[myplace-announce] Myplace Update: August 2011

[Catherine Milligan]

Dear colleagues,

A heads up on the latest updates on Myplace developments from the LTE Team...

Strategic initiatives:
*             The SPIDER-VLE migration development work is on target for completion this month. Class content, from Semesters 1, 2 and those designated as 'both' semesters for the 2010/11 session has now been made available to relevant staff in Myplace.  Staff who've been using SPIDER-VLE are encouraged to attend the SPIDER-Myplace migration workshops, more information available here: http://bookings.strath.ac.uk/searchResults.asp?provider=Learning+Technology+Enhancement+Team&Go=Search+Provider


Key Dates:
*             Wednesday 24th August: Session Change will take place, which sees classes from the 2010/11 academic session copied into an archive space (still available to registered staff and students in Myplace) and the current session for all classes change to 2011/12.
*             Thursday 1st September: Release of new features and developments in Myplace to include:

1.            A personalised homepage for Myplace, which will enable you to customise your logged in page to specify what content you wish to view and how it is arranged.
2.            New Myplace theme. Try out the beta version now by editing your profile in Myplace and selecting 'blocks-beta' from the 'Preferred theme' option. The theme will have faculty and personal options for customising.
3.            Staff-Student Communication Tool. Email individuals, single class or multiple classes through a simple interface.
4.            SPIDER Tools. Added to 'Activities' within Myplace are: Lab Data tool; laboratory report forms; attendance register.
5.            Updated Course List Block. Displays a user's curriculum for the current academic year as well as providing access to previous years' classes.
6.            New Class Site Formats to include: Collapsible topic view; Two semester view; and Zero topic view with single content area and forum contents.
7.            Contact Your Rep block. Available for all class sites to allow anonymous feedback to Class Reps.

Events, support & training initiatives:
*             Learning Technology Enhancement @ Strathclyde: Information Forum, Weds 14th September (2-4.30pm) and Thursday 15th September (9.30-12pm)
Two opportunities to see demonstrations of the new features, hear about changes to processes to enhance use of technology in teaching and tell us what you want to see more/less of!
*             LTE Team to launch new online teaching & learning module for staff - experience being an online student while at the same time explore the implications and opportunities of teaching and learning in Myplace.  Starting at the end of October, this will be a fully online training course running over a period of 6 weeks.


LTE blog digest:
*             StrathAPI, July 1st, http://support.myplace.strath.ac.uk/updates/blog/2011/07/strathapi/
*             Preparing Moodle for the New Session, July 8th http://support.myplace.strath.ac.uk/updates/blog/2011/07/preparing-moodle-for-the-new-session/
*             Associate Membership of ALT, July 11th, http://support.myplace.strath.ac.uk/updates/blog/2011/07/associate-membership-of-alt/
*             Video Working Group, July 25th, http://support.myplace.strath.ac.uk/updates/blog/2011/07/video-working-group-2/

As always, please get in touch with us at: learning-technologies at strath.ac.uk if you have any queries.

Best,
Cathy





Catherine Milligan
Head of Learning Technology Enhancement
SEES
Room 222 (40 GH entrance)
a: Graham Hills Building (No. 50)
t: 4061


** Myplace-announce list info at: http://lists.strath.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/myplace-announce **
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.strath.ac.uk/mailman/private/myplace-announce/attachments/20110818/f9140097/attachment.html