QMplus hotfixes which have been applied
The ITS-Applications team has fixed a number of minor bugs which you may have encountered as a result of recent upgrades and releases of QMplus. The main improvements/fixes include:
- the module search feature
- activity/resource ‘availability button’ information
- assignment widget availability & content
To see full details of these fixes/improvements, amongst a few others, please take a look at this QMplus hotfixes webpage.
Whilst being implemented by our vendor on Friday the 16th of Oct, an issue was encountered which caused an outage to QMplus. We apologise for the disruption caused – the cause has been identified so that such issues don’t reoccur in the future.
Featured tool: Monitoring student engagement via Completion Tracking and the Completion Progress block
Some find the reporting in QMplus displays student engagement in a granular way, which can prove hard to search by and for staff to monitor. By enabling completion tracking at course level and utilising the completion progress block it is possible to configure which activities and resources you wish to keep track of student engagement for and also provide students with the ability to see what they’ve done and still need to do.
To find out more about this featured tool, please take a look at the guidance above, or watch this short video which introduces both elements.
Case Study – QMplus Hub as a critical reflection tool
QMplus Hub can be an excellent way to encourage reflection and facilitate assessment. In this case study, Faith and Alan from SLLF share how their students on the JEI programme in China used QMplus Hub for tasks such as critical reflection, summarising tasks and subject specific writing tasks.
New self-directed course – Getting Started with QMplus 
Do you need to learn how to use our online learning environment, QMplus? We now have an online self-directed course to teach you the basics. Delivered via QMplus, obviously, anyone can enrol and work through the course at their own pace. It covers the basics of using QMplus including how to get around the system, the basics of editing a QMplus area and gives a taste of just a few of the activities you can use in your teaching. There are also some hints and tips which should make your life a little easier.
Although doing the whole course is likely to take a couple of hours, the topics are designed to be done in short bursts. If you don’t need a topic…or know it already…skip it.
Read more about the course or head over to QMplus and enrol yourself to get started.
Blackboard Collaborate – Reminder for staff & scheduled maintenance information
Staff and students are reminded, when accessing Blackboard Collaborate they should use Chrome or Firefox browser and that it is the most current version. Typically, any issues affecting access can be prevented by doing so, or by refreshing the browser should there be a connection issue. Please take a look at our ‘What are users asking the Helpdesk?’ article at the bottom of this newsletter which features questions on Blackboard Collaborate too.
Scheduled Maintenance:
On the morning of Thursday the 12th of November, from midnight – 4am, there will be a scheduled Blackboard Collaborate software release, with intermittent access for users during these times.
Staff development opportunities in September
E-Learning Workshops
Running Webinars with Blackboard Collaborate
- Tuesday 17th of November, 14:00-15:00
Advanced Blackboard Collaborate
- Thursday 26th of November, 11:00-12:00
- Thursday 19th of November, 10:00-11:00
- Wednesday 11th of November, 11:00-12:30
Online grading and feedback with the QMplus assignment
- Monday 16th of November, 14:00-15:00
Online Assessment using QMplus Quizzes
- Please take a look at our self-directed training course
- Wednesday 18th of November, 11:00-12:00
- Thursday 5th of November, 10:00-11:00
Please register attendance via the CPD website.
Drop-in Sessions and Book a Learning Technologist
Drop-in sessions are still being held online every Tuesday and Thursday from 1-2pm. There’s no need to tell us you’re coming; just drop-in via the Blackboard Collaborate webinar link on our E-Learning Online Support area on QMplus.
We have restarted our Book a Learning Technologist sessions (BALTs) as of this month. Please access the BALT QMplus page to schedule a session with us to discuss an elearning development with us (sessions of up to 1 hour in length).
What are people asking the Helpdesk?
The top queries in October were related to: changing your QMplus landing page and resolving Blackboard Collaborate technical issues. Read more in our common support questions article.
