Introducing online learning on the MRes Moodle and Blogging · Blogging on the MRes •Your homework from Tuesday! –What do you understand blogging is? What are your previous experiences

Introducing online learning on the MRes Moodle and Blogging

MASTER OF RESEARCH: EDUCATION AND SOCIETY (2013-14)

Session outline • Online learning: sharing experiences • Moodle - your Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)

– Logging in, accessing unit spaces – Navigating the active learning spaces

Break (10.30am)

• Blogging on the MRes – Programme blog: team reflections

(discussing and contributing)

– Student blogs: reflective diaries (discussing, creating, sharing)

Online learning • In groups discuss:

– What do you understand online learning is?

– What are your experiences of online learning?

– What are the benefits for the learner?

– What are your concerns?

• Now let’s feedback

Image by Jason Samfield

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jason-samfield/5378157169/

Fun Timers

Moodle – your VLE • Log in to PCs/Moodle with your University ID

number and password* 1. From the MMU website click ‘Current Students’ or go direct to the Student Hub at

www.mmu.ac.uk/students 2. Click on MyMMU/Moodle 3. Log in with ID and password*

1 1

2 2

3 3

Image by Olga Díez

http://www.flickr.com/photos/caliope-olga/4104509492/

* The username is your eight digit ID number shown on your card If it is the first time you are logging in, then the password will be your date of birth but in the format DDMonYY (e.g. if your date of birth is 2 February 1992, then your password would be 02Feb92)

* The username is your eight digit ID number shown on your card If it is the first time you are logging in, then the password will be your date of birth but in the format DDMonYY (e.g. if your date of birth is 2 February 1992, then your password would be 02Feb92)

Moodle – your VLE • Can you see your MRes Unit spaces?

– Designing Educational and Social Research

– Theory and Philosophy in Educational and Social Research

Image by Olga Díez

http://www.flickr.com/photos/caliope-olga/4104509492/

Moodle – your VLE • Course information and communication

– Handbook – Course Calendar – Announcements – General questions discussion forum

• Active learning space – Weekly sessions

(preparatory activities, resources, follow up activities)

• Assessments – Referencing/citation checking (via Turnitin) – Electronic submission (via Turnitin)

Image by Olga Díez

http://www.flickr.com/photos/caliope-olga/4104509492/

Exploring Moodle • Access a unit space …

– Who is the unit leader?

– What are the office hours of the unit team?

– What type of activities are you expected to participate in before Session 1?

– Where would you find the unit core texts?

– What type of activities are you expected to participate in following Session 1?

– Where could you access important MRes dates?

– Where would you submit your assessments?

Image by Olga Díez

http://www.flickr.com/photos/caliope-olga/4104509492/

Break

Blogging on the MRes • Programme blog

http://mresesri.wordpress.com/

– Pages

– Posts

– Comments

– Follow

– Twitter feed

Blogging on the MRes

• Now visit the programme blog and comment on the latest post …

– http://mresesri.wordpress.com/

Blogging on the MRes • Your homework from Tuesday!

– What do you understand blogging is? What are your previous experiences of blogging (writing or reading others’)?

– What do you think the benefits are to blogging? How do you think blogging might help you on this course? What challenges might you encounter?

– What are your concerns, fears and hopes about blogging?

Blogging on the MRes • Student blogs

– Creating • Already blogging?

• Wordpress account?

• Naming your blog

• Open blogging?

– Developing • Pages

• Posts

• Categories/Tags

• Sharing

www.wordpress.com Image by Jason Samfield

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jason-samfield/6551286825/

Blogging on the MRes • Getting started

– www.wordpress.com

Image by Jason Samfield

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jason-samfield/6551286825/

Blogging on the MRes • Using Blogging on the MRes: Getting started

– Create your blog

– Access your blog Dashboard

– Check your privacy settings

– Share your blog (if private)

– Create your first ‘page’ (e.g. ‘About me’)

– Create your first ‘post’ with ‘categories’ and ‘tags’ (e.g. reflect briefly on what we discussed earlier re blogs)

– Change your blog appearance

Image by Jason Samfield

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jason-samfield/6551286825/

Blogging on the MRes • Please send us your Blog address via the web

form on the programme blog post .....

http://mresesri.wordpress.com/

Image by Jason Samfield

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jason-samfield/6551286825/

Any questions? Image by Christine and John Fournier

http://www.flickr.com/photos/christine4nier/4612572203/