tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53319502321587067552011-07-08T08:46:31.133+01:00Here you'll find all the questions sent to us by staff in our colleges and universities through our JISCAsk initiative and answered by our team of eAdvisors. Send any questions by email to support@rsc-sw-scotland.ac.uk and put JISCAsk in the subject line.RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.comBlogger371100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-41487827080901738962010-02-04T14:43:00.013Z2010-05-17T15:14:39.504+01:00

I’m a subject librarian and I want to make it easier for our students to identify which of the many databases which are available to them to use in order to search for information. I’m trying to get away from lists of databases, and I’ve got this idea of a ‘decision support tool’ (not even sure if that’s the right term) which can go on our VLE. It would be a bit like a simple flowchart, through

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-3235776066472641912010-02-04T14:35:00.007Z2010-02-25T15:51:17.547Z

The seventh edition of this annual report has just been published and describes emerging technologies likely to have an impact on teaching & learning in Colleges and Universities in the next five years. The report describes in relatively plain English technologies which you may have heard of but not experienced and outlines with examples how they are already being used in academic institutions.

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-81930469838361645042009-08-26T16:00:00.002+01:002010-07-20T12:18:59.529+01:00

We have a highly vulnerable student who has a learning disability and started with us this term. She has become very sophisticated in the use of chat rooms to make contact with strangers and has actually met up with one or two people in the past. We feel we have a duty of care to reduce the chances of her contacting people in this way, whilst we try to build up her awareness and skills in

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-64999360036292494232009-08-26T15:57:00.001+01:002009-08-26T16:00:36.564+01:00

There are a number of screen grab tools on the market that are ideal for writing guides. Screenshot Captor is a freeware (donation requested) product which is great for simplifying and speeding up lots of screen capture processes: http://www.donationcoder.com/Software/Mouser/screenshotcaptor/index.htmlAnother option is SNAGIT (from TechSmith). The version I’ve got has CamStudio bundled in, which

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-49455201018196882592009-05-20T14:57:00.004+01:002009-05-20T15:20:45.577+01:00

I have had experience of using these and feel that they have great potential in learning & teaching and also as a means of engaging learners in cross-college evaluation; to say nothing of raising their awareness of "political" processes. With the new HMIe focus on learner engagement in college quality processes/evaluation and the various equalities legislation duties to engage service users, now

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-16344055650142369662009-05-20T14:51:00.002+01:002009-05-20T15:21:38.851+01:00

We have spoken to Dragon Naturally Speaking suppliers who say that unfortunately Dragon would not be able to transcribe these recordings as it is unable to transcribe for more than one user profile at any one time. Also I think it would struggle with the conversational style of the recording. Dragon works well when the speaker is dictating but struggles with natural conversation that is not in

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-66064887213324150532009-05-20T14:49:00.002+01:002009-05-20T15:22:22.377+01:00

This is possibly due to part time students not being issued with individual institutional user IDs. Some organisations find it difficult to administer the issuing of user IDs to part time students. This would allow them to access any of the federated materials from home with their institutional login credentials.

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-25971332929873753562009-05-20T12:54:00.002+01:002009-05-20T15:23:01.474+01:00

It would be highly unusual for the sale of the slides to be made on any other basis than that the images be used only in their slide format. Any 'alteration' of the images including digitisation would therefore not be allowed under the original agreement.You could contact the rights holders for permission to digitise the slides for educational use. Information about the rights holders will

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-8610910719404910442009-05-20T12:52:00.001+01:002009-05-20T15:23:45.513+01:00

You could try:OnestopEnglish - http://www.onestopenglish.com/ This website is a teacher's resource site organised and run by Macmillan Education in order to help EFL, ESL and ESOL teachers.There is a also a section on our own subject directory providing links to a number of resources to support his area of the curriculum - http://www.rsc-sw-scotland.ac.uk/mmm_learning_resources/esol.htm

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-31546492825773589122009-05-20T12:50:00.002+01:002009-05-20T15:24:28.475+01:00

http://www.intute.ac.uk/ provides access to high quality Internet based resources, chosen by subject specialists in FE & HE, according to their quality, accuracy and usefulness for supporting teaching and learning.Case studies and lesson plans to help get ideas are also available on the site and the Intute: Virtual Training Suite provides free Internet tutorials to help you learn how to get the

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-10370925156140918412009-05-20T12:45:00.002+01:002009-05-20T15:24:53.090+01:00

There are a few websites that will provide you with different stylesheets and in particular ones that are deemed to be more accessible.Firstly have a look at our Scottish RSC Inclusion Blog at http://www.scottish-rscs.org.uk/access/?page_id=6 and scroll down the page to the article entitled ‘Customising Internet Explorer for you and your learners’. This article will take you directly to our

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-56846755978614787662009-05-20T12:39:00.002+01:002009-05-20T15:25:19.898+01:00

I do not know any way of saving or converting a PPT file to play on a TV through DVD. As far as I know, a computer would have to be used. However I have a couple of alternative suggestions. Microsoft has a free programme called "Photostory" which allows you to make video from images - you can add titles, captions, music and the software is all wizard driven, really easy to use and great fun. You

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-81188779341245602862009-05-20T12:35:00.003+01:002009-05-20T15:25:49.268+01:00

There are some excellent mental health resources which you might be interested in. These links offer multi-media based information, practical support and insights into mental health issues which might be of help to staff or students within your institution who require psycho-social support or who are interested in finding out more about mental health issues.Living Life to the FullDeveloped at the

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-64970124654881560112008-10-16T14:18:00.002+01:002009-05-20T15:26:45.279+01:00

The Technical Advisory Service for Images (TASI) provides advice and guidance on the creation and use of digital image collections in learning, teaching and research. Included on their website is a section that deals with Copyright and Data Protection and in relation to this specific JISCask query, their website does state that:“If your image includes recognisable images of living people, you

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-30770709358882731492008-10-16T14:14:00.002+01:002009-05-20T15:27:22.936+01:00

I recently came across some useful guides on using Microsoft Office Applications. Guides from Office 97 through to the newest version – Office 2007 are available on the Custom Guide website to use by non- profit making organisations. The guides can be used online or downloaded and printed for learners who prefer to work from paper-based materials.

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-25784459021608436092008-10-16T13:13:00.002+01:002009-05-20T15:27:55.985+01:00

A screener for Dyscalculia is being developed at Loughborough University. Work on the screener is still in progress with some modifications being made after extensive trials were held in Autumn 2006. Details of these trials are contained in the presentation Clare Trott from the Mathematics Education Centre at Loughborough University made at the DDIG Conference in 2007 and can be seen on the DDIG

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-53349159856574059082008-10-16T13:07:00.002+01:002009-05-20T15:30:15.669+01:00

If it is SmartBoards ™ that you have installed the Smart Technologies website has a Teachers hub in the Education section with lessons and resources that can be downloaded and used or adapted. SmartBoards ™ come with some preinstalled learning objects and there are also over 100 multimedia learning objects available to use from NLN which work very successfully with interactive whiteboards. The

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-55716593958318563802008-10-16T13:05:00.002+01:002009-05-20T15:30:51.354+01:00

I’m not sure it’s the students that are afraid! New research is showing that learners in general are very comfortable with using ICT and a publication from JISC last year, “In Their Own Words” provides a useful perspective of learners’ experiences, beliefs and motivations in relation to e-learning – you can download a copy from the JISC website.I think successful eLearning courses depend on

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-8691043325198383652008-10-16T12:58:00.002+01:002009-05-20T15:31:17.362+01:00

There are a few free web based solutions which would allow you to convert traditional text into audio:Spoken TextSpokenText is a free online text to audio converter. Using it you can convert Word, PDF, PowerPoint, plain text files, web pages, RSS 2 feeds and emails to spoken audio which you can then listen too online or transfer to your iPod. Using SpokenText it is easy to provide alternative

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-60740351908835976192008-10-16T12:37:00.002+01:002009-05-20T15:31:47.893+01:00

It’s easy to get overwhelmed with what’s available. In the first instance I would suggest you concentrate on learning about the technologies that are currently available at your own institution. For example, find out what interactive whiteboards you have, check out your VLE and see if there is any resource creation software that your institution already owns.

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-36736179079294942332008-10-16T12:33:00.002+01:002009-05-20T15:32:24.467+01:00

Using your college VLE is an excellent way to support distance learning students. Making your course materials available on the VLE with supported interactive resources such as the camtasia screen shots is a good place to start. Converting traditional paper-based resources to electronic resources is a difficult task and there are lots things to consider, particularly when designing materials to

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-15784820752078471382008-10-16T12:22:00.002+01:002009-05-20T15:32:59.051+01:00

It’s a difficult question to answer because the rate of technological developments is so rapid. Right now there is no doubt in my mind that Web 2.0 technologies can provide the mechanics to encourage more reflection and peer review. Keeping a blog, for example, which can be designed, personalised and incorporate media like images and video, may be a more attractive vehicle for learners to use as

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-255356433196076552008-10-16T12:20:00.002+01:002009-05-20T15:33:27.253+01:00

One really important thing you can do when authoring word documents is use the heading styles. In your document, don’t just embolden the words you want to use as headings, instead use the in- built heading structures.This in turn allows a reader to read a summary of all your headings and sub headings within your word document using the document map. To read a document using the document map,

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-77917732376527184612008-10-16T12:13:00.002+01:002009-05-20T15:34:31.613+01:00

Yes you can. By setting up the show in “Kiosk” mode the mouse is disabled. When you’ve finished creating your presentation, go to slide show; set up show; click browsed at a kiosk. This means that the presentation will restart after 5 minutes of inactivity and loop continuously but it’s useful for dealing with the mouse scroller problem that you’ve encountered.

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-58209948748518293102008-10-16T12:11:00.002+01:002009-05-20T15:35:03.147+01:00

Every institution has two or three nominated staff with download privileges for the NLN materials, to ensure that multiple files are not downloaded to the server and they are behind a secure login. If you are unable to find out who the NLN nominated staff are in your college, please contact the RSC and we will be happy to tell you.

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-17827456699209064322008-10-16T12:10:00.002+01:002009-05-20T15:35:35.905+01:00

You could autosummarise any long documents - Did you know that you can actually summarise your long word documents to get a synopsis of the written information? It’s pretty simple to do. Basically you would just go to the tool bar, click on tools and find AutoSummarise. You then have the choice of how you would like to view that summarized document. You can also decide how long you want that

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-11298046391754637552008-10-16T12:00:00.002+01:002009-05-20T15:36:05.262+01:00

Research identifies a number of benefits to using online assessments (sometimes referred to as eAssessment). Benefits include the fact that immediate & timely feedback can be given to students, and there is a reduction in marking time for tutors. There are a number of assessment banks becoming available nationally such as SQA’s SOLAR project. This project is making available online Summative

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-8833315822086726812008-10-16T11:55:00.002+01:002009-05-20T15:36:38.474+01:00

You should always assume that all material on the Internet is protected by copyright even if there isn't a copyright notice on the website. Many websites will have a copyright notice which can usually be found at the bottom of the homepage. This will make it clear what you can and cannot do with the information on the website. If there isn't a copyright notice always check with the owner of the

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-30080627459799479952008-10-16T11:44:00.005+01:002009-05-20T15:38:15.667+01:00

To find out what training we have on offer at the RSC go to the Events page on our website. There you will find some extra information and also a booking form for all our events. To book onto an event simply open the booking form and either fill it in on-line and email it to us at support@rsc-sw-scotland.ac.uk or you can print it out and post it to us (but don’t forget to ask your staff developer

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-34651893681570036452008-10-16T11:44:00.004+01:002009-05-20T15:37:31.956+01:00

ePlan is a package of support measures devised by RSC Scotland South & West to help colleges develop their staff in the use of ICT within their college role. It consists of support in developing the college ICT strategy, a bespoke Training Needs Analysis for all staff run by the RSC on behalf of the college, a range of targeted training programmes for all staff, and a benchmarking toolkit known

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-61103034660756821512008-10-16T11:11:00.002+01:002009-05-20T15:38:58.289+01:00

Skype technology was developed as a peer to peer network of skype nodes much in the same way as the file sharing applications Kazaa and Napster.This means that any Skype client left running will assess how much bandwidth is available to it and then use it for its own Skype services without the user ever suspecting what is happening to their own PC, this is called a Super Node.In practical terms,

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-64841048399384934622008-10-16T10:29:00.006+01:002009-05-20T15:39:25.060+01:00

Many learners have difficulty accessing printed material as a result of sensory, physical, literacy or dyslexic type difficulties. This type of difficulty is often referred to as ‘print disabled’. Other students may benefit from information in alternative formats because they have English as an Additional Language. Information can be provided in a variety of ways other than printed text on paper,

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-68515880177113005002008-10-16T10:25:00.002+01:002009-05-20T15:39:50.575+01:00

I know it’s sometimes difficult to organise access to computers and plan when you will require them in the context of a traditionally organised unit or course. My advice would be to keep it simple at the start and try to encourage your learners to investigate topics in a semi structured way by distributing activity sheets as “Word” documents. Feedback sessions to discuss, focus, contextualise and

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-47653443807454063442008-10-16T10:19:00.003+01:002009-05-20T15:40:13.842+01:00

Well it’s difficult to give a definitive answer to this. In it’s simplest form, web 2.0 refers to technologies that enable the concept of the “writable” web where users are not just consumers but actively contribute to the content of it. The commonly used services that exploit Web 2.0 technologies are Blogs, Wikis, Social Bookmarking sites, Social Networking sites, content syndication (RSS feeds)

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-31413268803015527912008-10-16T09:55:00.006+01:002009-05-20T15:40:39.077+01:00

Yes it’s tempting at times to use images from web pages, but as you say quite rightly, you are breaching copyright by using them without permission. There are sites that promise free images but in my experience they aren’t very reliable. If in doubt though check the terms of use. See if your institution subscribes to SCRAN or the Education Image Galley. Access to these collections has been

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-55217713967163725332008-10-16T09:50:00.003+01:002009-05-20T15:41:03.996+01:00

Try http://www.intute.ac.uk/ - Intute is a free online service funded by JISC providing you with access to the very best Web resources for education and research. The service is created and hosted by a network of UK universities and partners. Subject specialists select and evaluate the websites in the database and write high quality descriptions of the resources.I recommend that you click on the

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331950232158706755.post-60803810719514563512008-10-10T14:06:00.005+01:002009-05-20T15:29:38.684+01:00

Materials online are almost always more accessible than paper based alternatives. It is important to produce materials electronically; as this can be a solution to many accessibility issues. For example colours, fonts and magnification are often easy to customise.Text can usually be read out with appropriate screen reading software. Navigation can be easier than using a book (particularly for

RSC Staffnoreply@blogger.com0