Centre for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching Communications on the iNET Douglas Anderson...

Centre for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching

Communications on the iNET

Douglas AndersonAberdeen Business School

iNET Team


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


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 ...


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


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


Communications

• Messaging– Community– Discussion Groups– Student Records– Address Book– Exchange Webmail– etc.

• Calendar• Announcements


Messaging

• considered a messaging system rather than email • 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)


User Details

My Address Book Student Data Class Lists Personal Tutor data

Community Group member’s profile

News, Events, Information “posted by”

Faculty/University Community - staff search

Faculty/University Community - student search

User Details access points


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 User’s 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)


Staff profile


Community Groups

• Focused email 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


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”


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


What can go in a ‘Unit’?

• Files - Anything a desktop can interpret• Web Links• Digitised Readings• HTML Folders• Simple Testing Procedures• Messages - Announcements/Events


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


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 - Blackwell’s Online Bookstore


Additional Student Links - examples

• Virtual Library Tour• Blackwell’s 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

Centre for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching Communications on the iNET Douglas Anderson...

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