Date – Friday, 25th March 2011
Location – University of Dundee
Agenda
10.15 – 10.45 Coffee/tea on arrival
10.45 – 10.50 Welcome: Richard Parsons (University of Dundee)
10.50 – 11.20 Poll Everywhere: Sharon Tonner (University of Dundee) will talk about her experiences of using the ‘Poll Everywhere’ text message voting application for live audiences http://www.polleverywhere.com/. View Sharon’s Presentation.
11.20 – 12:05 Blackboard Connect: Steve Sidaway (txttools/Blackboard Connect) It is early days since the recent acquisition of txttools Ltd by Blackboard and many customers have questions concerning what this will mean for them. Steve Sidaway will provide a timely update for Scot-BUG members and provide insights into recent and forthcoming txttools innovations, including the mobile surveys feature, android app and Outlook Plug-in. Steve will also provide an overview of the Blackboard Connect for Learn application which has now been added to the txttools portfolio of products.
12.05 – 12.50 Doing More with Less: Richard Burrows (Blackboard) will with use this session to start a dialogue with the Scottish Blackboard community about what Blackboard can offer by way of shared training, hosting and other services.
12.50 – 14.00 Lunch
14.00 – 14.10 Blackboard update Richard Burrows (Blackboard)
14.10 – 15.00 PROfiler: Bruce Ogilvie (PROfiler) PROfiler http://www.profilerlive.com/ is a powerful online skills assessment, performance support and skills management tool. PROfiler also allows Learning teams to clearly see trends and progression across individuals, departments or the whole organisation, enabling effective learner management and measuring the effectiveness of learning intervention projects. PROfiler integrates with Learn 9.1.
15.00 – 15.45 Open Forum: Discussion topic: “What makes Moodle so popular?”
15.45 – Close
Date – Friday, 27th May 2011
Location – Aberdeen College
Agenda
11.15 – 11.55 Coffee/Tea
11.55 – 12.05 Welcome: Robert Bellfield (Aberdeen College)
12.05 – 12.40 Blackboard Roadmap: Richard Burrows/Anthony Doyle – Update on the features that are planned for future services packs of Learn 9.1 – Bb drive, course relationships, Regrade, Shibboleth and more….
12.40 – 13.15 Shared Services: David Kay – HEIDS is working with member HEIs, plus colleges and the SFC to develop a roadmap for IT enabled shared services (‘above campus services’). Following the survey in March which elicited a strong response, the consultants have facilitated four focus groups in May to further explore the dominant themes arising from the survey under the headings of software, infrastructure and knowledge services. The software service groups emphasised the potential for VLE above campus services to provide the cornerstone – a stepping off point for a range of further opportunities (both SaaS and knowledge services) at the start of the roadmap. We would like to consult with the Scottish Blackboard User Group and draw on their expertise and advice in that respect. View David’s presentation.
13.15 – 14.15 Lunch
14.15 – 14.50 Reflections on moving from Blackboard Classic to Learn 9.1: Phil Richards – Aberdeen College will complete the move from Blackboard 8 Classic to Blackboard Learn 9.1 in August 2011. This presentation will offer some reflections on: The process of testing Learn version 9.1, Issues encountered, The involvement of students and staff, The process of communicating changes and offering training to teaching staff and students. View Phil Richards’ presentation (PDF of PowerPoint slides – 82KB).
14.50 – 15.25 Using video conferencing and Blackboard tools to deliver Further Education: Chantal Wood – This presentation describes how Aberdeen College’s Community and Lifelong Learning Team have used synchronous video conferencing across 2 college satellite centres to deliver a PDA Education Support Assistance Course. The course delivery has been organised through Blackboard and tools such as the discussion boards have enabled collaborative learning. The presentation discusses how technology has enhanced course delivery and flexibility. View Chantal Wood’s presentation (PDF of PowerPoint slides – 134KB).
15.25 – 16.00 LTI: Simon Booth, Susi Peacock, Stephen Vickers – Learning Tool Interoperability (LTI) is an important new specification from IMS: LTI offers benefits for learners, instructors, system administrators and developers. This presentation will cover the work of the JISC-funded ceLTIc project that is developing a number of LTI connectors along with looking at the features that such connectors should support View Simon Booth’s presentation (PDF of PowerPoint slides – 117KB).