SharePoint for Teaching and Learning
description
Transcript of SharePoint for Teaching and Learning
SharePoint for Teaching and Learning
Use of Microsoft SharePoint in UK Higher Education Institutions
25th November 2009
Les Walczowski and Mark Ellis
School of Engineering and Digital Arts
University of Kent
Contents
• Learning Environments
• Implementation
• Walkthrough
• Student Evaluation
• Future Work
Issues in 2007 with University System
• Extremely high maintenance costs
• High training costs (time and money)
• Inflexible – difficult and costly to add increased functionality
• Difficult to integrate with other platforms
• Difficult to engage staff and students
• Lack of standardisation between courses
• Poor collaboration tools
E-Learning 2.0 Portal Requirements
• Structures and organises learning materials
• Provides students with easy access to course documents lecture notes online courseware assignments communication tools
• Integrates with administrative databases
• Intuitively easy to use for staff and students
• Utilises Web 2.0 technologies
• Is easily extended with new functionality
Microsoft SharePoint Server 2007
• ASP.NET based
• Can develop web-parts programmed in C#
• Provides many Web 2.0 features such as: collaborative spaces discussion tools publishing tools RSS feeds Blogs Wikis document management workflow and access control
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Internet
SharePoint Server
Windows single sign-on
Content Database Student Data System
(student records)
Learning Management System
Customized Curriculum Maps
Learning Resources
Course Blogs
Coursework Submission
IT Support
Discussion Groups
Personalized Timetables
Other Services
e-Portfolio Sub-System
Per-User Customization
Web-folio Flash-folio
Departmental Data System
Implementation
LMPS Components
• Web parts programmed in C#
LMPS Components
• Extensive use of Jan Tielens “SmartPart”
• Allows use of VS user controls (ascx files) in SharePoint application
• Hence use VS designer tools for building elements of the User Interface
Structure of the Learning Management Portal System (LMPS)
• Currently LMPS interfaces to about 100 SharePoint websites
• Based around the modules that a student is registered for
• Module web sites include: Module specification Coursework submission Announcements Timetables Assignments Course Materials Lecturer blogs Discussion groups
Example Uses
• Blogs course lecturers can provide extra information and
discussion for each course that is part of a programme
Students invited to add their own comments
• Wikis can be used by students to document group projects
• RSS feeds available on most pages
• Coursework submission Off campus access means students can submit work
from any PC connected to internet
Custom templates for modules, programmes, committees and blogs
Templates – consistent look and feel
links to programme web sites
links to module web sites,
personalised to lecturer
RSS feed from local news
sources
menu includes link to weekly personalised
timetable
Portal Home Page – Faculty view
RSS feed from local news
sources
module announcements aggregator
coursework schedule in week due order
links to programme web sites
links to module web
sites, personalised
to student
menu includes links to
personalised timetable and SMS Service
Portal Home Page – Student view
menu includes link to program specification
anddiscussion board
links to all module web sites
Portal – Programme Page
interface to allow editing and deletion of module
announcements
interface to allow insertion of new module
announcements
module assignments listing
Module Page - Faculty View
module assignments
listing
course materials download
interface to allow submission of assignments
attendance monitor
Module Page – Student view
Support Pages – IT
School Calendar
Committee Pages
Student Evaluation
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Electronics News and …
BBC News
Links to Kentmail and SDS
List of “My Modules”
List of Assignments due in next 5 …
Module announcements summary
SMS Timetable Texting Service
Weekly “My Timetable”
On-line coursework submission
Lecture Notes
Assignment/Workshop scripts
Past Exam Questions
Module Specification
Module Blog
Module discussion forums
Module “My Attendance” …
Not Used
1
2
3
4
5
Key: 1 (not useful) to 5 (very useful)
Student Comments … the good
• “Very helpful.”
• “The assignments due section is excellent so I know clearly what work has to be handed in and when.”
• “It is an excellent improvement on what was available last year and is very useful for quickly accessing the information needed on modules and timetable information.”
• “Its brilliant!! So much better than the last one. I wonder if other departments or universities have something so useful and impressive. But how come you have to close the whole browser to be signed out completely? This doesn't really matter... but I have wondered why this was put in place.”
… and the helpful
• “Great new look, could be quicker updated to reflect work extensions though. Discussion forums are massively under used for some reason.”
• “The "Select" links when uploading coursework need to be made more obvious.”
• “Very good system. Although having the timetable update faster would be useful.”
• “The current "select" button should be renamed to something more obvious such as "upload" in order to upload work to the portal.”
SharePoint has allowed us to:
• Build a Learning environment using Web Parts programmed in C#
• Integrate with already available databases
• Use an integrated authentication system
• Target specific audiences Undergraduate Postgraduate Academic Staff Others
• Use Built-in tools: Surveys, Wikis, Blogs, Discussion groups, RSS
feeds, Full search engine etc.
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Future Developments
• Integration with Moodle
• Use of SharePoint Learning Kit
• Use of MySite for e-Portfolios
• Rebuild Summer 2010 with SharePoint 2010
links to module web sites,
personalised to student or staff
RSS feed to local news
personalwork-spaces eg
blog and e-portfolio
personaldocument library
Portal – Customization Using My Site