BLE-Bulletin
Rounding up e-learning news for the Bloomsbury Colleges
Contents
1. Bloomsbury News
2. Blackboard News
3. Other News
4. Training & Events
4.1 Bloomsbury
4.1 Regional & National
5. Funding Opportunities
6. Resources
February/March 2009
Please forward to any colleagues who might find this useful
Your comments and contributions are invited.
Please contact Sarah Sherman [log in to unmask]
1. Bloomsbury News
i) Bloomsbury e-Learning Showcase 2009
The 3rd annual Bloomsbury e-Learning Showcase took place last month and was enjoyed by staff and postgraduate students from across the Bloomsbury Colleges. The theme this year focused on the Student Experience. A live recording was taken at the Showcase using the virtual classroom software, Elluminate, which also enabled participation from off-site delegates. The recording, photographs and PowerPoints shown by presenters are available to all Bloomsbury staff who have access to the BLE (Blackboard). Please visit this link to enroll: http://tinyurl.com/ble-showcase09 <http://tinyurl.com/ble-showcase09> - if you are not already logged in, you will be prompted to do so with your usual username and password.
ii) APT STAIRS Update (by Caroline Bell, Project Officer)
<http://www.bloomsbury.ac.uk/apt> Before the Christmas break, the APT STAIRS team organized a lunch for the project's demonstrators. The event ran smoothly, with the Demonstrator Leaders all contributing to the brainstorming sessions on future Google Docs technical developments. For a glimpse of the event please click here <http://sites.google.com/a/jiscapt.net/project-plan/Home/Demonstrator-lunch> .
Also published on our website is the Bloomsbury Web Use survey results <http://sites.google.com/a/jiscapt.net/project-plan/Home/Survey-Analysis> , which provides a report on our findings along with a set of graphs to represent the data from academics, students, researchers and support staff.
On our website you will also find an article <http://sites.google.com/a/jiscapt.net/project-plan/Home/News> about the APT STAIRS project published in the Guardian's Education supplement in December, entitled 'Collaboration is the Key'.
For more information about our project, please visit our website: www.bloomsbury.ac.uk/apt <http://www.bloomsbury.ac.uk/apt>
iii) BLE Staff news
The BLE is delighted to announce that Caroline Bell's role has now expanded to support Blackboard at the RVC. We welcome her to the BLE family!
We wish Fiona Fenton, who left to go on maternity leave, the best of luck with her imminent arrival.
We bid farewell to Jodie Bell who has left her post as VLE Coordinator at the RVC. When Jodie joined the RVC, she single-handedly transformed the Blackboard virtual learning environment into a core teaching tool. This took a great deal of hard work, persuasion, patience and consultation with both staff and students. As the RVC Blackboard team grew she has continued to drive the development of both mainstream and innovative uses of the VLE.
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2. Blackboard News
i) Blackboard World Europe 2009 - date and venue announced
<http://www.blackboard.com/> 6 - 8 April, 2009 in Barcelona, Spain
BbWorld Europe provides a unique opportunity to examine the impact Blackboard's ideas, innovations, and experiences have on institutions all over the world. The conference is a dynamic forum to network with peers, share stories with others, measure the impact of work, and help colleagues plan for success.
ii) Blackboard World 2009 - date and venue announced
14 - 16 July, 2009, at the Gaylord National Resort -- just outside Blackboard's hometown of Washington, D.C.
The annual Blackboard Developers Conference will be held in conjunction with BbWorld '09. Taking place on the afternoon of Thursday, July 16, and then Friday, July 17, for two days of in-depth technical sessions on all aspects of Blackboard PowerLinksTM and Blackboard Building BlocksTM technology.
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3. Other News
i) Outsourcing Email and Data Storage - briefing papers
<http://www.jisc.ac.uk/> These two recently published briefing papers, from JISC and UCISA, cover what it means to outsource email and data storage and the issues that institutions should consider if they wish to do so?
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/media/documents/publications/bpoutsourcinglongv1.pdf <http://www.jisc.ac.uk/media/documents/publications/bpoutsourcinglongv1.pdf>
ii) Greening ICT in education
FE and HE establishments across the country could save thousands of pounds - and thousands of tonnes of CO2 emissions - just by
introducing simple measures, according to a report issued by JISC. The report presents the findings of JISC's Green Technology report, and outlines ways in which the intelligent use of technology can create savings of cost, energy or carbon output, and shows how Liverpool University's self-developed 'PC PowerDown' software is already saving the institution £64,000 a year and over 500 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/news/stories/2009/01/greenict.aspx
iii) TASI re-brands as JISC Digital Media
Still images, moving images and sound advice - is the new tag line of JISC Digital Media, formerly known as TASI. JISC Digital Media exists to help the UK's FE and HE communities maximise their use of digital media. Advice documents covering all aspects of creating and using digital media resources at: http://www.jiscdigitalmedia.ac.uk/ <http://www.jiscdigitalmedia.ac.uk/>
iv) Federated access management: key roles confirmed as support for the sector continues
As part of its ongoing and long-term commitment to the implementation of federated access management across the education and research sector, JISC has announced new appointments to key roles to ensure that the sector continues to receive the support and guidance it needs.
www.ukfederation.org.uk <http://www.ukfederation.org.uk/>
v) Launch of UK Research Reserve
<http://www.hefce.ac.uk/> The second phase of the programme to safeguard access to the UK's research journals has been launched.
The launch follows HEFCE's announcement in July of nearly £10 million to support the five-year programme following the successful completion of a pilot phase. UKRR is a collection strategy for low-use print journals, collaboratively stored and managed across higher education institutions and the British Library. In the long term, the programme will release up to 100 kilometres of shelf space, saving the sector up to £29 million in capital funds.
http://www.hefce.ac.uk/news/hefce/2009/ukrr.htm
vi) Listening and responding to the student voice - recommendations for effective student engagement
The majority of HE institutions and FE colleges rate their student engagement processes - such as questionnaires and student representation systems - as reasonable or very effective, but student unions are less likely to do so. This is one of the main conclusions of a HEFCE-commissioned study carried out by the Open University's Centre for Higher Education Research. The study found that institutions view student engagement as central to enhancing the student experience, but they placed more emphasis on viewing students as consumers. Student unions on the other hand were more likely to see students as partners in a learning community.
http://www.hefce.ac.uk/news/hefce/2009/engage.htm
vii) The impact of the Leitch Report
HEFCE has welcomed the report published by the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee examining the impact of Lord Leitch's 2006 review of skills. To read this item in full visit http://www.hefce.ac.uk/news/hefce/2009/leitch.htm <http://www.hefce.ac.uk/news/hefce/2009/leitch.htm>
viii) Teaching should be important in promotions, say majority of HE staff
<http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/> Major new research published by the Higher Education Academy shows that academic staff feel that teaching in higher education is not properly rewarded. Over 90% of academic staff surveyed by the Higher Education Academy think that teaching should be important in promotions, but only a minority of staff think that it actually is.
http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/news/detail/randr_news_story
ix) Higher Education Academy launches Research Seminar Series 2009
This month, the Higher Education Academy begin its UK-wide 2009 Research Seminar Series entitled "Access and Success for All". This second series, offered by the Academy in association with Action on Access and Equality Challenge Unit, builds on the success of the first seminar series delivered in 2007-8 as part of the work of the Disability Equality Partnership.
http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/news/detail/research_seminar_series_2009
x) New flexible degrees the key to growth in higher education
Growth in higher education will be delivered through an increase in the number of part-time students as demographic changes mean a falling number of 18 year olds, John Denham told senior academics at a conference to debate the future of higher education. One year on from the start of the debate, Mr Denham argued that this growth in the number part-time students will require the development of more flexible, credit-based degrees and for the ability to complete a degree through study at more than one institution.
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=393551&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False
xi) University Challenge
The Guardian supplement, which focuses on the future of learning, is available online. The supplement explores the changing face of higher education in a series of technology-focused articles.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/universitychallenge
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4. Training & Events
4.1 Bloomsbury
11/03/09 Where Next With E-Learning? A Seminar On Personalisation
Institute for Historical Research, Senate House
Email [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
18/03/09 LKL Lunchtime Technology Taster Double Bill, demonstrating: SlideShare and Google Docs
London Knowledge Lab
www.lkl.ac.uk/ltu <http://www.lkl.ac.uk/ltu>
19/03/09 The Use of Video in Educational Research
Institute of Education, Room 777
Email [log in to unmask]
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4.2 Regional & National
11/03/09 Staying Legal with Web 2.0 in UK FE and HE - JISC Legal
online
http://www.jisclegal.ac.uk/events.htm
11-13/03/09 UCISA2009 Annual Management Conference
Liverpool
http://www.ucisa.ac.uk/events/2009/conference.aspx
18/03/09 Learn, Teach and Play in 3D Virtual Worlds in Second Life
City University
http://learnteachandplay.eventbrite.com/
18-19/03/09 The e-Assessment-Question 2009 Conference and Exhibition
Shaw Theatre and Novotel St Pancras London
www.e-assessment-question.co.uk <http://www.e-assessment-question.co.uk/>
20/03/09 free online accessibility self evaluation service for Library staff
Online
http://www.techdis.ac.uk/getevaluated
23-27/03/09 The Influence and Impact of Web 2.0 on e-Research Infrastructure, Applications and Users
e-Science Institute, Edinburgh
http://www.nesc.ac.uk/esi/events/968/
24/03/09 JISC Conference 2009
Edinburgh International Conference Centre
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/jiscconference09 <http://www.jisc.ac.uk/jiscconference09>
01-01/04/09 HEFCE Conference 2009
Royal Holloway, University of London
http://www.hefce.ac.uk/news/events/2009/annconf/
02/04/09 Shock of the Old 2009 Conference: Digital literacy: the place of new media in higher education
University of Oxford
http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/ltg/events/shock2009 <http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/ltg/events/shock2009>
07-08/04/09 Learning on Screen Conference 2009
The Wellcome Collection, Euston Road, London
http://www.bufvc.ac.uk/learningonscreen/conference/conference.html
16/04/09 free online accessibility self evaluation service for Senior Managers
Online
http://www.techdis.ac.uk/getevaluated
27/04/09 free online accessibility self evaluation service for Marketing Managers
Online
http://www.techdis.ac.uk/getevaluated
27-28/04/09 National Digital Inclusion Conference 2009
QE11 Conference Centre, London
http://www.civicagenda.co.uk/
10/06/09 SEDA Workshop - Turning a Conference Presentation into a Publication
Woburn House, London
http://www.seda.ac.uk/docs/turnconfpresintopubjun09.pdf <http://www.seda.ac.uk/docs/turnconfpresintopubjun09.pdf>
08-10/09/09 ALT-C 2009: "In dreams begins responsibility" - choice, evidence, and change
Manchester
http://www.alt.ac.uk/altc2009
13/06/09 Employer Engagement Conference
The Commonwealth Club, London
Email [log in to unmask]
17-18/06/09 The Fourth International Blended Learning Conference: Engaging Students in the Curriculum
University of Hertfordshire
www.herts.ac.uk/blu <http://www.herts.ac.uk/blu>
22-25/09/09 Supporting Learning in the Digital Age
Murray Edwards College (formerly New Hall), Cambridge
http://www2.open.ac.uk/r06/conference <http://www2.open.ac.uk/r06/conference>
* The BUFVC (British Universities Film & Video Council) presents a programme of courses: http://www.bufvc.ac.uk/courses/booking.html <http://www.bufvc.ac.uk/courses/booking.html>
* One day JANET Training Courses: http://www.ja.net/services/training/schedule/by-course.html <http://www.ja.net/services/training/schedule/by-course.html>
* Library Related Conferences - new edition:
http://homepage.usask.ca/~mad204/CONF.HTM <http://homepage.usask.ca/~mad204/CONF.HTM>
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5. Funding Opportunities
i) JISC
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/fundingopportunities/futurecalls <http://www.jisc.ac.uk/fundingopportunities/futurecalls>
ii) The Higher Education Academy
http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/ourwork/learning/elearning/elro <http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/ourwork/learning/elearning/elro>
iii) Higher Education Academy Subject Centres
http://www.bioscience.heacademy.ac.uk/funding/tdf/ <http://www.bioscience.heacademy.ac.uk/funding/tdf/>
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6. Resources
i) 150 years of polar expedition photos available online
More than 20,000 photos from 150 years of polar expeditions are now available online. These images have been made accessible by the Scott Polar Research Institute, thanks to a digitisation programme funded by JISC. As part of the preservation programme, negatives, daguerreotypes and lantern slides, which form part of a rich but fragile archive held by the Scott Polar Research Institute at the University of Cambridge, are now available to scientists, researchers, scholars and members of the public.
www.freezeframe.ac.uk <http://www.freezeframe.ac.uk/>
ii) Innovation for cheap
Building sophisticated educational tools out of cheap parts, Johnny Lee demos his cool Wii Remote hacks, which turn the £30 video game controller into a digital whiteboard, a touchscreen and a head-mounted 3-D viewer
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/johnny_lee_demos_wii_remote_hacks.html <http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/johnny_lee_demos_wii_remote_hacks.html>
iii) Sustainable ICT information
o http://www.jisc.ac.uk/news/stories/2009/01/greenict.aspx The 'greening' of ICT in Education - New papers launched - 16/1/09
o http://www.jisc.ac.uk/publications/publications/sustainableictoverview.aspx Managing Sustainable ICT in Further and Higher Education: Strategic Overview - 14/1/09
o http://www.jisc.ac.uk/publications/publications/bpsustainableict.aspx Green ICT: Managing sustainable ICT in education and research - 14/1/09
o http://www.jisc.ac.uk/publications/publications/sustainableictfinalreport.aspx Sustainable ICT in Further and Higher Education: SusteIT Final Report - 14/1/09
o JISC Green ICT Blog: http://greenict.jiscinvolve.org/about
o Related event:
Smarter, Greener Learning: A Strategic Approach : 18 Mar 2009. Holiday Inn, Birmingham City Centre. Book:
http://info.rsc-em.ac.uk/events/event_details.asp?eid=50
iv) Learning to be Professional through a Life-wide Curriculum
A new wiki from the University of Surrey covering Personal Development planning (PDP). The "wiki is intended to encourage exploration of the meanings of learning to be professional in a complex modern world: a world that requires us to learn throughout and across our whole lives. It is one of a series of wikis established by the Surrey Centre for Excellence in Professional Training and Education (SCEPTrE), to explore the theme of learning for a complex world".
http://learningtobeprofessional.pbwiki.com/ <http://learningtobeprofessional.pbwiki.com/>
v) Free web conferencing tool
The free web conferencing tool dimdim is now out of beta testing:
http://www.dimdim.com/ <http://www.dimdim.com/> .
JISC RSC West Midlands has put together a set of protocols to help people use these types of tools:
http://wiki.rscwmsystems.org.uk/index.php/Synchronous_webcasting_tools <http://wiki.rscwmsystems.org.uk/index.php/Synchronous_webcasting_tools>
vi) Digitial Literacy review
A review of digital literacy in Europe:
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/eeurope/i2010/docs/digital_literacy/digital_literacy_review.pdf <http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/eeurope/i2010/docs/digital_literacy/digital_literacy_review.pdf>
Recent reports on European learning and training:
http://ec.europa.eu/education/index_en.htm <http://ec.europa.eu/education/index_en.htm>
vii) Plagiarism programme
"Plagiarism: A Cut and Paste Generation", which was broadcast on Teachers TV and is now available to view at:
http://www.teachers.tv/video/30749 <http://www.teachers.tv/video/30749>
viii) Collections freely until at least the end of 2013:
British Periodicals Collections I and II - this archive traces the development and growth of the periodical press in Britain from its origins in the seventeenth century through to the Victorian "age of periodicals" and beyond. This unique digital archive consists of over 460 periodical runs published from the 1680s to the 1930s, comprising six million keyword-searchable pages and forms an essential record of more than two centuries of British history and culture.
http://www.jisc-collections.ac.uk/british_periodicals <http://www.jisc-collections.ac.uk/british_periodicals>
The Burney Collection - The newspapers and news pamphlets, gathered by the Reverend Charles Burney (1757-1817) represent the largest single collection of 17th and 18th century English news media available from the British Library. The collection includes nearly 1 million pages from more than 1000 pamphlets, proclamations, newsbooks and newspapers from the period, including the first successful London daily and first illustrated newspaper all dating from 1600-1800.
http://www.jisc-collections.ac.uk/burney <http://www.jisc-collections.ac.uk/burney>
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Please send comments and contributions for the next BLE-bulletin to:
Sarah Sherman, BLE Service Manager, [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> , 07515 580 385
