1b
Technical knowledge and ability in the use of learning technology
As mentioned in section 1a, I can use a wide range of learning technology in my work. In this section I will focus on Moodle as it is central to my work, but I will also summarise all the relevant tools that I have experience in.
My digital content experience at Yell proved highly relevant to working with learning technology. When I started at UCEM I already had experience of HTML, CSS and XML, the Adobe Creative Suite, the full Microsoft Office suite, and multiple content management systems. Since then I have invested a great deal of time into learning new skills, so my professional development has translated directly into improved experiences for my learners.
I have completed over a hundred courses on Lynda.com to develop my skills in coding, content authoring tools, creative software packages, video production and editing, and more.
A selection of relevant certificates is below.
IE Lynda certificates.pdf
107 completed courses on lynda.com
I have also participated in a number of MOOCs covering various aspects of learning theories, technology and design, which have introduced me to tools and concepts I may not have come across otherwise. Examples of two I found useful are:
- Blended Learning Essentials: Getting Started via Futurelearn
- Making MOOCs on a Budget via Canvas Network
Completion of Blended Learning Essentials: Getting Started
Certificate for Making MOOCs on a Budget.pdfI have also shared my notes on MOOCs and other courses with my department:
Sharing notes with others via a Yammer group
Summary of relevant technical skills
As this is a summary I will only provide a selection of evidence here. I will go into detail about tools and provide more evidence in later sections of the portfolio.
Experience in technology-enhanced learning tools
- VLEs: Moodle administration and theme customisation; Canvas administration
- Blackboard Collaborate webinar software and Turnitin for online coursework submission: I assist tutors with these as part of my VLE administration duties
- Mahara e-portfolio: I wrote multiple guidance documents for students on this
- Sharepoint for organising all content for my modules and tracking its progress through workflows (see below)
- Wordpress administration and design
- Yammer and Slack for collaborative working
Using Sharepoint to manage all content in one of my modules
Experience in tools for creating learning content
- Moodle resource types: assessment (quizzes, Turnitin, SCORM, certificates), collaboration (forums, wikis, glossaries, workshops, databases) and more
- Authoring tools: Articulate Storyline, H5P, Adobe Captivate, iSpring Pro for HTML5 Powerpoint output; typically I use Storyline as discussed in section 5
- Video creation and publishing: Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects, Techsmith Camtasia and SnagIt, and Vimeo
- Audio editing: Audacity and Adobe Audition for cleaning, altering, and updating audio presentations
- Ebook creation software: Calibre
- Document editing: Adobe Acrobat Pro and InDesign, Microsoft Word including VBA
- Web coding languages: HTML5, CSS3, XML, Bootstrap, Sass, Javascript; also coding environments: Oxygen XML, Dreamweaver, Notepad++
- Graphic design tools: Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to create course imagery and occasional promotional material
Storyline sample
Video I filmed and edited, with animated overlay, embedded in Storyline
VLE banner image produced in Photoshop
I find knowing a wide range of technology invaluable in quickly identifying how something can be done; in conversation with a tutor about the design of new material, I tend to be able to suggest potential solutions there and then.
I have a fantastic team of designers and developers to learn from and share my knowledge with, but if I am still stuck on an issue I check web forums (e.g. Moodle or Articulate) to look for answers to development issues.
I will then share my findings with others.
Sharing a fix for a Storyline issue
In future, I would like more formal software training; Lynda.com and trial and error have worked well but I think formal training would solidify some of my knowledge. I have worked with others who may know a more limited range of technologies, but are masters in one or two, and I would like that depth of knowledge as well.
Moodle
My Moodle experience at UCEM ranges from installation, configuration, day-to-day administration and guidance creation to course setup and publication. In a typical week I use Moodle in development and administrative capacities:
- All the learning content listed above is uploaded to Moodle. In my Content Developer and Instructional Designer roles, I created and uploaded material to Moodle courses, and then published them to students.
- I support a large Moodle installation and user base of over 3000 students and over 200 staff. Administration for this is run on a rota within my team; typically one member will run the VLE helpdesk one day a week. The type of support I provide includes assigning user roles, enrolling users, advising on the correct use of tools like Blackboard Collaborate, adding webinar links, recordings and slides, managing change requests for live modules, and more.
Since 2016 I have also managed the Online Academy VLE, which is a smaller commercial platform for promoting and selling CPD courses. At first this ran on Canvas. After an organisational decision to switch to a platform based on Moodle and Wordpress, I set up a Moodle installation from scratch and imported users from Canvas and their records via CSV files. Needing to take this much responsibility for the Online Academy has given my VLE knowledge a boost. On a day-to-day basis I am partly responsible for reactive support but also for developing and publishing course material that is listed for sale on the Wordpress front-end. Moodle and Wordpress are connected via a plugin, Edwiser Bridge, and a single sign-on system so users can jump into their Moodle course with one click.
Work on migration from Canvas to Wordpress and Moodle
I was first exposed to Moodle at the University of Wales. It was a newly established platform with little consistency in its use, so when I was introduced to UCEM’s VLE I found it to be vastly more useful for learners. I believe a VLE should have as simple and user-friendly an interface as possible. For online and blended learning, it is used so often that it must be easy to use to encourage students to use its features and interact with their peers and tutors. Having used both Moodle and Canvas, I find Moodle is far more powerful. Its open-source nature makes it far more flexible and customisable, including database access and a large library of plugins.
I have found that my knowledge of coding has been particularly useful for learning technology. I have used CSS to customise Moodle themes, including the Online Academy theme and the main VLE's move to a new theme in January 2018. I will discuss these both in section 1c. In 2016 I investigated the Bootstrap code framework and compiled the most useful snippets of code into a central resource for all staff involved in publishing VLE content. I also added useful HTML5 code, including video and audio embed code. The end result has been that all HTML-based content on the VLE is now responsive (adapts to fit the device screen size). Thanks to Bootstrap accessibility is also improved.
Help section guidance on new VLE features
Code snippets resource I created for the department
Over time I have found that managing a Moodle installation directly on the server has allowed me to understand more about the inner workings of Moodle, including how the repository is set up and how information in the MyPHP database is used. I have been able to find solutions to problems more effectively, but as I note in the next section, I try to avoid jargon like this in discussions: technical ability is all very well, but I find especially in a helpdesk/support role the ability to explain ideas in a jargon-free way is vital and is appreciated by staff.