T.

MacKinnon Language Centre, University of Warwick

Languages@Warwick

Tutor guide to our online learning environment

T.MacKinnon Language Centre, University of Warwick

Table of Contents
What is special about our online learning environment?................................................................... 3 Accessing our moodle. ........................................................................................................................ 4 Setting your password ........................................................................................................................ 4 Editing your profile ............................................................................................................................. 5 Adding a description ....................................................................................................................... 5 Uploading a Picture ......................................................................................................................... 5 Course layout ...................................................................................................................................... 6 Switch role student view .............................................................................................................. 6 Changing your course. ........................................................................................................................ 7 Adding a block. .................................................................................................................................... 7 Docking blocks ................................................................................................................................ 7 Adding content to your course. .......................................................................................................... 8 Using voice in your course. ................................................................................................................. 9 Setting homework activities in moodle. ........................................................................................... 10 Marking: ........................................................................................................................................ 11 None of us knows everything! .......................................................................................................... 11 Sharing slides using slideshare. ......................................................................................................... 12 Widgets a useful word! .............................................................................................................. 12 Adding video to Languages@Warwick. ............................................................................................ 13 How to embed a video from youtube:.......................................................................................... 13 Have you thought of making a scorm package? ............................................................................... 14

T.MacKinnon Language Centre, University of Warwick

What is special about our online learning environment?

The Languages@Warwick environment is unique because it includes integrated tools to provide opportunities for listening, speaking and collaboration beyond the classroom. It also has an e-portfolio integration (Mahara) which allows students to showcase their work to their chosen audience, such as a prospective employer. Tutors can also use this software to showcase their professional expertise. Facilitating interaction is also an important aspect of our online learning environment so you will find it easy to get creative by adding spoken language to your courses using our Blackboard Collaborate tools.

Moodle (Modular, object-orientated dynamic learning environment) is an open source virtual learning environment with a huge education user base. Join the community at www.moodle.org where you will find international communities of users at all levels, fora, frequently asked questions and support documentation. The system is based on blocks of content which can be moved and edited to achieve your desired purpose. It is a very flexible system but it will take a little time to find your way around. The Language Centre also produces support documentation specific to our site at www.youtube.com under the WarwickLanguage channel. All tutors are automatically added to our moodle 101 course, where you can see lots of relevant information and join other staff moodle users on the fora to exchange ideas and support. Our partner Kaltura provides video management for our site preventing large files from slowing the system and helping us to ensure that we are compliant with the terms of our ERA+ licence.

T.MacKinnon Language Centre, University of Warwick

Accessing our moodle.

As a member of academic teaching staff at the Language Centre you have access to the moodle site using your IT services details. Your password for first access will have been emailed to you. If you forget it dont worry, there is an automatic password recovery system, click on Forgotten your username or password link.

Setting your password

When you have logged in you will be asked to reset your password to something more memorable. It has to be a secure password that includes upper and lower case characters, punctuation and numbers. To reset your password, you must enter the current password, followed by your new password twice. The password must have at least 8 characters, at least 1 digit(s), at least 1 lower case letter(s), at least 1 upper case letter(s), at least 1 nonalphanumeric character(s). To do this, look in the Settings block on the left hand side of the screen. Click the My Profile Settings option to expand it, and then the Change password option.
Once entered, click the Save Changes button.

T.MacKinnon Language Centre, University of Warwick

Editing your profile

Once in Moodle, create your user profile, parts of which are viewable by other Moodle users, notably the students in your courses.
Adding a description

You can add to your profile a description including some text about yourself, information about your area of expertise, hobbies, qualifications or anything else that you think necessary. To edit your profile look in the Settings block on the left hand side of the screen. Click the My Profile Settings option to expand it, and then the Edit Profile option. Scroll down the edit profile page until you see the Description section. Enter your description using the html editor. You can make use of the usual html features such as adding links and images if required. Remember, this is an important part of helping build relationships within the environment. TOP TIP: You should encourage your students to complete and update their profile when you begin your course. Check the participants list against your register and inform the office if the two do not match. Once you have entered your description, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the Update Profile button.
Uploading a Picture

You can upload a photo of yourself or an avatar image that other users will see as part of your profile. To do this, first go to the edit profile screen as shown above. Scroll down to the User Picture section and click the Choose a file button, shown below:

The file picker dialog box will open (shown on the following page). Click the Upload a file option. You can then browse for a file on your computer and upload using the Upload this file button. When you have uploaded the file, youll be returned to the edit profile screen. Scroll to the bottom and click the Update profile button.
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T.MacKinnon Language Centre, University of Warwick

Course layout
A Moodle course is divided into three columns by default, watch this short video to see more. A wide central column and two narrower columns on each side. Moodle courses consist of blocks. The blocks in the side columns contain tools or information such as the calendar and news feeds. The blocks in the central column are where you will add course content such as documents, links to web resources and activities such as assessments and assignments. The left hand column contains blocks that you will use for navigation and to edit course settings.
main course content

The layout of the course can be customised. Blocks can be added or removed and moved to a different position. Remember, to make any changes you must first turn editing on (see the section Changing your course). By default, the blocks in the central column are set in a weekly format. This can be changed to topic format, and more topics / weeks can be added using the links in the settings block.
Switch role student view

In Moodle, you are able to view the course as a student by using the switch role feature. When you switch role to student, you are viewing the course exactly as it would appear as a student enrolled on that course. To change back to your normal role, click Return to my normal role either in the settings block, or by using the link in the top right corner of the screen.

T.MacKinnon Language Centre, University of Warwick

Changing your course.

In the top right hand corner of your screen once you are in course, you will notice a turn editing on button. This is very important.

Editing on icons

Editing needs to be switched on for any layout change, as well as for adding content and activities to your course. When you switch editing on, you will notice a number of icons appear in each of the blocks. These allow you to move the block, configure it (to change the content), delete it and assign roles to it (to give groups of users additional permissions to it if required).

Adding a block.
When you turn editing on, a block will appear in the right hand column that is used for adding block tools to your course, as shown below:

There are many different types of blocks which you can add. Try them and see which you prefer. Your course should have an activities block. Add one if it hasnt. This is a useful shortcut into the content. Remember: Moodle has lots of additional documentation and the relevant pages are linked through the icon.

Docking blocks

This is a new feature in Moodle 2. In the top right corner of each block, there is a switch used for docking. When you dock a block, the block is moved to a side panel on the left and can be accessed by moving the mouse over the block. When you have docked a block, you will see it in the side panel on the left. When you move your mouse over a docked block, the menu for that block will appear and you can click on any of the menu items to expand and access them. To undock a block, click the dock switch again and the block will return to its previous position.

T.MacKinnon Language Centre, University of Warwick

Adding content to your course.

You can add many types of digital resource to your course.

First turn editing on. Go to the part of your course where you wish the activity to take place. (this can easily be moved later if you need to) Click the + add a resource or activity link and select the appropriate resource type. There are additional notes displayed with most of these.

Always give your resource a clear name and description, this helps students to find it later and is displayed in the activities block. TOP TIP: keep the name short and put more detail in the description. If you have several tutors with the same rights in the course you will need to agree on naming files to avoid confusion.

Important: Check the box below to ensure that you select the best option for display for accessibility of your resources. Most of the other settings will be fine left as they are. If
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you are uploading a file or folder you will be given a choice of locations to look in. You will navigate to your file and upload it. The new file picker will make it easier to find files that you have used in other courses or that are shared on the server. We are gradually adding new sources including youtube and Google docs so this will change with time. At the bottom of the page remember to click save.
Resource type Word doc, .pdf Hyperlink (URL) Audio file Preferred setting in display options Force download in pop-up In pop-up

Using voice in your course.

There are many different options for voice activities in Languages@Warwick. You will find them under the + Add link . Engaging students in spoken activities online requires considerable thought and planning but can be very engaging. It is proven to help develop your online presence and therefore can increase engagement online.

The Language Centre is involved in research into voice usage so please connect with other voice tools users to get tips and ideas. Here are some of the activities that have been used in the past: Activity role plays (booking a table, asking for information) oral exam practice sharing audio files for the course website reviews pronunciation practice spoken greeting in course spoken responses in forum/assignment Tool voice board voiceboard and voice email voice podcaster voice presenter voice boards, voice email voice authoring voice mash up (loudspeaker in Moodles text editor)

T.MacKinnon Language Centre, University of Warwick

Setting homework activities in moodle.

In order to allow students to upload their homework for marking and returning online you have a choice of two activities:

Activate edit mode and select the assignment option from the +add link.

You will then give the assignment a name and descriptive text. Choose the settings (date of availability, submission deadlines, size of files allowed, groups allocated if you have set up groups (for different occurrences in the course) Students on the course will then see the links to the work that is relevant to them. If you have added a calendar to your course, they will also see the assignments deadlines on the calendar. You can use voice as part of the assignment creation. There is now a video assignment available using Kaltura if you want students to record themselves using their webcam or upload a video file that they have created.

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T.MacKinnon Language Centre, University of Warwick

Marking: Log into your course and select Assignments in the activities block. This is only visible if you have set homework using the assignment activity. Any submitted work will appear against the student name. You can save all submitted work to your desktop as a zipped file or mark work by looking at the student name. You can print off and return hard copies or upload the marked work. You must enter a mark in order for the student to be able to access your feedback. This does not have to be the mark awarded for the work which could be given on the returned work anyway. The student will be informed that their work is ready and they will have your comments and mark. Filters on the assignment grading page allow you to make this a quicker process. In the optional settings, select show require grading and allow quick grading. A quick guide to marking is available here.

All files uploaded to the system are scanned for viruses so they should be safe. If the file type is not recognised (file extension .xyz or whatever) please check with David or Arthur before opening.

None of us knows everything!

Establishing a PLN. We all suffer from innovation fatigue from time to time so it is important to focus on the digital possibilities that work best for you. Dont try to do everything at once. It can also be helpful to be part of a community of digital learners. This is often referred to as your Personal Learning Network or PLN. If you join a network (such as twitter, slideshare) or search for language teaching blogs using Google you will soon find contacts who are willing to share their expertise and resources. In time you will build an online identity and others will find you. You do not have to reveal personal details about yourself, take time to consider how to create your own professional online identity. You could create your own eportfolio using our mahara, showcasing the interesting teaching you provide.

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T.MacKinnon Language Centre, University of Warwick

Sharing slides using slideshare.

Go to www.slideshare.net and create a free account. You can now upload powerpoint files or .pdf files to your account and tag them so that they are easy to locate and share. You should think about whether you want the slides to be public or viewable only to you. You can change this setting later for some or all of your uploads. Why am I doing this? Your slides can be emailed or shared using facebook or twitter. You can embed a presentation by copying the embed code and pasting into the html on your blog, website or moodle html editor. You can connect with others creating similar interesting content and follow them, expanding your personal learning network You can create a widget (see below) or a badge showing your content online.

Widgets a useful word! You will find the get a widget link on the bottom left of your public profile in slideshare. If you tag your uploads using your group/module name, you can then get a widget which will automatically make only your class slides available in your moodle class area.

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T.MacKinnon Language Centre, University of Warwick

Adding video to Languages@Warwick.

If you have a video clip from a commercial source that you would like to use in moodle, you can now upload it to our Kaltura repository. You can use the Kaltura video resource option in the +add link and then Kaltura will take care of the display details. If you want to include documents with your clip then choose the Kaltura video presentation option. Kaltura manages the control and delivery of your file so that it can be viewed on any device as long as the viewer is in the UK, ensuring compliance with our ERA+ licence.
Every user can access the video potential of Kaltura by using the my media area:

The interface is simple:

If you want to embed rather than link the file we can provide the necessary code.

How to embed a video from youtube:

Open the text editor in the course content section. Click on the button moodle media. A dialogue box gives you a link to choose or upload a video, click on this and the file picker will open. You can then search the youtube site to find your video.
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T.MacKinnon Language Centre, University of Warwick

Select it and set the copyright to all rights reserved before you save. The video will be embedded in your course. Have you thought of making a scorm package? If you have a video clip that would be best placed within some text and activities, then you need to make a scorm package. This is a self-contained resource which can be assigned as set work, will report on student performance and is made in word using the create plug in available on our intranet. How to videos are available on the WarwickLanguage youtube channel. Creating content this way prepares the finished files as .xml and this is a very portable and future proof format.

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