for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching Additional Staff Links - examples Publications Events and Speakers - video-streamed University Services Online Help FAQs Bug Reporting Suggestions/complaints Online Equipment Booking Drop Box for student submissions Reading Lists - Blackwells Online Bookstore

Centre for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching Additional Student Links - examples Virtual Library Tour Blackwells Bookstore Drop Box for submission of assessments Student Related Projects Study skills resources My Timetable –exam timetable –exam locations View My Class List My Learning Space –Semesters 1, 2 and 3 materials