www.le.ac.uk

Three practical innovations:Webinars, Digital History, and iTunes U

Open University ChinaLeicester Workshop6 June 2013Terese BirdInstitute of Learning Innovation

What will we talk about?

• Webinars and innovative uses

• Creating and remixing OERs in the Digital Humanities: the Manufacturing Pasts project

• How Leicester is using iTunes U

I. Webinars

What is a webinar?

• Internet-facilitated browser meeting, possibly comprising voice, video, and computer-based demonstration

• Cross between Skype and the old video-conferencing

• AND IT RECORDS!

• Software:– Adobe Connect, Blackboard Collaborate, Go-To-

Meeting, Webex– Free versions: BigBlueButton, Google Hangouts

https://connect.le.ac.uk/p4szc71ziie/

Tech

• Computer with internet connection – wired connection is best

• Microphone

• Headphones – absolute must

• Webcam optional

• Always do Audio Setup Wizard

(under Meeting)

We use Adobe Connect

• Windows, Macs, but not Linux

• iOS devices need app

• Not perfect

• Many tools

Lectures• Slides probably more important than webcam

• Recorded – students can revise

• https://vimeo.com/64883732

Case study of Maths Assessment• Students presented their work to overseas

companies

• Everything was recorded for review and grading

Meetings

• Webcam is important

• Everyone will need a microphone

• Leave time at the beginning for fiddling with microphone

• Only one speaker at a time

• Try the whiteboard!

Focus Groups

• Everyone will need a microphone

• Leave time at the beginning for fiddling with microphone

• Only one speaker at a time

• May want to aim the webcam at something else

3 International Online Conferences• 200+ delegates

• 25 countries

• Every continent but Antarctica

• Save travel costs

• Easier to communicate with every other delegate

• Great for networking and meeting overseas friends

www.le.ac.uk

II. Manufacturing Pasts: learning about industrial change in twentieth century Britain

Digital History, Digital Humanities

What we did …

• Took Leicester as an example of the changing British industrial city

• Digitised selected photographs, company records, factory plans, newspaper articles, maps, oral history interviews from University and Record Office collections and put them online

• Created learning resources based on them

• Created ‘toolkit’ on how to use the resources

http://tinyurl.com/d4u3oc9

Making the history accessible

Making the history accessible - how• Created a website on

top of the database

• Used social media

• Mobile devices

• iTunes U

Manufacturing Pasts on iTunes U

Making the history accessible –to whom• Researchers

• Urban History students

• College students – extended project

• Local community

• Local historians

• Digital humanities scholars

Addressing needs of digital humanities researchers

Toolkit for researchers:

• Using visual sources in historical research

• Using oral testimony in historical research

• Provenance, judgment

Tools for students & teachers:

• Glossary, reference

• How to make your own

Powerful examples

• Sound clip – ‘It was silent’

• Virtual tour: Historic and Industrial Leicester

III. iTunes U: Learning and Research Channel for Students, Showcase to the World

www.le.ac.uk

SPIDER Project www.le.ac.uk/spideriTunes U Reach Project

iTunes U: free learning since 2007

iTunes U: free learning since 2007

iTunes U how to

iTunes U v YouTubeYouTube iTunes U

Ease to publish Easy Easy, must apply to Apple

Ease to grab Easy-ish Easy

Ease to adapt Not so easy Not so easy

CC Catered but hidden Catered but hidden (?)

Formats Video Audio, video, epub, pdf

Academic quality Mixed, diluted Very Good to Excellent

Internet connection Required at the time Not required at the time

Software Any browser Free iTunes software

Time limit 10 – 15 minutes* None

Restrictions Some countries cannot access

None

Restrictions in UK Schools don’t like Some unis don’t like

Mobile-ready Smartphones, tablets All including non-smart iPods, best on Apple

Ads Irritating ads No ads

How did Leicester launch?

ILI interested-OER (2010)

Marketing interested (2011)

Academics wanted to share

Apple made it easy (2012)

Launch March 2013

iTunes U Group at Leicester

Marketing

ILI

Academics “Just show

your university’s strengths”

What gets passed?• Each piece must have engaging learning content on

its own

• Video– Professional– If unprofessional: short “talking head”, slides or

demonstration with narrator

• Audio– Recorded lectures or talks– Shorter pedagogical podcasts– Research descriptions (10 minutes)

www.le.ac.uk

Examples

For the future: incorporate into distance learningGreater use in Medicine and other iPad courses