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Digitial Learning Tools

More and more digital learning tools are making their way into university environments. The HEDC EdTech team are available to help you understand how these online learning environments and tools work and how they can be used as part of your teaching. Click on the tool below that you’d like to learn more about.

Blackboard

Blackboard is a learning management system that allows students and faculty to share and engage with learning materials.

XOtago

XOtago is an online sequenced module course management application. Its 'studio' function helps you to organise your content.

Vevox

Vevox is a polling and Q&A platform that enables diverse engagement opportunities for classes and meetings.

ChatGPT

ChatGPT is a generative pre-trained transformer chatbot. Artificial intelligence platforms such as this are set to be transformative for many areas of life including higher education.

Moodle

Moodle is a learning platform designed to provide educators, administrators and learners with a single robust, secure and integrated system.

Otago Capture with Echo360

Otago Capture uses the Echo360 software to record lectures and presentations and also had engagement tools.

Padlet

Padlet is an online stickies tool for facilitating collaboration. It can help teachers better engage with their students.

Teams

Microsoft Teams is a messaging app for real-time collaboration, communication, meetings as well as file and app sharing.

Zoom

Zoom is a cloud-based video conferencing app that allows people meet online virtually one to one or in groups.

Loom

Loom is an async video messaging app that allows you to record your screen while also using your camera and microphone.

Vevox

Vevox is a polling and Q&A platform that enables diverse engagement opportunities for classes and meetings. Polls, surveys, quizzes and Q&A boards can be created for use in online, in-person, and hybrid sessions, hosted synchronously or asynchronously. Sign-in and privacy options range from anonymous to secure, so Vevox can be used to gather anonymous feedback and facilitate informal conversations, deliver casual or graded quizzes, and track attendance during live polls.

Need help with Vevox? Contact our Vevox champion 

Joyce Koh

Associate Professor

Joyce can assist you in integrating the Vevox tool into your teaching practice.
joyce.koh@otago.ac.nz

Padlet

Padlet is an online stickies tool for facilitating collaboration. Online discussion is a common way of collaborating online. Yet, it is at times difficult to engage students in critical discussion. By using the different features of Padlet as a discussion platform both during and beyond lectures, you can enhance critical thinking during online discussions.

Need help with Padlet? Contact our Padlet champion

Joyce Koh

Associate Professor

Joyce can assist you in integrating the Padlet tool into your teaching practice.

joyce.koh@otago.ac.nz

Loom

Loom is an async video messaging app that allows you to record your screen while also using your camera and microphone. Other apps like Zoom or Google Meet record you and other users but Loom only records you and your screen. It is useful for creating instructional videos or providing feedback. The video files you create can then be shared with others.

Need help with Loom? Contact our Loom champion

Dr Qian Liu

Qian will walk you through how you can use Loom as part of your teaching toolkit

qian.liu@otago.ac.nz

Zoom

Zoom is a cloud-based video conferencing app that allows people meet online virtually one to one or in groups. It has a screenshare function and recording options. In the education sector Zoom became an essential tool during the COVID pandemic and remains a commonly used application.

Need help with Zoom? Contact our Zoom champion

Ben Daniel

Associate Professor

Ben is available to help you navigate zoom as a teaching delivery system.

ben.daniel@otago.ac.nz

Otago Capture with Echo360

Otago Capture is the University of Otago lecture recording system. Otago Capture can record the audio and screen of lectures, as well as live-streaming, using Echo360 software and associated hardware devices. Otago Capture can also be used to interact with students during the lecture, allowing students to add notes, flag items as confusing, and ask questions. Otago Capture has a hardware device which can record what is displayed by the projector.

Need help with using Echo360 via Otago Capture? Contact our champion

Ben Daniel

Associate Professor

Ben is available to assist you with understanding the Otago Capture system and how it can enhance your teaching.

ben.daniel@otago.ac.nz

Blackboard

Blackboard is a learning management system that allows students and faculty to share and engage with learning materials and to communicate with each other in a virtual learning environment. It is web-based server software which features course management, customisable open architecture, and scalable design that allows integration with student information systems and authentication protocols.

Need help with Blackboard? Contact our Blackboard champion 

Dr Qian Liu

Qian is ready to help you create a smart learning environment using Blackboard.

qian.liu@otago.ac.nz

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is a messaging app for real-time collaboration, communication, meetings as well as file and app sharing. Teams is made up of channels which are created by department or topic. It creates a shared space where you can have conversations, online meetings or share files. Teams has been created with remote working in mind.

Need help with Teams? Contact our Teams champion

Dr Russell Butson

Russell has a solid understanding of Microsoft teams and how it can be used for teaching.

russell.butson@otago.ac.nz

XOtago

XOtago is an online sequenced module course management application. Its 'studio' function helps you to organise your content by providing a simple hierarchy and easy drag and drop mechanisms. Studio lets you weave your content together in a way that reinforces learning. Insert videos, discussions, and a wide variety of exercises with just a few clicks. Studio works like web applications you already know, yet understands how you build curriculum.

Need help with XOtago? Contact our XOtago champion

Dr Russell Butson

Russell has a solid understanding of Microsoft teams and how it can be used for teaching.

russell.butson@otago.ac.nz

ChatGPT

According to ChatGPT: ChatGPT is an AI language model developed by OpenAI, which is capable of generating human-like text based on the input it is given. The model is trained on a large corpus of text data and can generate responses to questions, summarize long texts, write stories and much more. It is often used in conversational AI applications to simulate a human-like conversation with users

Need help with ChatGPT? Contact our ChatGPT champion

Dr Russell Butson

Talk to Russell about how ChatGPT can be used to benefit both students and staff.

russell.butson@otago.ac.nz

Moodle

Moodle is a learning platform designed to provide educators, administrators and learners with a single robust, secure and integrated system to create personalised learning environments. Moodle is used for blended learning, distance education, flipped classroom and other online learning projects in schools, universities, workplaces and other sectors.

Need help with Moodle Contact our Moodle champion

Dr Qian Liu

Qian is ready to help you create a smart learning environment using Blackboard.

qian.liu@otago.ac.nz

Is Something Missing?

If there is an online tool or learning environment that you need help with that's not listed here, just reach out and let us know. We may not have put it on the website yet.

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