Webinar: Providing Effective and Available Support for Academic Staff

Presenter: Bryony Bramer, Learning Technology Manager Regent's University London

Technology Adoption Series

Hear how providing effective and available support for staff increased adoption at Regent's University London

Providing Effective and Available Support for Academic Staff

Bryony BramerLearning Technology Manager

Regent’s University London25th June 2015

This Session

• Things to think about.

• Ideas to consider at your institutions.

My Institution

Regent’s University London:

• Small

• Private

• Not for profit

• Charitable

My Role

Leading the Learning Technology Team in:

• Support, training and development of learning technology at the University.

• Mainly supporting academic staff.

Our Challenge

The goal: • Effective institution-wide online

coursework submission.

The challenge: • Ensuring that our staff are prepared to set-

up submission areas and receive submissions via Blackboard.

Training and Support

• 100 training sessions.

• Learning Outcomes:o After this session you will:

oUnderstand the basics of how to use Blackboard and Turnitin assignments.

o You will be able to:oCreate Blackboard and Turnitin assignments.oAccess the students assignments.

• Not suitable for all.

Clifford, 1983

Skills and Expectations

• What skills do staff need in order to use Blackboard?

• How can my team support staff in these essential skills?

• ‘Required Digital Literacy Skillset for Academic Staff’

• ‘Digital Literacy Skillset for Online Submission’

What Is Digital Literacy?

“Digital literacies are those capabilities which fit an individual for living, learning and working in a digital society.”

JISC Digital Literacy Framework (2012)

Jisc, 2014

Digital Literacy Model

http://www.jisc.ac.uk/guides/developing-digital-literacies

What Is Digital Literacy?

“Digital literacies are the digital skills a person needs, to be able to do the job they have been employed to do.”

Bryony Bramer, Regent’s University London (2015)

Training Needs Analysis

• 70 questions, in 7 categories.

• Heads of Department involved.

• Staff identify skills they would like to learn.

• 25% academic staff response rate.

General SkillsBasic computer use,

file management and internet access.

Communication / Email Reading and sending

emails, including attachments and

University signatures.

Word ProcessingCreating, formatting

and saving documents.

Using BlackboardAccess, locating

information, uploading files and setting up and retrieving

assignment submissions.

PresentationsDeveloping and running presentations using the

University template.

Using the LibrarySearching the library

catalogue, journal articles and online

resources.

SpreadsheetsSetup and basics of

analysis of data using sums and formulas.

Training Needs Analysis: Categories

General Skills (11)Basic computer use,

file management and internet access.

Communication / Email (6)Reading and sending

emails, including attachments and University

signatures.

Word Processing (6)Creating, formatting

and saving documents.

Using Blackboard (5)Access, locating

information, uploading files and setting up and retrieving

assignment submissions.

Presentations (4)Developing and running presentations using the

University template.

Using the Library (2)Searching the library

catalogue, journal articles and online

resources.

Key Elements of TNA for Academics

General Skills (11)Basic computer use,

file management and internet access.

Communication / Email (6)Reading and sending

emails, including attachments and University

signatures.

Word Processing (6)Creating, formatting

and saving documents.

Using Blackboard (5)Access, locating

information, uploading files and setting up and retrieving

assignment submissions.

Presentations (4)Developing and running presentations using the

University template.

Using the Library (2)Searching the library

catalogue, journal articles and online

resources.

Classroom technologyUsing classroom control panels, PCs, projectors

and Smart boards.

Working off campusAccessing systems

including Citrix applications from home PCs or mobile devices.

Student record systemAccessing timetables, recording attendance and inputting student

grades.

Accessing HR systemUpdating personal

details, booking leave and downloading

payslips.

Key Digital Literacy Requirements for Academics

General Skills (11)Basic computer use,

file management and internet access.

Communication / Email (6)Reading and sending

emails, including attachments and University

signatures.

Word Processing (6)Creating, formatting

and saving documents.

Using Blackboard (5)Access, locating

information, uploading files and setting up and retrieving

assignment submissions.

Presentations (4)Developing and running presentations using the

University template.

Using the Library (2)Searching the library

catalogue, journal articles and online

resources.

Key Elements of TNA for Academics

General SkillsBasic computer use,

file management and internet access.

Communication / EmailReading and sending

emails, including attachments and

University signatures.

Word ProcessingCreating, formatting

and saving documents.

Using BlackboardAccess, locating

information, uploading files and setting up and retrieving

assignment submissions.

Key Elements for Online Submission

% of respondents needing help in at least 1 of the Key Elements for Online Submission:

General Skills Communication / Email

Word Processing

Blackboard

8% 9% 6% 18%

Training Needs Analysis:The Results

General Skills (10)Basic computer use, file management and

internet access.

Communication / Email (3)

Reading and sending emails, including

attachments and University signatures.

Word Processing (4)Creating, formatting

and saving documents.

Using Blackboard (5)Access, locating

information, uploading files and setting up and

retrieving assignment submissions.

Key Elements for Online Submission

Required Skills for Online SubmissionGeneral Skills Communication / Email Word Processing Blackboard

1. Safely turn my computer off and on

1. Access my inbox and read emails

1. Open, create and save a new document

1. Access and login to Blackboard

2. Access the Internet and go to a website

2. Send, reply or forward an email

2. Save an existing file with a different file name

2. Find information provided to me via Blackboard

3. Access the Intranet and read articles

3. Attach a file to an email

3. Format text in a document e.g. change the size or colour of text

3. Identify and access one of my module areas

4. Navigate to different areas of the Intranet using the menus

  4. Copy and paste text in a document

4. Upload a file

5. Book a training course using the Intranet

    5. Create Blackboard or Turnitin assignment submission areas for my students

6. Save my files on the university network

7. Save files onto a memory stick

8. Print a document, using ‘My Prints Staff’ on the university network

9. Locate where my files are stored

10. Copy, move, paste and delete files

Where to provide training:

What training can beprovided?

IT Induction General Skills, Communication / Email

From Line Manager Some General Skills

Software Training Word Processing, Essential Technology Skills

Blackboard Training Blackboard Skills

How to provide the training

Training Objectives

After completing training, staff will be able to:

“Demonstrate the ability to meet the University Blackboard requirements by uploading relevant materials and setting up appropriate assignment submission areas for their students within their Blackboard module areas.”

Blackboard Homepage

Support Resources

Support Resources

Lynda.com Training

Summary

• Think about what skills are needed in your own institution.

• What support can you reasonably provide.

• How can you help the right people see that these things really are requirements.

Any Questions?

Bryony Bramer

Learning Technology Manager

Regent’s University London

[email protected]

@BryonyBramer

@RemyAndSnowy