Using learning technologies
Broadly speaking, there are two categories of learning technologies at CSU:
- Those supported on an institution-wide basis
- Those that are not supported and are used by individual academics in their teaching. We call these External Educational Technologies
Academic staff may introduce External Educational Technologies (opens in new window) into their subjects in order to enhance the learning experience. Staff are responsible for ensuring such technologies meet the requirements of relevant CSU policies, as summarised in this check-list which must be completed and submitted to the respective Head of School and Director, Learning Technologies.
A broad array of supported technologies are available within our online learning environment, Interact2. These technologies fulfil many of the learning and teaching needs of staff and students. The following information can help you work out which technologies to use based on what aspects of learning and teaching you are trying to support/implement.
Content Delivery
The principal tools for content delivery are the "build content" options in your Blackboard subject site. These options allow you set-up your content in different formats, including simple folder structures through to learning modules and integrating web-links and multimedia. More detailed help is available here.
Other content delivery tools include:
- DOMS/eReserve for storing large content file that you wish to use and re-use with students
- CSU Replay for creating recorded messages or lectures
- Content Collection for storing, managing and sharing content for a course/subject
- Smart Sparrow for interactive and/or adaptive content
- Adaptive Release for controlling the release of content during a subject
Communication, Collaboration and Reflection
A number of communication, collaboration and reflection tools exist within your Blackboard subject site:
- Forums for facilitating discussions
- Groups for setting and managing collaboration and group-work
- Wikis for collaborative development of learning content
- Announcements for conveying important messages to students
- Journals and Blogs
In addition, CSU uses some "best in class" tools:
- Adobe Connect as our Online Meeting technology
- ePortfolio for reflective journals
- ThinkSpace for blogs and collaboration
Assessment and Feedback
A number of different types of assessment and feedback tools existing within Interact2.
Tools for conducting online assessments:
- Tests for online quizzes, tests and even exams
- Smart Sparrow for interactive and adaptive tests
- Forums, Journals, Blogs and ThinkSpace can also support assessment on reflective tasks
Tools for assessment administration and marking:
- EASTS for managing assessment submissions and returns
- NORFOLK for marking assignments
- Grade Centre for recording marks, and analysing assessment performance
- Turnitin for plagiarism checking
Tools for providing or informing feedback to students:
- NORFOLK for marking and commenting on assignments
- CSU Replay for creating video feedback messages
- Forums, Announcements and Adobe Connect/Online Meeting for general feedback
- Learning Analytics for providing insight on student behaviour to inform conversations with students
Tools for gathering feedback from students:
- Forums
- Subject Experience Survey – to which Subject Co-ordinators can add customised questions
- Surveys to conduct quick surveys within your subject
- Adobe Connect/Online Meeting
Workplace Learning
All the Interact2 tools listed in the other categories can be employed to support students during their work placements. In particular, the communication, collaboration and reflection tools can be used to help students on placement to connect with their peers, share experiences and address some of the feelings of isolation often encountered in workplace learning situations.
In terms of managing student placements, InPlace, is CSU's supported tool. For information about InPlace, please contact our Workplace Learning Systems Officer, Di Plunkett.
Course Design
CSU's course design system is CourseSpace. It allows design teams to collaboratively develop a course, evaluate it and submit it for internal and external accreditation.
Course and subject design teams can also using Learning Analytics, student feedback and student performance (assessment) data to inform design decisions.
Mobile
All supported technologies work on the major mobile interfaces. The capacity to work in a mobile environment is now a primary selection criteria for our learning technologies. Some of our platforms, such as Blackboard and Adobe Connect, have dedicated apps to facilitate easier mobile access.
In addition, a wide-variety of mobile apps are available to support learning and teaching. Such apps are emerging and evolving all the time. An introduction to some key apps can be found in the CSU Mobile Hub.