Last year the eLearning Unit evolved into the Technology Enhanced Learning Team (TELT) and migrated to become a part of IT Services.
As part of the move, the team was structured slightly differently to encompass three strands of work:
- The Enhancement strand which works to enhance the innovative use of technologies for Teaching and Learning (T&L).
- A Services strand which aims to keep up-to-date services of technologies used in Queen Mary.
- And a Training and Support strand which as the name suggests provides timely, relevant, and excellent training and support.
This three-strand approach means the team engages with all stakeholders to identify quality and standards for innovation, usability, accessibility, and future proofing digital education.
Our first year of operation was a very busy one, and as we look forward at 2023’s priorities, it’s clear the coming year will be just as busy and demanding with many opportunities ahead. Here are some of the highlights.
Enhancement strand
The Enhancement strand identifies new technologies to support Teaching and Learning at Queen Mary, while also exploring solutions that can be provided through existing tools and platforms. In our first year the focus was on improving accessibility and implementing Blackboard Ally, to improve the accessibility of learning resources on QMPlus.
A Virtual Learning Environment review was also completed. This included extensive research with other universities, and an Expo Event for all university staff.
This year the enhancement strand is developing a TEL Community of Practice. This will launch on the 22nd February 2023 with a consultation event, details will follow on our Community of Practice Teams site.
Services strand
The Services strand in 2023 is now looking forward to upgrading QMplus to Moodle 4.1, improving accessibility to QMplus archives, and researching a QMplus exams server. These developments come after an industrious year updating the QMplus theme to CatAwesome to be more aligned with Moodle core functionality, moving QMplus archives onto internal servers for improved security, decommissioning Blackboard Collaborate and moving all video storage to Kaltura.
Training and Support strand
Providing training and support for all the technology systems in place at Queen Mary has led to a busy and productive year for the team. We have updated all the elearning guides, built a range of new training courses, supported the QMplus theme update and the move from BB Collaborate to Zoom and Teams. This strand has also identified the support for students at Queen Mary, and in 2023 we are piloting a Student Digital Champions approach within the HSS Faculty, enabling the student voice to be heard about the technologies they use for their learning.
We’re really excited about what 2023 will bring for TELT and the University as we focus our projects to embed effective, up-to-date and innovative practices, working with stakeholders across the whole of the University through the Community of Practice.
