QMplus performance issues

Since QMplus was released in July and particularly since the start of term, intermittent performance issues have resulted at times in a slow service and occasionally in some downtime. We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused and reassure users that we have been working hard to improve the performance of the system.

Please see our QMplus performance issues update for more detailed information on the specific issues that have occurred and the work that has been done to resolve them.

Date for your diary: 6th December

From 2pm on the 6th December we will be running an event on the Mile End campus showcasing our E-Learning Production Scheme. This scheme provides staff with assistance in the form of a QMUL student who is employed to work for up to 100 hours on a small e-learning project. The scheme has now been running for almost 4 years and has funded nearly 50 projects across all the faculties.

At this event we will be sharing information about these projects with short presentations from some past recipients and providing an opportunity for discussing experiences of being involved. If you have been involved in an e-learning project, we will be inviting you to come along to share your experiences. If you haven’t been involved, please come along to find out how you might be able to get assistance with an e-learning project of your own and help shape the future of the scheme. We will be sending out more information about the event later in November.

You can find out more about the scheme on the E-Learning Unit website.

Using the bookmarks and to-do list features on QMplus

As part of the changes to QMplus over the summer we introduced two useful new features, the ability to bookmark activities and resources and to organise these bookmarks into to-do lists with notes and due dates. We have also provided a to-do list widget which can be added to your My QMplus Dashboard to allow you to keep track of important resources wherever you are in QMplus.

Read our Using the new bookmarks and to-do list features on QMplus article to find out how you can make use of these new features.

Answers to your start of teaching questions

With teaching getting in to full swing in October it has been an extremely busy time for everyone and one of the busiest times of year for our support team. A large number of the queries coming in recently have been related to getting access to QMplus, in particular:

• How to get QMplus accounts created for staff
• How to give staff and students access to QMplus module areas

In some cases, it is possible to resolve the issue yourself, without having to raise a ticket and wait for a response. Read our Answers to your start of teaching questions article to find out more and be ready for the beginning of the next semester.

Staff development opportunities in November

Workshops

In November we are running the following workshops:

• Monday 6th November 14.00-16.00 – Producing compelling videos using screencasting.
• Friday 10th November 14.00-16.00 – Introduction to video editing.
• Tuesday 21st November 10.30-12.30 – Getting started with QMplus.

Please see our online booking system for more information about all these sessions and to book yourself a place.

Drop-ins and Book a Learning Technologist

Our staff drop-in sessions continue to run every Tuesday and Thursday from 1-2pm on the Mile End campus for any member of staff who needs help with their use of technology in their teaching. Come along to the E-Learning Studio, room 0.09 in the Scape building, and we’ll do our best to help.

If you’d like to discuss something in more detail, appointments are available through our Book a Learning Technologist service. Book a one hour appointment with a member of the team to discuss your use of technology in more detail.