Making the most ... of Mindmanager 11 - 14 November

14 November 2013 10:15 – 11.15am

This highly interactive workshop will provide us with an opportunity to explore the functionality of MindManager: concept mapping software. We will explore what it offers us as tutors and how we can use it as part of the curriculum.  The session will introduce the core functionality including exporting to PowerPoint and Word.

To reserve your place, please book on the IntraNet form at:

http://apps/capforms/workshopbooking.asp

Date Management Tool Now Available

Date Management Tool Now Available

This tool allows tutors to view in one screen when items are available and change dates attached to more than one content item within a module at the same time. For example, change:

·         adaptive release dates on content, lesson plans, folders, files, web links, tasks, mash-ups and the due date of assessments

·         dates when discussion boards are visible

·         Announcement start and close dates

The tool also provides an overview of date criteria set against all items within your module.

The date management tool will be most useful at the start of the academic year when the module areas have just been copied across from the previous year.

The guide for the Date Management tool is now available on the CAP/Hub page under tutor guides: Click here

It's also on the Hub wiki: Click here

Marking the most of MindManager 11 - concept mapping software

14 November 2013 10:15 – 11.15am

This highly interactive workshop will provide us with an opportunity to explore the functionality of MindManager: concept mapping software. We will explore what it offers us as tutors and how we can use it as part of the curriculum.  The session will introduce the core functionality including exporting to PowerPoint and Word.

To reserve your place, please book on the Intranet form at:

http://apps/capforms/workshopbooking.asp

For further details, contact capadmin@qmu.ac.uk.

Online marking special interest group – 24th October 11.15am to 12.30pm

A new SIG addressing online marking is meeting on Thursday 24^th October at 11.15am. In our first meeting, we will be considering how to support online marking: tools, administration and guidance from the CAP. We will, particularly, be discussing how to raise awareness across the institution about online marking. At our first meeting, Susi Peacock will be demonstrating the new iPad app for GradeMark. A blog and twitter feed will support this Group. Two to three meetings per semester. Refreshments available.

Book at: http://apps/capforms/workshopbooking.asp (access only within QMU)

Viewing group discussion messages in Posts in global navigation in the Hub

In the new global navigation in the Hub, you can view all recent discussion messages from all modules. Click on the POSTS icon. Further information about the global navigation tool:

http://www.qmu.ac.uk/cap/PdfFiles/global_navigation.pdf

 

If you wish to view all group discussion messages in POSTS, you need to be added as a tutor to each of the groups. Make sure when you set up the groups, tutors are added to the group. This is for every tutor.

See also:

 

https://sites.google.com/a/qmu.ac.uk/hub/home/section_d#TOC-Discussion-boards

new features and updates in the Hub workshop

This one-hour workshop addresses the following:

·         Do you know about the new global navigation in the Hub?

·         Have you considered changing the front page of your Hub module?

·         Are you designing your Hub module for mobile access?

·         Can the new features in discussions encourage students to engage with online discussions?

·         How can the new content editor improve the appearance of discussions?

Book for one of the following dates:

27 August at 2.15pm

2 September at 10.15

3 September at 11.15

5 September at 10.15

6 September at 12.15

Please book here

http://apps/capforms/workshopbooking.asp

Student guide to the Hub at

http://www.qmu.ac.uk/cap/Hub/student.htm

Staff guide to inductions for the Hub

http://www.qmu.ac.uk/cap/PdfFiles/EssentialPoints_introducingStudentsv3.pdf

 

Mobile guide for the Hub

http://www.qmu.ac.uk/cap/Hub/mobile.htm

 

Please contact Hub@qmu.ac.uk for further information.

Error copying folders/items in to a different course

Error copying folders/items in to a different course

We have been made aware that some users were experiencing issues when attempting to copy folders or content items. Users were presented with an error message which  said "Error: Failed to grant read permissions to the attached file for target course".

After consulting with Blackboard support, a patch was installed in the early hours of Wednesday 14th August. The patch was installed successfully, and seem to have improved the situation.
However, the error was an intermittent issue and we may not have been aware of the full extent of it accross The Hub. If any one comes across the problem when copying material, or perhaps no longer experience any issues, please contact us at hub@qmu.ac.uk so that we can report this back to Blackboard.

Kind regards,
Joe Currie
Hub Admin

Hub Service Disruptions 16th & 18th August

All staff and student users of The Hub

Due to work being performed on The Hub servers in Amsterdam, The Hub will be unavailable for a period of time on Friday 16^th and Sunday 18^th August.

Friday 16^th August 00:00BST  until 06:00BST

This is to facilitate the upgrading of server software at the Amsterdam data centre where The Hub is installed.

Sunday 18^th August 01:00BST  – 05:00BST

This is to facilitate the installation of a security patch on The Hub software.

We apologise for any inconvenience this maintenance work may cause; however, it is entirely outwith our control. We will update all users when the scheduled work has been completed.

 

Hub Admin

Availability of Hub modules for academic year 2012 - 2013

For the attention of all staff

All Hub modules/areas for academic year 2012 – 2013 will no longer be available for students and staff after 31^st August 2013.

PLEASE NOTE

If you need a module for academic year 2012 – 2013 to be available after 31^st August 2013, please complete this form which is available on the CAP area of the Intranet:

http://intranet.qmu.ac.uk/sites/cap/hub/Lists/Delayed%20Archiving%20of%20201213%20Hub%20Areas/Teaching%20Staff.aspx

To complete the form please select New Item from the menu bar and enter the module code, module name, and the date the module is to be available to students from then select Save and Close.

 

HUB WORKSHOPS

Hub workshops introducing new features of the Hub will be available throughout the summer; please book at:

http://apps/capforms/workshopbooking.asp

HUB HELP

Further information about the Hub is available on our blog at:

http://qmuhub.blogspot.co.uk/

and on the wiki at:

https://sites.google.com/a/qmu.ac.uk/hub/

HUB downtime - from midnight tonight

The Hub will be unavailable to all staff and students from Midnight tonight – Friday 26^th July.

This is to allow essential maintenance work to be carried out.

 

The Hub should be available again tomorrow morning – Saturday 27^th July.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

For further information, please contact hub@qmu.ac.uk

 

 

availablity of Hub on Saturday 13th July, workshops this summer and this week's hot tip ....

Due to the backup power testing on Saturday 13^th July 2013, the Hub and ePortfolio will not be available from 9am to 3pm. We apologise for this inconvenience.

New features in the Hub workshops now available on:

 

15th July @ 14.15

24 July @ 10.15

30 July @ 10.15

21 August @ 10.15

26 August @ 10.15

29 August @ 10.15

2 September @ 10.15

 

It is strongly recommended that you attend the workshops which discuss: the new global navigation; the updated discussions; the new calendar; the new editing tool and designing for mobile.

 

Book here

 

http://apps/capforms/workshopbooking.asp

 

HOP TIP

 

Add discussions, groups, calendar and announcements to your left-hand menu in Hub modules to improve mobile access.

For further information, please contact hub@qmu.ac.uk.

Modules available in the Hub from Monday 2 September 2012 at 9am

Semester 1 modules in the Hub will be available to students on Monday 2^nd September at 9 am. Once students have matriculated, they will be able to access their module areas.

 

If you need your module to be available before Monday 2^nd September, please complete this form which is available on the CAP area of the Intranet:

http://intranet.qmu.ac.uk/sites/cap/hub/Lists/Early%20Module%20Availability/Teaching%20Staff.aspx

 

To complete the form please select New Item from the menu bar and enter the module code, module name, and the date the module is to be available to students from then select Save and Close.

 

Hub workshops introducing new features of the Hub will be available throughout the summer; please book at:

http://apps/capforms/workshopbooking.asp

Further information about the Hub is available on our blog at:

http://qmuhub.blogspot.co.uk/

 

and on the wiki at:

https://sites.google.com/a/qmu.ac.uk/hub/

 

Hub upgrade

The Hub is now available for students and staff. When you first log in, you will see a splash screen. You can ignore this splashscreen by clicking on “I’ll do it later.” Alternatively you can use this to upload your photo (PNG format) and link to either Twitter and/or Facebook by clicking on “I’ll update it myself.” This is optional. For further information about this, go to:

https://sites.google.com/a/qmu.ac.uk/hub/what-s-new

 

New features in the Hub:

·         Global navigation menu providing updates on new discussion posts, new announcements and new calendar events for all modules. To reduce the number of alerts, use the ‘cog’ icon from the top-right corner of the Updates page. Here you can select the options you wish to receive notifications for and reduce the number of notifications.

·         an improved discussion tool

·         a new calendar tool with the option of linking to Outlook and Google – see http://youtu.be/pTdGOMAZhQY

·         an updated and enhanced content editor with math editor – see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMB365sPIEA&feature=youtu.be

·         improvements to the assessment tool especially for support of multiple versions of the same online examination and item analysis of assessment data

Further information is available at:

 

https://sites.google.com/a/qmu.ac.uk/hub/what-s-new

 

Information about mobile access to the Hub at:

 

 http://www.qmu.ac.uk/cap/Hub/mobile.htm

 

Staff may also attend one-hour workshops during the summer:

·         3^rd July at 10.15am

·         11^th July at 11.15am

·         15^th July at 2.15pm

·         24^th July at 10.15am

·         30th July at 2.15pm

To reserve a place: http://apps/capforms/workshopbooking.asp

 

Please note: more workshops will become available in August 2013.

 

For further information, please contact hub@qmu.ac.uk

 

Upgrade to the Hub – Friday June 21st at 10pm to Tuesday June 25th at 9am

 

There will be a small upgrade starting on Friday 21^st June at 10pm to the Hub which will provide:

·         an enhanced interface

·         an improved discussion tool

·         a new calendar tool with the option of linking to Outlook and Google – see http://youtu.be/pTdGOMAZhQY

·         an updated and enhanced content editor with math editor – see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMB365sPIEA&feature=youtu.be

 

·         improvements to the assessment tool especially for support of multiple versions of the same online examination and item analysis of assessment data

·         accessibility improvements.

To enable this upgrade, the Hub will not be available from Friday June 21^st at 10pm to Tuesday  June 25^th at 9am.

 

Online documentation including videos will be available. Staff may also attend one-hour workshops during the summer:

·         3^rd July at 10.15am

·         11^th July at 11.15am

·         15^th July at 2.15pm

·         24^th July at 10.15am

To reserve a place: http://apps/capforms/workshopbooking.asp

 

Please note: more workshops will become available in August 2013.

 

For further information, please contact hub@qmu.ac.uk

Hub module areas for 2013 - 2014

Hub module areas are now available to module co-coordinators. These module areas are a copy of the 2012-13 areas.

 What has not been copied?

·         Announcements

·         Discussions (forums, topics and posts)

·         Groups and group sets

·         Tasks

Please note: any links to specific groups, sign-up sheets or discussion forums / topics from a content area will no longer be valid and should be removed.

 What has been added?

 The following has been added to menu on the left-hand side:

·         Timetable 2013-14

·         Module Evaluation 2013-14

What do I need to do as module co-ordinator?

·         Remove all links to the previous module evaluation

·         Remove all links to the previous timetable

·         Remove the menu link “School Office Admin”

·         Add tutors and administrators as required

Please note: combined and programme areas have all tutors and administrators automatically added to 2013 – 2014 Hub areas.

 How do I edit menu items?

Existing menu items can be deleted, made visible / hidden or renamed by clicking the drop-down menu next to the menu item name and selecting the respective option. To re-order menu items, click and drag the far left of the menu item.

 How do I add other staff to module areas?

 This short video gives step by step instructions on how to add other members of staff to Hub areas: http://screencast.com/t/MUUkgZft1 

 When will 2012- 2013 module areas be removed from Hub for students and tutors?

 31^st August 2013.

 When will Hub module areas be available for students in 2013-2014?

9^th September 2013 for modules starting in semester 1.

 If you have any queries regarding your copied module areas please contact hub@qmu.ac.uk 

Copying module areas in the Hub for the next academic year (2013 – 2014)

In preparation for the next academic year (2013-2014) all current academic module areas in the Hub will be copied and made available to academic tutors. Tutors and current students will continue to have access to existing 2012-13 modules until the end of August 2013. Tutor access to existing areas can be extended and further information regarding this will be available in due course.

The copying process will begin from Monday 20^th May 2013 until Thursday 24^th May 2013. Any changes made to current Hub modules during this time will not be transferred to the new copy. During this time the Hub will remain available to all. The new modules will be available to staff shortly after this process. Confirmation will be sent via Moderator and blog messages.

Please note:

• the following will not by default be copied into the new module areas:

o   Discussion Forums

o   Discussion Topics

o   Discussion Posts

o   Groups and group sets

o   Announcements

 

• a new link to the module timetable will be added to the copied course. In some cases (for example if there has already been a link to the timetable added to the menu) this will result in copied areas having some duplication in the menu – any duplicate menu items, or menu items not required, can be removed by tutors.
 
•  an amended module evaluation will be added
• with some exceptions, only module leaders will be added to the copied areas
  
• 2013-14 semester 1 modules will be available to students from 9^th September 2013 with the exception of programmes that have an early start date.

A Moderator message and Hub blog will confirm once the copied modules are available. A short set of instructions will also be provided to assist tutors in editing and reordering their new module menus.

 Further information is available from hub@qmu.ac.uk

Accessing Module Evaluation results

Every Hub module contains a standard QMU module evaluation loaded by default with a link to it in the module menu. The link was initially hidden but can be made available at any time. Once available, students can complete the evaluation and tutors are able to review the results.

We now have a simple guide which outlines the processes of making the module evaluation available and of viewing the results. The guide can be accessed here: http://www.qmu.ac.uk/cap/TELPdfFiles/accessingModuleEvaluations.pdf

Reporting tools in the Hub - new documentation

A new tutor guide is available for using the generic reporting tools in the Hub. This covers how you can:

-  establish which areas and tools your students have been accessing in the Hub

- check who has access to your module in the Hub and their role;

- find out how often and when students have been accessing and posting to discussions

- print a report  showing group membership.


Full details available at:

http://www.qmu.ac.uk/cap/TELPdfFiles/TutorGuideforreportsv4.pdf

Please note this summer a new early warning system will be released.

Further information contact Hub@qmu.ac.uk

Printable Group Lists

We have been able to develop a report to provide an easy way for staff to see who has been enrolled on each group within a Hub area, as well as producing a usable printable view.
Details within the report include:

• Group name
• Number of users in group
• User ID (matric number for students)
• First and second names

To run this report, click on Evaluation > Course reports in the control panel of your Hub area. Scroll down until you see Group member roster then run the report.
The report can be generated in four different formats, these are:

• Excel
• Pdf
• HTML
• Word

If you choose to use word or excel formats, you may need to save them to your computer before being able to view them.

Any feedback regarding the report would be welcome with suggestions of what you would like added/removed or what could be improved. If you do have comments, please email me at jcurrie@qmu.ac.uk.

Thanks,
Joe

Workshop 16/1/13 - assessing online discussions

Wednesday 16^th January 2013

 10.15am – 12.30pm

 

We have been using online discussions to support learning and teaching for many years. Much has been learnt in this time about online behaviours and we have developed scaffolding and support models. However, one aspect that is still often debated is the assessment of online discussions. In this workshop, we shall discuss and explore some models and how they may inform assessment strategies. We provide exemplars and guidance on implementing an effective and sustainable approach for you, and your learners. This workshop is run by Jacquie Kelly from JISCinfoNet.

To book this workshop go to:

 http://apps/capforms/workshopbooking.asp