Technologies
Lecture Capture
For the 2010/2011 academic year, the Audio Visual and e-Learning teams will be working together to support and enhance practical use of the lecture capture software Panopto as another means of enhancing the student experience.
This innovative web browser-based application provides users with the functionality they need to record lectures, capture presentations and archive training sessions – all in a digital, searchable format that empowers students to watch lecture recordings and take additional notes on material they might have missed in the lecture first time around.
With Moodle-Panopto integration already available, your students could be watching a recording of your lecture within a couple of hours of it finishing, simply by clicking on an automatically generated link within your Moodle course.
The Panopto platform allows recordings to be made in two ways:
- Equipment has been installed in lecture theatres to allow recordings to be made automatically. At a basic level, any interactions with a PC are captured, along with any audio. In large lecture theatres, ceiling mounted cameras can also capture video of the lecturer.
- You can download (or have installed) the Panopto Recorder onto your own computer and record your presentation using off the shelf microphones, cameras or webcams connected to the PC.
Imperial College London have developed a set of Lecture Capture scenarios using Panopto, which colleagues might find to be of interest. For further information, please contact the Audio Visual Unit at: lecture-capture@bath.ac.uk.
Audience Response System
Since the beginning of the 2008/2009 academic year, the e-Learning team have been supporting a TurningPoint-based Audience Response System (ARS). The ARS at the University of Bath now totals 400 clickers, which are available in bags of 40 or 80 handsets, accompanied by 1 USB RF receiver per bag.
The TurningPoint 2008 software works within Microsoft PowerPoint [2003, 2007 and 2010 versions], giving lecture slides greater impact. The ARS is more than just a simple voting system, allowing lecturers to collect and analyse feedback in a variety of ways through TurningReports. Following any lecture, results from activities can be shared quickly and easily through complimentary software such as Moodle.
The ARS is a tool for giving effective and immediate feedback to students. Additionally, it is an anonymous and formative feedback mechanism, which can be used to promote deep learning by students within a face to face content. Teaching related to such elements has already been completed and presented at conferences by fellow colleagues at the University of Bath as referenced in an archived blog post.
In addition to this software and hardware solution, the e-Learning team are also beginning to pilot additional TurningPoint products to support learning and teaching.
TurningPoint AnyWhere allows for polls outside of Microsoft PowerPoint, allowing lecturers to poll content in whiteboard software, web browsers, PDFs, Word documents and more.
Both TurningPoint 2008 and TurningPoint AnyWhere can be downloaded from the Resources section of this website.
R
esponseCard Anywhere is a versatile form of the TurningPoint ARS. With a receiver equipped with an LCD screen, polling results can be displayed on a device in your hand. Perfect for those off-campus field trips when transporting a laptop in a backpack might not be feasible.
With ResponseWare Web, lecturers can present a question during lectures and have students respond in real-time using a Wi-Fi or data connection. Additionally, ResponseWare can be used seamlessly in mixed environments alongside traditional ResponseCards.
ResponseWare can also be used in computer lab sessions for a range of purposes, including formative assessment and evaluation. This solution has already been piloted in the Department of Economics at the University of Bath with some success.
The latest application to be released from the TurningPoint stable of software is their PresenterWare application. PresenterWare offers remote control of polling functionality within TurningPoint 2008 and TurningPoint AnyWhere from iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices.
Short Messaging Service (SMS)
txttools online applications allow you to send and receive SMS text messages securely from your desktop to a large group or single mobile phone instantly – potentially within a face to face context. Utilising software such as Wordle, lectures can collate responses quickly for instant display within any lecture.
SMS Project Lead, Geraldine Jones, has published related to area in conjunction with colleagues in the Department of Education in a journal article entitled: How can mobile SMS communication support and enhance a first year undergraduate learning environment? It can be downloaded at: http://drgn.in/dxiLyX
Visualizers
A visualizer is a flexible presentation tool. It can pick-up any kind of material (books, photos, 3-dimensional objects etc.) quickly and easily and provides a high resolution output signal for video/data projectors, monitors, interactive whiteboards or videoconferencing systems.
Sympodiums
A sympodum is an interactive pen display which is connected to the computer at the front of a range of teaching rooms around the university campus.
It projects your work onto a large screen for your audience to see while you interact with the content via the interactive display.
For example, you can write over PowerPoint slides in digital ink, access websites or multimedia files, and save your notes.
Papershow
Over the last couple of years, there has been a growing interest in Papershow, a digital writing solution that enables to instantly display handwritten notes from the paper to screen.
The e-Learning team has some Papershow kits that can be lent out to colleagues and Departments on a short term basis. Further details on this technology can be found within the relevant blog post.
