1. Using technologies in your studies
Nigel Gibson

2. What we’ll cover
The dreaded eTMA system
Other stuff
Hints and tips

3. Sorry but….. This is going to be more “show and tell” than “hands on”
If you want to pretend you have a PC in front of you …..

4. eTMAs
Creation
Submission
Return

5. eTMAs - Creation
Must be a Word document unless the course stipulates otherwise
Must be a Word 1997 – 2003 file type rather than docx from Office 2007
If you are required to submit a number of different files you will need to zip them – instructions and a tool to do this are on the OLA CD

6. Making a Word doc Using OpenOffice (or MS Works)
I’ll show other ways later

7. Submitting your eTMA

8. Submitting your eTMA

9. Submitting your eTMA

10. Submitting your eTMA

11. Submitting your eTMA

12. Submitting by email Send your assignment as an attachment
Must be the same file format as demanded by the web-based submission route
Check the process – it goes to but you must adhere to specific protocol for the subject line
Don’t your assignment to your tutor

13. Getting your eTMA back
You’ll get a message telling you it’s ready to download
If you sent it by it’ll be returned the same way to the same address

14. Getting your eTMA back

15. eTMAs
Any questions?

16. Some other stuff
I’m going to suggest a few different tools you might try
They are all web-based or web related
One advantage of web-based tools is that you can access your resources wherever you are and using any PC (handy for studying during lunch break at work)
Everything I mention is free (although most also have a “for fee” service so make sure you pick the right one)

17. Before we go any further
Be safe online
Know something about what you are doing – car?
Protect yourself

18. Firewall A firewall gets in the way and filters out the bad stuff
You and the web
Send and receive information
Some is bad!

19. Antivirus
People who write viruses haven’t all agreed to release them on Friday at 17:00 
So do you think you are protected if you only update once each week?
Use an AV application which updates and scans daily (at least)
Free ones include AVG (

20. Browser
If the browser you are using isn’t the latest version you may be at risk
You are at increased risk if you are using Internet Explorer
If possible update to the latest version of IE and/or use another browser

21. Delicious A place to store your bookmarks Online And share them

22. Diigo Bookmarks and tags like Delicous
Add comments to web sites – other Diigo users can see your comments and you can see theirs

23. Zotero Use it to collect, manage and store online research
Automatically grabs the web page URL
Can be used to add notes about the source
And keep a copy of the page
(Needs Firefox)

24. Wikis Personal wikis are great for keeping notes
Can be “hidden” or publically available
Lots of free wikis – I use

25. More Googley goodness………

26. Google Reader

27. Google Documents

28. Google docs

29. Google docs

30. Google docs

31. Google docs – output types

32. Some benefits of Google docs
Accessible wherever you are
Can be shared with others – useful for collaborative work
You don’t need your own word processor/spreadsheet/etc

33. Converting files ZamZar
Coverts from and to an amazing range of filetypes including:
PDF to Word
Works to Word
OpenOffice to Word

34. Finally There are lots of tools out there
As long as you take care it’s worth trying them out
There is a community of students using technology
Any questions?

35. This presentation is available online Or