I hope you are all staying cool in the heatwave that we’re having. I’ve found a good way of cooling down is to stop what you’re doing, grab a drink, and read through our latest Newsletter.
Countdown to the QMplus Theme Update
We are now just 4 weeks away from the QMplus Theme Update which will take place between 9-11pm on Tuesday 16th August.
We are currently running theme awareness sessions to show what the new theme looks like and to answer any questions you might have about it. Please see the article below on our staff training programme to learn more about how you can sign up for one of these sessions. You can also visit our theme update page where we have a frequently asked questions section. We keep this updated with the questions that are raised in the theme awareness sessions, you may find the answers to your questions there. Alternatively, you can email the theme update project on qmplus-theme-update@qmul.ac.uk with any questions that you may have.
Forty (40) minute limit on Zoom Basic Accounts
From 16th July 2022, anyone using a basic Zoom account (rather than their QMUL account) will be limited to 40 minute 1:1 meetings. Please see the Zoom webpage for further information and our TELT website giving details of how to log in to your QMUL Zoom account. If you don’t have a QMUL account, please contact the ITS service desk.
Let’s meet…
This month we have met with Michael Parkes who is the E-Learning Technologist for the Wolfson Institute of Population Health.
See who we’ve been getting to know so far in this series…
Improving access to your online content
You can get advice on how to improve the accessibility of your online content through QMplus. A new plugin called Blackboard Ally has been added to QMplus and this puts a dial next to the content in QMplus to indicate how accessible the content is. Clicking on the dial provides some guidance on any issues and how to fix them. Your school learning technologist can help you to use Blackboard Ally and they are likely to be running in-school training sessions. If not, then join one of the TELT training sessions – book via the CPD booking system. “TELT016”
Wednesday 20th July @ 1400.
Tuesday 9th August @ 1100.
Wednesday 17th August @ 1400.
Blackboard Collaborate Decommissioning Update
TELT are currently copying all the video recordings off the Blackboard Collaborate servers onto QMPlus Media, ahead of the final decommissioning of the service on the 31st of July 2022. The majority of files are already available in their respective courses in QMPlus via the Media Gallery. Please see the article: https://elearning.qmul.ac.uk/announcements/blackboard-collaborate-decommissioning-update/.
There will be some further work taking place during August to finalise the organisation of the remaining recordings and we will update you once this has been completed.
Upcoming Staff Training – Summer Programme
The 16th August is approaching, when we will be launching the new theme for QMplus. We still have sessions running to take you through the changes. Please advertise these sessions to colleagues in your schools / departments as we would like to reach as many people as possible.
We will also be delivering our Zoom and MS Teams sessions in light of the decommissioning of Blackboard Collaborate for online teaching. Or if you are still unsure whether Zoom or MS Teams will suit your online teaching needs, join us at one of our Zoom and MS Teams comparison sessions.
Below are some of the upcoming sessions. For additional workshops, and to book on to sessions please use the QMUL course booking system and search for the course code ‘TELT’.
| Code | Title | Date | Time | Venue |
| TELT013 | Getting started with Zoom | 20/07/2022 | 1000 – 1100 | Zoom |
| TELT013a | Zoom in teaching | 20/07/2022 | 1115 – 1230 | Zoom |
| TELT016 | Introduction to Blackboard Ally | 20/07/2022 | 1400 – 1530 | Online |
| TELT111 | QMplus new theme awareness | 27/07/2022 | 1000 – 1100 | MS Teams |
| TELT015 | A comparison of Zoom and MS Teams for online teaching | 03/08/2022 | 1030 – 1130 | MS Teams |
| TELT013 | Getting started with Zoom | 03/08/2022 | 1400 – 1500 | Zoom |
| TELT013a | Zoom in teaching | 03/08/2022 | 1515 – 1630 | Zoom |
| TELT111 | QMplus new theme awareness | 04/08/2022 | 1000 – 1100 | MS Teams |
| TELT016 | Introduction to Blackboard Ally | 09/08/2022 | 1100 – 1230 | Online |
| TELT014 | Getting started with MS Teams meetings | 09/08/2022 | 1400 – 1500 | MS Teams |
| TELT014a | MS Teams in Teaching (interaction) | 09/08/2022 | 1515 – 1630 | MS Teams |
| TELT111 | QMplus new theme awareness | 11/08/2022 | 1300 – 1400 | MS Teams |
| TELT016 | Introduction to Blackboard Ally | 17/08/2022 | 1400 – 1500 | Online |
| TELT013 | Getting started with Zoom | 23/08/2022 | 1000 – 1100 | Zoom |
| TELT013a | Zoom in teaching | 23/08/2022 | 1115 – 1230 | Zoom |
Do you have a quick query about any of our technologies? Why not drop in online to speak to someone from the TEL team…
Drop-in sessions are still available online (in Zoom) every Tuesday and Thursday, from 1-2 pm. There’s no need to tell us you’re coming; just drop in via the Zoom link located on our Online Support area on QMplus.
In Need of a New Home
Peli 1630 Case
TELT have a Peli 1630 Case that’s surplus to requirements and needs a new home. Please see the Peli website for details. This is a large, rugged case for transporting delicate equipment between sites or on field trips. These Cases are unbreakable, watertight, airtight and Chemical/Corrosion proof, and can survive airport baggage handling. This case has the foam insert which is mainly intact. If you know of anyone who could make use of this case, that’s hardly been used please e-mail Simon Durrant. This will be on a first come first served basis. We will arrange for the porters to deliver it to any of the London Campuses.
TELT recruitment
We are recruiting two posts to join our central Technology Enhanced Learning Team situated in ITS at QMUL.
—
Title: Learning Technologist
Department: Technology Enhanced Learning Team, IT Services
Salary: £38,655 – £45,479 (Grade 5)
Closing date: 24 July 2022
More information: www.qmul.ac.uk/jobs/vacancies/items/7237.html
—
Title: Learning Technology Support Assistant*
Department: Technology Enhanced Learning Team, IT Services
Salary: £28,208 – £34,733 (Grade 3)
Closing date: 24 July 2022
More information: www.qmul.ac.uk/jobs/vacancies/items/7242.html
* This is a new entry level Learning Technologist post and would suit someone early in their career or looking to move into Learning Technology.
Come and join our friendly team or do pass this along to anyone you think may be suitable.
Please note: interviews will be held shortly after the closing date, via MS Teams. The posts are primarily based at our brand new hybrid office space in Dept W, between our Mile End and Whitechapel campuses.
What are you asking the Helpdesk?
The top queries in July were related to… QMplus Media and Course Rollovers.
Read more in our common support questions article.
