I presented this to a delegation from the Open University of China on 7 June 2013 at University of Leicester. The OU China has access to most of the innovations we discussed, but delegates needed practical ideas to use them.
2. What will we talk about?
• Webinars and innovative uses
• Creating and remixing OERs in the Digital
Humanities: the Manufacturing Pasts project
• How Leicester is using iTunes U
4. What is a webinar?
• Internet-facilitated browser meeting, possibly
comprising voice, video, and computer-based
demonstration
• Cross between Skype and the old video-conferencing
• AND IT RECORDS!
• Software:
– Adobe Connect, Blackboard Collaborate, Go-To-
Meeting, Webex
– Free versions: BigBlueButton, Google Hangouts
6. Tech
• Computer with internet connection – wired
connection is best
• Microphone
• Headphones – absolute must
• Webcam optional
• Always do Audio Setup Wizard
(under Meeting)
7. We use Adobe Connect
• Windows, Macs, but not Linux
• iOS devices need app
• Not perfect
• Many tools
8. Lectures
• Slides probably more important than webcam
• Recorded – students can revise
• https://vimeo.com/64883732
9. Case study of Maths Assessment
• Students presented their work to overseas
companies
• Everything was recorded for review and grading
10. Meetings
• Webcam is important
• Everyone will need a microphone
• Leave time at the beginning for fiddling with
microphone
• Only one speaker at a time
• Try the whiteboard!
11. Focus Groups
• Everyone will need a microphone
• Leave time at the beginning for fiddling with
microphone
• Only one speaker at a time
• May want to aim the webcam at something else
12. 3 International Online Conferences
• 200+ delegates
• 25 countries
• Every continent but
Antarctica
• Save travel costs
• Easier to communicate
with every other
delegate
• Great for networking
and meeting overseas
friends
14. What we did …
• Took Leicester as an example of the changing British
industrial city
• Digitised selected photographs, company records,
factory plans, newspaper articles, maps, oral history
interviews from University and Record Office
collections and put them online
• Created learning resources based on them
• Created ‘toolkit’ on how to use the resources
18. Making the history accessible –to whom
• Researchers
• Urban History
students
• College students –
extended project
• Local community
• Local historians
• Digital humanities
scholars
19. Addressing needs of digital humanities researchers
Toolkit for researchers:
• Using visual sources in
historical research
• Using oral testimony in
historical research
• Provenance, judgment
Tools for students &
teachers:
• Glossary, reference
• How to make your own
30. iTunes U v YouTube
YouTube iTunes U
Ease to publish Easy Easy, must apply to
Apple
Ease to grab Easy-ish Easy
Ease to adapt Not so easy Not so easy
CC Catered but hidden Catered but hidden (?)
Formats Video Audio, video, epub, pdf
Academic quality Mixed, diluted Very Good to Excellent
Internet connection Required at the time Not required at the time
Software Any browser Free iTunes software
Time limit 10 – 15 minutes* None
Restrictions Some countries cannot
access
None
Restrictions in UK Schools don’t like Some unis don’t like
Mobile-ready Smartphones, tablets All including non-smart
iPods, best on Apple
31. How did Leicester launch?
ILI
interested-
OER
(2010)
Marketing
interested
(2011)
Academics
wanted to
share
Apple made it
easy (2012)
Launch March
2013
32. iTunes U Group at Leicester
Marketing
ILI
Academics
“Just show
your
university’s
strengths”
33. What gets passed?
• Each piece must have engaging learning content on
its own
• Video
– Professional
– If unprofessional: short “talking head”, slides or
demonstration with narrator
• Audio
– Recorded lectures or talks
– Shorter pedagogical podcasts
– Research descriptions (10 minutes)
