 |
 |
That's very useful Rich, thank you. Why the particular distinction between teaching and assessment? I guess you could argue that the phrase: *In your opinion, would a student be able to carry out their ICT based work on this course using a 'standard computer'?* isn't vastly different in meaning from - is the course "solely mac-based". But the wording is certainly better. Regards Mike Parry Study Needs Assessor/AT Trainer On 8 September 2014 15:24, Nind, Rich M <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Hi all > > > > I’m late to this as I’ve just got off my holidays, but the way we define > it here is whether Apple Macs are used in teaching *and *assessment. We > have a gmail questionnaire developed which we use for assessing ICT needs > on the courses here. > > > > > https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHpwZjg1SGhYWHdHNTM5WFM4WEcycFE6MQ#gid=0 > > > > The results can be found using the link below. Please feel free to use the > results if you’re assessing a Sheffield Hallam or University of Sheffield > student. > > > > > https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AhpsKpY7nlQudHpwZjg1SGhYWHdHNTM5WFM4WEcycFE&output=html > > > > Regards > > Rich > > > > > > Richard Nind > > Technical Advisor > > Disabled Student Support Team > > Sheffield Hallam University > > > > (0114) 2255311 > > > > > > > > *From:* Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] *On Behalf Of *Robin Hodges > *Sent:* 04 September 2014 19:58 > *To:* [log in to unmask] > *Subject:* Re: Mac-based courses > > > > Personally, I welcome the 15/16 change in policy on this that was heralded > by Willets’ statement (one of the only parts of the statement I did agree > with, but hey ho). > > There may be arguments to be made about how fair this is in particular > circumstances, but at least the policy is totally clear and consistent. > > If course software is needed due to disability, and that software is > Mac-based, then a Mac can be provided; otherwise, no Mac simply because > that is the course platform. > > > > For me, the problem with the current policy is that it has never been > defined with sufficient clarity and precision. > > This leads to different interpretations, and different results for > students on the same course, based on who has assessed them and who has > processed the report at SFE. > > I have talked to assessors who think that a Mac can’t be provided unless a > student cannot complete their course without it. > > I have also dealt with SFE staff who held the position that a Mac couldn’t > be provided unless the student was also receiving course software. > > It’s a mess, but a mess that will thankfully be cleared up come 15/16. > > > > Not that we won’t have other messy situations to deal with following the > changes in policy, but that’s another conversation… J > > > > Regards, > > > > Robin Hodges > > DSA Assessor > > > > > > > > > > *From:* Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. [ > mailto:[log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>] * On Behalf > Of *Michael Parry > *Sent:* 04 September 2014 19:11 > *To:* [log in to unmask] > *Subject:* Re: Mac-based courses > > > > Yeah, maybe more of an art than a science. Appropriate since we're talking > about macs.. > > > > Ian W, how does one get access to the SFE list of which you speak? > > > Regards > > Mike Parry > > Study Needs Assessor/AT Trainer > > > > On 4 September 2014 18:39, Peter Hill <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > Hi > > " > > if a student has to use a Mac to access course-related software, then > the course is Mac based". > > I just had a response from a course leader saying that the student would > have to use at least one program that is solely Mac and would also use an > acoustics package which is only available via a Windows machine. So - the > above definition does not work. All good fun!! > > Regards > > Peter > ------------------ > > On 04/09/2014 15:07, Michael Parry wrote: > > certainly creative, Claire : ) > > > > I thought Robin's definition was pretty good: > > > > " > > if a student has to use a Mac to access course-related software, then > the course is Mac based". > > > > I think these days that probably just means they use Logic (music > production) or Final Cut (video production). > > > > As for 'has to', that's harder. What if there is just one optional module > where they use either of those programs? For me, that's not 'mac-based'. > > > > I usually email the course leader with a definition of 'mac-based' (as > above, perhaps with a bit more detail) and ask them literally for a 'yes' > or 'no' response. It seems to work. I haven't had any 'what on earth do you > mean?' responses yet. > > > > Or, if the Art Dept is completely deserted over the summer (often is), put > the onus on the student to get a response from the course leader. That > ALWAYS works. > > > > NB - I did an MA in Mulitmedia Production at John Moores Uni, which most > definately IS mac-based. I passed the course using a PC. Not with flying > colours, mind, but that was nothing to do with the platform .. > > > Regards > > Mike Parry > > Study Needs Assessor/AT Trainer > > > > On 4 September 2014 14:12, John Conway <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > I'm a little surprised that there isn't a list, or rather that one can't > be compiled, to identify courses which are genuinely MAC -based given the > cost implications to the tax payer and the pressures for life-style choice > of a Mac. > > With regards, > > John > > Sent from my iPad > > > On 4 Sep 2014, at 13:42, "Peter Hill" <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > > > Hi > > > > Thanks for the replies on this issue - which, I guess, remains a vexed > one. > > > > Regards > > > > Peter > > --------- > > > >> On 04/09/2014 12:40, Claire Salter wrote: > >> I've said it before, but I need to say again. I love the clarity and > creativity of your responses. > >> > >> Kind regards > >> Claire Salter > >> > >>> On 4 Sep 2014, at 11:17, "Penny Georgiou" <[log in to unmask]> > wrote: > >>> > >>> Hello Peter, > >>> > >>> We need to formulate our question in a way that is consistent with DSA > remit > >>> and so is viable for SFE, as well as Course Tutors to construct a > >>> well-reasoned opinion. > >>> > >>> Something like: Would a student be disadvantaged by virtue of their > >>> disability if they did not have access to a MAC or particular > specification > >>> of PC (in some cases)? > >>> > >>> I have obtained a change of position from SFE for a student who was on > a MAC > >>> based course, and where the tutor's position was not crisp enough to > enable > >>> SFE to justify funding for the MAC. > >>> > >>> The point has been that if the teaching assumed in terms of a MAC based > >>> context, a student would have to be translating instructions between > MAC and > >>> PC in order to keep pace with their peers. This is not reasonable. MAC > and > >>> PC may be, in principle, interchangeable for 'techies', but this is > not the > >>> case for most of the students that we work with, often by virtue of > their > >>> condition - any of the conditions affecting cognitive elements (memory, > >>> attention, processing speed, etc etc) would imply delays in processing > and > >>> translating information between differing contexts. The physical > conditions > >>> where physical fatigue is an issue would also have implications, where > the > >>> student is not a MAC/PC friendly user, the effort would have cumulative > >>> effects of delay on someone who is contending with various other > logistical > >>> obstacles as well, by virtue of their condition. > >>> > >>> Kind regards, > >>> > >>> Penny > >>> > >>> > >>> -----Original Message----- > >>> From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. > >>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Robin Hodges > >>> Sent: 04 September 2014 11:02 > >>> To: [log in to unmask] > >>> Subject: Re: Mac-based courses > >>> > >>> Hi Peter, > >>> > >>> This is my problem with this policy - SFE have *never defined* what a > >>> 'solely Mac based course' actually is, and in the sense of producing > written > >>> coursework, there is no such thing. > >>> It seems to be left to interpretation. My personal interpretation is > that > > > > if > >>> a student has to use a Mac to access course-related software, then the > >>> course is Mac based. > >>> > >>> Regards, > >>> > >>> Robin Hodges > >>> DSA Assessor > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> -----Original Message----- > >>> From: Discussion list for disabled students and their support staff. > >>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Peter Hill > >>> Sent: 04 September 2014 08:45 > >>> To: [log in to unmask] > >>> Subject: Mac-based courses > >>> > >>> Hi > >>> > >>> Can someone point me towards an SFE definition of a Mac-based course? > >>> Responses by course leaders about this can be a little woolly. > >>> > >>> Any advice welcomed. > >>> > >>> Regards > >>> > >>> Peter > >>> > >>> -- > >>> Peter Hill > >>> > >>> Needs Assessor > >>> > >>> [log in to unmask] > >>> Tel: 01299 878747 > >>> Mobile: 07751 792711 > > > > -- > > Peter Hill > > > > Needs Assessor > > > > [log in to unmask] > > Tel: 01299 878747 > > Mobile: 07751 792711 > > > > > > -- > > Peter Hill > > > > Needs Assessor > > > > [log in to unmask] > > Tel: 01299 878747 > > Mobile: 07751 792711 > > >