Author Archives: Mark Ayton

Make the Web Come to You: Simple tools and techniques that keep you in the loop

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Do you want to keep track of the online debates and conversations taking place in your community of practice and beyond? Do you struggle to find time to check what is being said through all the relevant web sites, blogs, journals and social networking sites?

As part of the Emerging Technologies series this 1 hour session is an introduction to using things such as feed readers, RSS feeds, social networking and micro-blogging sites to follow topics, people and conversations on the subjects that interest you.

Although aimed at those relatively new to this way of keeping up to date, if you have already been using these tools feel free to come along and share your own experiences and tips for making good use of them.

The session will be delivered by Peter Beaumont at 1pm, 22nd June.

Edge Hill University staff can book by clicking here.

If there are technologies you’d like to see covered in future sessions of this series please suggest them in a comment.

Mark Ayton

Learning Technology Development Manager

Game changer or hype: Does the iPad change anything/everything?

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As part of the Emerging Technologies programme, on the 20th May the spot light will be on the iPad…

The original iPad was a landmark product that created a step change in the market for mobile devices. The phenomenal sales success of this device carries on with the recent introduction of the iPad2, and many other tablet manufacturers are enjoying success by association. These devices provide ready access to information with ease of use and portability, a very appealing combination for students who are increasingly balancing their studies with other commitments.

If you’re new to the world of tablet computing or you have a device you’d like to use to better effect, if you feel your students’ experience could be enhanced or you’ve got experiences you wish to share with others, this 1 hour lunchtime session is for you.

Including findings from a recent EHU project investigating the potential of eReaders/iPads, and the 2010 EHU Student eLearning survey, the session is available for Edge Hill University staff on:

Friday 20 May 2011 from 1pm to 2pm. Click here to book a place

Did you know… We’re keeping up with Emerging Technology

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We’ve been using technology in teaching for years, some of it for so long that we don’t even think of it as technology any more. Keeping up to date with delivery techniques helps ensure a good experience for our students.

Here in the Learning Technology Development team we look for up and coming ideas that are attracting the interests of academic staff and students. Although new technology is sometimes seen as the answer to a question that was never asked, after a while someone will attempt to use it to help learning. By following the experiences of these early adopters we are able to assist the uptake of new technology, and the development of techniques to use it for a wider audience.

So where does technology emerge from and how can you keep up to date?

There are many web-sites, and social / professional networks that can provide insight into what’s happening now and what’s coming up…

The Learning Technology Development team have recently been delivering sessions to showcase Emerging Technologies. The first covered applications for QR-Codes, the second shared experiences with Professional Blogs, and we have a third planned for 20th May on using the iPad (Edge Hill University staff can book here). We also have ideas for future sessions including Cloud Computing, Creative Digital Technologies, Assessing On-line and Staying Technology Aware, but what we’d really like to know is…

Are there Emerging Technologies that you’d like a closer look at? Let us know in a comment.

Alternatively contact us directly at ltdsupport@edgehill.ac.uk

Mark Ayton

Learning Technology Development Manager (ext. 7758)

Emerging Technologies

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On the 29th March the Learning Technology Development Team are offering their second staff information exchange session in this series:

Coming of Age: Professionalising the Blog

EdgeHill News 21Mar11 screen captureDo you have an image and message you need to get out to a wider audience? Are you a blogger or thinking about starting a professional blog that focuses on aspects of academic practice?

Blogs are now a mainstream social media tool used to promote the ‘business’ of Edge Hill.

As an information/education tool blog owners are increasing concerned with blog ‘etiquette’, editorial guidelines where there are multiple authors and finding better ways of improving ‘discoverability’ and impact.

This session will bring together current and prospective bloggers to discuss the pros, cons and pitfalls of starting, maintaining and promoting your own blog.

To join the discussion staff can follow this link to reserve a place on the session:

Tuesday 29 March 2011, 13:00 – 14:00 in LINC IT 2

Emerging Technologies

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This week sees delivery of the first in a series of sessions on Emerging Technologies from the Learning Technology Development Team:

QR Codes: Bridging paper and web?

Have you seen code blocks similar to this appearing in magazines, on signs, buses, business cards, or on just about any object about which people might need information? Have you wondered what they mean or how they can be read?

 

 

This 1 hour interactive workshop will introduce participants to the world of Quick Response (QR) Codes – these are 2D barcodes that can be scanned with a smart‑phone, iPod Touch or similar. QR codes are flexible – the information embedded in the code can contain just about any information you want – text, a web address, contact information or can even send a text message.

There are still places available, so if you want to find out how you could benefit by using QR-Codes follow this link to reserve your place:

16th March 2011 1pm-2pm in LINC ICT 2