20 July 2011
Learning on the move for Dundee students
Students at the University of Dundee can now access modules, announcements, and learning materials on the move.
The University’s Library and Learning Centre has now made My Dundee, the institution’s virtual learning environment (VLE), available via the Blackboard Mobile Learn app, which can be downloaded onto a variety of mobile devices including iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, as well as Android, Blackberry and Palm smartphones.
Blackboard is the University’s virtual learning environment (VLE), providing the central access point for students to their learning materials across the institution.
Delivered to staff and students as MyDundee, the VLE provides a range of ways for lecturers to support a blended approach to their module delivery and for students to access core module materials, including lecture notes, PowerPoint presentations, past papers, and formative assessments.
Now, using Mobile Learn, students and staff will now be able to keep up to date with the latest course announcements and recent postings from their modules, wherever they are.
'We have put this in place in recognition of the fact that mobile technologies continue to be on the rise,' said Dr Lorraine Walsh, Head of eLearning at Library and Learning Centre.
'For example, in the recent LLC student e-learning survey, just over 50% of students out of 1550 respondents indicated that they have a smartphone. Increasingly, students expect to be able to use the capacity of these devices to access online information.'
The arrival of Mobile Learn will provide learners with control over where, when and how they access their learning materials, and help staff to enhance student engagement and interaction.
Navid Gornall, Vice-President for Communications for Dundee University Students Association, said 'This technology is responsive to how students work and study. We’re delighted that the University is continuing to invest in this technology. This is undoubtedly the future of learning.'
The development adds a new dimension to the learning experience, especially for students unable to access fixed networked PCs on a regular basis - valid not only for campus-based students but also for international distance learners. The potential of this approach has already been demonstrated by the Assessment and Learning in Practice Settings project, which recently won an international award for their work in this area (see www.alps-cetl.ac.uk/index.html)
Mobile Learn will be of particular interest to students with a practice or work-based element to their studies. Student medics, nurses, teachers, social workers and others will now be able to keep up to date with the latest module information while on placements where gaining access to networked PCs is difficult. The potential of this approach has already been demonstrated by the Assessment and Learning in Practice Settings project, which recently won an international award for their work in this area.
Mobile Learn will also aid inclusive practice in learning and teaching. Andy McMahon, IT Disability Support Specialist, ICS, commented, 'The Mobile Learn app is very useful for disabled students as it makes it possible for them to access My Dundee learning materials using their portable Apple devices.'
Trials have indicated this may prove to be an effective and popular access route, particularly for visually impaired, EFL and students with language processing difficulties (dyslexia). Apple’s VoiceOver technology, available by default on recent iOS devices (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch), reads the content (PDF, Word, PowerPoint documents) and delivers it via a synthetic voice which will aid comprehension and access. Navigation is efficient as a result of the app’s simple interface.
For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07800 581902 |
