Hive highlights, May 2022
Here’s a summary of the activity that took place in the Hive this May.
Summer Courses in Digital Accessibility
As you are preparing your autumn courses, you will want to make sure that they are accessible to as many students as possible. We are already aware of many students who will be coming to us next year with visual impairment, hearing impairment, SPLD (such as dyslexia), autism and mental health conditions. It is important for these students to have content that they can use readily or that will work with their assistive technology.
You will be glad to know that there is support by the University, with in-person and online digital accessibility courses. Click here to for more information.
IT Training Summer Schedule
CEED are delighted to be back delivering our full catalogue of IT Training courses on-site in PC classrooms for immersive, interactive sessions that engage and embed new skills. Choose from a vast array of courses available throughout the summer in all the main Microsoft Office desktop applications and Adobe CC as well.
For further information and booking, as well as to see the attached schedule with links to the course listings on PDMS, click here.
Connect More 2022
The Connect More 2022 conference that took place online between 4 and 6 May was aimed at those involved in teaching and learning, including libraries, learning resource centres, front-line teaching and digital/e-learning teams.
The conference themes included: a) transforming teaching, learning and assessment, b) influencing a digital culture, and c) enhancing the student’s digital experience. For more information about the conference, including its program, click here.
Hot topic picks
There has been a lot of activity in the Hive this May. These are 3 key topics that were raised and discussed within the community.
- Virtual collaboration and creativity
The Hive discussed whether teams working together online produce fewer ideas than those collaborating in person, as a new research in Nature shows. Click here to see and participate in the discussion.
- HyFlex learning in HE strategy
Going back to in person teaching, the Hive entered the debate on what is the best way for institutions to do hybrid teaching. It started a discussion on what are some aspects of hybrid teaching that can be improved or changed – or completely avoided – to ensure high quality teaching. See the relevant post here.
- Checking the accessibility a course with Blackboard Ally
Blackboard Ally will be released to all Moodle courses when the summer upgrade takes place. Click here to see a brief introduction to Blackboard Ally.
Don’t miss
Accessibility Maths Clinic
JISC are holding an accessibility clinic around the topic of maths accessibility. The full details of the event are on the JISC Accessibility Clinic page and all those involved in using maths in their subject areas should join. The session will be recorded and will probably be available to everyone afterwards.