What is it?
Applications/
tools available
The Portal
VLE
Portal ‘My Modules’
A new web interface for accessing all
University web content and online
services
 Personal calendar for students
 Access to email without need to login
again
 Access to Library catalogue and
personal library account – without
need to login again
 Access to online Student Services
such as online module enrolment,
view results.
 Access to useful links – directing
students to help and support across
campus
 Group studio – students and staff can
create ad-hoc groups and share
resources among the group
 Announcements – staff can make
campus-wide or targeted
announcements (e.g. just to students
on a particular programme)
Bodington - a “Virtual Classroom” of
learning & teaching materials and
resources
 Ability to post teaching materials on a
‘by lecture/tutorial’ basis including:
o Documents/ spreadsheets/
photos/ any teaching material
o External links to websites
o Web and library resources
 Assessment tools including:
o Short Answer Papers
o Multiple Choice Question tests
o Questionnaires for evaluation
and feedback
 Group discussion rooms
 Pigeon holes for submission of
coursework
 Log books/personal portfolios
 Ability to import IMS content packages
A module administration area in the Portal
where staff, students and administrators
can share resources
 Homepage – displays message board
topics and announcements
 Announcements – send
announcements to only those users
who are enrolled on the module or who
teach/ administer the module
 News – compile, display and archive
‘news’ related to the module
 Links – compile, display and archive
‘links’ (URLs)
 Files – basic file-store - ability to
upload/download files, create folders
and search the file-store
 Message Board – simple tool - ability
to start discussion threads, contribute
to a discussion and respond to another
user’s comments
 Calendar – unpopulated calendar - can
be used to record events associated
with the module such as coursework
submission dates
 E-mail – email students/ tutors/
administrators associated with the
module using University email
addresses (tool available to staff only)
 Photos – view thumbnails and store
photographs
 Members – list of module attendees,
tutors and administrators. Ability to add
members to the module group
The Portal
Suggested
use
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Primary means of access for students
to all University web pages and online
services
Portal content will grow throughout
the academic year 06-7 and it is
envisaged that all existing proposed
web services such as online payment
or online booking of accommodation,
will, in the future, be presented
through the portal
Ad-hoc groups can ‘share’ resources
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What training
is available?
‘Portal content creation and publishing’
(1/2 day) - bookable through the SDDU
web site. This course is an overview of
using the portal including:
 Customising the portal
 Creating and sending campus and
targeted announcements
 Using group studio
 Creating portal ‘channels’
Portal ‘My Modules’
VLE
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Teaching materials - presentations,
images, handouts, video, audio, web
pages and external links
Module relevant digital library and
learning resources e.g. reading lists,
journal articles, websites, learning
objects
Module content discussions
Specific e-learning materials
Student group work
Peer support
Diagnostic and formative assessment
to reinforce learning
Some summative assessment
Logbooks – personal development
portfolios
Assessment preparation/ discussion
Module feedback via questionnaire
Interactive tutorials
Online submission of coursework by a
particular deadline using pigeon hole
feature, tutor marking and feedback
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SDDU train all new teaching staff
VLES team provide 1:1 training and
small group training on VLE
functionality on request
Introduction to VLE for students as part
of Library’s Information Literacy
Programme
This course will focus on using the portal
‘My Modules’ area. Courses will run
throughout September – contact L&T prodeans for more info (email went out
yesterday)
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Module administration and
supplementary information lecture/seminar venues, study guides,
fieldwork and laboratory information
etc.
Module handbook
Contact details for module leader
Assessment information
Timetables
Announcements/news
Email to the group
General discussion
Library resources: search catalogue, eresources
Links to module resources,
departmental websites and tutors’
personal web pages