Something I also learnt, was we’d need to supply within our student support material advice around the management of files and the creation of collections on your Kindle.

So, all very nice The next stage is to explore models around how people can share notes around key texts, ie., we all need to read the article (PDF), make notes / comments and share with others on the course. The questions are … can it be done, what is the best way of doing it with the least amount of fuss …

I have downloaded it, and created my first ebook. Which was authored in Google Docs, downloaded in an HTML format, converted and shared with me Kindle. All very simple, and looks great – except it took the authors comments when converted (so I must remove those next time).

The next stage is to take a more authentic material in the format of a course handbook, assessement guidelines, lecture notes etc., and convert these are start to look at formating issues. So, I’ve take four some course content material (in doc format) from a course on our Blackboard system. I’ll upload into Google, sort out the formating, download and convert.

At the same time I’ll review the course to synthesis the functionality from a distance learning, cross reference this with the Inst of Educations – pedagogical templates for e-Learning report (which has already done this) and come up with a cunning plan.

A question which keeps nagging away with me is … how can I distribute a large number of e-books, to a large number of ebook readers with the least amount of effort? I feel some work on google is coming up, plus help from friends on Twitter.

My desired workflow is … our distance learning courses are deployed using Google Educational Apps, we send a kindle each student at the start of the course with reading material, handbooks, reading lists etc., We might then be able to update those and send the later version. These documents are located within the google educational apps area so they can access them without a Kindle (if so required), and will also be able to complete the other functions expected on the course, ie., access learning material, synchronous and asychronous communication, group collaboration, complete quizzes & surveys, and the submission of an assignment / report.

This is quite exciting because if we sent them a Kindle Fire (see a comparison with the iPad 2 - http://digitaldesi.com/) they should be able complete the required tasks on one device

So, next step is to look into the ease of authoring Kindle ebooks …. there must be an effective, convert your html docs to Kindle format application somewhere

a chapter reviews, where I have a key recommended text, which I’m reading, bookmarking and making notes on. I then want to share these with others in my group (using a google doc) to develop a critique as a piece of work to be submitted. So, w.r.t a kindle, how do I do this? will it let me do this?

The baby is charging on my desk, so the next step is to start working out how to take notes, annotations, and upload these to share learning spaces.

Also, I’d like to undertake a old fashioned desk study and identify how have people been using Kindles in learning and teaching?

see >>> http://wolseyweb.ucs.ac.uk/blogs/elevate/?p=1347

I have deliberately designed the poster to be visually engaging however, I have included very little support material in terms of what is a QR code, and no alternative short urls. This is due to me wanting to identify if students do recognise a QR Code, and do they scan it? So, given I have built this, will they come?

The posters will be available until the 20th January. When I’ll write up some observations.

Step 1: Getting the files out of Blackboard

Access the course gradebook, select the drop down menu for the column you want, select download file [a new screen opens], select ungraded [top right link], click on submit, and download the zip file to the desktop

Step 2: Uploading to Dropbox from computer

Access dropbox account, create a folder with appropriate name [module id within a folder teaching], upload the zip file to this folder, once uploaded double click on the zip file and it will unpack into your dropbox space (creating a new sub folder), once finished in the folder and ensure you have the files, then delete the zip file from dropbox and your desktop

Step 3: prep for marking

in your dropbox create a folder where you will store the annotated versions)

Step 4: annotate the file in iAnnotate

on your iPad open dropbox, find the file to annotate and open it in iAnnotate, annotate the file, and save it back to dropbox [click on open in ... select Flattened ... dropbox .... select the folder]

Step 5: attach feedback file to person in gradebook

————

To date >>> steps 1 to 3 took less than 5 minutes to upload over 50 scripts. Now need to mark them

The aim is to focus on the task we are trying to achieve and work through a technology which will let use easily complete the task. So they will cover defining the tasks, illustrating how the technology can be effectively used, and raising some of the issues around their use.

The sessions are;

• Working effectively in groups using Google Docs (Monday 5th Dec 12.00 to 12.30 & Thursday 8th Dec, 1.00 to 1.30)
• Developing your subject knowledge through creating a private learning network (Tuesday 6th Dec, 12.00 to 12.30)
• Managing all your web links using Diigo (Wednesday 7th Dec, 12.30 to 1.00)

If you’d like more information please email elevate@ucs.ac.uk

A suggestion would be those two teams become a special interest group, to mirror the sys admin group, with there own regular meetings / training sessions.

Goo.gl/a6kLc
Goo.gl/bdxPO

Martin hamilton …. Head of Internet services, uni of Loughborough … Google email etc.,

Access from anywhere

Google apps person

8 core apps, with 64 which can be added

Keep informed …. What is new in google apps … Search, and links to google calendar, look at google apps for education, integration tab.

Check out …. Costs of a google apps, hosted service using our ldap / ad

Questions … Nice use of google moderator

Use with students …. Uni of Chester …. Use of google with a document which follows them. Used google sites, use as an e-portfolio, with integration into assessed work.

Use with staff, google motion path, put in the assessment data, and see workloads etc.,

What is a chrome book … Runs google os, as dummy type terminal. 15 per month if centrally managed … Kind of mac os approach, locked down in terms of virus control.

As mentioned by Emma, lots going on at UCS (as we are partner in the strategy). However, it sounds like we need to be a little more coordinated in terms of clearly articulating our strategy (awareness raising, support). In particular,

• a central provided space on intranet
• role of Elevate Team in staff development
• role of Health & Safety in Staff induction
• provision of appropriate checklists, and awareness material
• role of SU in Student Induction,
• role of SU in student campaigns
• role of Student Services for students

A small working group, including Emma, Acad Development, could draw together all our stuff into a coherent piece for all stakeholders at UCS, and we should have e-safety as part of a wider discussion around use of externally hosted services in teaching and learning at UCS.

This sounds a big job, however, see >>> http://www.jisclegal.ac.uk/Themes/eSafety.aspx